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.”
As we close our second full year in Chicagoland, we are proud of what we have accomplished and grateful to you for making it possible. Thanks to your generous support and over 30,000 hours of volunteering in The Giving Factory, we have been able to provide warm winter coats, sturdy boots, and hats and gloves for children facing a biting Chicago winter. In addition, 25,000 children across Chicagoland were able to start the school year fully equipped to learn with new backpacks and school supplies. We have served more than 60,000 children this year, helping them worry less about having pants that fit and pencils and rulers for math class and giving them more time to just be kids. Our work is far from over. Nearly 225,000 children in Chicagoland are experiencing poverty or homelessness. Without other systems in place to counter Clothing Insecurity, we must redouble our efforts to make sure our communities’ children have what they need to grow and thrive. We are indebted to our social service partners, volunteers, and generous donors for helping in this effort. We look forward to serving more kids this year!
Shoshana Bucholz-Miller, Executive Director
CRADLES TO CRAYONS REACHES
28% OF CHILDREN
Jack Greenberg, Chair, Chicago Board of Directors; Chairman of the Board, Innerworkings; Retired Chairman, The Western Union Company; Retired Chairman and CEO, McDonald’s
32% OF CHILDREN
1 IN 2 CHILDREN
IN CHICAGO LIVE IN DEEP POVERTY*
FACES CLOTHING INSECURITY IN CHICAGOLAND
IN NEED OF OUR SERVICES IN CHICAGOLAND
* 50% of the Federal Poverty Line: $12,550 for a family of four annually
63,695
mbers u N e h t y B o g FY2019 Chica
$4.0M
FUNDS RAISED
54
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
KIDS SERVED
17,714
1
VOLUNTEERS
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
CRADLES TO CRAYONS CHICAGO
Dear Friends,
CRADLES TO CRAYONS CHICAGO
Bringing the Community Together Our second annual MLK Day Collection and Day of Service, presented by the Chicago Blackhawks, was our largest singleday collection drive of the year and helped to keep our shelves full during the winter months. Hundreds of community members participated by dropping off donations and volunteering at our pop-up collection sites and The Giving Factory.
Showing off some of the donations collected on MLK Day
Expanding Our Reach Across Chicagoland We partnered with the South Side YMCA to launch our first Cradles to Crayons Hub where we will collect product, host volunteers to quality inspect the donations, and distribute finished KidPacks. Our goal is to make it easier for community members and nonprofit partners far away from The Giving Factory to engage with us, and to increase the number of kids we can serve.
Getting Kids Ready for School
Jack Greenberg, Chair, Chicago Board of Directors, and John Atkinson, Chicago Board of Directors, with some of the volunteers at Chicago’s third annual Backpack-A-Thon
Our third annual Backpack-AThon®, presented by Bank of America, brought together nearly 400 corporate volunteers to pack 25,000 backpacks in under three hours. Backpack-A-Thon continues to grow year over year, with 17,000 backpacks distributed last year. The backpacks, full of new school supplies, are then delivered to 40+ local agencies so children have their items for their first day of school. Additional sponsors include Allstate, Ropes & Gray LLP, The UP Foundation, Boston Consulting Group, and more.
Many students come to school facing significant barriers to their learning: not having adequate clothing, school supplies, literacy materials, and toys. Cradles to Crayons is a true asset that ensures that
kids have the ability to be free to engage in the teaching and learning environment and can actually envision their success. As a counselor I know and understand how paramount this is! Thank you Cradles to Crayons, partners, and volunteers for the great work!” –Stephanie Millet-Brathwaite, The Howe School Counselor
and rely on Casa Central to connect them to resources that alleviate their financial burden and help them gather all of the essentials needed for the school year. From backpacks to school supplies and uniforms, our families appreciate any and all items that can be provided. Nothing brings our children more confidence and security than attending the first day of school in a brand new outfit and backpack, and with all of the supplies listed on their school supply list. Thanks to our partnership with Cradles to Crayons, we are able to provide such an experience to our children, at no cost to their families. Additionally, Cradles to Crayons has been a huge support to our program throughout the year by providing basic needs such as clothing, brand-new pajamas, and socks and underwear. One of our families, who recently moved to Chicago from Florida, was especially grateful as they did not have any winter clothing. Thanks to Cradles to Crayons they were able to receive coats, snow boots, and other winter necessities. We are forever grateful that Cradles to Crayons has partnered with Casa Central.� Karina Cabrales, Casa Central
CRADLES TO CRAYONS  CHICAGO
Every year our families gear up for Back-to-School time
CRADLES TO CRAYONS  CHICAGO
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–Chicago | The Giving Factory | 4141 W. George Street | Chicago, IL 60641
FY2019 Highlights Report: CHICAGO LEADERSHIP
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jack Greenberg (Chair), C hairman 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 and Regional Executive, Bank of America—US Trust Douglas Kush, Managing Partner, Egon Zehnder Carrie McNally, Attorney, Special Counsel, Sheppard, Mullin, Ritcher & Hampton LLP Desiree Rogers, Chair, Choose Chicago
CORPORATE ADVISORY COUNCIL
Amy Hughes (Chair), Managing Director and Regional Executive, Bank of America—US Trust Julie Coffman, Partner, Bain & Company Pam Dufour, President, Allstate Roadside Services Shana Hayes, Director of Community Affairs, Northern Trust Corporation Lori Healey, CEO, Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Megan Herrmanns, Regional Vice President of Customer Success Group, Salesforce Jim Hirshorn, Partner, 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 Michael McMurray, President, Globetrotters Engineering Corporation David Whitaker, President and CEO, Choose Chicago
FY2019 Highlights Report: CHICAGO LEADERSHIP
FAMILY ADVISORY COUNCIL
Lisa Belcher (Chair), Glencoe, IL; Cradles to Crayons Ambassador Alisa Bergstein, Glencoe, IL; Former Attorney, Loeb & Loeb LLP Rebecca Cutler, Lincoln Park, 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 Nicola Idehen Halsall, Kenwood, IL; Chief Human Resources Officer, The Vistria Group Stacy Jakobe, Evanston, IL; Cradles to Crayons Ambassador Amy Kaplan, Riverwoods, IL; Cradles to Crayons Ambassador Carrie McNally, Chicago, IL; Attorney, Special Counsel, Sheppard, Mullin, Ritcher & Hampton LLP Doug Meyer, Deerfield, IL; Managing Director of Investments, Wells Fargo—Chicago Stacey Meyer, Deerfield, IL; Cradles to Crayons Ambassador Debbie Michaelson, Chicago, IL; Senior Advisor Consultant, OppenheimerFunds Matt Michaelson, Chicago, IL; Managing Director, Hotchkis & Wiley Capital Management Nguyen Ngyuen, Chicago, IL; Principal Architect, N2TV Studio Josh Shipley, Chicago, IL; Managing Director, Pricoa Capital Group Mara Smith, Northbrook, IL; Cradles to Crayons Ambassador Tan Vu, Chicago, IL; Managing Director, Prudential Capital
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