MTB Challenge: Put less distance between you and your donations

I challenge you to make the decision to donate locally, and with purpose.

There are few national charities that are able to bring in millions and millions of dollars. Most of them use it to help the people they serve. Case in point: St. Jude's Hospital for Children. According to Charity Navigator, they raise $829 million dollars a year, but their functional expenses are $787 million. http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=12847  Here's their 990. http://www.stjude.org/SJFile/fy09_form990_stjude.pdf. There's nothing wrong with raising loads of money... but St. Jude's tells me what they're doing. And they aren't rubbing it in anyone's face or filing lawsuits with people who use their "terminology". They're too busy showing us pictures of kids who are receiving free medical treatment.

The Susan G. Komen Foundation is, in my opinion, on the opposite end of this spectrum. I want breast cancer to be cured,  but I have Pink Ribbon Fatigue. Check out this blog article from the New York Times in October. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/11/pink-ribbon-fatigue/ I want to know what this organization is doing to help breast cancer survivors. We see a lot of people running. We see "Pink Warriors" and women gathering to raise funds. Pink is fun, but pink isn't curing anything. According to this article, 40,000 women each year are still dying from breast cancer, and that number hasn't shown a decrease no matter how much "research" and "awareness" money SGK raises.* (For those who don't know why this irks me so much, 50,000 people die each year from Traumatic Brain Injury - TBI - and 130,000 people die from strokes. That adds up to 180,000 people dying from brain injury, which, in many cases, is preventable.)

*Revised 2023 - Susan G. Komen funds many grants that pay for free mammograms and breast ultrasounds for women from low income families. 

Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the Susan G. Komen Foundation raised $129 million in 2007. http://ww5.komen.org/uploadedFiles/Content_Binaries/2007-2008_Form990GroupReturn.pdf. In 2009, they raised $172 million. http://ww5.komen.org/uploadedFiles/Content/AboutUs/Financial/Final%20Group%20990%20PDC.pdf. But the Susan G. Komen Foundation doesn't show a reinvestment back into my community. Have you ever heard of anyone being treated at the Susan B. Komen Free Women's Breast Cancer Clinic? I haven't either. Don't you think it's time we did?

My Challenge to Donors
Instead of donating to a gargantuan, faceless nonprofit organization, open your local newspaper. Chances are you'll see a women's auxiliary or a boy scout troop collecting cans of food for your neighbors who need them. You may see local breast cancer groups (yes, they do exist!) that provide direct programs and services to local breast cancer survivors. You'll see women teaching expectant teen moms how to diaper newborns. Pick a charity. Make an appointment to drop off a donation. You'll see the people that run the organization, and they will take your contributions with a smile and a hug, then reinvest it into programs that directly impact the overall value of your community. They may ask you to help them. You will be inspired by their energy and gratitude. And when you want to know what they did with your money, you just have to stop by, or take a look around you.

They're right under your nose. Go find them.

MTB Special Report: Students Overcome Challenges, Receive Awards at UCP's Diamond Dinner

The Diamond Dinner, even when it's held on perhaps the dreariest night of the year, makes you feel warm all over.



On Friday, April 8, my husband Dave and I traveled to the Wilmington Elks Lodge to attend the 6th Annual Diamond Dinner, hosted by United Cerebral Palsy of Delaware (UCP). The cozy main room was filled with pastel balloons, an array of colorful tablecloths, and jelly bean centerpieces. Our friend, Don Moore (Director of the Client Assistance Program of UCP, Delaware), saved us seats near the food. He invited me to cover the Diamond Dinner as a My Ten Bucks Special Report.



Tashay (middle) with Coach Gail
(left) and Betty Pinkett (right)



As I looked around the room, I watched people embrace, smile, laugh, and ask about family members. I saw a few familiar faces - some of Delaware's biggest disability advocates - and easily got caught up in the excitement. Pictures of athletes ran on a slide show at the front of the room, and a podium, emblazened with the words "Brotherly Love", seemed poignant in the context.


The Diamond Dinner is an annual event hosted by UCP to honor local high school student athletes and bestow upon them awards and (in some cases) $500 scholarships. The event costs just $25 per person. Students nominated for the Diamond Dinner receive awards for their hard work through challenging situations - whether they be related to a disability or a family tragedy - or in some cases, both. 

Bob Reed and our friend, Don Moore
(Executive Director of CAP, a UCP program)

Before the dinner, I descended upon guests at random to find out why they were there. Kenn Gardner, a gray-haired gentleman, husband to board member Trina Gardner, told me that he had been a member of UCP's board for more than 15 years. He told me that UCP "really supports people with physical disabilities" and he is proud to be a part of the event as it honors outstanding achievements.

  

UCP Executive Director (right)
Bill McCool and Kaz Sortino

I used the last two minutes of cocktail hour to talk to Betty Pinkett, whose gold scarf caught my eye. What does the Diamond Dinner meant to her? I thought I saw a tear in her eye. "This is my first time at the dinner," she said, "I'm here with my granddaughter Tashay [Shay], nominated by her coach, Gail Morris. She's had a hard past two years. In 2009, Shay lost her grandfather, then her mother within the month." Ms. Pinkett said she's been raising Shay and her younger sister. Shay has two brothers, being raised by their father. "Basketball's so important to her." I asked Shay, "Where are you going to college?" Shay's eyes lit up, "Del Tech," she said, "I'm going for nursing." I wished her good luck in her studies as I heard the master of ceremonies begin.



Mark VanderHaar of WDEL/WSTW mc'd the event. He soon introduced Donna Hopkins, President of UCP, and afterward, we were treated to the Delaware Military Academy Color Guard and a beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner sung by Vernita Dorsey. Next came Kaz Sortino, himself an alumnus of the Diamond Dinner, a senior student at the Delaware Military Academy, and a counselor at UCP's Camp Monito. Kaz was an excellent speaker, especially for his age. I was jealous, having struggled with a terrible fear of public speaking since I can remember. Kaz, a cross country runner with cerebral palsy, has volunteered with UCP for more than five years. During his speech, he encouraged the nominees "to take the same drive you have for sports and pour it into something else... and the world will be a better place." He looked around the room, "You're special, you're uniqure and you have what it takes."



Five of the seven Award Winners





 Here's a list of the 2011 Award Winners. 

$500 Victory Scholarship Award

Ian Day, 12th grade, Sussex Tech HS

Amanda Gustafson, 9th grade, Christiana HS

Sarah Hoye, 11th grade, Smyrna HS

Profile in Courage Award

Zachary King, 12th grade, Appoquinimink HS
Tonisha Murray, 9th grade, Newark HS

Nichole Thomas, 12th grade, William Penn HS

Tashay Wilmore, 12th grade, Newark HS


Later, as I interviewed Kaz, I wished that I had been half as smart and intuitive at his age (18). He's been accepted to York College in PA to study early childhood and special education. He's the recipient of the Presidential Scholarship. I asked him to tell me what UCP meant to him. "I learned a lot from the campers [at Monito], I learned patience." Kaz has a big goal. "I've watched over the years how the camp is shrinking, from eight weeks to six, then to four." At 16, he sat down with the Assistant Director at UCP and started working out how they could strengthen the camp. He and his friends were able to get a heater for the camp's pool. "I have CP, [with that comes] spastic diaplegia." I wasn't sure what that meant. He said, "I get shaky when I'm cold. Imagine the kids that are worse than I am." He's working on his own personal goal: to raise $5,000 for UCP's camp.



Immaculata University's
Christian Zwickert



UCP is doing big things. They have worked to raise $1.8 million for Garrett House, which is affordable, accessible housing for people with disabilities. UCP's motto is "Life without limits for people with disabilities." They want people to live their lives fully - with or without disabilities.

 

 

Christian Zwickert and the
Immaculata Lacrosse Team



The final speaker, Christian Zwickert, is the Head Coach of Men's Lacrosse at Immaculata University. Christian had a massive showing from his team; the whole right side of the room was wearing blue pullovers with the university's emblem. Christian spoke about his experience as the father of Collin, who has cerebral palsy. He and his wife struggled to care for their child with a severe disability with very little in the way of professional advice. He began a lacrosse tournament to raise money to help pay for his child's medical care. A most memorable donation came from a boy that sent $25.00 - two weeks' allowance - to help. (You know I loved that one.) Christian received great support from the lacrosse community, and dedicated a portion of the proceeds to UCP. He's been a board member of UCP since 2008 and is working to increase the tournament's fundraising income. He knows the value of UCP.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to cover the Diamond Dinner as part of My Ten Bucks. My husband and I met amazing people who overcame really difficult obstacles. Until you hear their stories for yourself, you cannot comprehend the strength that these individuals have needed to live a life without limits.



Esther & Katherine McCool



I personally feel that this is a worthwhile organization to donate to, and was glad to pay $50 for our tickets. Dave and I will probably attend every year. The best way to make you donation is to send a check to UCP at 700A River Road, Wilmington DE 19809.

Thank you, Don Moore and Bill McCool (the coolest name ever), for inviting us to meet the people who make UCP so special.

My ten (or fifty) bucks matters, and so does yours.
 
Photos by Corey S. Burris of "Picture That". Go to http://www.picturethatfilms.com/.

The Magic Number: 501(c)(3)

You may have seen the number 501(c)(3) and wondered, "What does that really mean?"

All of the charities featured on this blog are 501(c) nonprofit agencies, which means that donations to them are tax deductible (you can claim them on your tax return). There are many types of 501(c) nonprofits, ranging from 501(c)(1) (corporations organized under act of congress) to 501(c)(28) (National Railroad Retirement Investment Trust). Most of the charities profiled on this blog are neatly categorized as 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.

The 501(c)(3) category denotes that the organization is based on religious, educational, charitable, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, to foster national or international amateur sports competition, or prevention of cruelty to children or animals.

501(c)(3) status means that the nonprofit has been incorporated and certified with the IRS as tax-exempt, in other words, the organization does not pay taxes on the contributions it receives from the general public. Furthermore, the 501(c)(3) status also means that the nonprofit has filed a recent 990 or 990-N with the IRS, an annual filing much like your 1040 or 1040-EZ. In 2010, the IRS decided that any organization that didn't file its 990 or 990-N would lose their 501(c)(3) status. (You should have seen how many emails and phone calls I got about this. No worries: BIAD files its 990 annually without fail.) 501(c)(3) status also requires a certain level of compliance with government regulations, including proper acceptance of contributions and documentation thereof. These nonprofits are also limited in their ability to lobby government officials, as well as limiting their support of one political candidate or another. The challenge for nonprofits is to maintain its good standing with the community, its consumers, and the IRS.

For nonprofits, the 501(c)(3) status is a validation for its corporate sponsorships, foundations, and other sources of funding. Effectively, 501(c)(3) status is much like a key that opens many doors. Without this IRS determination, it would be fairly difficult for a nonprofit to conduct business at its fullest capacity. Usually, unless I can prove my charity's nonprofit status, I can't even fill out an application for funding.

More information on charity tax-exemptions can be found at http://www.irs.gov/charities/content/0,,id=125361,00.html.

Creative Expression Changes Lives at Art Therapy Express

Executive Director Lisa Bartoli
(pictured here at The Gibby Art
Center in Middletown, Delaware)

I first met Lisa Bartoli nearly three years ago at a conference in Wilmington. Lisa bustled into the room, dressed in brightly-colored clothes, wrestling an enormous bag overflowing with stuff. She had a bright smile on her face. I remember thinking, Who is this woman? She's like a burst of sunshine! I soon found out that Lisa is the Executive Director of Art Therapy Express Program, Inc. in Hockessin, Delaware. Little did I know I would have the pleasure of working with Lisa in just a few short years.

For years, Lisa worked with people with disabilities in different medical groups, using art therapy to empower them. In 2003, she established Art Therapy Express Program, Inc., feeling art needed to be accessible to everyone, especially people with disabilities. "My vision is to bring the arts - movement, music, and drama - to everyone, and to give people without verbal communication the chance to communicate with the world." Lisa's program introduces artistic expression at the most basic level, creating a step-by-step process. "It's more about a successful, creative art journey," she says. "The real joy comes when they do [art] themselves... to me, it's like hitting a home run." She loves that art can foster and reinforce personal independence.



Lisa shows an adaptive device used for
holding paintbrushes or pencils



Art changes people. "One of my students with autism has been coming to an evening art therapy class for more than ten years. Her parents are amazed at how she can concentrate on art for an entire hour." Lisa smiles broadly and says, "She is so focused for that hour, she doesn't want to leave! Art draws people in."



Lisa's daughter frequently pitches in



Another student (a TBI survivor) came to the studio after an awful day. "She is nonverbal, and was crying hysterically." The student calmed herself while Lisa started the pottery wheel across the room. "After a few minutes, she came to the wheel, sat down, and put her hands on the clay [as it spun]. Her mother and I watched with tears in our eyes as she put her thumbs into the clay and began to model a bowl," Lisa gushes. They were astounded at her ability with the potter's wheel (something I know is difficult to master), having never touched clay before. "Art is bigger than all of us," Lisa says.



Lisa also bridges communication between people with disabilities and their non-disabled peers, getting them to cooperate on projects. I couldn't help thinking, This is a great strategy to curtail discriminatory behavior at an early age. A brilliant idea, actually, one that could change the world a couple of kids at a time.



New Castle County Community Services provided the space for Lisa to create her adapted art studio at Absalom Jones Community Center. There she holds a Saturday open art studio, evening art therapy, summer art camps, educational in-services, and tours, performances, and experiential workshops. "Art Therapy Express is my canvas," she says with great pride. Lisa's photo album (which she carries with her everywhere) is filled with touching images of her students. I'm struck by the beauty of the children, their eyes lit with excitement and joy. Their smiles are so genuine that I sometimes giggle as I'm paging through the album. Students may need headgear to paint, or be placed in a swing to use their toes. It's no problem. Lisa uses adaptive technology in many different forms, sometimes using household objects like dish scrubbers or makeup brushes.

Lisa has collaborated with the Leach School, The Meadowood Program, REACH Program, Delcastle High School, the University of Delaware and the Delaware Art Museum. Starting this week, the nonprofit begins its newest venture - The BIAD Art Club - with the Brain Injury Association of Delaware (sound familiar?) and Associated Community Talents, Inc., the nonprofit behind The Gibby Art Center in Middletown, Delaware. "We're in this together," I've heard her say many times.

I ask, "So, Lisa, how has serving your community changed your life?" Lisa thinks for a moment, then smiles her one-of-a-kind smile. "I realize how fortunate I am to have a gift to give to the world... Every day's a party."

My Ten Bucks will be used to pay for art supplies: canvases, brushes, and clay. If more people donated their ten bucks, Lisa says she will use it first purchase art supplies, followed by purchasing or creating new adaptive technology. She wants more people to see the power of the program and get involved. She also needs volunteers. "More than anything, I need people to help market the program. We need to let the public know we exist."

There are two ways you can make a donation. 1) Mail it to Art Therapy Express Program, Inc., P.O. Box 1661, Hockessin, DE 19707 or 2) Drop off check at the studio or one of our community outreach programs! Lisa hopes you'll choose option 2. Call ahead to make sure she'll be there. (302) 584-4068. You can learn more about Art Therapy Express at www.arttherapyexpress.org.

My ten bucks matters, and so does yours.



Thanks to Bob & John - Santora & DANA

John Baker of DANA and Bob Elder of Santora CPA Group found a way to pay for a full-color page on individual giving and volunteerism in the News Journal every other month - and they chose to feature an excerpt of My Ten Bucks! This being the very first time I have had anything I have written in the newspaper, I was absolutely thrilled!

Yesterday the full page advertisement was published in the News Journal on page A-10.

Thanks, guys, for choosing my piece. I hope you accomplish your goals with this page!

Check out John at http://www.delawarenonprofit.org/ and Bob at http://www.santoracpa.com/. Bramhall and Hitchens Insurance also chipped in to help cover the cost - check them out at http://www.bh-insurance.com/.