connectT H E C O A L I T I O N | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 3

JOHN’S STORYMEET CATHERINE CROSS WOMEN IN PHILANTHROPY

in this issue

HOPE &OPPORTUNITY

FIVE HUNDRED PENNIES…30.48 CENTIMETERSI know...you are raising your eyebrows and wondering. Look again. It is one of the most recognized jingles in advertisements right now. See it now? Five dollar foot long? It is the successful campaign of Subway, touting the low price of a big sandwich.

So what does that have to do with your reading this? My point is, what may not seem familiar or obvious when expressed one way becomes clear when expressed in another. We often talk about “helping” us help those in need; yet it is not really clear what we mean. So, I thought I would clarify by expressing it in another way. Here are FIVE specific ways you can help.

INVEST IN OUR WORK. We need the continued generosity of our supporters to carry on the work we do for those in desperate need. Our services transform lives and move individuals to independence and self-sufficiency.

VOLUNTEER. We have dozens of ways you can help for a day or an hour. Visit our website at centralfloridahomeless.org to learn more.

CONDUCT A SUPPLY DRIVE. An Immediate Needs List of items that are perfect for a religious or civic group to collect is posted on our website and several are mentioned here on the back cover. These items are critical to our current operations. (We also NEED 300 pairs of men’s elastic-waisted sweatpants, size medium and up, to help us move into the new Men’s Service Center.)

BE A TABLE CAPTAIN. Our Journey Home Breakfast is on November 19. Invite nine friends to join you for a breakfast that is informative and inspirational. See page 2 or our website for more details, or call 407.426.1256.

LEAVE A LEGACY GIFT. Simply stated, this allows you to put Coalition for the Homeless in your will and provides us with a future investment.

Five ways. It’s that simple.

Sincerely,

Brent A. TrotterPresident/CEO

L E T T E R

FROMOURFAMILYTOYOURS

Having written a science fiction fantasy trilogy, John is a talented author. After owning and selling a bookkeeping business in North Carolina, he relocated to Orlando in 2000. During his time here, John worked at a large supermarket chain, but lost his job when the store permanently closed its doors in 2008. At age 60, finding another position was difficult. Too young to receive retirement benefits and unable to find work, John was ultimately evicted from his home.

Upon entering the Coalition’s First Steps Substance Abuse Recovery Program for the first time, John’s mood was bad and he wasn’t sure what he was going to do. After learning about the numerous programs the Coalition provides, John began to feel that, “There’s actually hope left in the world. I can actually get my life back.”

He now praises the program and its importance, saying that it is very important. John struggled with alcohol addiction in the past, but has since been in recovery. Seeing others struggle with addiction, John shares, “They are where I was. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

John has developed a positive outlook on life, despite the setbacks he has faced. Currently receiving educational training through the Orange County Public Schools LifeStrides Program, he is taking accounting operations classes to assist in his return to the workforce. John wants to successfully complete the accounting program, which we have no doubt he will do. His ultimate goal is to find a job and he hopes more opportunities will be available once he completes his courses.

John credits his case manager for contributing to his success, as he understands men that are in John’s situation and is always there when needed. “Knowing that there is someone who can help you is very important. It’s a good feeling,” says John. When asked about the new Men’s Service Center being built on the Coalition’s main campus, John responds, “I think it’s fantastic. People in our situation don’t have much to be happy about, but this is great.”

“THERE’SACTUALLY

HOPE LEFT IN THE WORLD. I

CAN ACTUALLY GET MY LIFE

BACK.”C L I E N T S 1

BETTER

livesBETTERopportunitiesTHANKS

to you

HAVING fun MAKING A& difference>>>>

taste of the nation: thank you!Share Our Strength’s 24th Annual Taste of the Nation Orlando was held on August 10, 2013. The event was a huge success, raising more than $245,000! As one of the local beneficiaries of the event, many thanks go out to the Taste of the Nation committee, chefs, corporate sponsors, hosting venue Orlando World Center Marriott, volunteers, and guests who made it all possible.

HUNGER and HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS WEEKNOVEMBER 16 - 24, 2013During National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, the Coalition will take part in this nationwide effort to bring greater awareness to the problems of hunger and homelessness in Central Florida.

Make sure to wear purple on Friday, November 22 to show your support! We also invite you to check centralfloridahomeless.org for other ways to get involved.

JOURNEY HOME BREAKFASTNOVEMBER 19, 2013Join us at The Rosen Centre Hotel on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 for our upcoming Journey Home Breakfast. This free event features heartfelt stories of men, women, and children whose lives have been transformed with help from people like you. To attend as a guest, RSVP by Tuesday, November 12 to 407.426.1256 or development@cflhomeless.org.

More than a mealOCTOBER 8, NOVEMBER 12, & DECEMBER 10, 2013On the second Tuesday of every month, the Coalition invites you to a light lunch and an informational tour of our main campus. In one short hour, you’ll get an inspiring, firsthand look at how Coalition for the Homeless is helping homeless men, women and families with children return to a life of independence. For more information, contact the Development Department at 407.426.1256 or development@cflhomeless.org to RSVP.

E V E N T S2

Catherine Cross’ desire to help those in need inspired her to become involved as an artist with the Art by Coalition Children (ABCs) Program. She is an active volunteer who has invested five years in the program, which celebrates its tenth anniversary in October.

Catherine feels there is a need to work for peace through the arts. Her passion led to her invitation to become an outreach art teacher at the Orlando Museum of Art through their Disney Helping Kids Shine grant. This grant provides quality studio art programs for children living at the Coalition. Initially designed just for teens, Catherine saw the need to engage children of ALL ages and their families. “Working with the Coalition as an artist, art advisor on the ABCs Committee, and facilitator has taken a volunteer interest and turned it into a heartwarming experience,” says Catherine. “I am able to witness joy in the eyes of children, families and individuals as they leave their cares behind and are free to create.”

Catherine believes the dedication and consistency of volunteers over the years has helped the Coalition’s art program grow. This month the program format changed to an open center for all the children and families served at our Women’s Residential and Counseling Center (WRCC). In addition, special field trips to the Orlando Museum of Art are planned; and the museum schedules internationally renowned artists to visit the art room at WRCC and work with the children.

“I am working…for change and peace through the arts,” Catherine shares. “It is exciting for me to watch entire families engage in the arts! Watching self-esteem and confidence soar, I am hopeful that the experiences with creativity and art provide skills that empower creative

decision making, provide experience for collaboration and contributing to a community and promote loving family relations where empathy for others and peace can prevail.”

When she is not working with arts education programs or speaking about art at conferences, Catherine can be found creating her own art, swimming, walking in the fields and mountains of the Carolina’s or deep in the Low Country islands working on a Sustainable Farm Project.

ABCs ART SALEYou can purchase original artwork - including paintings, drawings and photographs – all framed and ready to hang.

View the gallery at CENTRALFLORIDAHOMELESS.ORG and contact Kristen Martin at kristen.martin@cflhomeless.org to purchase.

pGIVINGBACKMEET CATHERINE CROSS

V O L U N T E E R S 3

$$$

SunTrust Bank representatives Deana Lewis, Marina Nice, Teresa Colling, and Kristin Klebacha presented this $25,000 check to Coalition President/CEO Brent Trotter. SunTrust Foundation was the first corporate partner in our Journey Home Campaign Women in Philanthropy Initiative!

More than 30 volunteers from the Adventist University of Health Sciences took the time to not only host a water day for our daycare kids, but serve lunch to our clients, scrub the children’s playground so it remains a beautiful place to have fun, and mulch our grounds.

Many of our sponsors, donors, and volunteers gave the kids who call the Coalition home a chance to start school in style at our Back to School Festival. Children were given supplies, new shoes, a new outfit and a haircut, all thanks to you.

The opening of Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida’s Men’s Service Center (MSC) is rapidly approaching! We are thrilled to be able to provide hope to a greater number of homeless men such as John. (See page 1)

The Coalition was honored to receive $40,000 through the Orlando Sentinel Family Fund, a McCormick Foundation fund. The generous donation will help support our Community Housing Program.

YOURDOLLARS

The Coalitioncould not do what

we do withoutYOU!

ATWORK

C O N T R I B U T O R S4

Women and children comprise the fastest growing segment of the homeless population in America. The Coalition strives to meet the needs of these vulnerable citizens through our Center for Women and Families (CFW) and Women’s Residential and Counseling Center (WRCC). But we cannot do it alone.

Our Women in Philanthropy (WIP) initiative is part of the Coalition’s Journey Home Major Gifts Campaign. WIP is seeking 100 women, companies and foundations to give or pledge $5,000 over the next five years.

The goal of WIP is to raise $500K to help sustain programs, services, and operations at our CWF and WRCC. This grassroots fundraising initiative has garnered much attention in its first eight months. To date, more than $130K has been raised or pledged. In addition, a group of 20 women have joined the WIP Advisory Council, with Coalition Board Member Barbara Stuart leading the charge as our Chairman!

Plans in the initiative’s second year include establishing More than a Meal Tours at WRCC and securing our final 75 women. All WIP members will be recognized on a special donor wall to acknowledge today’s donors and those of years past. We

are also attempting to locate descendants of the women philanthropists who gave in the 1940’s and 1950’s to continue the legacy of women helping women in our community.You have the opportunity to be part of something big! Contact the Development Department for additional information at 407.426.1256 or at development@cflhomeless.org

Thank you to the following women, who are the first members of our WIP initiative:

grants$1,000-$4,999Enterprise Holdings FoundationThe Charles Hosmer Morse Foundation

$5,000-$9,999TD Charitable FoundationThe Chesley G. Magruder FoundationThe TJX FoundationOrange County (California) Community Foundation

$10,000-$19,999Publix Super Markets CharitiesWinifred Johnson Clive Foundation

$20,000-$29,999S.L. Gimbel Foundation Advised Fund at The Community

Foundation Serving the Counties of Riverside and San Bernandino, California

Universal Orlando FoundationWalmart Foundation

$30,000-$49,999Abram and Ray Kaplan FoundationOrlando Sentinel Family Fund, a McCormick Foundation fund

• CorporateSponsor:SunTrust Bank

• Diane Kirk • Joanne Adams• Leslie Chalfont • Lisa Lorenze Hicks • Jenn Hollern

& Abby Prokop • Christine Kefauver • Cynthia Kuykendall• Dana Loncar • Mary Mullee• Marina Nice

• Lee Nimkoff • Kay Rawlins• Abigail Roofner• Denise Saxton• Katherine S.

Schimmelpfennig• Cindy Schooler • Laurie Stephens• Barbara Stuart • Holly Stuart • Diane Stull • Pam Thomas• Michelle Wood

WOMEN INPHILANTHROPY6

C O N T R I B U T O R S 5

I am honored to chair this exciting initiative to continue Central Florida’s legacy of women helping women.” – Barbara Stuart“

Chairman Timothy R. Baker, AIA Baker Barrios Architects, Inc.Vice Chair Randy E. Schimmelpfennig Morgan & Morgan, P.A.Secretary Elena H. Norman Hilton Grand VacationsTreasurer Brian P. Buwalda, CPA CliftonLarsonAllen, LLPPresident/CEO Brent A. Trotter Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, Inc.

Christopher Annunziato, Holland & Knight LLPCarlos A. Barrios PE, Stephens-BarriosBakari F. Burns, Health Care Center for the Homeless, Inc. Fara K. Dantzler, Wells Fargo Bank N.A.Eric David, Expedia Local ExpertSylvia Doggett-Jones, Darden Restaurants, Inc.Tracey L. Ellerson, Baker Hostetler LLPGlenn M. Fournier, Fournier & Associates, Inc.Jim Fritz, Orlando MagicEric D. Gassman, Orange County GovernmentJohn E. Hearn, Orlando Utilities CommissionDavid Jasmund, PCE Investment Bankers, Inc.Christine S. Kefauver, City of OrlandoFred R. Kittinger, Jr., University of Central FloridaRonald R. Lamb, SunTrust BankTrevor Larsen, PE, Walt Disney Parks and ResortsSean A. McLaughlin, CNL Financial Group / JDS Holdings, LLCMichael Miller, American Aviation InstituteJohn P. Moskos, Bank of AmericaWalter R. Nason, GrayRobinson, P.A.Lee Nimkoff, Brio PropertiesLaura L. Pooser, UCF College of Arts and HumanitiesJohn Rivers, 4R Restaurant GroupTy G. Roofner, Burr & Forman LLPJohn R. Schooler, Orlando HealthDouglas M. Spencer, Spencer Consulting ServicesScott R. Stahley, Lincoln Property Company of Florida, Inc.Samuel C. Stephens III, ZOM, Inc.Barbara Larson Stuart, The Stuart GroupCharles Tews, Tews CompanyRichard G. Wack, Mediation Services of Central Florida, Inc.Robert F. Wagner, Tupperware Brands Corp.Bill L. Warren, Reedy Creek Improvement DistrictMichael Weinberg, HFF, L.P.Brian T. Wilson, Dellecker Wilson King McKenna Ruffier & SosMark Woodbury, Universal Parks & ResortsAaron Zandy, Ford & Harrison LLP

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

639 West Central BoulevardOrlando, FL 32801407.426.1250CentralFloridaHomeless.org

IMMEDIATE NEEDSWe depend exclusively on you to help provide our clients with much-needed supplies. The items below may seem simple, but they mean the world to our residents.

• Baby wipes• Razors• Deodorant• Underwear (new - men’s and women’s)• Socks (new - men’s and women’s)

donatetoday