2012 Annual Report - Blacktie South Florida

PROGRAMSSENIOR COMPANION PROGRAMAlbert Einstein said, “Only a life lived for others is a lifeworthwhile.” And this is the motto that Janie Harden, aSenior Companion volunteer lives by. For the past three andhalf years, Janie has been volunteering at the Noble McArtorSenior Day Care Center five days per week for approximatelyfour hours per day.At the adult center, Janie spends time with ErnestineJohnson who is unable to stay at home because she cannottake care of herself and to compound her situation, shesuffers from depression making it difficult for her to enjoythe simple pleasures of life. But Janie, a woman who is full oflife has different plans for Ernestine – she is driven to haveErnestine partake in social interactions by helping her playgames and encouraging her to talk about what’s troubling her– relieving the burden off her chest.Over the years, these two women have built a truefriendship, which is a win-win for both of them. “Janie helpsme forget my loneliness and helps me build my spirit,” saidErnestine. And Janie is able to remain active in thecommunity by making new friends and helping others focuson the brighter side of life. “Helping others gives me a senseof fulfillment and a joy for living,” said Janie. Because Janievolunteers at an adult center, she also helps her other clientswhen they need to go to the bathroom and help them withother basic needs.Janie is retired and spends her time volunteering as aSenior Companion. She was born and raised in Georgia andmoved to Florida in the 1950’s. She has two daughters wholive in West Palm Beach. She used to work in the LantanaHealth center located in Lake Worth Florida as a kitchenaide.Individuals such as Janie help to make a difference in thecommunity and help to improve the well-being of those theyspend time with.PROGRAMSFOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAMN.E. FOCAL POINT INTERGENERATIONAL CHILD CARE CENTERRSVP EXECUTIVE SERVICE CORPS PROGRAMIn March 2012, two volunteer consultants from the RSVP/Executive Service Corps of Broward County completed a probono consulting assignment for a nonprofit agency in Browardinvolving executive recruiting, specifically for the position ofExecutive Director. Consulting services are provided byvolunteers who had been senior-level executives andprofessionals. By the conclusion of this project, our consultantshad:• written the solicitation and position job description for theagency;• reviewed applications, and submitted and recommended the topcandidates to the Board of Directors;• guided the Board in making its selection; and,• guided the Board in securing the candidate of its choice.The Board Chair gave the consultants who provided theconsulting services the highest rating available in his SatisfactionSurvey, along with the comment, “Great Job”.Funding of the RSVP/Executive Service Corps of BrowardCounty, a program of Impact Broward, is provided in part froman agreement with the Children’s Services Council of BrowardCounty (CSC). The agreement states that CSC will compensateReather Morgan has been serving as a Foster Grandparent volunteer at N.E. FocalPoint Intergenerational Child Care Center for almost four years now and is consideredthe right arm to this child care center. She shows up every morning at 8:00 AM with abright smile on her face ready to take on the day’s work but for her it’s more pleasurethan work.Referred to as Grandma Reather by both the administration and the children, shehelps out in the classroom where she engages in fun activities coupled with educationalexercises. The teachers normally identify the areas where the children should work onstrengthening and Grandma Reather will help them to make out colors, build wordsand even develop fine motor skills. Sometimes you will find her working with thechildren in small groups with manipulatives like games, math, puzzles – clearly you cansee that it’s not just the children who are having fun but she is as well – she relishes inthe delight of watching the children enhance their skills. And for the fun stuff, duringHalloween she and the children carve pumpkins together.The lead teacher and the director cannot imagine not having Grandma Reatherwork with them at the day care center – she is a great influence on the children and anasset to center. The child care Director Jayne Hafer said, “Our preschool just receivedthe 5+ Quality Rating and Improvement Award on July 5, 2012, and we attribute thatto our staff, foster grandmother Reather, our volunteers, and our wonderfulpartnerships in the community.”Lending a helping hand doesn’t end in the classroom, Grandma Reather has yet tomiss a Saturday morning graduation in June since her placement with the day care centernor a parade in January for Martin Luther King Jr. or Founder’s Day in February inDeerfield. She goes to church each week and hobbies include cards and dominos.Impact Broward at the rate of $125 per hour of executiveconsulting services supplied to Broward nonprofit agencies thatserve children in order to build the capacities of those agencies.The maximum number of hours for which CSC offerscompensation is usually limited to 20 for each project. However,in this case, CSC raised its maximum to 30 hours, or $3,750.Based upon the market rates for executive recruiters, and thetotal number of hours expended, our consultants estimated thatthe RSVP/Executive Service Corps saved the agencyapproximately $25,000, and possibly as much as $35,000.Consequently, this pro bono assignment provided tangiblebenefits to a local nonprofit. Cold, hard cash that did not needto be spent for administrative purposes, but instead, could beused for programs and services that directly improved the livesof Broward residents.Thank you, Children’s Services Council of Broward. Your$3,750 in funding resulted in a $25,000 - $35,000 benefit to aBroward nonprofit child-serving agency, which is, in effect, a$25,000 - $35,000 benefit to the Broward County communityitself.