Impact Report. 25th Anniversary Edition

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1 25th Anniversary Edition Impact Report It s surprising to think that a woman can turn her entire life around in just a few months. With support through the Orlando Sentinel Family Fund, we re opening new doors for thousands in Orange County and beyond. Thank you! - Alane Hill, Director of Grants Administration, Coalition for the Homeless

2 Dear Friend, A quarter of a century ago, the Orlando Sentinel and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation joined forces to address the growing needs in Central Florida and established the Orlando Sentinel Family Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund. We are grateful to be a part of the community, funding nonprofit organizations that are making a difference. Over the last 25 years, the Orlando Sentinel Family Fund has touched the lives of thousands of disadvantaged children, families and adults. We are committed to helping those less fortunate in our community improve their lives and become self-sufficient. By supporting qualified nonprofit organizations with programs concentrating on child & youth education, housing, hunger, and child abuse prevention & treatment, we fulfill that commitment year after year. th The important work accomplished through the Orlando Sentinel Family Fund is only possible because of the generosity of our loyal donors and Sentinel readers. With their support, we have partnered with local nonprofit organizations committed to making an impact on the vital issues facing the region. From grants made in 2014, our grantees reported that their programs achieved significant impacts helping those in need: Anniversary Edition - More than 6,700 families were able to find housing or remained in their own homes - Over 13,000 nutritious meals were served to feed the hungry - Of the high school students in their mentoring programs, 98% stayed in school and moved toward obtaining their diploma - In their tutoring programs, 86% of primary grade students improved their reading and comprehension skills - More than 3,300 children and youth gained access to additional educational opportunities While we take a moment to honor this milestone and celebrate all that has been accomplished, we know there are still so many in need of our help. That s why the Orlando Sentinel Family Fund will continue to assist those who need a hand. This report tells the story of the extraordinary work being done. We hope you find it as uplifting as we do. Remember none of this would have been possible without your help. Together, we are building a stronger Central Florida community for everyone. Thank you for your commitment and support. Nancy Meyer Publisher and CEO Orlando Sentinel David D. Hiller President and CEO Robert R. McCormick Foundation

3 Featured Grantees Beta Center Teen mothers need a way to move from cradle to career, says Barbara Wetzler, Interim President and CEO of the Beta Center in Orlando. Our Positive Parenting Program helps them relate to their babies in a loving, effective way, and that s a terrific start. The program serves nearly 150 moms each school year from outreach and school-based programs, as well as those who stay at Beta s 20- bed residence. Teen mothers learn to cope with multiple demands and nurture healthy attachment through lessons that often begin before their babies arrive. We introduce them to the basics of infant and child development through Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida Thanks to support from the Coalition for the Homeless, single women and mothers in Orlando have a safe place to turn as they begin their lives again. Their Women s Residential and Counseling Center (WRCC) program served 500 women and children in Around 80% were victims of domestic abuse, says Alane Hill, the Coalition s Director of Grants Administration, but each story is as unique as the woman living it. Hill recalls a young single woman in her late 30s who developed cataracts The Orlando Sentinel Family Fund has shared our vision for healthy mothers and babies for more than 20 years. This is a true partnership that enriches families and communities. - Barbara Wetzler, Interim President and CEO, Beta Center Osceola County Council on Aging Since 1999, grants through the Orlando Sentinel Family Fund have supported the Osceola County Council on Aging in providing nourishing meals for area seniors. But when the 2008 economic crisis changed the face of hunger, the Council with help through the Family Fund mounted a powerful response. We ve expanded our Mobile Food Pantry to reach thousands of homeless families, says Grants Manager Lisa Wright. Most have come here seeking jobs, settling in budget motels. Few have access to the fruits and vegetables essential for good health. Over the past five years the Council has worked with Osceola Grown, a local farmers cooperative, and Farm Share, a Florida produce bank, to obtain the fresh goods families need. Volunteers help deliver the produce to a Community Hope Center. The Council feeds financial well-being, too, Wright says. Every dollar families save on groceries can be used for clothing, school supplies or permanent housing, which helps build our local economy. classes, role modeling, play labs and counseling, all supported by individual case plans, Wetzler notes. In one group of 50 children, 98% reached the proper milestones for motor, social and cognitive development. Mothers showed progress too, with 97% accessing the appropriate medical, dental and mental health services for themselves and their infants and 86% showing greater knowledge of nutrition and physical activity for childhood health. As you can see, Wetzler says, the good news is that reaching mothers early with well-planned support is making a measurable difference. in both eyes. When she was fired from her job, she didn t know where to turn. We found two local providers willing to do the surgery she needed at no cost, Hill says. She stayed with us during the treatment and recovery period, and now she s living on her own again, fully cured. WRCC empowers each woman through a specific plan focused on her greatest need: health, finances, substance abuse, job skills or overcoming the trauma suffered from past abuse. This continuum of care wouldn t be possible without the Orlando Sentinel Family Fund, which has been helping us reach deeper into the community since 1995, says Hill. Its generosity makes it possible for more than 75% of eligible women at WRCC to move into their own homes. The Mobile Food Panty has reached thousands of young parents like Christa, who works to support her two children. I don t know what I would have done without the Council, Christa says. They made it possible for me to get back on my feet again.

4 Orlando Sentinel Family Fund Milestones Established & First Grant Approved $1 million granted since inception $10 million granted since inception Hurricane Relief Campaign $20 million granted since inception $35M granted since inception Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida This fall, Abraham Rodriguez begins his freshman year at Florida Atlantic University. He s excited about his future but knows his path might have been very different without the help and support from his friends at the Tupperware Brands Branch of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida in Kissimmee. Rodriguez first came to the Tupperware Brands Branch as a shy 12-year-old. At the Club, he says, Staff and other members helped me come out of my shell and gain leadership skills. In high school, Rodriguez benefited from tutoring, SAT prep courses and statewide competitions with the Branch s in-house robotics club. Volunteers also guided him through the college application process. I had confidence because I d done practice interviews at the Club, he says. Rodriguez is now a recipient of the organization s 4-year E.W. Bailey Scholarship for college-bound seniors. His success reflects a Club-wide tradition of growth and achievement. Our local Club is a second home for over 1,300 Club members a year, including 150 junior-high and highschool students who come here every day, says Tupperware Brands Branch Service Director, Shadrick Alexander. We help kids define their goals, meet working professionals who give them a real-world look at careers all in an environment of fun, smiles and respect. The Club s programs, supported through the Orlando-Sentinel Family Fund since 1995, help to create a lasting legacy. More than 98% of Boys & Girls Clubs s seniors successfully complete high school, Alexander reports, and many have come back as volunteers to help the next generation of kids succeed. Second Harvest Food Bank Hunger ravages the lives of half a million people in Central Florida each year. We see hunger as a disaster that stays with us, and it takes massive resources to help people recover, says Greg Higgerson, V.P. of Development for Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Second Harvest works with 550 nonprofits to distribute tens of millions of pounds of donated food annually to people in Central Florida. Partners include food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and care centers that provide meals or food packages. People turn to these organizations for help around 71,000 times per week. That s a staggering level of need and an amazing response, Higgerson says. Second Harvest s bounty comes from farmers, retailers, food manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors. The USDA Commodities Program and local food drives also contribute. Staff and volunteers move fresh and shelf-stable goods through the network, the equivalent of 53 million meals last year alone. The effort is huge and the impact is clear. We re able to take every dollar contributed and turn that into about $90 in food value, says Higgerson. This is the power of working as a community to fill the gap of unmet need. What our grantees achieved with your support... More than 13,000 nutritious meals were served to the hungry 86% of primary grade students improved their reading skills 3,300+ Over 6,700 families found housing or were able to stay in their homes 13,000 98% of high school students received mentoring to stay in school, graduate and continue onto higher education Over 3,300 children and youth received tutoring and access to educational programs Support statements: 2014 OSFF

5 Thanks a Million! We are honored to present the 31 nonprofit organizations who received grants totaling $1,000,000 in 2015 through the Orlando Sentinel Family Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund. Their programs and services provide the tools and opportunities that help low-income children, families and adults improve their lives and create a brighter future. We applaud their dedication to strengthening the Central Florida community. Their great work would not be possible without the support of our generous donors. Thank you! 2015 Orlando Sentinel Family Fund Grantees Child and Youth Education Adult Literacy League Boys & Girls Clubs Boys & Girls Clubs of Lake and Sumter Counties City Year Orlando Florida Leadership Venture Foundation for Foster Children Foundation for Orange County Public Schools The Foundation For Osceola County Education Great Kids Explorer Club Housing Catholic Charities Coalition for the Homeless Covenant House Florida IMPOWER LifeStream Behavioral Center Rescue Outreach Mission Salvation Army Orange County Salvation Army Seminole County Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Aspire Health Partners BETA Center Boys Town Central Florida Kids House of Seminole Lake Sumter Children s Advocacy Center Orlando Health Foundation Hunger Bread of Life Fellowship Christian Help HOPE Helps Kingdom Harvest dba Harvest Food & Outreach Osceola County Council on Aging Second Harvest Food Bank Seniors First United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties If it weren t for the investment of the Orlando Sentinel Family Fund in our kids, we simply couldn t do what we do. They are an outstanding contributor and an integral factor in our Club members success. - Shadrick Alexander, Service Director, Tupperware Brands Branch of Boys & Girls Clubs Keep up the great work! Name Payment Options: Yes, I would like to donate $ o One time o Monthly (credit card only) o Enclosed is my check payable to the Orlando Sentinel Family Fund. Please charge my: o Visa o MasterCard o AmEx o DiscoverCard Address Card Number Expiration Date City State Zip Signature Do you wish to have your name published as a donor? o Yes o No To donate online visit: OrlandoSentinelFamilyFund.org/Donate The Orlando Sentinel Family Fund is a fund of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation. The Foundation is a Daytime Telephone recognized 501(c)(3) organization, IRS registration # Your gift is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Future monthly gifts will be charged the first week of the month. A written acknowledgment will be sent for your records. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free, within the state, 800-HELP-FLA. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state. Florida registration for the McCormick Foundation is Address CH811. The McCormick Foundation and the Orlando Sentinel respect your right to privacy and do not trade or sell donor names. Mail To: Orlando Sentinel Family Fund, Processing Center, Network Place, Chicago, IL OSIMPRM Additional Information:

6 About the McCormick Foundation The Robert R. McCormick Foundation, established in 1955, is committed to fostering communities of educated, informed and engaged citizens. Its Communities Program strengthens communities by giving disadvantaged people the opportunities they need to improve their lives. The McCormick Foundation partners with media organizations, such as the Orlando Sentinel, as well as sports teams and philanthropic organizations, to raise money through the Orlando Sentinel Family Fund and make grants in local communities. The McCormick Foundation matches all donations at 50%. In addition, the Foundation and our partners pay all expenses, ensuring 100% all donations, plus the match, is granted to build stronger communities. To learn more, visit: McCormickFoundation.org The Robert R. McCormick Foundation is a recognized 501(c)(3) public charity, IRS registration #