2023 Annual Report

ANNUAL REPORT
2023
PLANT • WATER • INCREASE

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Director Letter ................1
Youth Outreach ....................... 2
Familyhood ........................... 4
Flourishing Community Initiative ........ 6
Housing Equity Initiative ............... 8
BridgeBuilders ........................10
Sunshine Community Center Updates ...12
Our Gentle Giant ......................14
SGM Financials .......................15
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Richard Wilson, Board Chair
Kim Lodewyk, Vice Chair
Tiffany Allen, Treasurer
Wendell Davis, Secretary
Peter Kisluk, Trustee
Cathy McNeil-Stein, Trustee
Lauren White, Trustee
Kimberly Salley, Executive Director

LETTER FROM OUR
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
We started 2023
full of joy and with
a holistic lens,
seeking to reflect
the love and light of Jesus Christ
as we serve in our community
and grow together as a team.
From the longstanding and
newly formed friendships in our
programs to the moments of
joy and laughter shared among
our youth, we have seen beauty
emerge amid brokenness
in unexpected places. It’s a
testament to the strength,
tenacity, and potential within
each person we serve.
Our programs have been thriving and participation has been at
full capacity with a waitlist in some cases. In listening to the needs
expressed by our community, we have introduced two new initiatives
that add to the well-being of our youth and families. In the Spring, we
launched a mental health initiative through our Familyhood Program,
and going forward we will implement mental health components
into all of our SGM programming. This Fall, we partnered with an
educational support organization to launch tutoring/academic
remediation enrichment for grades 1st through 12th.
This past year has reminded us that even in the face of adversity,
seeds of hope, love, kindness, and transformation can take root and
flourish; and we have seen the resilience of those we serve and our
SGM team shine brightly. This year our senior leadership engaged
our full SGM Team in opportunities to be cared for and poured into
with workshops focused on individual wellness and organizational
wellness – Self Care Practices, Trauma-Informed Leadership, Team
Wellness, Thriving Work Cultures, Personal Spiritual Formation,
Discipleship and Mentorship, and Calling – Right Place, Right Role
and Right Time.
Your support has been a vital part of our journey, thank you so
much. With your generosity, we all have the privilege of witnessing
the remarkable impact of our ministry as we forge hope in our
community. Whether it is providing educational resources, family
or violence intervention support services, mentorship, housing/
homeownership assistance, or basic necessities, your contributions
have made it possible. Yet, the work is far from finished and the need
for support continues to grow. As we stand at the cusp of a new year,
we invite you to continue with us in our mission of strengthening
faith and building thriving communities. Together, we can empower
more individuals, strengthen more communities, and sow the seeds
of positive change. Thank you for being an essential part of the
Sunshine Gospel Ministries family - Seeds of Faith: Plant, Water, Godly
Increase (1 Corinthians 3:6-8).
Blessings of Faith, Love, and Unity,
Kimberly Salley
1
PLANT. WATER. INCREASE.

2
You may have heard the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child.”
This ancient saying is a foundational piece of our work. The first day
that a student walks through our doors they begin working through
a pipeline that allows them to encounter the love of God, each of our
Youth Outreach staff, and the many partners that help us develop their
personhood. This year we welcomed the following new enrichment
opportunities to our youth programs.
• Dance Lessons
• Jiu-Jitsu
• Basketball Club
• Art Therapy Sessions (6 week program)
• Mental Health Education
• A Revitalized Tutoring Program
Coming out of the pandemic we noticed that isolation and social
media had become dominating forces in our kids’ lives. This revelation
reinforced our desire to value group mentorship rather than just a
traditional one-on-one model.
Looking Forward
Next year, we hope to launch a Mental Health Initiative which will
provide our youth with ongoing opportunities to receive art therapy,
group therapy, and individual counseling sessions. Along with these
opportunities, we will lean heavily into the arts as students will engage in
live performance, and visual arts through music production and theater.
Lastly, we plan to invite our students’ parents to participate in a Parent
Advisory Committee. The committee provide us with their perspectives
on how we can serve their children well. It takes a village!

231
Total Youth Served
94
Elementary School Students
83
Middle School Students
33
High School Students
21
WorkLife Students
3
5
College Scholarships Provided
$5,000
College Funds Provided
1,716
Mentor Hours

In 2023 Familyhood (FH) has remained dedicated to its mission of
restoring hope in families by providing heart-felt, meaningful, and
impactful programming and cohort training. Anyone can host a
program, but the magic comes when our time together allows us to
grow in our faith and create unforgettable memories.
4
Familyhood offered for the first time a family day trip to Great Wolf Lodge
in Gurnee, IL. This provided an unforgettable experience for 14 unique
families. Additional family engagement opportunities were offered such
as five Families. Activities. Meals. (FAM) gatherings and a Family Summit.
FAM invites entire family units to come together to eat a catered meal,
have guided conversation, and participate in Bible-based activities. 51
unique families participated in FAM gatherings. Ultimately, the hope
is that this fosters the desire for families to eat together regularly and
spend time creating memories that will last a lifetime. The Family Summit
provided a space for adults to learn about and process the various facets
of grief and loss. Three clinicians lead participatory learning segments
on the following topics: Exploring Grief and Loss, Why Your Sadness Is
Healthy, and Life After Loss. Following the summit, participants were
given the opportunity to express an interest to receive therapy and for a
clinician to be identified.
“
My cohort facilitators are the team that allows the
Familyhood programs to be vibrant and thrive. They are
invested in the work of this ministry and care deeply for
the families who they serve. They have one on ones with
participants, facilitate workshops, lead family initiatives,
assist in building curriculum, and still attend other
cohorts that they are not leading. They are amazing
partners in ministry.”
-Sasha Simmons (Director of Outreach)
Lastly, we launched our Mental Health Initiative addressing aspects of
family well-being. What began as a pilot program evolved into a mix of
virtual and in-person sessions including family and individual meetings. To
date, 144 of those sessions have taken place! We have been so blessed
to walk alongside our community in this way.
Looking Forward
Our primary focus for the upcoming year is to expand our Mental
Health Initiative. This will enable us to provide more educational groups
on mental health topics, connect more individuals and families with
therapists, and eliminate barriers to therapeutic services. Thank you
for your prayers and support that enable us to remain committed to
promoting togetherness, growth, and healing within our communities.

205
Families Served
14
Program Cohorts
9
Familes Paired with Therapist
144
Therapy Sessions Completed
by Famlies Paired
28
Referrals from Previous Parents
195
Parents Who Continue to Engage
after Cohorts Completetion
5
479
One on One Support
Sessions Completed
29
Women’s Ministry Attendees
12
Men’s Ministry Attendees

6

34
80
In the heart of a bustling city, Flourishing Community Initiative (FCI) continues to be
dedicated to healing those who have been victimized by gun violence. As the sun
sets on the past year, we celebrate the hope and transformation that was made
manifest in countless lives on the south side of Chicago. FCI began its year with
a desire to expand its number of community partnerships. We desired to offer more
opportunities for therapeutic services among our clients. FCI has walked alongside
37 clients this year, primarily men, who committed to completing programming
geared toward holistic healing. FCI also planned and hosted two marquee events,
the Youth Summit, to educate youth on safety tips and provide summer employment
opportunities, and the Family Summit to create a pathway to engaging those grieving
and healing from loss to participate in therapy. There is nothing like seeing FCI’s
clients step into a renewed sense of purpose.
One of the cornerstones of FCI’s success continues to be its partnership with CPD’s
(Chicago Police Department) Third District. Together they bridge the gap between gun
violence and being supported during that traumatic time. Our newest, long awaited
partnership with UChicago Medicine (delayed due to the pandemic) has recently been
established and will provide more direct access to survivors. FCI’s focus is to engage
with the community on a much deeper level. Collaborations have been forged with
schools, churches, and other local organizations in the Chicagoland area. These
partnerships not only extended FCI’s reach but also showcased its commitment to
helping all survivors of gun violence.
Clients Served
9
Individuals
Discharged
(upon 1 year program
completion)
Summit
Attendees
18
Counseling
Referrals
7
Our comprehensive support and commitment to long-term recovery has made a
meaningful difference in the lives of survivors and their families. We have seen them
regain their strength, heal from their trauma, and take steps towards a brighter future.
FCI continues to be a beacon of hope and support for survivors of gun violence and
their families. We are proud of our commitment to providing survivor services, case
management, and counseling to assist survivors and their families on their journey to
full recovery and wholeness.
11
Workforce
Referrals
157
Community
Engagement
and Advocacy
Touch Points

8

Our Housing Equity Initiative (HEI) has had great upsides and
challenges over the past year as we seek to provide access to
homeownership for families indigenous to Woodlawn. Upsides
include fostering relationships in the development space
with architects, contractors, financing options for construction, industry
organizations, and the City of Chicago. Our major challenge has been
forging a partnership with a like-minded general contractor. We continue
to vet prospects and hope to be in partnership with a general contractor
by the end of this year.
In July 2023, HEI attended a United Power Rally in support of addressing
the disinvestment related to housing in minority communities in Chicago.
There were over 1,000 people in attendance. Mayor Brandon Johnson
was in attendance and was presented with a call to action. The mayor
was asked for a commitment to engage with and support the needed
revitalization in our communities. In our 20th Ward alone, there are
about 2,000 vacant lots. In September 2023, we joined United Power,
a coalition of congregations, neighborhood organizations, and health
institutions from across Cook County. They have made a significant
positive impact on the lives of families in its member institutions and tens
of thousands of others around Illinois related to healthcare, housing/
community development, and safety. Their mission is to train and
support people to take responsibility for solving problems in their own
communities and renew the interest of citizens in public life. Our Housing
Equity Initiative aligns with their call to action and justice related to
housing inequity and quality of life in communities in Chicago inclusive
of Woodlawn and surrounding communities in our 20th Ward. We are
excited about how God will use HEI to increase the quality of life for
families and provide access and opportunity to create generational
wealth through homeownership.
Looking Forward
Through our Revitalization Program, we will begin construction of a twounit
rehab and a two-unit new construction housing development. These
projects demonstrate our efforts to pilot and create model properties to
redefine “affordable” for indigenous new homebuyers.
Through our Tax Sale Benevolence Program, we will seek to help as
many homeowners as possible maintain homeownership prior to the
Cook County Treasurer’s Tax Sale scheduled for mid-January 2024. We
will assist homeowners with paying the taxes in arrears, assessing and
closely monitoring client progress in regaining financial sustainability
through our one-year program of customized training and coaching.
Both the training and monitoring are intended to ensure the clients are
financially whole for the current year and beyond to avoid being subject
to tax sales in the future.
33 8 2
Tax
Benevolence
Recipients
Collaborative
Partners
Properties
being
Developed
9

10

Key Metrics to Highlight
247 BridgeBuilders on campus this year, an increase from 191 from the
previous year.
A Legacy of 20 Years
In 2023, BridgeBuilders(BB) celebrated its 20th anniversary! For over
two decades, BB has connected thousands of people from different
backgrounds to promote a shared understanding of the challenges
facing communities like our own, Woodlawn. BB has been transformative
in the lives of participants. We’ve witnessed career trajectories being
reshaped, individuals gaining profound insights into systemic issues, and
groups embracing a more holistic understanding of the Gospel.
Present: BridgeBuilders Intern Highlight
Kayelona Rakowski, a Wheaton College student, served with Sunshine
during her spring semester and summer. CW Allen (former BridgeBuilder
Director) said that Kayelona was a “faithful presence as she learned
about nonprofit work and what it means to live in the Woodlawn
community.”
“While working with BridgeBuilders, I learned a lot. I learned how to
be a better leader, how to graciously educate people, and how to
address the needs of the local community. BridgeBuilders is such an
amazing program. Through the work of history lessons, partnerships
with Woodlawn community members, and spending time in the
neighborhood, I was able to see many students come to realize the
beauty of Woodlawn and what it could offer them. Not only that, but
I saw a deep love and appreciation for Woodlawn grow in my own
heart.” –Kayelona Rawoski
Future: Looking Forward
After researching the state of mission trips, our team discovered that
short-term mission trips are in way less demand since the pandemic.
Thus, we have decided to condense our BridgeBuilders season in 2024
to nine weeks. We are currently booking groups for the months of March
and July as we prayerfully cast vision and re-imagine the future of our
BridgeBuilders program.
247
Guests Hosted
20
Poverty
Simulations Conducted
94
Days of Groups
on Site
11

12
The role of the proposed
75,000 sq ft. Sunshine
Community Center, is to foster
community engagement
among our neighbors who
live, work, and play along
MLK Drive! We believe that
neighborhoods thrive when
people come together to build
cultural and economic vitality.

STORAGE
GYM
FIXED-
FITNESS
RENTABLE
OFFICE
STORAGE
ROOMS
ROOMS
ROOF DECK
STUDIO
STAFF
ROOM
RECEPTION
LOBBY
FCI
STAIR 2
STAIR 2
STAFF
STAIR 2
ELEC.
LOBBY
LOBBY/CIRC.
RR
RR
PROPOSED
SUNSHINE
GOSPEL
MINISTRIES
OFFICE
ELEC.
FCI.
CAFE
PROPOSED
SUNSHINE
ENTERPRISES
OFFICE
STAIR 1
TELE.
STAIR 1
RESTROOM
RESTROOM
STAIR 1
5’ 10’ 20’
5’ 10’ 20’
5’ 10’ 20’
Proposed Sunshine Community Center
SHOWERS/
CHANGE
SHOWERS/
CHANGING
FCI
CNSL.
FCI
CNSL.
LARGE
GATHERING
ELEC./
STOR.
JAN./
STOR.
REST
ROOM
REST
ROOM
SMALL
GATHERING
MEDIUM
GATHERING
DATA/
STOR.
E 60TH STREET
Main Floor
20,000 sq ft of fitness space including a dance studio,
fitness room, and two indoor basketball courts.
EQUIP.
STOR.
EQUIPMENT
DANCE
FITNESS
STAIR
3
ELEV.
ROOM
RR
RR
PROGRAM KEY
CAFE
BASKETBALL COURT
ATHLETIC FACILITIES
GATHERING
OFFICE
2,000 sq ft of retail space for cafe and proposed
demonstration kitchen.
PROGRAM ROOMS
FLOOR 1 | Program
RESTROOM RESTROOM
S MARTIN LUTHER KING DRIVE
YOUTH PROGRAMS
ROOFTOP
BACK OF HOUSE
3,000 sq ft of multipurpose space to be used for
entrepreneur training, pop-up retail space, community
events, and private function rentals.
STORAGE/
JANITOR
PROGRAM
ROOM
PROGRAM
ROOM
PROGRAM
ROOM
PROGRAM
ROOM
Second Floor
13
PROGRAM
ROOM
PROGRAM
ROOM
10,000 sq ft of youth, family and senior programming space.
FLOOR 2 | Program
YOUTH
PROGRAMMING
STAIR
3
STAFF
BREAK
YOUTH
LOUNGE
VOLUNT./
YOUTH
PROGRAM
ROOM
PROGRAM
ROOM
RESOURCE
ROOM
PROGRAM KEY
CAFE
BASKETBALL COURT
ATHLETIC FACILITIES
GATHERING
OFFICE
PROGRAM ROOMS
YOUTH PROGRAMS
ROOFTOP
BACK OF HOUSE
Including:
• Recording Studio
• Resource Room for Media and Technology
• Visual and Graphic Arts Space
• Lounge Areas
Third Floor
REST
ROOM
REST
ROOM
Administrative office space: Sunshine Gospel, Sunshine
Enterprises, rentable space for local businesses.
STAIR
3
REST
ROOM
REST
ROOM
PROGRAM KEY
CAFE
BASKETBALL COURT
ATHLETIC FACILITIES
GATHERING
18,000 sq ft of shared office space with Sunshine Gospel
staff, Sunshine Enterprises staff, other non-profits.
REST
ROOM
REST
ROOM
OFFICE
PROGRAM ROOMS
FLOOR 3 | Program
YOUTH PROGRAMS
ROOFTOP
BACK OF HOUSE
We are looking forward to starting our Capital Campaign
late March/early April of 2024.

Our Gentle Giant
Our Sunshine team ends this year having experienced adversity. In mid-July we entered
a season of prayer and heartache as Andy Combs, our brother in Christ and Managing
Director of Operations and Programs entered the fight for his life medically. This turned
to grief/lament on October 9, 2023 when God called him to his eternal resting place.
Please keep Andy’s wife, family, and our Sunshine family in your prayers. It is so hard to put into
words ALL the WAYS in which Andy has contributed to the lives of our youth, families, community
and our Sunshine Gospel Ministries team/family.
14
In the words of our Board Chair, Richard Wilson, “In lament, we acknowledge the hardships
and heartaches that leave us vulnerable………….. Together, we become a living testimony to the
transformative power of God’s love and work toward a world where pain and promise find their
ultimate reconciliation.
Hugh Andrew “Andy” Combs - Man of
God, brother in Christ, our gentle giant
who served with Sunshine for 9 years.
He has left an indelible imprint on our
hearts. Gone but not forgotten, his
Legacy will live on. Love always.
Hugh Andrew “Andy” Combs
October 5, 1956 — October 9, 2023

14

SGM Financials
(2022 actuals)
FY2022 Income
FY2022 Expenses
Corporate
Management/
Administration
Fundraising
16
Individuals
34%
12%
Churches
2%
13% 11%
22%
Earned
Revenue
Government
6%
24%
76%
Foundations
Program
Total: $1,804,114 Total: $2,081,831

SGM Financials
(2023 projections)
FY2023 Income
FY2023 Expenses
Management/
Administration
Fundraising
Individuals
24%
19%
Corporate
Churches
2%
14%
11%
Government
21%
14%
20%
Earned
Revenue
75%
Foundations
Program
Total: $2,449,000 Total: $2,110,649

500 E. 61st Street
Chicago, IL 60637
www.sunshinegospel.org
PLANT • WATER • INCREASE