Annual Report

Transcription

1 Annual Report

2 M ission To create and nurture a partnership between a visually impaired individual and a guide dog, facilitating life s journey with mobility, independence and dignity. 2

3 Dear Friend, In a year of historic economic challenges, Southeastern Guide Dogs humbly and gratefully presents to you our valued supporters impressive and positive results for fiscal year We ve worked hard together to accomplish much this year. Notable achievements include: Providing superbly trained guide dogs to 70 visually impaired individuals, 50 of whom were new to Southeastern Guide Dogs. Placing 60 dogs into Gifted Canine careers, including therapy, companion and lawenforcement work. Establishing a new Graduate Services initiative, providing proactive follow-up visits, consultation, and education to more than 800 active graduates. Making significant capital improvements to our Puppy and Breeding Kennel, including new flooring, a remodeled nursery, hot water solar panels, and a new ventilation system. Acquiring state-of-the-art canine medical equipment including a puppy incubator, an ultrasound machine, and comprehensive blood diagnostics equipment enabling us to maximize the health and well-being of our puppies and dogs. Enhancing our Freedom Walk through the addition of several wonderful gardens, including a new Circle of Friends garden featuring our Forward Together sculpture developed by worldrenowned folk artist Stephen Huneck. Attracting local, regional, and national attention through more than 100 newspaper, magazine, television, radio, and internet news stories; through donated advertising on more than 25 compelling billboards; and through donated eye-catching graphics on all of our vehicles. Launching a new interactive website, currently on track to attract more than 100,000 visits a year. Highlights of the site include fully accessible navigation for individuals with visual impairments; our popular puppy cam; a virtual tour of our campus; and personal fundraising pages. Exceeding budgeted revenues while keeping our costs under budgeted expectations, despite the downturn in the economy. For details, see our audited financial statement on page 13. We re pleased with these achievements; however they pale in comparison to the extraordinary daily achievements of our courageous graduates and their remarkable dogs. We hope their successes will inspire you to continue contributing your time, talent, and resources to enrich and improve the lives of others. Thank you for everything you do in support of our mission. With gratitude, Suzanne Branch Chairman of the Board Titus Herman Chief Executive Officer 3

4 The year in p h o t o s Dynamic Duets Our 26-day, on-site training program marks the beginning of a journey to freedom; a powerful partnership of purpose and independence. But beyond the externals, our guide dog teams forge bonds of the heart that last a lifetime. 4

5 forward together Take a walk with your best friend. Part fundraiser, part celebration, part festival and 100% pure generosity on the part of all of our Walkathon participants! 2009 marked our 23rd annual Walkathon, and they simply get better every year. puppy love A little unconditional love goes a long way! Volunteer huggers play a key role in socializing our 6- to 9-week old puppies. Toddlers to seniors, from all walks of life we welcome our huggers with open paws. 5

6 careers in action Intelligence, patience, social skills, and a desire to please our Gifted Canines use their own special gifts in life-changing careers with law enforcement agencies, hospitals, schools, and assisted living facilities. naturally beautiful Live oaks, beautiful gardens, puppy playgrounds our entire campus is green! And we ve added solar hot water, environmentally friendly cleaning products, and other Earth-saving measures that are better for dogs, better for people, and gentle on the planet. smiles and sunshine Recipe for delight: sunshine, light exercise, a playful, cheerful pup, and our beautiful Freedom Walk. Volunteer dog walkers can t help but come back for second helpings and third and fourth 6

7 lasting partnerships Our Forward Together sculpture highlights our Circle of Friends, the beautiful garden centerpiece of our Freedom Walk. This lovely pathway serves as an outdoor classroom where students first learn to work with their guide dogs in privacy and peace. The sculpture was developed by renowned folk artist Stephen Huneck and reminds passersby of the partnerships at the heart of our mission. virtual hugs E-puppies! Virtual online puppy hugs, compliments of our liveaction Puppy Cam. Staying connected has never been this fun or furry! Over 17,000 visitors to the puppy-cam page since its launch! 7

8 Heritage Society Lasting Support and loyal advocacy 8

9 Become a and Leave a Legacy her it age - noun, something that is passed down from preceding generations; a tradition. so ci e ty, - noun, an inclusive community of people sharing the same ideas and goals. Southeastern Guide Dogs announces the founding of our new Heritage Society, a group of caring individuals committed to ensuring the long-term stability and the continued provision of the highest quality of services by our school. s who share our vision and mission are stepping forward, pledging lasting support through a life income gift, or by a bequest to the school through estate plans, wills, and other vehicles of generosity. ship levels include Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Diamond, with recognitions and honors commensurate with levels of involvement. Heritage Society members will be recognized through permanent signs in our Circle of Friends, the beautiful garden centerpiece of our Freedom Walk. s will receive honorable mentions in our annual report, and one outstanding member will be selected as the Philanthropist of the Year. It is with great appreciation and admiration that we announce these inaugural Founders of our esteemed Heritage Society: David and Deborah Barnhart, Georgia Senator Mike and Dee Bennett, Florida Suzanne and Dallas W. Branch, Texas Alix Franzblau, Florida Anonymous, Georgia Missy and Tim Griffy, Texas J.W. and Janice Kelly, Texas William and Tanga Moyle, Florida Bobby and Merideth Newman, Florida Dr. Harris and Micheline Silverman, Florida Anonymous, Georgia Norman and Phyllis Siskel, Florida Katie and Scott Tyler, North Carolina Eric and Jan Williams, Florida For more information on becoming a member of our Heritage Society, please visit guidedogs.org/heritagesociety. 9

10 Of Angels and Champions With 27 years of impressive service in the U.S. Army, Lt. Col. Kathy Champion had literally seen the world. Tours in Central America, Germany, Bosnia, Korea, the Middle East, Afghanistan, and throughout the U.S. had created a seasoned traveler and veteran who could handle just about every contingency. Until Iraq, that is. As Commander of a Civil Affairs Unit, Kathy and her team were responsible for rebuilding West Baghdad. After surviving seven explosions, harsh sandstorms, severe living conditions, and the loss of five soldiers, she returned home with signs of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. And if that wasn t bad enough, doctors discovered a chronic viral infection that had affected her optic nerve. Kathy lost her vision, entering a darkness of soul that matched her sight. Once fiercely independent, Kathy s days were now defined by fear and withdrawal. She rarely left her home, or even her room. Her two grown children were deeply worried. She d always called them her angels, and now she couldn t even see her new grandchildren. Coaxed out of the house by her cousin, Kathy happened to pass by Southeastern Guide Dogs during a Saturday open house. It was a random stop; an impulsive decision to check out the campus. Kathy reluctantly left the car, curiosity overshadowing fear for the moment. That random stop changed everything, and while doubtful, Kathy soon returned as a student. Staff members recall Kathy s arrival to the residential Guide Dog training program. She kept to herself, not mingling with the others. Until she met Angel. When Kathy discovered she had been paired with a guide dog named Angel, she couldn t believe it! For all of those years, her children were her angels. This couldn t be a coincidence. Whether fate or destiny or a higher power, Kathy felt the darkness begin to lift. In just four weeks, she emerged from the program with her old confidence back! She had truly found her angel. Today, Kathy and Angel have traveled across the country, to the Grand Canyon, to attend Space Camp, and to visit her grandchildren. The pair is inseparable, and Kathy wouldn t have it any other way. Here s a salute to a pair of champions to Kathy Champion and her Angel. 10

11 Dog Memorial Garden... Forever Friends They give everything, these forever friends who are our dogs. They ask for nothing in return except our love. We shall never forget them; their memories engraved forever upon our hearts. Their fragrance; their softness; their companionship; their listening ears and faithfulness and loyalty. They take with them a part of ourselves, and we give it gladly for the memories and the time we had together. Our secluded, contemplative Memorial Garden offers a place of peaceful remembrance for beloved career dogs and favorite household canines. Located on the southwest corner of the campus, the garden beckons in quietness. Companions and families can choose to memorialize their dog with personalized, engraved memorial bricks, river stones, and lovely benches, tastefully placed in this lovely, serene landscape. Visit guidedogs.org/dogmemorialgarden to learn more. 11

12 Treasurer s Report Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the careful stewardship of our organization s resources, Southeastern Guide Dogs continued to strengthen its financial position during the fiscal year that ended on June 30, Kerkering, Barberio & Co. completed its independent audit in October 2009 and found the school to be operating in a financially sound manner. Through the support of our many committed donors, total revenues exceeded $7 million, substantially more than the $3.4 million budget. Included in this sum is an extraordinary legacy gift from Harry J. and Deloris J. Boothe. Our school s leaders and staff continue to implement thoughtful expense controls, ensuring that we operate in a cost-effective and efficient manner. During the fiscal year, the school invested 83 cents of every dollar directly in programs and services. Total expenses of $4.2 million were well below our $4.5 million budget. Operationally, our school s revenues exceeded expenses by approximately $2.8 million. Our net assets remain solid at $16.4 million, in spite of a $1.4 million reduction in those assets due to investment performance tied to the declining stock market and current economic climate. Our heartfelt thanks go out to our new and long-time supporters who continue to contribute so generously, both through financial gifts as well as their most precious asset: their time. Each donation is valuable to us and assists us in fulfilling our mission: To create and nurture a partnership between a visually impaired individual and a guide dog, facilitating life s journey with mobility, independence and dignity. Respectfully submitted, Katie B. Tyler Treasurer 12

13 Consolidated Statements of Financial Position June 30, 2009 and Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,064,754 $ 1,476,023 Investments 5,978,554 6,834,117 Bequests and estates receivable 3,657, ,789 Charitable trusts receivable 638, ,294 Assets held for sale 588, ,000 Property and equipment, net 2,120,919 2,165,065 Cash and investments for restricted purposes 2,490,993 2,898,542 Other assets 244, ,101 Total Assets $16,784,120 $15,357,931 Liabilities and Net Assets Liabilities Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 242,381 $ 205,959 Gift annuity liability 132,415 99,929 Total liabilities 374, ,888 Net Assets Unrestricted 10,939,083 8,885,972 Temporarily restricted 2,997,500 3,199,533 Permanently restricted 2,472,741 2,966,538 Total net assets 16,409,324 15,052,043 Total Liabilities and Net Assets $16,784,120 $15,357,931 Consolidated Statement of activities Year ended june 30, 2009 (with summarized totals for 2008) Support and revenue Individuals $ 947,702 $ 726,700 Bequests 4,396,978 1,714,752 Lions and service clubs 313, ,476 Foundations and corporations 741, ,642 Contributed services 289, Other 369, ,155 Total support and revenue 7,058,322 3,791,260 Expenses Program services Supporting services 3,504,885 2,592,920 Management and general 360, ,406 Fund raising 343, ,479 Total expenses 4,209,470 3,233,805 Current year operating revenues over operating expenses 2,848, ,455 Non-operating activities Realized gain (loss) on investments (1,244,395) 83,374 Unrealized gain (loss) on investments (483,260) (639,648) Interest income 314, ,481 Other (78,383) (118,520) Total non-operating activities (1,491,571) (326,313) Increase in net assets 1,357, ,142 Net assets beginning of year 15,052,043 14,820,901 Net assets end of year $16,409,324 $15,052,043 13

14 How Alice Caught The Vision It all started innocently enough. In fact, the day Alice Boose volunteered to hug her first puppy for Southeastern Guide Dogs, she never dreamed how it would impact the rest of her life. After the puppy hugging experience, Alice soon became a dog walker, helping the dogsin-training get exercise and recreation. When she heard of the annual Walkathon, she immediately registered and began raising support. Alice embraced the program, and soon became a puppy sponsor. And finally, she simply couldn t resist she became a puppy raiser, one of the invaluable foster families so critical in the life of a skilled guide dog. She nurtured her puppy, socialized him, walked him, taught him, and exposed him to as much everyday life and scents and scenes as possible before returning him to campus for harness training. Since then she s raised eight puppies. Letting them go has been the hardest, but the sheer joy of knowing her efforts will provide independence to someone special has made it all worthwhile. And now Alice, too, is losing her sight. The culprit is age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a condition that gradually destroys central vision. AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in Americans age 60 and older. When I first learned about my condition, I felt pretty panicky, Alice shared with a reporter recently. Knowing I ll be getting a dog, it s not as scary as one might think. 14 Meanwhile, Alice continues to give her time and her heart to Southeastern Guide Dogs, knowing that one day she ll be on the other side of the harness. Right now, she s a joyful soul with a giving spirit, spending her time raising and training Linny, the smartest and most adorable collie puppy in the world at least, according to Alice Boose.

15 Platinum Veterinarian Partners We deeply appreciate the following Platinum Veterinarian Partners throughout the southeast who donate 100% of their medical services to our puppies and dogs in training: Allen Veterinary Hospital, Allen, TX Ashton Animal Clinic, Sarasota, FL Baywood Veterinary Clinic, Cape Coral, FL Goodwin Animal Hospital, Montgomery, AL James C. Murray, DVM, Dallas, TX Jonesboro Animal Hospital, Jonesboro, GA Katy Trail Animal Hospital, Dallas, TX Southeast Alabama Veterinary Hospital, Dothan, AL Sugar Creek Animal Clinic, Sugar Land, TX Willowdale Veterinary Center, Orange Park, FL Board of Directors Suzanne Branch, AIA Chairman of the Board Dallas, TX Tim Griffy Vice Chairman Richardson, TX Harris Silverman, M.D. Secretary Bradenton, FL Katie Tyler Treasurer Charlotte, NC David Barnhart Atlanta, GA Carol Beauchamp-Forrester Boca Grande, FL Scott Collins, Esq. Sarasota, FL Debbie Grubb Bradenton, FL Laura Harto Sarasota, FL William Moyle Safety Harbor, FL Bobby Newman Tampa, FL Ann-Margaret Perkins, Esq. Carrollton, GA Roger Pettingell Sarasota, FL Eric Williams St. Petersburg, FL 15

16 th Street East Palmetto, FL Tel: Fax: guidedogs.org Southeastern Guide Dogs is accredited by the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) in Reading, England and is a member of the Council of U.S. Dog Guide Schools.