Messenger MEET CHELSEA. INDEPENDENCE Achieving dream job shows everyone can do more WORKING TOWARD. Bethesda is proud to be recognized by GuideStar

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1 Messenger ANNUAL BETHESDA LUTHERAN IMPACT EDITION COMMUNITIES SUMMER 2018 WORKING TOWARD INDEPENDENCE Achieving dream job shows everyone can do more MEET CHELSEA Bethesda is proud to be recognized by GuideStar

2 Dr. Mike Thirtle, President and CEO Virginia Miller, Chair of the Board Our transformation is under way Greetings Welcome to the newest edition of Messenger. We are excited to bring you good news about Bethesda in an updated, easy-to-read format. God continues to bless Bethesda as we support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the United States. We are overjoyed to report today that our mission is strong, and as we work to substantially transform our organization for the future, we are poised to become even stronger to serve the Lord and carry out His Great Commission. During the past three years, a massive financial and operational transformation has put us on solid footing for future growth. This transformation was driven by dire financial challenges the organization was losing tens of millions of dollars each year and increasing its debt. The numbers told the story in no uncertain terms. We were on the road to insolvency. Change was needed if Bethesda and its mission was to be sustained. And change we did... and are continuing to do so today. This change has taken many forms: Restructuring operations Throughout the 13 states where we operate, some difficult choices were made to discontinue services where it was financially infeasible to continue to operate. By doing so, we have invested our resources where it makes the most sense and makes remaining programs even stronger. Improving quality To reach our goal to be the best provider in the United States, we have invested in several initiatives that help us better understand and monitor the quality of support we provide. Engaging the Church We are renewing our relationships with congregations across the country, reengaging with them to support and grow ministry to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Innovating We are investing in technology to help people with a disability live more independent and fulfilling lives. Our innovation pipeline is growing and you will be hearing much more about this in the coming months! Telling our wonderful story We know that engaging people with our mission is essential to our success. To that end, if you haven t noticed already, you soon will see that we are sharing compelling stories about Bethesda through social media, public relations outreach and more. We are building a more visible brand that includes an invitation to get involved. We are gaining momentum as an organization. As we look to the remainder of 2018, to 2019, and beyond, we are projecting a positive financial outlook. For the first time in a long time we will be growing our mission to serve more people in need of support. As you know, God s love is boundless. As Brothers and Sisters in Christ, you understand that without money there would be no mission. That is why we are asking you, our generous donors, to consider making a gift at this time to help us grow this amazing mission to serve more. Help us provide Christian outreach through safe and loving homes for people we support, and make it possible for us to offer the additional supports outside the home that promote independence. Your investment can help sustain our work and be a demonstration of your faith to the people we support, our team and our future. We are building a new Bethesda upon solid ground to ensure that many more children of God are served. We offer you our sincere thanks and a promise to keep you updated frequently about our transformation. I want you to know that your investment in Bethesda is making huge strides in our Christian outreach to people with disabilities each and every day. Mike Thirtle President and CEO Bethesda Virginia Miller Chair Bethesda Board of Directors

3 Chelsea finds her dream job Can you remember the feeling you experienced when you got your first paycheck? The pride, the feeling of independence you got from earning money for a job done well? Can you imagine what life would be like without ever experiencing that feeling? Sadly, for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, finding an opportunity to join the workforce can be challenging and insurmountable without the right support and resources. Bethesda strives to overcome the challenges and biases in the workplace for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by helping those we support, like Chelsea, realize their full potential and land the job of their dreams. Chelsea, 28, is an energetic, fun-loving, friendly person who dreamt of working at Culver s, a restaurant chain headquartered in Wisconsin. She had a strong desire to enhance her skills and realize her full potential after spending years sorting cans in boxes at a work center. She was encouraged by others to think bigger, and she knew she was capable of more. So, she worked with her job coach at Bethesda to enhance the skills she needed to get her foot in the door at Culver s. Chelsea is a people person, and interacting with the customers while cleaning the dining room has been a tremendous opportunity for her to further develop her interpersonal skills. She continues to grow and blossom in her role, working with her job coach, managers and coworkers to take on new tasks and responsibilities. Bethesda s Career Connections team helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities find integrated and impactful employment in their community. We partner with state and local government agencies and local businesses to offer supportive vocational programs that open meaningful and true employment possibilities to people with disabilities. Throughout the employment experience our job developers and coaches provide customized employment planning, skills assessments and on-site job coaching. You can see more of Chelsea s inspiring story at BethesdaLC.org/chelsea.

4 People who want to work in the community should have that opportunity, says Sandy Northey, a job developer for Bethesda. Putting your donations to work Your generous donations to Bethesda help Chelsea and others find rewarding work in the community by: Providing funding for us to hire more job developers and coaches. This is a very handson job, which includes working with employers to find new job opportunities, matching people with jobs and providing coaching and advice to both employees and employers on a continual basis. Supporting our outreach efforts to the business community to advocate for integrated employment for people with disabilities and create new job opportunities for people we support. This often takes months and months of time and effort! Expanding where we provide Career Connections services. Currently, we offer these services in Wisconsin and Colorado, and we plan to expand to Minnesota and other states soon. Your donations help fuel our expansion to offer more services to people who need it. Want to hear more Bethesda stories through our newsletter? Subscribe to receive regular updates: BethesdaLC.org/ Subscribe BethesdaLC.org

5 Our Mission Enhance the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through services that share the good news of Jesus Christ. Our Aspiration Bethesda aspires to be the leading national provider of supports, programs and resources for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We will work tirelessly to educate, advocate for and integrate those with intellectual and developmental disabilities into our communities, all to further the goal of helping the people we support live their best life in a loving way that is always true to our Christian mission ,800+ People served MILLION reached Bethesda s through National Impact social 300+ States Where We Operate media Programs 1. California 2. Colorado 3. Illinois 4. Indiana 5. Kansas 6. Michigan 7. Minnesota 8. Missouri 9. New Jersey 10. Oregon 11. Texas 12. Washington 13. Wisconsin Bethesda reached through our publicin the Community Our heart is bursting with the many opportunities we have to touch lives and share the good news of Jesus Christ throughout the past year: active Bethesda volunteers active (non-retail Bethesda + volunteers retail) (non-retail + retail) MILLION and community relations efforts 110,266 Miles traveled by our Religious Life team to spread the good news Bethesda Auxiliary 738 New congregations reached 1.4 MILLION reached through social media 2.1 MILLION reached through our public and community relations efforts BethesdaLC.org

6 Your donations make an impact. Bethesda s ability to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities is supported by our generous donors and through careful stewardship of the resources entrusted to our mission. For fiscal year 2017, government funding reimbursed only 68% of Bethesda s costs. The remaining 32% came from our generous donors (17%) and the Bethesda Foundation (15%). That is a substantial improvement from fiscal year 2016, when the Bethesda Foundation funded nearly 26% of Bethesda s support costs. Now more than ever, it s imperative that the Bethesda Foundation is strong and allows us to fulfill the evolving, but clear, needs of people who are disabled by growing untouched in order to provide the financial strength and foundation for our mission. The drawdown in the Foundation that we have experienced in the past significantly impacts our future and current service offerings. Your donations give us stability and flexibility as we position ourselves at the forefront of intellectual and developmental disability service providers. 17% 15% 68% Cost per person Bethesda supported in fiscal year 2017 Government funding Generous donors Drawdown from Bethesda Foundation Bethesda recognized for donor transparency Bethesda recently earned GuideStar s 2018 Platinum Seal of Transparency for a third straight year! GuideStar is the world s largest source of nonprofit information with a database that contains a profile for every tax-exempt nonprofit registered with the IRS. While not required, nonprofits are encouraged to claim and update their profile at no cost to the organization. Doing so allows nonprofits to share a wealth of up-to-date information with the more than nine million people who visit GuideStar to learn more about nonprofit organizations each year. Bethesda is committed to providing the highest levels of transparency to our donors and we are dedicated to ethical financial stewardship of the resources we are blessed to receive.

7 Donor spotlight Auxiliary volunteer is leaving a legacy, both today and tomorrow Gail Nicolaus shares her time and talents as a leader of the Bethesda Auxiliary, a network of people brought together to provide spiritual and financial support for the people we support. The 3,400 members of the Auxiliary foster Bethesda s mission of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. In her position on Bethesda s Auxiliary Board of Directors, Gail has come to understand the ongoing financial needs of the organization. That s why Gail and her husband, Craig, residents of Julesburg, Colorado, and members of St. Paul Lutheran Church, decided to leave a financial legacy in addition to the many hours they volunteer with Bethesda. The couple participates in Bethesda s charitable gift annuity giving program. Bethesda has been around for over 100 years, and we would like to see its work with persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities continue far into the future. Craig and Gail Nicolaus Here s why: A charitable gift annuity is a contract between Bethesda and you, where Bethesda agrees to pay you a fixed payment for life, based on the amount contributed and your age at the time of the gift. The gift annuity offers you income tax and estate tax benefits, and when funded with transfers of stock, capital gains tax benefits. Gift annuities are not insurance. When the gift annuity beneficiary passes away, money left in the gift annuity goes directly to Bethesda to support its mission. For more information about the charitable gift annuity and other planned giving opportunities, contact Bethesda s Development team at , ext. 4420, or go online to BethesdaLC.org/donate.

8 Volunteers making a difference Becky Gambardella shares God s love with all Studies show faith is important to people with disabilities, but sometimes hurdles stand in their way when they attempt to connect with their local congregations. Even with a high level of acceptance, most churches do not participate in congregationwide disability awareness, and members might be reluctant to reach out for fear of doing or saying the wrong thing. Additionally, inclusive services and leadership opportunities for people with disabilities are not commonplace. We understand connecting people with disabilities with churches is often the first step in connecting them with their communities. To this end, we facilitate faith opportunities for the people we support and offer training and education, including free, downloadable faith resources, to help congregations build welcoming and inclusive faith communities. In 2010, The F.A.C.E.S. (faith, activities, conversation, expression and service) program started at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran in Centennial, Colorado. The program originated with three participants and was led by Bethesda volunteer Becky Gambardella. The program is based on Bethesda s confirmation curriculum. The successful program has brought dozens of people with disabilities to worship. Becky has helped to change the lives of many by introducing them to the power of faith through this program. Participants in the program are fully integrated into their churches. They serve as ushers, hand out bulletins, teach new students and contribute in various ways. It s an incredible program that makes a tremendous impact on connecting congregations to people of all abilities. Bethesda encourages you to support people with disabilities within your community. Change lives and increase the power of your church by welcoming others to your congregation or volunteering to encourage integration within your church and faith community. How you can help Create a welcoming and inclusive environment in your faith community. Engage with people of all abilities and encourage involvement within the Church. Volunteer or donate to Bethesda to help us support those with an intellectual and developmental disability in their faith life. Utilize tools available from Bethesda to advocate for a disability ministry at your church. Go to Concordia Publishing House s website, CPH.org, and visit the Bethesda Disability Ministries Resources page under the Education tab to see what is available. Are you interested in volunteering to support Bethesda? There are many ways you can help. To learn more, visit BethesdaLC.org/volunteer. BethesdaLC.org