FY2018 Highlights Report April 1, 2017– March 31, 2018
CRADLES TO CRAYONS –NATIONAL
Dear Friends, Cradles to Crayons plays several important roles in communities where we are active; we are a nonprofit leader with a commitment to collaboration; a convener of generous and caring volunteers; and above all, we are a provider of free, critically needed clothing and personal items for children in need. Nationwide, more than 22 million children from birth through age 12 live in low-income households and are at risk for what we call “clothing insecurity”— being without reliable access to adequate, quality, properly fitting, seasonally appropriate, clean clothing. Similar to food and housing, clothing is a basic need that is necessary to sustain life. We respond to this major problem by providing customized “KidPacks” with clothing for a week, one child at a time. We depend on donated clothing and a volunteer workforce, and we distribute our packages through a network of more than 350 community partner organizations. Every day, we see the best of the human spirit in our Giving Factories as people of all ages and backgrounds turn compassion into action and volunteer together to help children. As a result, we have begun to call the amazing group of people who make our work possible an “Army of Empathy.” By making it convenient to donate funds and clothing and enjoyable to volunteer, we have ignited a powerful force for good. We hope you enjoy learning about a few highlights from the past year…in Boston, in Chicago, and in Philadelphia. With appreciation,
Lynn Margherio, Founder and CEO
D ean Athanasia, Chair, National Board of Directors Co-Head, Consumer and Small Business, Bank of America
FY2018 CRADLES TO CRAYONS BY THE NUMBERS*
263,110 KIDS SERVED
364
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
65,800 VOLUNTEERS
$8.6M
FUNDS RAISED
*Includes all Cradles to Crayons locations
SINCE OPENING IN BOSTON IN 2002, WE HAVE SERVED 1.4 MILLION CHILDREN AND MORE THAN 365,000 VOLUNTEERS HAVE DONATED THEIR TIME AND ENERGY AT CRADLES TO CRAYONS. LATER WE EXPANDED TO PHILADELPHIA AND THEN TO CHICAGO. WE HAVE BEGUN TO CALL THE AMAZING GROUP OF SUPPORTERS AND VOLUNTEERS WHO MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE AN “ARMY OF EMPATHY.” VOLUNTEERS OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS TELL US ABOUT FINDING GENUINE MEANING IN THEIR EXPERIENCE AND IN SERVING OTHERS. CORPORATE VOLUNTEER TEAMS FEEL POSITIVE ABOUT SERVICE TOGETHER AND APPRECIATE THEIR EMPLOYER’S COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY. PARENTS APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH THE IMPORTANCE OF VOLUNTEERING TO THEIR CHILDREN AND VALUE TIME SPENT DOING SOMETHING POSITIVE WITH THEM. COMMUNITY GROUPS DEVELOP A SPECIAL BOND OF SHARED SERVICE. YOUNG CHILDREN LEARN THAT THEY LIKE HELPING OTHER CHILDREN. TEENS AND COLLEGE STUDENTS LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WORLD AND FEEL EMPOWERED TO STRETCH THEIR WINGS IN A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. RETIREES AND SENIORS ENJOY NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO USE THEIR SKILLS AND TO CONNECT WITH THEIR COMMUNITY IN A DIFFERENT WAY. Founder and CEO, Lynn Margherio, presents Building An Army Of Empathy at TEDx Beacon Street in November.
Clothing insecurity can prevent children from engaging in typical childhood
Top 10 Reasons Students Don’t Go to School
Low-income students are four times more likely to be chronically absent than their peers. Through our annual Ready for School initiative, we overcome three of the top 10 reasons for chronic absenteeism.
activities and
1. THEY’RE HUNGRY
achieving their
2. THEY’RE HOMELESS
full potential.
3. THEY FEEL LIKE THEY DON’T FIT IN
It puts affected children at an unfair disadvantage and
1
4. THEY CAN’T SEE THE BLACKBOARD
can have long-term
5. THEY CAN’T GET THERE
educational, economic,
6. THEY’RE IN POOR HEALTH
and health outcomes.
7. THEY NEED SCHOOL SUPPLIES 8. THEY NEED A CARING ADULT IN THEIR LIFE 9. THEY NEED TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILY
10. THEY DON’T HAVE PROPER SHOES OR CLOTHES 1
Cradles to Crayons has earned Charity Navigator’s highest rating of 4 stars
Communities in Schools National Impact Report
Organizational Financials Donor support enables Cradles to Crayons to assist children in need of everyday essentials. Our commitment to transparent financial operations and sharing with our donors the meaningful impact of their contributions are top priorities.
for sound, transparent financial management for 10 consecutive years—an achievement
EXPENSE BREAKDOWN
(FY2017)
earned by only 1% of organizations evaluated.
87% PROGRAMS 5% ADMINISTRATIVE 8% FUNDRAISING
View FY2017 financials online: cradlestocrayons.org/what-we-do/audited-financials
THE RECENT KIDPACKS I RECEIVED WERE SOME OF THE BEST. THE KIDS I ORDER FOR DON’T HAVE MUCH—THEY HAVE TO STRUGGLE ALL YEAR TO GET ANYTHING. THEIR MOM CAN’T JUST GET THINGS FOR THEM. THEY DON’T HAVE NEW CLOTHES OR THINGS TO PLAY WITH. I DON’T KNOW HOW, BUT EACH KIDPACK HAD EXACTLY WHAT EACH CHILD WAS INTO. THEY CRIED WHEN THEY SAW THE BAGS IN FRONT OF THEM. THEY GOT SOMETHING NEW.
THEY GOT SOMETHING THEY NEVER HAD. AND IT WAS THEIRS. COATS, SHOES...A BOOK BAG THEY CAN ACTUALLY USE FOR SCHOOL INSTEAD OF A DRAWSTRING BAG. THEY’VE NEVER HAD SNOWBOOTS BEFORE. THE KIDS EXPRESSED GRATITUDE FOR ALL THE ITEMS. THE OLDER BROTHER WHO HELPS CARE FOR THEM WAS EVEN HAPPIER. THEY ALL SAID THANK YOU!”
–Partner, ChildServ
CRADLES TO CRAYONS – CHICAGO
Dear Friends, Kids across our city are getting ready for school with new school supplies, playing make-believe with favorite toys, and drifting off to sleep in NEW pajamas—because you believe in them. That is our mission: every child deserves the essentials needed to grow, learn, and thrive. An African proverb tells us it takes a village to raise a child. That rings true every time we sort clothing collected by a local group, combine it with books and toys donated by schools, businesses, and houses of worship, then give a finished KidPack to a social worker or teacher for a specific child. That’s how, together, we care for kids. As we celebrate nearly 44,000 kids served in our first full year in Chicago, we know there is still much to do. It will take all of us working together to serve more kids more effectively in more parts of the region. THANK YOU for all you do to support our mission. We look forward to another year of working together.
Bernard Cherkasov, Executive Director
Jack Greenberg, Chair, Chicago Board of Directors; Chairman of the Board, Innerworkings; Retired Chairman, Western Union; Retired Chairman and CEO, McDonald’s
IN CHICAGO, 56% OF CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 12 ARE LIVING IN POVERTY OR LOW-INCOME SITUATIONS.1 IN CHICAGOLAND (CHICAGO AND SURROUNDING SUBURBS), 1 IN 3 CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 12 ARE LIVING IN POVERTY.2 IN CHICAGO, 47% OF FAMILIES STRUGGLE WITH DIAPER NEED. 3
FY2018 CHICAGO BY THE NUMBERS
44,430 KIDS SERVED
45
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
11,200 VOLUNTEERS
1
$1.8M
FUNDS RAISED
U.S. Census Bureau, 2012-2016 American Community Survey, BPDA Research Division Analysis 2 Extrapolation from: Data Center, Kids Count 3 “Diaper Need and Its Impact on U.S. Families,” National Diaper Bank Network
Northwestern University Dance Marathon members danced for 30 hours straight to raise awareness and funds for Cradles to Crayons.
They raised $1,175,709 through this year-long partnership.
Northwestern University dancers raise money and awareness for Cradles to Crayons
Ready for School Days of Action We launched our Ready for School Days of Action program as a way to engage our corporate supporters in meaningful service. With seven participating companies in its inaugural year, this initiative brought in hundreds of volunteers, our most needed items, and financial contributions to support our Ready for School initiative, helping to make an impact in the lives of Chicagoland children in need. Corporate volunteers clean and sort shoes during Ready for School Days of Action
I AM SURE YOU DON’T HEAR THIS ENOUGH BUT MY FAMILIES THANK YOU FOR POSITIVELY IMPACTING THE LIVES OF THEIR CHILDREN AND HELPING THEM TO BE GOOD PARENTS.” –Partner SGA Family Youth and Services
OUR MISSION is to provide children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive—at home, at school, and at play. We supply these items free of charge by engaging and connecting communities. OUR VISION is that one day every child will have the essentials they need to feel safe, warm, ready to learn, and valued.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
www.cradlestocrayons.org Cradles to Crayons–Chicago | The Giving Factory | 4141 W. George Street | Chicago, IL 60641
FY2018 Highlights Report: National Leadership BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dean Athanasia (Chair), Co-Head, Consumer and Small Business, Bank of America Stuart Davies, Retired Managing Director, Bain Capital Credit Gerard du Toit, Partner, Bain & Company Jack Greenberg, Chairman of the Board, Innerworkings; Retired Chairman, Western Union; Retired Chairman and CEO, McDonald’s Jason Hancock, Managing Partner and Practice Leader, Spencer Stuart Jordan Hitch, Senior Advisor, Bain Capital Lynn Margherio, Founder and CEO, Cradles to Crayons William Matson, Retired Vice President of Human Resources, Analog Devices Neil Nicoll, President Emeritus, YMCA of the USA Phyllis Yale, Advisory Partner, Bain & Company
ANNUAL CORPORATE PARTNERS
FY2018 Highlights Report: Chicago Leadership BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jack Greenberg (Chair), Chairman of the Board, Innerworkings; Retired Chairman, Western Union; Retired Chairman and CEO, McDonald’s John Atkinson, Managing Director, Willis Towers Watson Gery Chico, Partner, Chico & Nunes, P.C. Jim Hirshorn, Partner, Ares Management, L.P. Amy Hughes, Managing Director & Regional Executive, Bank of America–US Trust Douglas Kush, Managing Partner, Egon Zehnder Carrie McNally, Attorney, Special Counsel, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP Desiree Rogers, Chair, Choose Chicago
CORPORATE ADVISORY COUNCIL Amy Hughes (Chair), Managing Director & Regional Executive, Bank of America—US Trust Darrah Bixler, Managing Director, Human Resources, Heitman LLC Julie Coffman, Partner, Bain & Company Pam Dufour, President, Allstate Roadside Services Shana Hayes, Managing Director, External Affairs, Academy for Urban School Leadership Lori Healey, CEO, Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Megan Herrmanns, Regional Vice President, Customer Success Group, Salesforce Jim Hirshorn, Parnter, Ares Management, L.P. Neill Jakobe, Partner, Ropes & Gray LLP Mohit Kalra, Senior Counsel, Google Michelle Kilkenney, Partner, Kirkland & Ellis LLP Douglas Kush, Managing Partner, Egon Zehnder David Whitaker, President and CEO, Choose Chicago
FY2018 Highlights Report: Chicago Leadership FAMILY ADVISORY COUNCIL Lisa Belcher (Chair), Glencoe, IL; Cradles to Crayons Ambassador Pam Davis, Highland Park, IL; Vice President, Wealth Management, GCG Financial Heath Fuller, Chicago, IL; Managing Director, NXT Capital Rakhi Fuller, Chicago, IL; Finance Manager, The Pepsico Foundation, Inc. Ilene Goldman, Chicago, IL; Content Writer-Convention, National Restaurant Association Donna Greenberg, Highland Park, IL; Board Member, CASA Lake County Jacqueline Hairston, Chicago, IL; Cradles to Crayons Ambassador Stacy Jakobe, Evanston, IL; Cradles to Crayons Ambassador Amy Kaplan, Riverwoods, IL; Cradles to Crayons Ambassador Doug Meyer, Deerfield, IL; Managing Director–Investments, Wells Fargo–Chicago Stacey Meyer, Deerfield, IL; Cradles to Crayons Ambassador Carrie McNally, Chicago, IL; Attorney, Special Counsel, Sheppard, Mullin, Ritcher & Hampton LLP Debbie Michaelson, Chicago, IL; Senior Advisor Consultant, OppenheimerFunds Matt Michaelson, Chicago, IL; Managing Director, Hotchkis & Wiley Capital Management Nguyen Ngyuen, Chicago, IL; Principle Architect, N2TV Studio Catherine Rosenberg, Chicago, IL; Cradles to Crayons Ambassador Mike Rosenberg, Chicago, IL; Head of Retirement Investment Solution Group, First Eagle Investment Management Josh Shipley, Chicago, IL; Managing Director, Pricoa Capital Group Mara Smith, Northbrook, IL; Cradles to Crayons Ambassador Shawn Strack, Chicago, IL; Cradles to Crayons Ambassador Tan Vu, Chicago, IL; Managing Director, Prudential Capital
ANNUAL CORPORATE PARTNERS