Helping Hands Center for Special Needs Annual Report

Transcription

1 Helping Hands Center for Special Needs Annual Report

2 Message from the Executive Directors The academic year was a year of exciting growth and invigorating change for Helping Hands Center. Among the many successes, Helping Hands Center instituted its first Human Resources Department, launched a Home-Based Services program and kicked off its 10th anniversary celebration with our largest annual fundraiser to date. Admission continued to increase throughout the school year, with 137 students enrolled in the Education Center by May None of these successes were possible without the professionalism and exceptional dedication of our staff, the hard work of our students, and the faith each family placed in us to provide educational and therapeutic services for their children. During the first half of 2015, we underwent a thoughtful, complex planning process for the future of Helping Hands Center. As many of you know, part of this plan includes changing our name to Bridgeway Academy. Arriving at this decision was a long and emotional process as we worked to find a name and a brand that is mindful of the hard work and compassionate community that has defined Helping Hands Center and honors the attachment that we all feel in our hearts to our original name. We will officially switch to the new name and brand in the first week of January 2016, but our mission remains unchanged. We will continue to build on the great work that we have done together and to chart a bright course into the future. As always, we thank you for your commitment to Helping Hands Center over the past 10 years. We invite you to continue your involvement in the months and years to come as we transition to Bridgeway Academy and continue to meet the educational and therapeutic needs of children with autism and other developmental disabilities.

3 EDUCATION CENTER FOCUS Middle School Skills Center Opens In January 2015, Helping Hands Center opened the Middle School Skills Center, an extension space where middle school-aged students focus on functional life skills in a natural environment. The center has a bedroom, full kitchen and laundry facilities, a lounge and a classroom area. Helping Hands Center s Middle School students spend half of their day in a formal classroom working on academics and the other half of the day in the skills center focusing on the skills of daily living (cooking, grooming, housekeeping) and pre-vocational skills (sorting, computer skills). THANK YOU: Harry C. Moores Foundation

4 THERAPY CENTER FOCUS Augmentative Communication During the academic year, 28% of the Education Center s population utilized an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device to communicate. AAC devices supplement existing speech or replace speech that is not functional, enabling all individuals to communicate effectively, beyond wants and needs to include thoughts and ideas. At Helping Hands Center, the device can be a step towards effective verbal communication. While not everyone will become verbal, 100% of Helping Hands Center s students increase their vocalizations and most become proficient at communicating their needs. In some cases, individuals are able to leave their devices behind, but in all cases, at Helping Hands Center, everyone has a voice. During the academic year, the center s Speech Therapy Department hosted the Chatterbox Challenge, and invited parents and staff to use an AAC device for at least 1-hour, and as their only means of communication. The Chatterbox Challenge is part of my continued education as a parent. Practicing my non-verbal daughter s language utilizing AAC helps me communicate with her. She has so much to say, and I want to help her speak her thoughts and desires. I have found out that she s funny, stubborn, and incredibly smart by making sure we can both use her device, together, every day. - A Helping Hands Center parent

5 SUMMER CAMP FOCUS The 2014 Camp HHC was Helping Hands Center s largest camp enrollment since the camp program began in students from 28 school districts and 9 counties attended the annual summer camp program and participated in a variety of fun, recreational and academic activities. Weeks were organized thematically with special guests and activities scheduled throughout. Each week, all classrooms participated in an organized sport and splashed in pools and waterslides. For the first time, our upper elementary and middle school students visited a public pool weekly. Highlights from the 2014 camp include: Taiko (Japanese Drumming) with Eric the FISH Paton, the annual 4th of July celebration and parade, a PBJ and Jazz performance from Jazz Arts Group, and our annual visits with the City of Columbus Fire Department and Mounted Police. In January 2016, Helping Hands Center will officially change its name to Bridgeway Academy. This name and brand change is the result of the exponential growth of Helping Hands Center over the past ten years. While the organization s name will change, the mission, vision, values and leadership will remain the same. Bridgeway Academy will continue to make meaningful connections in the community, helping students and families to build bridges from school to home, home to community and from high school into young adulthood.

6 BOARD OF TRUSTEES & HEROES Helping Hands Center s Board of Trustees is made up of a group of volunteers who support the mission and vision of the organization. Jennifer Fuller, President of the Board, Fanning Howey Lina Attaie, Nationwide Chris Henry, JPMorgan Chase Lisa Imondi, Navigator Management Partners Rose Lawyer, Huntington Tom Manning, EnvisionPoint Dan Mushalko, WCBE 90.5FM William Root, Resch and Root, LLC Todd Starker, Moritz College of Law, The Ohio State University Erik Zwilling, Merrill Lynch Helping Hands Center s Heroes program recognizes and publicly thanks the individuals or families who are the organization s most consistent and generous contributors, donating a minimum of $500 annually. Helping Hands Heroes June 1, 2014 May 31, 2015: Kevin & Holly Conley Christopher Charles Cuomo Scott & Abigail David Theodore M. David Chris Davis Tim Dues Samantha Elliott Michael Farris Andrew Freeman Max & Kari Friedauer Oyauma Garrison Anne Semerar-Gwin Thomas Hagans Mark Harris Ken & Lois Heater Chris & Kristie Henry Joseph & Sheryl Higginbotham Norman & Helen Hively Maria Hutchinson Lisa Imondi Nickolas & Bethany Jones George Peach & Benita Kahn David & Carol Kelly James Long Clark & Dixie May Cory & Karen May Jon & Rachel Mester Brian & Jen Miller Darren & Erin Nealy R. Russell & Kimberlee Orben Megan Orr Barbara A. Peterman Thomas L Ringer Drs. Alex & Sandra Sabo John & Erin Samenuk Robert Shenton Rick & Bonnie Simonetta Aman & Michelle Brown Singh Todd A. & Sharla Starker Sean & Elizabeth Trende Jeff Walters Denis & Jennifer Walsh John Weaver Benjamin Wenning Joshua N. & Marsha M. Wiley Anonymous Donors * Qualified contributions are general operating support and nonrestricted gifts; sponsorships, live or silent auction and ticket purchases are not eligible.

7 FINANCES Administrative: $515,914 Contributions/ Public Support: $137,044 Special Events/ Other Income: $93,973 Daycare $93,783 Education $3,401,069 Daycare $135,541 Fundraising: $64,561 Education $2,897,686 Therapy $2,180,873 TOTAL REVENUE: $5,906,742 Therapy $2,049,688 TOTAL EXPENSES: $5,663,390

8 Helping Hands Center 2500 Medary Avenue Columbus, OH 43202