FIRC Annual Report 23FY

2023 Fiscal Year Oct 1, 2022 - Sep 30, 2023

A letter from Brianne Executive Director Dear Friends of FIRC, I am pleased to present to you our annual report for the 2023 fiscal year. It is with great pride that I reflect on the progress and achievements made by FIRC throughout the past year.

Despite the challenges presented by increased demand for services and decreased funding opportunities, I am pleased to report that our organization has maintained a strong financial position. FIRC’s commitment to financial stewardship has allowed us to effectively manage expenses and maximize our resources.

At the heart of our mission is the commitment to supporting Summit County’s local workforce and families. I am happy to report that our programs and initiatives have made a significant impact on the lives of more than 12,000 community members. Through FIRC’s four core program areas: Community Health, Food Access, Peer Support, and Financial Empowerment, FIRC assisted community members with applications for health insurance, provided fresh produce to each Food Market shopper, distributed housing scholarships, and connected parents and newcomers through peer support groups to build a stronger community. These accomplishments are a testament to the dedication and hard work of our team, as well as the unwavering support of our partners and stakeholders.

FIRC has finalized and adopted a new strategic plan aimed at addressing our community’s biggest challenges around food and housing insecurity. These efforts include external efforts such as improved programming and strengthening community collaborations as well as internal goals such as enhanced technology and positive workplace culture which will position us for long-term sustainability and growth. Additionally, I am filled with optimism and excitement for the opportunities that lie ahead as we complete the construction of the Sol Center in 2025.

I would like to express my gratitude to each staff member, volunteer, Board Member, supporter, and community partner who helped FIRC this past year. Your hard work, dedication, and passion are the driving forces behind our success. Thank you for your continued support and trust. Together, we will continue to make a meaningful difference in Summit County.

Sincerely,

Board of Directors Thank you to FIRC’s 2023FY Board of Directors. Their unwavering support, dedication, and expertise has been instrumental to FIRC’s success. Not pictured: Laura Shriner.

Scott Binder, President

Josh Blanchard

Howard Carver

Kendra Carpenter

Yirka Diaz

Nick Doran, Member at Large

Michael Dudick, Treasurer

Pete Joyce

David Nicoli, Secretary

Esteban Ortega

Susan Propper

Barbara Gibbs, Vice President

A LOOK INTO FIRC

12,576 people impacted

FIRC’s Average Household Size: 3

FIRC made 5,350 outgoing service referrals and 2,421 internal referrals

ounty C t i m Sum earn o t d e e n families

ADDITIONAL STATS

es m i t 4 o 3t verty eral po the fed selfe b o t l leve nt. sufficie

When basic needs are met, people can focus on being a parent, employee, and community member.

$20 Gift

$20

Can provide up to $200 worth of fresh produce and groceries for a family based on fair market value and cost of a volunteer’s time.

$150 Gift

$150

Can help a neighbor sign up for health insurance coverage and other health related needs.

$500 Gift

$500

Can help a neighbor provide direct heat, utility, and/or medical bill assistance.

$1,000 Gift $1,000

Can provide a family with 24 home visits to promote infant and child health and foster educational development and school readiness.

$2,500 Gift $2,500

Can help a neighbor keep a roof over their head and support the Housing Justice Scholarship for 6 months.

$5,000 Gift $5,000

Can be leveraged to $50,000 worth of fresh food and produce distributed through FIRC’s Community Food Markets.

MISSION

IN

ACTION

DEMOGRAPHICS Primary Language Other 2.4%

Area of Residence

English 34%

Wildernest 4.7%

Spanish 63.6%

Other 8.6%

Dillon Valley 22.6%

Dillon 4.8%

Frisco 7.5%

Race/Ethnicity Other 5.8%

White 28.7%

Hispanic/Latino 65.5%

Silverthorne 18.7%

Keystone 15.1%

Breckenridge 17.9%

FOOD ACCESS Food Market Visits: 26,378 Total Value of Food Distributed: $ 5,275,600 FIRC’s Community Food Markets provide options for fresh, healthy, and nutritious food; while also helping families stretch their budgets, save, and connect to additional community resources. The Food Markets provide access to no-cost groceries, household and hygiene items. We encourage all residents to visit once a week to receive up to $200 worth of groceries. To ensure the food system is grounded in equity and responsive to community need the FIRC Food Equity Coalition was created. The coalition has 12 individuals that drive community policy, and improve accessibility and choice for those utilizing the Food Markets. The Food Equity Coalition serves as our advisory board and leads change in our Food Markets.

FOOD MARKET STAFF

Food Market Manager

Nancy Higuera Food Market Supervisor

Roberto Cortes Food Market Associates

Alicia Mendoza Mariela Pulido Sayra Alfaro Wilson Calvijo

FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT TOTAL APPOINTMENTS: 391 TOTAL INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED: 702 TOTAL RENTAL ASSISTANCE: $255,190 The purpose of the Financial Empowerment program is to assist households on their financial journey, set goals, and establish connections to community resources. Financial Empowerment covers rental assistance, financial wholeness planning, and utility assistance. This past year the FE launched two scholarship opportunities for the community, the Community Rental Assistance Program (CERA) and the Housing Justice Scholarship (HJS).

FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT STAFF Andrea North Financial Empowerment Manager

Lucero Almeida Financial Empowerment Case Worker

Marily Garcia Financial Empowerment Case Worker

PEER SUPPORT TOTAL VISITS: 2566 TOTAL GROUP SESSIONS: 54 400+ Parenting tips sent out through text Peer support services help individuals build social networks and empower them make positive changes in their lives.

Parents gain resources, increase knowledge of child development, develop positive parenting skills, meet other parents in this community, and strengthen their support network through visitations with our Parent Educators.

Other Peer Support Programs include Amigas Latinas Motivando el Alma (ALMA) and ACCION.

PEER SUPORT STAFF Patty Garcia Peer Community Supervisor

Cecilia Martinez Peer Community Coordinator

Alma Almeida Parent Educator

Martha Leyva Parent Educator

COMMUNITY HEALTH Community Health Navigators assist households with health insurance enrollment for the marketplace (Connect for Health Colorado), CHP+, Medicaid, and food assistance programs like SNAP, WIC & Free Reduced Meal Program (FRMP), education on how to use your insurance coverage, and assistance with health insurance issues.

TOTAL APPOINTMENTS: 886

TOTAL EDUCATIONAL EVENTS: 14 HEALTH INSURANCE & PUBLIC BENEFIT APPLICATIONS: 774

COMMUNITY HEALTH STAFF Hannah Gall Community Health Manager

Jackie Rodriguez Community Health Navigator

Staff Not Photographed Jamie Alvarez Community Health Navigator

Erick Hernandez Community Health Navigator

MENTAL HEALTH NAVIGATION FIRC helps break down barriers and guide community members to the care they need, whether it is mental health support or a peer support program. Mental Health Navigators offer simple navigation and referrals to get locals connected to resources. This program was sunset in August of 2023 and was transitioned to Building Hope.

TOTAL APPOINTMENTS: 1171

300 CLIENTS SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATED

SOL CENTER

FIRC & Building Hope reached new heights with the Sol Center going vertical! FIRC will join under one roof with Building Hope to provide valuable resources to promote the well-being of Summit County locals in 2025.

GROUND BREAKING

VIEW CURRENT PROGESS

VOLUNTEERS TOTAL VOLUNTEER HOURS: 3,757

TOTAL VOLUNTEERS: 348 VOLUNTEER STORY In 2008 when the local economy took a turn for the worst, two local women, Kay Bullington and Becky Morgan combined their sewing talents and creativity to start making and selling reusable shopping bags made from donated fabric in the hopes of raising $400 to donate to the FIRC Food Bank.

The bag project, known as the “FIRC Bag Ladies”, has grown and is now lead by Shona David Osborne and over 40 dedicated volunteers. As of June 2023, the FIRC Bag Ladies raised more than $250,000! The volunteers donate their time to sew many different products from shopping bags, travel purses, tuxedo wine bags, jewelry bags, yoga mat bags, cosmetic bags and many more. The average price per bag is between $5 and $20.

To purchase your very own hand-sewn bag, visit the FIRC Bag Ladies throughout the summer at the Dillon Farmers Market.

CLIENT STORIES COMMUNITY VALUE We elevate one another by amplifying all voices, building resiliency, and strengthening relationships to achieve collective goals and a sustainable future.

- Summit County Neighbor of 2 Years

- Vecino del condado de Summit desde hace 3 años

- Summit County Neighbor of 10+ Years

2023FY Revenue* $9,556,541 Events Other 2.2% 1.2% In-Kind 12%

Individuals & Corporate 39.4%

Capital Gains 18.2%

Grants 25.6%

Individual & Corporations: $3,765,186 Grants: $2,443,368 Capital Gains: $1,743,108

*OF THE $9.5M TOTAL REVENUE:

In-Kind: $1,151,116

A total of $3.9M was restricted for capital

Events: $211,375 Thrift Store: $131,288 Other: $111,100

specifically the Sol Center that will be expended in 2024FY and 2025FY. The $3.9M was made up of $1.7M earned on the sale of 2 FIRC owned properties and $2.2M in restricted Sol Center Donations/Pledges.

2023FY Expenses* $5,661,765 Fundraising 6.1%

Operational Support 21.8%

Direct Services & Programming 72%

Direct Services & Programming: $4,282,419 Operational Support: $1,298,616 Fundraising: $363,510 *Note: Direct Services & Programing includes FIRC’s 4 core program areas: Food Access, Community Health, Financial Empowerment & Peer Support program as well as costs for operating FIRC’s Mental Health Navigation program through August 2023.

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