Jackson EMC Foundation 2009 Annual Report

Small Change that jackson emc foundation annual report 2009

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Changes Lives

2009 jackson emc annual report

A Message from Randall Pugh and Sherry Rogers

The past year has been challenging for

adds up to a significant amount. These funds, in

many people, including many of the

turn, are given back as local grants to support

individuals and families throughout the

worthy programs of charitable organizations and

10 northeast Georgia counties Jackson

to help individuals cope with hardship.

EMC serves. It seems now, more than ever, people are in need; and because of our

Awarded for a specific purpose, each Operation

members’ generous support through their

Round Up application is reviewed carefully by

Operation Round Up contributions, the

the Foundation’s Board of Directors to ensure

Jackson EMC Foundation has been able to

members’ donations are used responsibly to

extend much needed help to so many

benefit people in our local communities. In 2009,

organizations and individuals.

the Jackson EMC Foundation Board awarded 124 grants—93 to charitable organizations and

We are both grateful and proud that even in

31 to individuals—and whether those grants were

this economy 90 percent of Jackson EMC

made to individuals or to organizations, the

members continue to contribute to Operation

results were the same—people were helped.

Round Up, a program which rounds up members’ bills a few cents and puts that “spare

Within these pages, we chose a few grant

change” to work through the Jackson EMC

recipients to spotlight, to put a face on the types

Foundation. While members who participate

of assistance Operation Round Up provides so

probably don’t even miss those pennies each

you can see how small change can change lives.

month, their spare change combined with the

We continually find it amazing how many people

contributions of fellow Jackson EMC members

Operation Round Up is helping. The monies

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We are both grateful and proud that even in this economy 90 percent of Jackson

As we enter the next year of Operation Round Up, we know there will still be numerous people

EMC members continue to contribute to

throughout our community who will need the help our members’ contribution provides.

Operation Round Up, a program which

We hope our members are proud of the impact their spare change is making in the lives of

“rounds up” members’ bills a few cents

others. Their support truly demonstrates how small acts of kindness and generosity can make

and puts that “spare change” to work

a big difference.

through the Jackson EMC Foundation.

benefit all types of individuals, from young to Randall Pugh, President & CEO

old, and often provide basic provisions such as clothing, food and medical care. In many cases, individuals would not be able to receive the services and provisions they need without the help Operation Round Up provides the organizations that serve them.

Sherry Rogers, Jackson EMC Foundation Board Chairman

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Come Alive Ministries: Giving Hope, One Life at a Time With the $15,000 grant received from Operation Round-Up, Come Alive is expanding their education and outreach programs, including updating their education materials on pregnancy, prenatal care, child birthing, child care and parenting. They are also purchasing items for their Hope Program, which offers cribs, car seats, diapers, wipes and other materials to assist mothers until their child is four years old.

Discovering you’re expecting should be a joyous occasion; however, if you’re a young mother with limited resources and support, that joyous occasion can be clouded with fear and uncertainty. For the women of Barrow and surrounding counties, Come Alive Ministries, a local faith-based, non-profit pregnancy care center, helps meet the emotional and physical needs of those facing pregnancy through confidential one-on-one support.

“When I found out I was pregnant with my first child, we didn’t know what we were going to do— neither I nor my husband knew anything about taking care of a baby or being a parent,” says Jennifer Wingfield, a Winder-area mom of three girls. “Come Alive helped us so much—through the education sessions, we learned so many things we would have never known, and I know it has helped us be better parents.”

“We consider ourselves a community outreach program, offering a wide variety of services in a caring, non-judgmental environment,” says Dee Toliver, administrator for Come Alive. “Unfortunately, as our local population increases, we see a growing need for our services.” Tolliver adds that many of those in need of Come Alive’s services are young women facing unplanned pregnancies, and who are often unmarried and isolated.

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2009 jackson emc annual report

Rotary Club Literacy Program: Investing in the Capital of Children

readiness and efficiency of Madison County elementary students. An ambitious undertaking, the program purchases and mails an age-appropriate book each month to any Madison County child registered for the program from the time they are born through five years of age. The program also purchases dictionaries for the County’s fifth graders as well as other publications relevant to the students’ educational goals.

How well a child reads is more important to their academic achievement than their family income. With that research result in mind, the Madison County Rotary stepped up to create a Literacy Program that gives local children the tools they need early in life to carry them successfully through their school years.

“Our Literacy Program started because a member, who is also a principal, asked for volunteers to help students with low reading scores,” says Jerry Countant, Rotary Club Services Chair.

“From that request, the program grew exponentially, reaching more than 500 children in our community in five years.”

“I was drawn to this program because, as a child, I was unable to read until the 10th grade due to a learning disability,” says Will Mauldin, a Comer-area retiree and Rotary volunteer, known to the students of Comer Elementary as “Grandpa Will.” “A wonderful teacher took time with me, and that’s what I hope to do for the children in this program— help them succeed at reading so they can succeed in life.”

A $15,000 grant from the Jackson EMC Foundation has allowed the Rotary to continue to support their four-phase Literacy Program, which is designed to improve the reading

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Community Helping Place: Reaching Out to Those in Need The Client Assistance Program offers food, baby supplies and emergency assistance for rent and medications, and in October 2008 was expanded to include a free medical clinic. Offered two afternoons each week, the clinic provides acute and primary care to those without medical insurance who fall below the federal poverty guidelines. Already, the clinic has served more than 400 patients.

At the same time the economy was tumbling, the Community Helping Place (CHP) was expanding its services, not knowing that the need for help among area residents would escalate.

Focused on reducing hunger and improving the health of Lumpkin County’s uninsured and working poor, the non-profit found the $15,000 Jackson EMC Foundation grant for its Client Assistance Program meant more than ever.

“Our goal is to restore our patients’ health and, at the same time, educate them on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle,” says Paula Payne, CHP Clinic director. “In the short period since the clinic opened, many lives have been impacted, from an elderly man who suffered from Type I diabetes but had not seen a doctor for several years, to a young boy who couldn’t play soccer because of asthma and his mother couldn’t afford the doctor’s visits and medications.”

“We’re seeing a huge increase in the demand for our services,” says Brenda Cook, executive director for Community Helping Place in Dahlonega. “Several area plant closings and layoffs have hit the Lumpkin County area especially hard, leaving many residents with no health insurance and facing hardships.”

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2009 jackson emc annual report

Parachute Packers: Helping Kids Transition with Confidence The high school mentors help the middle school students with advice, including helping them select classes and providing general information about high school activities, while counselors and graduation coaches monitor the students’ grades, behavior and involvement. However, the most significant outcomes from the program have been how the students grow and learn from the experience.

As the Beetles song goes, getting by is easier with a little help from your friends.

That’s why two years ago Flowery Branch High School (FBHS) launched Parachute Packers, a one-on-one student mentoring program aimed at reducing the drop-out rate among at-risk students.

Partnering FBHS sophomores and juniors with at-risk Davis Middle School eighth graders, the program encourages the students to build relationships through ice-breakers, shadowing opportunities and other activities. It will be funded in the 2009-2010 school year by a $2,500 Jackson EMC Foundation grant.

“I enjoy working with the younger kids because I remember when I was in middle school; talking to high school students was scary,” says Alex Espinosa, a rising FBHS senior and Parachute Packer mentor. “It’s important to have someone to talk to, to answer your questions and to relate to. It really helps you enter high school with more confidence.”

FBHS graduation coach Stefanie Gibbs notes that while the middle school students may be struggling academically, the program is not focused on tutoring. “Parachute Packers is aimed at giving students the tools they need for success by preparing them for the transition from middle to high school,” says Gibbs. “This type of program may be that one thing these students need to help them stay in school.”

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2009 jackson emc annual report

Athens Vision Clinic: Seeing is Believing

“We’ve definitely seen an increase in assistance requests due to the economy,” says Christina Lennon, executive director for the Athens Vision Clinic. Lennon adds that in addition to providing vision screening and correction, the Vision Clinic also educates diabetic and hypertensive patients about their health issues’ effect on their vision. “About half of our patients are diabetic or have high blood pressure, and we want to provide the vision help they need, but also address the underlying problems,” she notes.

Sight is a gift many people take for granted; however, if your vision is impaired and you don’t have the resources to seek assistance, the impact to your life can be devastating. The $10,000 Jackson EMC Foundation grant to the Athens Vision Clinic, a service of the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation, is providing welcome relief to area residents who cannot afford needed vision care.

Using donated space at the Mercy Health Clinic, the Vision Clinic helps restore sight for uninsured and low-income residents in Clarke and surrounding counties with Lighthouse medical equipment, volunteer physicians, and funding for vision screenings, prescription eyeglasses and certain surgical procedures.

2009 jackson emc annual report

“This program is such a blessing,” says James Heide, a patient of the Vision Clinic. “I’d been unable to have my eyes examined for more than eight years because I couldn’t afford the cost of the screening and the glasses, but I’m looking forward to being able to see clearly again.”

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Boys & Girls Club of Jackson County: Providing After-School Academic Guidance The Power Hour program has been in place in Jackson County for approximately five years. Club staff and volunteers, including retired teachers, University of Georgia students and local high school seniors, assist students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The program also offers tutoring assistance for club members who need more targeted assistance. In addition to improved grades and test scores, Power Hour students also develop organizational, time management and other behavioral skills.

In every community there are children who lack the scholastic support they need to succeed in school. The Boys & Girls Club of Jackson County hopes to enhance the academic achievements of area students by using a $15,000 Jackson EMC Foundation grant to fund its Power Hour homework help and tutoring program.

“Power Hour provides Boys & Girls Club members with a structured time and place for after-school learning, where Club staff and volunteers can help students complete homework assignments and other school projects,” says Michael Williams, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Jackson County.

“The program provides needed guidance and support to students by assisting them with tasks such as research, and helping them identify problem areas and work to overcome them.”

2009 jackson emc annual report

Tyree, Brianna and Raisa Swift, 15-year-old triplets, can testify to the powerful benefits of the Power Hour. “It has helped me a lot—I focus better, pay attention more and have learned how to listen better,” says Tyree. “I’ve improved my grades in biology and math, and I’ve learned how to have a positive attitude,” adds Raisa. “I feel like being here has helped me learn how to be more successful in school and in life.”

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Tiny Stitches: Helping New Moms in Need Items for newborn boys and girls are lovingly stitched by about 125 volunteers. Their work is anonymously donated through social workers and nurses at area hospitals, health departments and other facilities in nine counties throughout northeast Georgia. Tiny Stitches also supplies burial ensembles for bereaved parents by request.

The staff distributing the layettes says the gift makes an incredible impact.

Imagine being a new mother unable to afford even the basics your newborn needed—clothes, booties, a blanket. The volunteers who started Tiny Stitches didn’t want new moms to worry about these necessities, so they started an organization to make layettes for mothers who have little or nothing for their newborns. A $10,000 Jackson EMC Foundation grant is helping the Suwanee-based organization purchase needed supplies such as fabric, yarn and notions.

“These layettes go to parents who have nothing—they have no extra money and are in desperate situations. When they receive the tote filled with handmade items, they are so grateful and excited,” says Janet Ballew, Fannin County Health Department Medicaid coordinator. “It makes me feel good to be able to give a needy family this generous gift made with love.”

“Our volunteers make tote bags and fill them with a 35item handmade layette, including an afghan, receiving blankets, nightgowns, bibs, undershirt, booties and burp cloths,” says Tiny Stitches President Jill Stubler. “In our 10-year history, we’ve donated more than 4,000 layettes.”

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Individual: Helping a Family with Special Needs into creating a space which could accommodate Nikki’s care needs and give her a sense of independence.

Every parent wants to provide a safe, nurturing home for his or her child.

Caring for a special needs child creates additional challenges in achieving that goal, as Brian and Lisa Page found with the premature birth of their oldest daughter, Nikki.

“We talked to several builders, and they said they could build a permanent addition, which we could later attach to when we build a home,” says Brian. So with financial help from several sources, including a $3,500 grant from the Jackson EMC Foundation, and volunteer labor, the now 17-year-old Nikki has a beautiful new addition with a fully handicap accessible bedroom and bath, complete with a roll-in shower, as well as an exterior wheelchair ramp.

“After she was born, Nikki had a lot of complications,” says Lisa.

“She was eventually diagnosed with infantile spasm disease and cerebral palsy. While we went through a lot of ups and downs, Brian and I were determined to do whatever it took to give her the best life possible.”

As Nikki grew into an adolescent, the Pages realized they needed help to give her some of the freedom other children her age enjoyed. The family of five lived in a double-wide trailer without handicap access, which created challenges when caring for and transporting Nikki. The Pages began looking

“We were overwhelmed with the outpouring of support for this project,” says Lisa. “Being a parent of a handicapped child can be overwhelming, and I cannot express what a difference this addition will make in our lives and, most of all, in Nikki’s.”

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2009 jackson emc annual report

Jackson EMC Foundation, Inc.

Jefferson, Georgia

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF MAY 31, 2009 AND 2008 AND REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

Support Contributions Interest

1,027,405 $

6,030 1,033,435

Program Service Expenses

Community Assistance Family and Individual Assistance

2009 jackson emc annual report

2009

943,568 84,089 1,027,657

2008 $1,037,056 9,538 1,046,594 923,025 143,688 1,066,713

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

5,778

(20,119)

Net Assets, Beginning

286,221

306,340

Net Assets, Ending

$ 291,999

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$ 286,221

Jackson EMC Foundation, Inc. SCHEDULE OF COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE FOR THE YEAR ENDED MAY 31, 2009

A Step to Independence, Inc. American Cancer Society American Heart Association American Red Cross-East Georgia Chapter Annandale at Suwanee, Inc. Ark of Jackson County, Inc. Atlanta Union Mission Barrow County Transition Council Boy Scouts of Northeast Georgia Boys and Girls Clubs of Jackson County Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta Bridge the Gap Ministries Camp Koinonia CASA-Piedmont, Inc. Challenged Child and Friends, Inc. Children’s Center for Hope and Healing Christian Education Centers, Inc. Citizens for a Better Auburn, Inc. Come Alive Ministries of Barrow County Community Helping Place Computers for Youth Cooperative Ministry-Lilburn Cooperative Ministry-North Gwinnett Creative Enterprises Family Connection-Jackson County Family Connection-Lumpkin County Family Promise of Gwinnett County Food Bank of Northeast Georgia, Inc. Foster Children’s Foundation 1 Fragile Kids Foundation Franklin Adoptive and Foster Parent Association Friends of the Braselton West Jackson Library Friends of the Pendergrass Library Friends of the State Botanical Garden Gainesville Care Center Gainesville ProMusica Concert Series Gainesville State College Foundation Gainesville/Hall County Alliance for Literacy

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$ 15,000 6,000 15,000 6,000 15,000 15,000 6,000 8,000 5,500 15,000 7,500 5,000 15,000 6,129 15,000 15,000 5,000 13,830 15,000 15,000 15,000 10,000 2,000 10,600 15,000 10,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 15,000 5,200 5,000 2,000 7,275 2,550 4,000 15,000 10,000

2009 jackson emc annual report

Jackson EMC Foundation, Inc. SCHEDULE OF COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE FOR THE YEAR ENDED MAY 31, 2009

Gateway House Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation Georgia Masonic Charities Foundation Good Samaritan Ministries Gwinnett Children’s Shelter, Inc. Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services Gwinnett Community Clinic, Inc. Gwinnett Student Leadership Team Habitat for Humanity-Barrow County Habitat for Humanity-Jackson County Habitat for Humanity-Hall County Harmony House Child Advocacy Center Health Access Initiative Health Department-Hall County Hebron Community Health Center, Inc. Hoop4Life, Inc. Hope Clinic, Inc. I Am, Inc. Interfaith Hospitality Network of Athens Jefferson First Baptist Church Food Pantry Junior Achievement of Georgia - Gainesville March of Dimes Foundation Meet the Need Ministry, Inc. Mentor Program-Clarke County Mercy Health Center Muscular Dystrophy Association Northeast Georgia Youth Science and Tech Center Newtown Florist Club NOA’S Ark, Inc. Northeast Atlanta Ballet Ensemble Nuci’s Space Parachute Packers Mentor Program Parkwood Farms Therapy Center Project Safe, Inc. Rainbow Village Reins of Life, Inc.

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8,200 10,000 6,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 5,431 12,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 3,000 15,000 15,000 10,000 10,000 15,000 14,940 5,000 2,500 7,500 5,000 15,000 3,000 8,400 15,000 3,000 5,000 10,000 5,000 3,300 2,500 15,000 13,000 15,000 4,500

Jackson EMC Foundation, Inc. SCHEDULE OF COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE FOR THE YEAR ENDED MAY 31, 2009

Rotary Club of Madison County Saint David’s Community Church Samaritan Stand Corporation Sexual Assault Center of Northeast Georgia Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse Signs and Wonders, Inc. South Hall Community Food Pantry Special Olympics-Madison County Spirit of Joy Food Bank St. Vincent de Paul Society Success by 6-United Way of Northeast Georgia Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Inc. Tiny Stitches, Inc. Tree House, Inc. UGA Cooperative Extension of Banks County Women to the World, Inc. YMCA-Georgia Mountains YMCA-Winder Barrow Brad Akins YMCA of Athens YWCO of Athens

15,000 15,000 7,000 3,000 5,040 15,000 2,000 8,473 2,500 20,000 9,200 15,000 10,000 10,000 15,000 9,000 15,000 15,000 7,500 5,000 $943,568

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P.O. Box 38 Jefferson, Georgia 30549-0038 www.jacksonemc.com

J A C K S O N E L E C T R I C MEMBERSHIP CO R PO R AT I O N O P E R AT I O N

The Jackson EMC Foundation receives its funding through Operation Round Up ®