Fiscal year 2014 Annual report
Fiscal Year 2014
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FROM THE leadership
The year 2014 was the most ambitious and successful in THE Writer’s Center history.
T
he late novelist Thomas Berger once posed the question, “Why do writers write?” His answer: “Because it isn’t there.” Berger, of course, was employing his trademark wit, but he was also speaking of the truth behind the motivation and daunting challenge of the literary arts. It is this challenge that The Writer’s Center has strived to help thousands of writers and poets meet for nearly four decades. And this last year represents perhaps one of our most important steps forward in that endeavor.
Sally Mott Freeman
The year 2014 was the most ambitious and successful in The Writer’s Center history. After decades of break-even operations, our financial outlook is stable and strong. The number of workshops we offered this year increased to 350 (a 20% increase over 2011) with 40 of these available online. We also expanded our membership base and completed the fiscal year with the highest net income in many years.
James T. Mathews
Phase I of our building renovation—urgent exterior repairs, ADA upgrades, and a complete overhaul of our lower level—is also now complete. The bright new space boasts modern classrooms, updated restrooms, and an 18-carrel Studio and lounge for writers who are looking for a quiet, but not isolated, place to work. Phases II and III of the building renovation, “Our Second Story,” will follow as we raise the necessary funds. We thank you in advance for your ongoing support in helping us make your writing home everything it can be! None of these historic milestones could have been reached without the generosity and hard work of many. We are particularly grateful to Montgomery County under the leadership of Isiah Leggett, State Senator Richard Madaleno and the State of Maryland, our talented trustees and staff, a group of philanthropy-minded donors, and the hundreds of members who variously contributed to our Annual, Capital, and En-
Stewart Moss
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The Writer’s Center Annual Report
dowment Funds. This burgeoning community of supporters has made The Writer’s Center the thriving literary community—and invaluable local, regional, and national resource—that it is today. Other highlights of FY14 included the expansion of our programmatic support for the creative writing and music therapy programs offered to recovering service members under treatment at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. There was also an excellent variety of author readings and other events held by the Center this year. These included a marvelous reading by Honorary Board member and National Book Award winner Alice McDermott, a full-day seminar on the changing landscape of publishing, and the presentation of the second annual McLaughlin-Esstman-Sterns First Novel Prize to Ismet Prcic for his extraordinary novel about a young Bosnian who fled his homeland and resettled in the USA. Thanks to a new cooperative arrangement with Yellow Barn Studio, we are fortunate to have original art gracing our walls and beautifying our space throughout the year. Promising writers also continue to participate in our Undiscovered Voices Scholarship and Emerging Writer Fellowship programs. As we approach our fifth decade, The Writer’s Center will focus on two primary goals: maintaining the high quality of our workshops and readings, and the renovation and expansion of our 1960s-era building so that is accessible to the broadest possible population of writers and lovers of the written word. We are honored to be part this outstanding organization and its exceptional mission.
Sally Mott Freeman
James T. Mathews
Stewart Moss
Board Chair, 2011-2014
Board Chair Elect, 2015
Executive Director
Fiscal Year 2014
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The Writer’s Center Leadership - Board and Staff
Board members and architect Mark McInturff gather for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the renovated classrooms and new Studio.
Current STAFF
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2013-2014
Stewart Moss
Sally Mott Freeman, Chair James T. Mathews, Vice Chair* Les Hatley, Treasurer Patricia A. Harris, Secretary Mier Wolf, Chair emeritas
Executive Director
Sunil Freeman Assistant Director
Laura Spencer Program Manager
BOARD MEMBERS
Rachel Colombana Development Manager
Vanessa Mallory Kotz Marketing & Communications Manager
Genevieve DeLeon Managing Editor of Poet Lore Membership Manager
Ken Ackerman Margot Backas Linna Barnes Naomi Collins Mark Cymrot Michael Febrey
Judson Battaglia
Night Receptionist
Ann McLaughlin Margaret Meleney+ E. Ethelbert Miller Joram Piatigorsky Bill Reynolds Wilson W. Wyatt, Jr.
HONORARY BOARD
Office Manager & Graphics Assistant
Andrew Brooks
Neal Gillen John M. Hill Jeff Kosseff Howard Lavine C.M. Mayo Jim McAndrew
Kate Blackwell Dana Gioia
Jim & Kate Lehrer Alice McDermott
Ellen McLaughlin Howard Norman
* Chair Elect Vice Chair Elect + Treasurere Elect
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The Writer’s Center Annual Report
A Brief History of The Writer’s Center
Fiscal Year 2014
1976
The Writer’s Center is established in Glen Echo Park by a group of literary enthusiasts.
1977
The workshops and event series begins and the Center receives funding from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).
1981
The Writer’s Center relocates to a shared space in a Montgomery County School on Sangamore Road in Bethesda. During this time the Center has a press that prints short runs of journals and literature.
1985
The Center moves to a facility in Bethesda on Old Georgetown Road.
1988
Poet Lore, the oldest continually published poetry journal in America, comes under the Center’s auspices.
1992
The Writer’s Center settles into a former Community Center at 4508 Walsh Street in Bethesda.
1996
The Center expands to several satellite locations throughout the metropolitan Washington area and launches www.writer.org.
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A Brief History of The Writer’s Center
The Center establishes the Undiscovered Voices Scholarship and the Emerging Writers Fellowship to support writers early in their careers.
The McLaughlin-Esstman-Stearns First Novel Prize is created.
2008
2011
The Center partners with the NEA to offer writing and music therapy to recovering service members at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence, located on the campus of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda.
A partnership established with Yellow Barn Studios brings original art to the Center’s walls.
The Center celebrates the signing of a long-term lease with Montgomery County. Phase I of major renovations is launched.
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2012
2014
The Writer’s Center Annual Report
2014 Programs and Partnerships
•
Over 350 workshops offered to thousands of writers of all abilities in fiction, essay, memoir, poetry, playwriting and screenwriting, business writing, and comedy writing at our venues in Bethesda, MD, Washington, D.C., Annapolis, MD, and online
•
More than 70 events and conferences annually, ranging from poetry readings to panel discussions, many of which were offered free of charge through our Open Door Reading series, drew over 1,500 attendees
•
Produced Poet Lore, the oldest continuously published poetry journal in the country, featuring poetry and poetry-related essays and reviews. Poet Lore has 1,500 subscribers and 7,000 readers in 37 states
•
Historic Black Box Theatre housed over 200 shows from local performers and theatre companies
•
Our third year of administering writing workshops and neurologic music therapy for Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans who are being treated for traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Fiscal Year 2014
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2014 Programs and Partnerships EVENTS
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WORKSHOPS
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Workshop & Event Guide
BOOK TALK
27
Fall 2014
A New Chapter
EVENTS 14
BOOK TALK 43
WORKSHOPS 18
Workshop & Event Guide
Winter 2014-2015
Art Begins with a Story
• The Workshop and Event Guide, published three times per year, includes featured editorial articles on writers, the writing life, book reviews, and interviews designed to enrich the experience of our community
•
More than140 local writers attended the Publish Now! seminar on the changing landscape of publishing, especially digital and self-publishing
•
Emerging Writers Fellowships,
Undiscovered Voices
Fellowships, and The McLaughlin-Esstman-Stearns First Novel Prize were awarded to four talented authors chosen from over 220 applicants
• Writing contests were held for students at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, Albert Einstein High School, Gonzaga High School, and the Landon School
•
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Four exhibitions of walls of the Center
original artwork
brightened the
The Writer’s Center Annual Report
Poet Lore Celebrated 125 Years
PHOTOS BY MIGNONETTE DOOLEY
P
oet Lore, the nation’s oldest poetry journal, celebrated 125 years of publishing excellence throughout 2014. With support from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Poet Lore marked its anniversary with a year of special events and initiatives, including partnerships with the Folger Shakespeare Library and the Library of Congress. Poet Lore also sought to ensure its editorial principles were matched in scope and ambition by Writer’s Center organizational targets—to diversify readership, deepen ties to local and international arts institutions, and modernize its web and social media presence. A cross-platform marketing campaign helped yield extensive media coverage—by two NPR radio shows (the Diane Rehm Show and the Kojo Nnamdi Show) and three major publications (The Writer’s Chronicle, The Washington Post, and Poets & Writers)—and more than doubled Poet Lore’s Facebook page likes. Other initiatives included targeted distribution to military installations across the nation, collaborative programming to reach new readers, and a revamping of Poet Lore’s website.
Fiscal Year 2014
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Thank YOu to Our Donors Zora Neale Hurston Circle - $1,000+
Walt Whitman Circle - $50,000+ Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County
Kenneth and Karen Ackerman
Virginia M. Grandison
John and Sarah Freeman Foundation
Army Officers’ Wives’ Club
James and Diana Mathews
Maryland State Arts Council
Margot Backas
C. M. Mayo
Sally Mott Freeman and John Freeman
Bydale Foundation
PDP Foundation
Timothy Crawford
Patricia Harris and Sandor Slager
Joram P. Piatigorsky and Lona Piatigorsky
Brooks Cressman
Joseph and Teresa Murphy
State of Maryland
Pat M. Davis
Ira and Marcia Wagner
Anton Chekhov Circle - $500+ F. Scott Fitzgerald Circle - $25,000+
Anonymous
Omega Foundation
Bruce and Laurie Berger
Tau Foundation
Naomi F. and James F. Collins
Jim and Carol Trawick Foundation Judith L. Jones Joseph and Kathryn Kolar
Siobhan Davenport
Flannery O’Connor Circle - $10,000+
The Koubek Family
Karen Gray
Desiree Magney
Philip D. Harvey Linna Barnes and Christian Mixter John and Barbara Ann Hill
The Rocksprings Foundation
Alan Heilbrun and Kerry Malawista
Phyllis Rozman
Felix Jakob and Kate Blackwell
The Samuel and Grace Gorlitz Foundation
Lerch, Early & Brewer, Chtd.
Emily Dickinson Circle - $250+
McInturff Architects The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Anonymous
James Griffin
Raymond Palmer
Kaya Adams
Melinda Halpert
Mary Jo Anderson
Erika Horton
Peter Pastan and Amy Kessler Pastan
Michelle Berberet
Laurel Huber
Ann Satterthwaite
Robert and Margaret Blair
Phyllis A. Langton
Mady Segal
Patricia E. Chapla
Steven A. Lerman
Michael and Lynn Springer
Susan Coll
Vanessa Le Lesle
Lisa Crye
Dan Logan
Ann McLaughlin
Richard and Elizabeth Drachman
Perry Maiden
Montgomery County Executive’s Ball
Ralph and Louie Dweck
Scott F. McCarthy
Caroline Randall
Kathleen Emmet
David McKinney
Brent and Jung Weil
William Reynolds and Nancy M. Lincoln
Glen Finland
William and Louisa Newlin
Robert Wise
Ronus Foundation
John and Caroline Gaudet
Elizabeth North
Mier & Cathy Wolf
National Endowment for the Arts
Langston Hughes Circle - $2,500+ California Community Foundation The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region Mark Cymrot and Janinne Dall’Orto
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Jonathan C. Stillerman Daniel D. Townsend Craig Tregillus
The Writer’s Center Annual Report
For all gifts made between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014 Poet Lore Donations Mary F. Alexander
Samantha Guerry
John Beardsley and Stephanie Ridder
Kay Hannesson
National Endowment for the Arts Annilee and Martin Oppenheimer
Endowment Gifts For investment in The Writer’s Center’s future
Dianne Driessen
Alan Heilbrun and Kerry Malawista
Robert Freedman
Gardner McFall
Christopher and Janet Sten
Gail Gorlitzz & Chris Smith
Joanna Migdal
Barbara B. Torrey
Mark Cymrot and Janinne Dall’Orto Eagle Bank John and Barbara Ann Hill Sally Mott Freeman and John Freeman Omega Foundation PDP Foundation Joram P. Piatigorsky and Lona Piatigorsky Tau Foundation
The Samuel & Grace Gorlitz Foundation
Sally Mott Freeman and John Freeman
Ira and Marcia Wagner
Capital Gifts
Molly N. Bloom
Charles Jensen Lori Katz
Mark Rubin
William D. Bryson
Ted Lardner
Lisa Schamess
Peggy Clark and Mike Jenkins
Jenifer Lawrence
Laurie Sewall
Genevieve DeLeon
Jody Bolz and Brad Northrup
Laura Spencer
Mark and Jora Young
Founder’s Circle - $100+ Elizabeth Abell Linda Adcock Jill C. Alt Phyllis Anderson Jud Ashman Stephen and Sherry Ashman B. K. Atrostic Robert Axelrod & Christy Wise Lynn W. Bailets and Katherine Crosson John Beardsley and Stephanie Ridder Catherine C. Beckley Mel Belin Barbara Belmont Elizabeth S. Bennett Emily Best Molly N. Bloom Jody Bolz and Brad Northrup Judith Bowles Ellen R. Braaf Rebecca Browning
Fiscal Year 2014
Jackson Bryer William D. Bryson Elizabeth Buchanek Malve S. Burns Jennifer Buxton Haupt Charles D. Cann and Alice Coleman Nancy N. Carlson Paul W. Carlson Robert A. Carpenter William G. Carrington Cecilia Cassidy Randy Cepuch Jennifer Cockburn Leslie Cohen Sharon Craig Valentine Craig Keri Culver Deborah Darr Joe Dellinger Siobhan Dugan Deborah Dwyer Robert and Mary Eccles
Solveig Eggerz Elaine English Linda Fannin Ed Finn Carolyn Finney LoBuglio Cheryl Fisher Bonnie Fogel Fred Foote Lauren Francis-Sharma Donald A. Franck Candida M. Fraze Sunil K. Freeman Martin and Theresa Galvin Majda Gama Thomas and Ann Gannon Gerald Giesecke Robert L. Giron Anne Glusker Jorge and Sandy Goldstein Sherry Goldstein-Askwith Peter Gray Iris Green
For capital projects at The Writer’s Center Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County Jud Ashman Stephen and Sherry Ashman Margot Backas Linna Barnes and Christian Mixter Elizabeth Buchanek Malve S. Burns Patricia E. Chapla Naomi F. and James F. Collins Pat M. Davis Anne Glusker Les Hatley John and Barbara Ann Hill
John and Sarah Freeman Foundation Elizabeth Maloney James and Diana Mathews C.M. Mayo Ann McLaughlin Sally Mott Freeman and John Freeman Joram P. Piatigorsky and Lona Piatigorsky Haeworth Robertson Phyllis Rozman Ann Satterthwaite Mady Segal Richard Seldin State of Maryland Julia M. Vickers Naomi Weiss Mier and Cathy Wolf
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Thank YOU to Our Donors Founder’s Circle - $100+ (continued) Theodore Groll Sushma Gupta Ann Haman Michael Hamilton and E. Laura Golberg Harold P. Hanson Brigid Haragan Les Hatley Charles Hedetniemi Ellen Herbert Jay and Linda Herson Jamie Holland Hull Tim and Sharle Hussion Paul and Susan Hyman IBM Eileen Iciek Lorna Irvine Philip and Ruth Jason Edward and Victoria Jaycox John and Ann Montgomery Holly Johnson Michael Jones and Maria Gimenez Warren Jones Dick Jorgensen Frank Joseph and Carol Jason Lynn Kanter Arthur Karlin and Beth Brophy Lori Katz Kevin Kennedy
Karen Kirkbride Agi Kiss Peter Kissel Ann Kline Barbara Kline Susan Korytkowski Rhys and Sue Kuklewicz Susan Land Raima Larter Robert Leddy Alan and Priscilla Levine Lisa Lipinski Amanda Lockhart Tarpley M. Long Kathy & Richard Lorr John Lubetkin John & Nancy Malin Frank & Elizabeth Malone Elizabeth Maloney Fernando Manibog Steven & Janice Marcom Catherine Mathews Greg & Lois McBride Judith McCombs Gardner McFall Claire McGoff Rekha Mehra David Metz Kristie Miller Carolyn Miller Parr
Velda Moog Stewart Moss Cantwell Muckenfuss & Angela Lancaster P.C. Nair Phillip and Karin Nelson Jean Nordhaus Terrance O’Connor Annilee and Martin Oppenheimer James Papian Diana Parsell Arne & Sara Paulson Carol F. Peck Debra W. Pettit Gary Pittenger Andrew F. Popper Kathy B. Ramsperger Robin Rausch Darrel & Marilyn Regier Thorburn & Helen Reid Emily Rich Robert Richardson & Audrey Hinton David Roach Haeworth Robertson David & Gayle Roehm Carol Rosen Barbara P. Rosing Benjamin Rowland Anthony Rylands Betty Sams Patricia Savage
Lisa Schamess Alan Schechter Richard Seldin Ramsey Shehadeh Barbara Silverstein Ken Simon & Janet Hahn Larry & Louise Smith George Spicer Christopher and Janet Sten David O. Stewart Eric Stone Peter Sullivan Karla Taylor Gerald B. Thompson Paul Thorn Barbara B. Torrey Jane T. Udelson Ann Varnon Verizon Foundation Julia M. Vickers Riggin Waugh & Meredith Pond Paul Wehrli & Marie Pavlicek-Wehrli Naomi Weiss David White Aaron Williams Judith Wood Stacy Woodruff Frances Wu James Yagley Sally Zakariya
Other Contributions Rabiatu Akinlolu Mary F. Alexander Luis A. Ambroggio Charlotte Anker Nancy P. Arbuthnot
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Pinar Arcan Barri J. Armitage Karl Aro and Suzanne Lizanich-Aro Cheryl Somers Aubin
Diedre Badejo Paige Baldwin Cathy Bamji Patricia Bartlett Debra Basilis
Stephanie Berry Sarah Blake Dillard Boland Franca Brilliant Adriane Price Brown
Anthony Brown Patricia Brown Ralph and Coralie Bryant Laura Brylawski-Miller Tom Burke
The Writer’s Center Annual Report
Other Contributions
For all gifts made between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014 Other Contributions (continued) Michael Bustin Jo A. Buxton John Byrne Ellen Callahan Carolyn Carroll Grace Cavalieri Joseph Cerquone Ira Chaleff David Churchill John Clark Alexandra H. Coburn Anne Conover William Cook Kathleen A. Cooke Lynn Cottin Henry Crawford Sylvia Csiffary Andrew Dayton Mary Ann Deak Joanne Delaplaine Genevieve DeLeon Rachel Dellon David Diskin Kenneth Doggett Therese Doucet Anne Dougherty Christine Dove Linda Dreeben Dianne Driessen Jeannette P. Dubrow Toby Eckert Jonathan Eig Barbara Esstman Michael and Elizabeth Febrey Jay Fellows Lynne Fitzhugh Daniel Frank Robert Freedman
Fiscal Year 2014
Nancy Fry Tracee Garner Gwenn Gebhard America Genta Fons Claire Gesalman Robert Gibson Neal and Mary-Margaret Gillen Tom Glenn Christopher Glick Lois J. Godel John Grady Robert Granader Paul E. Grayson Andrew Greene Samantha Guerry Betty Hafner Christine L. Haggard Kay Hannesson Regina Harrison Paulette Harvey Deborah Hefferon Dewey R. Heising Levi Hilling Maureen Hinkle Erich Hintze and Kristina McNeff Thomas L. Holzman and Allison Drucker Suzanne Hood Jad Hopper Daniel Horner Millicent Hughes Miriam S. Israel Llenda Jackson-Leslie Christopher James Rod H. Jellema and Michele Orwin Charles Jensen
Michael Johnson Susan S. Jonsberg Djuana Joseph Santi Karamchetty Caroline H. Keith Sarah Kellogg Judy Kelly Susan Kennington Elaine Kessler Beth Kevles Michael Kirkland Amy Kostant Kathleen Krause Mollee C. Kruger Susan Lane Jeffrey LaPointe Linda LaPrade Ted Lardner Elaine Laube Jenifer Lawrence Merrill Leffler Jonathan and Judith Levin Louis Levy Earl Lindveit Talbot C. Mack Susie Marruci Karen Mazze Michael McCarey James McGee Caroline V. Meirs Margaret Meleney Bonny H. Miller Margaret Miller Elizabeth Miranda Joan M. Mitric Larry Moffi Joan F. Mora Henry Morgenthau
Faye Moskowitz Akenji Ndumu Madeleine Newkirk Jason Newman Les Nicholson Howard E. O’Leary Mary K. O’Melveny Janique Parrott Vinnie Perrone Matthew Petti Frances F. Porter Ted Pulliam and Edward Pulliam Carol M. Purcell Michael Purcell Ann Quinn Karen Reichert Laura Renauld Jeff Richards Elisavietta Ritchie Gretchen Roberts-Shorter Sandra Robinson Nancy Robson Mark Rubin Joan Rudel Kathryn K. Rushing Amanda Russell Robert Sanabria William Schofield Phyllis Schottenstein Richard and Joyce Schwartz Kathryn Scott Stasha Seaton Jessica Seigel Laurie Sewall Debra Shafer Mary Agnes Silberstein Gordon Silcox
Rosanne Singer Cathy Sledz James E. Smith Mary J. Smith Laura Spencer Denise Stablein Sherry Stanley Bettie Stegall Stanley Stern Kathy S. Strom Linda S. Sullivan Eva Sullivan Carrington Tarr Andrea Tisi Austin Ayana Touval Norma S. Tucker Wanda Van Goor Elizabeth Vrenios Davi Walders Reed Waller Sharain Ward Richard C. Washer Walter Weiss Sharlie West Thomas Wetterer James F. Whalen Kathleen E. Wheaton Sonja Williams Mary E. Willy David and Jane Winer Anita Winters Stanton Wormley Katherine Young Mark and Jora Young Jacqueline R. Zakrewsky Boris Zemtzov Burgi Zenhaeusern Judith Zimmerman
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2014 Financial report
Our 38th year has been amazing in all aspects . . .
Grants and Contributions Individual Donations Foundations & Corporations Government Grants In-Kind
$220,485 $161,236 $95,671 $54,927
18% 13% 8% 5%
Earned revenue Workshops Subscriptions Other
$613,183 $7,917 $65,587
50% 1% 5%
TOTAL SUPPORT & REVENUE
$1,219,006
100%
operating expenses
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General & Administration Programs and Workshops Development & Marketing
$256,769 $670,526 $122,408
24% 65% 11%
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES
$1,049,703
100%
The Writer’s Center Annual Report
Other Contributions
Balance sheet
Assets
2014
2013
Cash Endowment Funds Property & Equipment
$159,255 $249,500 $291,020
$26,356 $160,000 $260,109
Other Assets
$57,666
$49,322
TOTAL ASSETS
$757,441
$495,787
(net of Deposit Amount)
liabilities and net assets Current Liabilities Long-term Liabilities
$234,799 $10,397
$147,942 $4,903
TOTAL LIABILITIES
$245,196
$152,845
TOTAL NET ASSETS
$516,245
$342,942
TOTAL LIABILITIES & NET ASSETS
$757,441
$495,787
Fiscal Year 2014
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THE MORRIS & GWENDOLYN CAFRITZ FOUNDATION
partner organizations The Writer’s Center gratefully acknowledges the support, participation, and/or funding from the following organizations. It’s through these partnerships we find mutually beneficial ways to serve our respective communities.
Mission and Vision The Writer’s Center cultivates the creation, publication, presentation, and dissemination of literary work. We are an independent literary organization with a global reach, rooted in a dynamic community of writers. As one of the premier centers of our kind in the country, we believe the craft of writing is open to people of all backgrounds and ages. Writing is interdisciplinary and unique among the arts for its ability to touch on all aspects of the human experience. It enriches our lives and opens doors to knowledge and understanding.