2018 annual update

ANNUAL UPDATE 2018

THANK YOU This year we have seen families experiencing disability find communities where they are welcomed and loved. We have seen students with disability in India, Haiti and Uganda welcomed into school- in places where 9 out of 10 children with disability do not attend school. We have seen adults with disability offered the gift of friendship.

Some years are years where we all just tend to continue on, in the same way and in the same form- chipping away in a specific direction. But that was not this year. This year, 99 Balloons, expanded in new directions; chipping away at the same issue in a variety of new ways.

In this, our 11th year, we felt both the need and ability to head into new directions that we are SO excited to see happen. Here are just a few of the initiatives that formed this last year: ¡ Launched our first three rEmix sites; a teen model of social engagement that churches can bring to their community. ¡ Began our first bEfriend initiative in Northwest Arkansas- an adult model for friendships and relationships that churches can bring to their community. ¡ Started All-In education sponsorship program for kids with disability to be able to attend school in Haiti, Uganda & India.

Thanks to you for joining with us. We could not be launching out as we are without a committed group of folks seeking to change the story of disability. The truth is, we need the tribe known as 99 Balloons to continue to expand in order move to the places we feel that we are being led.

It is our hope that as you flip through these pages, you get just a glimpse of all of the good that God has done and you feel compelled to continue on the journey to changing the story of disability with us.

Sincerely,

Matt & Ginny Mooney

rEcess is... respite. rEcess is... the BEST night of the week.

2017-2018 FAYETTEVILLE 8 EVENTS 171 SPOTS FOR KIDS WITH DISABILITIES 177 SPOTS FOR SIBLINGS 1942 VOLUNTEER HOURS 23 FAMILIES BEING SERVED 1 NEW FAMILY

“I had no idea about this organization until a few months ago. As a parent with a special needs child you feel isolated and alone. After learning about this organization I feel so much better. It truly helps.”

- Stacie – rEcess Parent

We believe when people without disabilities get to know people with disabilities, they start to care about each other.

0-12 YEARS

VISIT 99BALLOONS.ORG/RECESS TO LEARN MORE

2017-2018 WORLDWIDE 43 TOTAL SITES 6 NEW SITES 350+ FAMILIES SERVED 2,435 SPOTS FOR KIDS WITH DISABILITIES 2,144 SPOTS FOR SIBLINGS 19,030 VOLUNTEER HOURS

We believe when people without disabilities get to know people with disabilities, they start to care about each other.

0-12 YEARS

USA: AR - Siloam Springs, Fayetteville, Decatur, Rogers, Little Rock, Bryant, Bentonville; CA - Fullerton; CO - Greenwood Village, Colorado Springs; IN - Fort Wayne; LA - Baton Rouge; MA - Hingham; MD - Jessup; MO - Bolivar, West Plains, Festus, Springfield, Warsaw; MS - Vicksburg; NJ - Glassboro; OH - N Canton; OK - Stillwater; OR - Salem; TN - Brentwood, Memphis; TX - Tomball, Alvin, Dallas; WV - Hurricane.

CANADA: ON - Burlington, Etobicoke.

AUSTRALIA: VIC - Carlton.

VISIT 99BALLOONS.ORG/RECESS TO LEARN MORE

We believe when people without disabilities get to know people with disabilities, they start to care about each other.

13-18 YEARS

This year, we launched two new programs - rEmix and bEfriend. rEmix is a teen model of social engagement with monthly group gatherings for typically developing kids and kids experiencing disability. rEmix is still in development and we look forward to helping churches bring rEmix to their community.

We believe when people without disabilities get to know people with disabilities, they start to care about each other.

18+ YEARS

bEfriend is monthly community gatherings with 1-to-1 pairings in a relational model of ministry. This model is designed to build friendships and relationships with adults experiencing disability.

EMAIL INFO@99BALLOONS.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION

All-In Education Sponsorships 9 OUT OF 10 CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES DO NOT ATTEND SCHOOL ALL-IN SPONSORSHIPS ALLOW CHILDREN WITH DISABILITY TO BE INCLUDED INTO A SCHOOL OR APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT

GOING TO SCHOOL DOES MORE THAN PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH AN EDUCATION. IT PROVIDES THEM WITH A SENSE OF COMMUNITY. A SPONSORSHIP WILL ALWAYS COVER THE COST OF A CHILD RECEIVING AN EDUCATION AND IN MANY INSTANCES, WILL ALSO INCLUDE ACCESS TO THERAPY AND MEALS. JOIN US IN CHANGING THE STORY OF DISABILITY FOR THESE CHILDREN.

VISIT 99BALLOONS.ORG/ALLIN TO FIND STUDENTS THAT YOU CAN HELP SEND TO SCHOOL.

Global Trips 2017-2018 3 TRIPS HAITI: 1 BEHAVIOR/AUTISM SPECIALIST, 1 SPED PROFESSIONAL, 1 SLP, 1 VOLUNTEER NICARAGUA: 2 NURSES, 1 PARAMEDIC, 2 SLPS, 1 VOLUNTEER UGANDA: 1 ARTIST, 1 SPED PROFESSIONAL, 2 BEHAVIOR SPECIALISTS, 3 VOLUNTEERS

“These kids were so joyful and loving. They wanted to get to know you and show you more of their world. The kids constantly got our attention by saying "Auntie, Auntie" and then showing us skills they had been working on that they were so proud of. It was a true picture of having joy despite their circumstances. Some of them have been through incredibly difficult situations of hurt and rejection, but they didn't show an ounce of it… They're not defined by their disability, but by being a child of the King.”

– Jordan, Uganda Trip Participant VISIT 99BALLOONS.ORG/GLOBAL-WORK TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TRIPS

Global Doctoral Partnership 2017-2018 SOUTHERN ASIA 2 OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY DOCTORAL STUDENTS TRAVELED TO SOUTHERN ASIA FOR 6 WEEKS AS PART OF OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY'S DOCTORAL EXPERIENTIAL COMPONENT THEY SPLIT THEIR TIME BETWEEN 2 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS

“We learned so much about our profession, ourselves, [Southern Asia], and the perception of disability. Realistically in [Southern Asia], persons with disabilities are severely underserved. The programs we had an opportunity to work with are so important to change this perception and engage children in learning that are otherwise ignored. School systems in [Southern Asia] have no services for children with a disability.

These learning centers allow children to learn academic, life skills, social skills and vocational training. With these learning centers in place it is a hope the perception of children with a disability will be increasingly more positive.”

- Andrea, Creighton Student on her experience in Southern Asia

99 Network G LOBAL PROJECTS $24,699.37 SPENT IN 2017-2018 ________ SPENT TO DATE PROJECTS COMPLETED IN 2017-2018: • ZIMBABWE – PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR EQUINE THERAPY CENTER - $22,500 • UGANDA – ART SUPPLIES FOR MURAL IN THEIR CENTER - $446.14 • UGANDA – THERAPY SUPPLIES FOR CENTER - $497.26 • UGANDA – TAKING KIDS WITH DISABILITIES TO THE ZOO - $770.00 • HAITI – SCHOOL SUPPLIES - $485.97

Engage Conference Our annual Engage Conference explores the intersection of disability, inclusion and the church.

2018 91 ATTENDEES 25 SPEAKERS 16 BREAKOUT SESSIONS 25 VOLUNTEERS 10 BOOTHS 26 CHURCHES/ORGS REPRESENTED 9 STATES REPRESENTED

THE 2019 ENGAGE CONFERENCE WILL BE ON MARCH 2, 2019

99 Balloons Presents 2018 OVER 200 IN ATTENDANCE 99 BALLOONS PRESENTS WAS THE CAPSTONE EVENT TO THE ENGAGE CONFERENCE AND THIS YEAR WE WELCOMED HEATHER AVIS, AUTHOR OF THE LUCKY FEW.

“IT’S ONLY THE LUCKY FEW THAT RECOGNIZE THAT THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS IN THIS LIFE ARE OFTEN FOUND IN THE DIFFERENCES.” - HEATHER AVIS

Fall Fundraiser SAVE THE DATE! Our annual Fall Fundraiser will be on October 7th benefiting the local and global work of 99 Balloons.

Fellowship WE LAUNCHED THE 99 BALLOONS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IN SEPTEMBER OF 2017 THAT WE ARE EXCITED TO CONTINUE. FELLOWS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CREATING INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES BY ATTENDING VARIOUS WORKSHOPS AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS ORGANIZED BY 99 BALLOONS. IN RETURN, THE FELLOWS ENABLED US TO SERVE MORE FAMILIES IN MEANINGFUL WAYS.

Financials INCOME: $308,238.41

EXPENSES: $269,990.17

Fundraising - 15% $41,114.39

Admin - 17% $45,064.76

Programming - 68% $183,811.17

Donate WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT AND PARTNERSHIP AS WE SEEK TO CHANGE THE STORY OF DISABILITY. TO MAKE A DONATION, PLEASE VISIT: 99BALLOONS.ORG/DONATE

99BALLOONS.ORG /99BALLOONSINC @99BALLOONSORG @99BALLOONSORG INFO@99BALLOONS.ORG