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grateful
Dear Friends, As you are aware, the poor economy had a drastic effect on federal, state and local budgets and the downturn affected everyone in some way. In such difficult times, each of us is tested as to who we are and how we will respond to life’s challenges. Living with uncertainty is not easy, but at SOS Children’s Villages Illinois, we found that we are resilient, that we see challenges as opportunities and that we are a people who hope in a better future for our children and we believe that we can make that future a reality.
4 In a sense, dealing with uncertain times gives us a window into the lives of the children whom we serve. While uncertain times are temporary, uncertainty and fear as to “what will happen to me” are the normal way of life for a foster child. This is where SOS Children’s Villages Illinois provides an alternative. We are a Village that offers neglected, abandoned and abused children a stable and secure home offering possibilities for a better life. I am proud to say that, despite the current economic reality, this past year we were able to maintain the very best of care, support and resources for our children. We were able to accomplish this because of the resourcefulness and dedication of our staff, donors, board members and volunteers. For these people, we are grateful. Of prime importance, and our major area of concern is the success of the children entrusted to our care. Careful analysis of our resources and expenditures enabled us to strengthen our services and programs even more. To that end, our unique foster care model will be even stronger in 2010. We are developing special new programming for Hispanic children in crisis and a new framework will include more far-reaching programs to fit our children’s needs. We are also exploring the exciting possibility of a third Chicago Village. For all these things, we are grateful. Of course, none of our success would be possible without generous benefactors like you. Because of your kindness and generosity, we continue to fulfill our mission of helping abused, abandoned and neglected children. For you, we are eternally grateful, Mr. Tim McCormick, M.Div., M.B.A., M.H.R.M. Chief Executive Officer SOS Children’s Villages Illinois
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Letter from Tim Table of Contents We are a Village We are Parents Mom’s Rule A Former Teacher We are Transforming He Lived in a Car More than Math Our History Financial Highlights of 2009-2010 Financials The need for donations and volunteers Back Cover
Pages 3 & 4 Page 5 Page 6 & 7 Page 8 & 9 Pages 10 Page 11 Pages 12 & 13 Page 14 Page 15 Pages 16 & 17 Pages 18 & 19 Pages 20 –21 Pages 22 & 23 Page 24
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we are
a Village
What does it take to help children who’ve been abused, abandoned, orphaned and neglected? It takes the collective power of our unique community of parents, tutors, mentors, social workers and psychologists ‌ all serving as role models. We are men, women and children committed to living with and for each other. Holding hands, helping hands, hugging hands as one. Never standing alone. United. Compassionate. Caring for and dependent on each other. It takes a Village. An SOS Children’s Village.
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We are strong, stable families where children, teenagers and biological brothers and sisters can bond and live together.
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parents We are full-time, professionally trained parents whose only job is to nurture, care for and love the children. Our families are strong and stable, where children, teenagers and biological brothers and sisters can heal, develop, bond and flourish in a warm, caring environment. In their own home.
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Moms rule! (With love and affection.) Sandra has transformed 17 wonderful children in her 16 years as an SOS parent. Another child will graduate from college soon. Her children live all over the area now, supporting their own families with love and affection. Before becoming a foster parent, Sandra went through 9 months of rigorous training with classes in anger management, family relations, budgeting, CPR and more. She still attends Parent Support & Mentoring Groups – which are refresher get-togethers to support each other, share problems and provide the best opportunities for the children. 80% of SOS parents will either mentor or be mentored by another parent to give direction, share experiences, advise and acquaint new parents with procedures.
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A former teacher who never quits teaching. In Cuba, Armando was a teacher. Today that’s important for his family of six Hispanic children. Now he teaches the values of confidence, empowerment and standing up for your beliefs. Armando came to SOS Children’s Villages in 2007 and went to school for a year to become a professional foster parent. Today he’s teaching, loving and keeping his children together. He’s helping his children’s biological parents conquer their problems through the Fostering Families Program and helps coordinate their weekly visits with the children. And he’s ready for more. There is a sizable need for more Latino parents. 100% of SOS Children’s Villages Illinois high school graduates went on to college in 2009. Nationally, only 1 in 5 in regular foster care children went to a vocational school or college.
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transforming There are many incredible stories at SOS Children’s Villages Illinois, where love, understanding, encouragement and some very unique programs are transforming homeless, abused and abandoned children into happy, productive, successful citizens.
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He lived in a car. Then he lived his dream. Kevin’s family slept in a car for years and moved around chaotically from town to town. Kevin quit school and ran away. But then he ran to SOS Children’s Villages and slept in his very first bed. And dreamt his very first empowering dream. He went back to school. With the help, mentoring and support from the SOS Children’s Villages family, he graduated from high school. Today Kevin is enrolled in SOS Children’s Villages Independent and Transitional Living Program where young adults live together, learn everyday life skills and face the burdens of modern life. He’s working part time, attending college and wants to be a math teacher. Thanks to SOS and the generous support of our donors, Kevin is living his dream. 100% of SOS Children’s Villages Illinois Transitional Living Program teenagers were placed in jobs. Nationally, only 1 in 6 regular foster care children was working and completely self-supporting. Additionally, of those regular foster care children, 40% will live on public assistance and 25% will be homeless at some time.
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“I’m learning more than just math and history. I’m learning who I am.” – Vanity Vanity attended scores of schools, getting D’s, F’s and incompletes. Then she came to SOS, reunited with her two younger siblings through our Sibling Reunification Program and got her first A. Her biological sisters have helped immensely. They let her know she was not alone, gave her stability, made her stronger, helped her mature and act as a role model for her younger siblings. Vanity sees her biological mother every weekend. Through SOS Children’s Villages Adolescent Parenting Program, Vanity’s mom is working toward reuniting with her family. Vanity’s mom lived at the Village in 2009 and now has her own home. She’s going to school to become a nurse and can’t wait to get her family back. These are the kinds of happy endings we live for. Thanks to the compassion and commitment of so many, they occur almost everyday at SOS Children’s Villages Illinois. 85% of SOS Children’s Village Illinois children with siblings are living together in the same family. Only about 30% of siblings live together in other programs; in fact, most will live in 6 or more foster homes.
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Responding to the needs of the many children orphaned or abandoned after World War II, a young Austrian medical student named Hermann Gmeiner started the first SOS Children’s Village in 1949. Sixty years later, SOS has grown to become the largest non-denominational children’s care provider in the world, with over 500 Villages in 132 nations providing help and hope to over 80,000 children.
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In 1993, SOS Children’s Villages created the first Illinois Village in Lockport with 18 individual homes on a beautiful suburban campus. In 2004, we enhanced our reputation and established the Chicago Village with 16 homes in the AuburnGresham community on the south side of the city.
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The Chicago Village is SOS Children’s Villages’ first urban Village in the heart of a major city. But more help is needed and more work must be done. Plans are in the works to expand our Chicago Village.
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Our Villages include community centers that serve not only each Village but the surrounding neighborhoods, offering support services like day care, family assistance, job skill training and counseling that help improve the lives of our children, their parents and their neighbors. With these two Villages we have established ourselves as the state’s premier foster care provider. While we’ve grown in size and scope, our mission has remained unchanged: We build families. We help them shape their own futures. We share in the development of their communities.
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Financial Highlights of 2009-2010 With the support of our partners, donors, board members and friends, we were successful in supplying hopes and 30 homes in 2 locations for over 125 children and families in greater Chicagoland in 2009. Our Finance Committee made important decisions that lead to fiscal stability of the organization. Cost adjustments and organizational efficiencies created an increase in Net Assets that was reallocated to strengthen our direct children and family services and programs. Charity Navigator, America’s premier independent charity evaluator, honored SOS Children’s Villages Illinois the third consecutive year with its highest rating – 4 stars. Charity Navigator bases its ratings on the financial health, organizational efficiency and capacity of not-forprofits all over the country. A 4 star rating is given to those few charities that exceed industry standards and outperform other organizations in its charity category.
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On March 31, 2009 SOS Children’s Villages Illinois celebrated a new partnership with the YMCA at our Chicago Village with the grand opening of the Jeanne Kenney Day Care Center. The state-ofthe-art facility offers programs for children age 6 weeks to 5 years.
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We have developed a new fundraising process in 2010 to reduce our dependence on the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and instead will focus on increased funding from foundations, corporations and individuals.
successful
SOS Children’s Villages Illinois continued in 2009 to develop our new initiative: the Hispanic Foster Parenting Program. Hispanic children are entering foster care in record numbers. Our new program is giving these children the opportunity to live with a Hispanic parent who understands their unique cultural, integration and language needs.
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Statement of Activities (Years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008) SUPPORT AND REVENUE 2009 Department of Children & Family Services $6,316,003 Contributions 686,981 Special events revenue, net of related expenses 7,564 In-kind donations 100,014 Other income 67,205 Total Support and Revenue 7,247,767 EXPENSES Program services 5,835,024 Management and general 1,217,973 Fundraising 219,699 Total Expenses 7,272,696 CHANGE IN NET ASSETS (24,929) Adjustments to net assets -Unrealized gain(loss) 36,382 Net assets, beginning of year $14,805,346
2008 $5,549,572 502,956 166,685 147,381 154,962 6,521,556
Net assets, end of year
$14,805,346
$14,916,799
5,550,864 1,078,815 303,075 6,932,754 (411,198) (716,715) $15,933,259
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION ASSETS 2009 Cash and cash equivalents $5,928,212 Cash restricted for investment in property 209,633 Government receivable 33,569 Contributions and other receivable 246,056 Deferred charges 128,444 Prepaid expenses/deposits 59,968 Total current assets 6,605,882 Property and equipment 24,294,802 Less accumulated depreciation 5,645,655) Net property and equipment 18,649,147 Total Assets 25,255,029 LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS Current liabilities 416,397 Long-term debt 9,921,833 Total liabilities 10,338,230 Total net assets 14,916,799 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS $25,255,029
2008 $3,992,343 1,791,728 31,101 365,045 274,035 66,538 6,520,790 23,518,691 (4,728,013) 18,790,678 25,311,468
424,147 10,081,975 10,506,122 14,805,346 $25,311,468
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Where would we be without you, the lifeblood of our donor and volunteer system? Without you we can’t offer help and hope to the children in Chicagoland. We can’t offer professional full-time foster parents.
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We can’t continue working with our unique Village model, the collective power of our community of tutors, mentors, social workers, psychologists and volunteers. We can’t follow through with our new initiatives and programs.
you
We need you. Be a volunteer – a home-helper or a relief parent, a mentor, a coach, an after-school tutor and more. Be a donor – no matter how big or small. Be a visitor. Come observe our Villages first hand and see the wonderful work we’re doing every day. Simply contact us at SOS Children’s Villages Illinois. Phone: 312.372.8200 Fax: 312.372.8202 E-mail: info@sosillinois.org We need you. Because we are you.
we are
the children
SOS Children’s Villages Illinois Administrative Offices
Lockport Village
Chicago Village
216 W. Jackson Boulevard Suite 925 Chicago, IL 60606 Phone: 312.372.8200 Fax 312.372.8202
17545 Village Lane Lockport, IL 60441 Phone: 815.740.7280 Fax 815.740.7282
7600 S. Parnell Chicago, IL 60620 Phone: 773.783.0500 Fax 773.783.0600 Visit us at www.sosillinois.org
This annual report was made with the support of the Taproot Foundation. The Taproot Foundation strengthens nonprofits by engaging business professionals in service.www.taprootfoundation.org Taproot Foundation Service Grant Team Members: Toni Midderhoff, Account Director; Jill Staszak, Project Manager; Wheaten Mather, Marketing Manager; Susan Fireside, Graphic Designer; Kent Kauffman, Copyeditor; Graham Siegel, Strategy Analyst