Annual Highlights Report April 1, 2018–March 31, 2019
CRADLES TO CRAYONS NATIONAL
Dear Friends, It has been 17 years since Cradles to Crayons® (C2C®) started our journey to provide the 22 million children nationwide living in low-income and homeless situations with clothing and other everyday essentials they need to thrive. With your consistent support to fight Clothing Insecurity, we have now served more than 1.7 million children and have become an established brand of excellence throughout our markets and beyond! This past fiscal year has been an exceptionally exciting one—leveraging our collective genius to build more infrastructure and focus on strategic growth for our long-term organizational health. This has also been a year of real estate milestones! In March, we opened the doors to our brand-new Giving Factory® in Philadelphia—which is within Philadelphia city limits, increasing our accessibility to everyone we engage. Additionally, great strides have been made in securing our “Forever Home” in Boston—we are officially building owners and are beginning the build-out! Both of these moves represent the long-term commitment that you have made to ensure we continue to be a resource for years to come. Reflection on this past fiscal year reminds us of the incredible power of empathy. Whether you have volunteered in our Giving Factories, held a drive in your community, or donated—your kindness has helped make an immeasurable difference in the lives of many children. We truly appreciate your dedication to our mission, and thank you for your compassion and support. Please enjoy Boston, Chicago, and Philadelphia’s highlights. We look forward to continuing this exciting journey with you in the coming year!
Lynn Margherio, Founder and CEO
1 IN 3 CHILDREN
FACES CLOTHING INSECURITY IN MASSACHUSETTS
FY2019 Natio
ean Athanasia, Chair, National Board of Directors; President of D Consumer and Small Business, Bank of America
1 IN 3 CHILDREN
FACES CLOTHING INSECURITY IN MASSACHUSETTS
MORE THAN 22 MILLION CHILDREN
LIVE BELOW 200% OF THE POVERTY LINE IN THE US
nal By the Nu mbers
282,904 KIDS SERVED
$11.5M
FUNDS RAISED
473
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
73,467 VOLUNTEERS
This year Cradles to Crayons started focusing on elevating awareness of “Clothing Insecurity”—which we define as the lack of access to affordable, adequate, and appropriate clothing. Formally recognizing this issue by name helps spotlight this hidden basic need. Without adequate and appropriate clothing, children face unfair barriers and participate in life on an unequal playing field. Cradles to Crayons works to mitigate this insecurity for the children we serve.
Massachusetts State House Briefing In February—in partnership with Representative Marjorie Decker—we held a briefing at the Massachusetts State House to introduce the term and consequences of “Clothing Insecurity” to Massachusetts elected officials. The event was attended by 25+ members of state government and inspired several officials to freely address the room to share their own stories of growing up without adequate clothing. It was a powerful testament to our mission to hear how the devastating effects of poverty—shame, embarrassment, inadequacy— were still so familiar to these incredible leaders in our community. This effort was realized in our first application for an earmark for funding. We are very excited to continue to have the newly formed External Affairs team focus on furthering this work in FY20.
Photo: Cradles to Crayons briefs Massachusetts legislators about Clothing Insecurity Top row, left to right: Karen Grant, VP External Affairs, Cradles to Crayons; Cibele Goncalves, Parent, Administrative Assistant, MassHousing; Alanna Mallon, Cambridge City Council; Marjorie Decker, MA Representative, Cambridge; Sharon Scott-Chandler, EVP/COO, Action for Boston Community Development; Lynn Margherio, Founder and CEO, Cradles to Crayons; Katy DeMoura, Senior Manager Community Engagement (Massachusetts), Cradles to Crayons; Jenn Askjaer, Former Executive Director (Massachusetts), Cradles to Crayons Bottom row, left to right: Kirsten Sims, Director Marketing and Communications, Cradles to Crayons; Marguerite Dowd, Director Operations (Massachusetts), Cradles to Crayons; Keri Wolfe, Senior Manager Partner Relations (Massachusetts), Cradles to Crayons
sic Need a B n e d id H Serves this s n o y a r C o t How Cradles
The “4 As”:
ACCESS
AFFORDABLE
C2C distributes C2C KidPacks are KidPacks via Community free of charge to Service Partners recipients
ADEQUATE
C2C KidPacks contain one week of clothing
APPROPRIATE
C2C KidPacks are customized based on gender, size, age, and season
CRADLES TO CRAYONS NATIONAL
Clothing Insecurity: A Hidden Crisis
CRADLES TO CRAYONS NATIONAL
KidPacks received through the Predictable Service for Deeper Impact Pilot include a week’s worth of clothing and age-appropriate school supplies
Expanding our Commitment As we continue to raise awareness about Clothing Insecurity, Cradles to Crayons is also deepening our impact by piloting proactive programs to better meet the long-term needs of the children we serve. Through our innovative, people- and community-centered model, we will continue to mitigate Clothing Insecurity by delivering custom KidPacks on demand, while we also test new ways that we can better fulfill the full scope of need for basic essentials for as many children as possible.
Predictable Service for Deeper Impact In the fall of 2018, we launched our Predictable Service for Deeper Impact Pilot, aimed to provide preventative service and reach students before they are in a crisis. This two-year pilot program, which serves Boston, Worcester, and Holyoke Public Schools, delivers seasonal clothing packs and school supplies four times a year to a group of 309 students. By working with the school districts, we are able to track and evaluate the tangible outcomes on social and emotional well-being, as well as attendance and academic performance.
Mobile Clothing Pantry Continues Now in its fourth year, our Mobile Clothing Pantry has served more than 14,000 children through partnerships with school- and community-based food pantry programs. This one-stop hub for orders and distribution meets families where they already are to distribute KidPacks monthly. As part of our work to understand the impacts of reliable, accessible service, this effort continues to deliver insight and data for additional improvements in our model.
When Isabel started second grade, her classmates would tease her and call her “smelly.” This hurt Isabel’s feelings, and she would withdraw from her teachers and classmates. Isabel now participates in the school-based Cradles to Crayons Predictable Service Pilot and has access to clean, appropriate clothing that fits her (and her personality) three times a year. Along with the outfits, she also receives hygiene items, and has stopped feeling ashamed and insecure around her peers! Her mom even tells us, “Cradles to Crayons gives my daughter the confidence she needs to do well in school and establish successful peer relationships.”
CRADLES TO CRAYONS BOSTON
Dear Friends, Every kid deserves a childhood: a time of idealism and dreams, a time to engage in school and everyday activities, a time with no worries about basic needs like clothing. It’s our vision that one day every child will have the essentials they need to feel safe, warm, and ready to learn. Exemplary service is at the forefront of all we do. We are committed to providing quality items so the children we serve feel dignified; offering a best-inclass volunteer experience so our supporters feel effective; and being a thoughtleader in this space so we can reach more children who need our services. With the support of our community, we served more than 148,000 children this past year. Because of you, Cradles to Crayons is the leading provider of clothing and other essentials for children in Massachusetts. Warmest thanks to our service partners, corporate supporters, and family donors who make our work possible. We hope to see you at The Giving Factory during the coming year! With great appreciation,
Lynn Margherio Founder and CEO
CRADLES TO CRAYONS REACHES
55% OF CHILDREN
IN NEED OF OUR SERVICES IN THE COMMONWEALTH
M ichael Ewald, Chair, Boston Board of Directors Managing Director, Bain Capital Credit
MORE THAN 30,000 CHILDREN
LIVE IN DEEP POVERTY* IN THE CITY OF BOSTON
1 IN 3 CHILDREN
FACES CLOTHING INSECURITY IN MASSACHUSETTS
* 50% of the Federal Poverty Line: $12,550 for a family of four annually
148,592
bers m u N e h t y B on FY2019 Bost
$5.3M
FUNDS RAISED
144
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
KIDS SERVED
31,691
VOLUNTEERS
CRADLES TO CRAYONS BOSTON
Giving Tuesday was Doubly Special
Left to Right: Dean Athanasia, Bank of America President of Consumer and Small Business; Matthew Slater, New England Patriots Wide Receiver; Lynn Margherio, Cradles to Crayons Founder and CEO; James White, New England Patriots Running Back; Miceal Chamberlain, Bank of America Managing Director and Massachusetts President
On Giving Tuesday, we celebrated with New England Patriots players Matthew Slater and James White at Bank of America’s Boston office. We assembled KidPacks for the local children we serve, and Bank of America presented a $1 million grant to support our “Forever Home” capital campaign. This generous donation will enable us to be a permanent resource for children and families in Greater Boston.
Improved efficiency in The Giving Factory meant more KidPacks! To help achieve our overall goal of serving more children, we analyzed Giving Factory operations to identify possible ways to increase efficiency. The result? Changes in our use of space and the organization of our workstations has enabled our volunteers to work more efficiently and we were able to provide 10% more KidPacks compared to previous years!
Un-Gala® Attendees Were Inspired
Cibele Goncalves
Because we assist families through a wonderful network of service partners, our supporters rarely have the chance to hear directly from a recipient about the impact of the clothing and other items we provide. This was not the case at this year’s Un-Gala which featured Cibele Goncalves as our guest speaker. Cibele shared her personal story of struggling to provide for her young daughter while searching for a “real job and a safe home. “
I cannot believe how far my daughter and I have come—surviving domestic violence, overcoming homelessness, and now working our way out of poverty. It is a future I could only dream of—a future now possible because of Cradles to Crayons. Supporting C2C is supporting a family. It is helping a single mother like me pay the light bill because there is support in another area of my child’s life. These are the things that make you feel human...things that make you believe you matter.” –Cibele Goncalves, Recipient Parent, MassHousing
CRADLES TO CRAYONS  BOSTON
CRADLES TO CRAYONS  BOSTON
Cradles to Crayons has earned Charity Navigator’s highest rating of four stars for sound, transparent financial management for 11 consecutive years—an achievement earned by only 1% of organizations evaluated. For 18 years, Charity Navigator has been evaluating nonprofit organizations for financial health and accountability/transparency. The four-star designation shows donors that we use our support efficiently; sustain our programs and services consistently over time; and are committed to good governance, best practices, and openness with information. Cradles to Crayons donors can be confident that their dollars are supporting an organization that prioritizes financial health and responsibility as well as our mission-driven work.
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.
Expense Breakdown (FY2019)
85% PROGRAMS 8% FUNDRAISING 7% ADMINISTRATIVE
View FY2019 financials online: cradlestocrayons.org/what-we-do/audited-financials
As a long-time supporter of Cradles to Crayons, I am still excited about their unique business model which leverages our financial contributions to provide maximum benefits to local children each year. As a board member and local business leader I am able to engage my colleagues in rewarding and teambuilding service work that multiplies the value we provide to kids in need. Every business leader should be engaging with Cradles to Crayons.
–John Atkinson, Managing Director, Willis Towers Watson
CRADLES TO CRAYONS FINANCIALS
Committed to Fiscal Responsibilty
Our mission is to
provide children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or lowincome 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.
www.cradlestocrayons.org Cradles to Crayons–Boston | The Giving Factory | 155 North Beacon Street | Brighton, MA 02135
FY2019 Highlights Report: BOSTON LEADERSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Michael Ewald (Chair), Managing Director, Bain Capital Credit Darren Abrahamson, Managing Director, Bain Capital Private Equity Joshua Beer, Managing Director, Charlesbank Capital Partners Renée Boynton-Jarrett, M D, ScD, Associate Professor, Boston University School of Medicine; Pediatrician, Boston Medical Center; Executive Director, Vital Village Community Engagement Network Tamar Dor-Ner, Partner, Bain & Company Jason Glass, Senior Managing Director, CVC Growth Partners Barbara Goose, Chief Marketing Officer, John Hancock Carolyn Hastings, Managing Director, Bain Capital Credit Aidan Riordan, Cradles to Crayons Ambassador Elizabeth Roaldsen, Senior Vice President and Head of Digital Enterprise Transformation, State Street Sharon Scott-Chandler, Executive Vice President, Action for Boston Community Development Monica Shah, Partner, Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP Yolanda Taylor, Managing Director, Seaward Asset Management; Owner, Lexington Power Yoga
CORPORATE ADVISORY COUNCIL Aidan Riordan, (Chair), Cradles to Crayons Ambassador Brian Bilello, President, New England Revolution Alison Connell, Senior Director of Marketing, Comcast Cable Anne Cornell, Senior Portfolio Operations Director, AvalonBay Communities, Inc. Lucy Darragh, Director, Corporate Citizenship, Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA Stephen DiPrete, Senior Vice President, Commerical Banking, Eastern Bank —Boston Margaret Dunlap, Marketing Director, Northeast Division, UPS Ilyse Greenberg, Head of Marketing, EF Learning Center, Inc. Jim Holzman, President and CEO, Ace Ticket Bjorn Jakobsen, Partner, KPMG William Matson, Retired Vice President of Human Resources, Analog Devices Brandi Morris, Senior Director, Commerical Training, Sanofi Genzyme Mathew Paisner, Director, Business Development and Strategic Partnerships, ScrubaDub Corporation Colleen Richards Powell, Vice President, Corporate Citizenship and Diversity, MFS Investment Management Elizabeth Roaldsen, Executive Vice President, State Street Randy Shelly, Vice President, Hospitality Group, Shawmut Design and Construction Ashley Swenson, Vice President of Customer Marketing, Staples, Inc. Alicia Verity, Senior Vice President, Bank of America—Boston
FY2019 Highlights Report: BOSTON LEADERSHIP
FAMILY ADVISORY COUNCIL
Charles Rudnick (Chair), Needham, MA; Director of Advancement—Dedham Country Day School Kate Agarwal, West Newton, MA; Marketing and Advertising Consultant Katie Burgener, Charlestown, MA; Attorney, Krokidas & Bluestein Lisa Capone, Westwood, MA; Cradles to Crayons Ambassador Julia Clarkson, Brookline, MA; MBA Admissions, Harvard Business School Rachel Conn, Newton, MA; Cradles to Crayons Ambassador Beth Cook, Wellesley, MA; Assistant Professor, UMass School of Public Health Todd Cook, Wellesley, MA; Managing Director, Bain Capital Double Impact Aliette Estrada, Boston, MA; Strategic Marketing Executive, Global Marketing, Bank of America Cindy Greene, Newton, MA; Cradles to Crayons Ambassador Wendy Kraft, Newton, MA; Clinical Consultant, Quality Rehabilitation Services Heather Krauss, Medfield, MA; Cradles to Crayons Ambassador Renée Kwok, Newton, MA; President, TFC Financial Management Jeff St. Mary, Hingham, MA; Managing Director, Seaward Asset Management Ila Jain Shah, Belmont, MA; Managing Director, College for Social Innovation Victoria Sullivan, Lexington, MA; Philanthropist and Volunteer Yolanda Taylor, Lexington, MA; Managing Director, Seaward Asset Management; Owner, Lexington Power Yoga
ANNUAL CORPORATE PARTNERS
FY2019 Highlights Report: NATIONAL LEADERSHIP
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dean Athanasia (Chair), President of Consumer and Small Business, Bank of America Jay Bhatt, Managing Director, Thomas H. Lee Partners Todd Cook, Managing Director, Bain Capital Double Impact 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 Peggy Koenig, Chair, Abry Partners Lynn Margherio, Founder and CEO, Cradles to Crayons Bill Matson, Retired Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer, Analog Devices Heidi Ryder, Executive Vice President of Merchandising, TJX Companies, Inc.
ANNUAL CORPORATE PARTNERS
FY2019 Highlights Report: IN-KIND SUPPORTERS
In-Kind contributions provide critical support throughout a broad range of services and resources—from office furniture to transportation service to legal counsel. Ace Tickets
Mark’s Moving & Storage, Inc.
AIM Magazine
Monster Movers
Boston Globe
Premium Q Moving and Storage
Boston Magazine
Pricewaterhousecoopers
BrickHouse Moving Company, Inc
Regan Communications
Browne and Brand
Ropes & Gray
Burkhardt Brothers Moving & Storage
Roy’s Moving
Comella’s
Schlep
Cook Illinois Corp
Sitterly Movers
Freeman
Staples
Heather Grimmett
Supreme Industrial Products
Isaac’s Moving & Storage
The Other Guys Moving
Kirkland
UPS
M&M Moving and Storage
Vanguard