2024

2024 ANNUAL REPORT

OUR MISSION The mission of Underground Railroad is to empower survivors & create a culture of safety and respect in our community.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHRISTI BIRCHMEIER—PRESIDENT Underground Railroad, Inc.

MARISA ELLIOT Covenant Healthcare

ANGELA LUND Andrews Hooper Pavlik PLC

DAWN BOUCHER Mannor Group

AERON GRIGG ChoiceOne Bank

MARI MCKENZIE—TREASURER Retired, Yeo & Yeo

TERRI CARMICHAEL—CHAIR Wells Fargo

DARLENE KRUMPHOLZ—SECRETARY Wildfire Credit Union

KATHY MORENO Morley Companies

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ERIC NEUMEYER My Member Insurance Agency JAY PEPLINSKI Glastender, Inc. JON PICKELMAN Tri Star TRUST EMMA ROGERS Future Insurance Agency

A letter from the Executive Director

Dear Friends, This year has been another testament to the strength of our mission, our dedicated community, and the resilient individuals we serve. We have made significant strides in our work supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence, and I am proud to share some key highlights from 2024.

One of our proudest achievements this year was the opening of our community-based Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) exam room. This new space, created in partnership with Michigan Forensic Examiners, Sexual Assault Center of Child & Family Services, and Women’s OBGYN, provides a safe and confidential environment for victims of sexual assault to receive compassionate care and forensic exams—without the need to go to an emergency room. For many survivors, having a dedicated, supportive space to begin their healing journey is a critical step, and this new facility

ensures that those who experience trauma are met with the care and dignity they deserve.

Recognizing the need for specialized support, we hired a second dedicated youth therapist this year to assist with after-school and bedtime routines, ensuring our children receive the emotional care and stability they need from morning through night. Additionally, we launched a tutoring program aimed at academic success, providing personalized support for children to thrive in their studies. Our new Mommy & Me program has also been a success, fostering deeper connections between mothers and their children while offering enriching activities that promote bonding and growth. These programs represent our ongoing commitment to empowering families and helping children build brighter futures.

We also celebrated a record year of sales at Underground Railroad Resale. The continued support of our community

through donations and patronage has been essential to this success.

The proceeds from our resale store directly benefit our free programs and services for survivors, and wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our donors, shoppers, and volunteers. The impact of the resale store extends far beyond just the financial support it provides—it’s a tangible reflection of how our community comes together to make a difference.

Looking ahead to 2025, we are excited to launch new initiatives that will further strengthen our ability to serve survivors. This includes more fresh programming for children affected by violence, as well as the creation of new spaces that are designed with their needs in mind. In partnership with our regional DV/ SA agencies, we look forward to hosting our first Survivor Art Gallery, launching during Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April 2025. With sponsorship from Women in Leadership Great

Lakes Bay, we are proud to lift survivor voices in this way, and encourage collective empathy and understanding for survivor experiences throughout our community. Additionally, we are in the process of crafting a new three-year strategic plan that will help guide our efforts and shape our growth in the years to come.

We are eager to build on our successes and continue providing critical services for those who need them most.

Thank you, again, to each and every one of you who has supported us this year. Your involvement—whether through donations, volunteering, or simply spreading the word about our mission—helps make our work possible. Together, we are building a community where survivors can heal, rebuild, and thrive.

Sincerely, Christi Birchmeier, Executive Director

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Our Clients    

24/7 Helpline 24 Hour Emergency Response Emergency Shelter Counseling & Advocacy

   

Court Support Housing Assistance Youth Services Safe Visitation & Exchange

Our Community     

K-12 Healthy Relationship Curriculum Community Awareness, Education & Training Mid Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force Girls on the Run Touchy Subjects Podcast

Your Impact     

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Advocates for Change Luncheon Empowerment Dinner & Celebration Volunteer Opportunities Holiday Giving Programs Underground Railroad Resale

At the end of 2023 we opened... the first community-based site where victims of sexual assault can receive medical forensic care following their assault. Our SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) exam room was built in partnership with Michigan Forensic Examiners and Sexual Assault Center, and sponsored by Women's OBGYN. It provides a safe and confidential alternative to an Emergency Room exam, where survivors can receive compassionate care while maintaining their dignity as they being to process a traumatic experience. We hope that this dedicated, supportive space will be a critical first step in their healing journey.

Lindsey Bulgrien, CEO Michigan Forensic Examiners

“Our goal is to eliminate barriers and make it easier for victims of sexual assault to receive excellent care during a very vulnerable time.”

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Our Clients

2024 3,485 crisis calls answered

12,441 nights of shelter

98 families received housing assistance

7,554 hours of individual & group counseling

2,148 hours of free childcare

465 PPOs filed & 2,929 court hearings attended 6

98 families used Safeplace visitation & exchange

I came to Underground Railroad’s ... shelter in 2023, started working with an Advocate, and was able to get an apartment voucher later that year. We’ve been in our home for over a year now, and I was recently able to set up some appointments with the staff therapist. I told her I wanted to do better for my son, and for me too. After all we’ve been through, I felt like we were worthy of more. She helped me make some goals and figure out the steps to reach them. Last March I completed a CNA program, passed the state boards, and got my CNA certification. Now I work full time at a nursing home and started college last Fall! I’m going to get my nursing degree!

Danielle, URR Client & Survivor

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I gotta be totally honest ... when I saw my girlfriend dapping up another guy, I felt like it was a red flag. You have to be really familiar with someone to do that, right? It shows you’re real comfortable with that person.

And I don’t feel like my girl should be that way with another guy. But when I said something about it in class, everyone came at me and said I was being controlling. We had just learned about jealousy and stuff when the Underground Railroad came to our class. I was mad at first that no one was on my side, but I guess I can see what they mean. She’s allowed to have friends who are guys, and I trust her.

Jaxon, 10th grade student

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2024

Our Community 3,139 K-12 students learned about healthy relationships

2,766 downloads of the Touchy Subjects podcast

297 girls were inspired through Girls on the Run 341 community education & public awareness events

123 people attended the Mid Michigan Human Trafficking Conference 9

In 2024 GOTR Great Lakes Bay... launched their new curriculum, The Confidence Suite, in collaboration with Saginaw, Bay Area, and Midland Community Foundations. The program focuses even more on empowering girls to build self-confidence and use it to positively impact our community.

Hello, Superstar! curriculum  Build the confidence to be themselves & love who they are  Encourage others to embrace who they are  Shine brightly even on cloudy days  Develop life skills like understanding & sharing emotions, handling peer pressure, & celebrating differences Hello, Mountain Mover! curriculum  Build the confidence to believe in themselves  Take on challenges - even when it is hard  Strengthen their resilience with stick-with-it strategies  Develop life skills like choosing friends, learning from mistakes, & working together to make a difference in their community

Bella, GOTR Great Lakes Bay Participant

“The most important thing I learned at Girls on the Run is to be myself and not change for anyone!”

“Everyone is different and unique, and that’s okay!”

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When I started at my new school...

I was really shy. My mom started me in Girls on the Run to help me make new friends.

I started staying after school to play games and run. I learned how to talk to the other kids, and have better self esteem to make friends. I felt like I could be myself with my teammates. In Girls on the Run, I chose to fight back at everything that had been troubling me in my new school. It taught me to choose between being scared of the world and being brave towards the world.

Aliyah, Age 9 Girls on the Run Participant 11

2024 $110,842 was donated to annual fundraisers

Your Impact $265,451 worth of merchandise was donated to Underground Railroad Resale

$55,360 worth of resale store vouchers were redeemed by clients

639 volunteers assisted with projects

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196 adults & children were adopted for the holidays 11,253 volunteer hours were donated

Underground Railroad’s mission ... to empower women and children inspires me and so many others. When I worked with Yeo & Yeo, they fostered a culture of giving back to the community through time, talent and resources. I started volunteering with the youth programs at Underground Railroad, donating kids’ activities, crafts, and educational materials. I’ve served as a table host for the luncheon, bringing others to learn about the mission. Our team at Women in Leadership GLBR supports women in many areas. As they say, “It takes a Village”! I am honored and humbled to be a part of this Village!

Jeanne Murphy Causley, 2024 Empowerment Award Honoree 13

Underground Railroad ‘s Empowerment Circle is named for the philosophy that drives our mission and work. The Empowerment Circle is a special group of major donors whose annual support helps empower survivors and inspire change in Saginaw County. Members receive special recognition throughout the year. The list below reflects gifts made between October 1, 2023 & September 30, 2024.

Inspiration Level $2,000+

Partner Level cont. $1,000-$1,999

Advocate Level cont. $500—$999

Abdulaziz Al-Omair Mary Sue Barry Julie & Peter Bender Letitia Bolt Warren & Anna Booms Jeanne Causley Mary Chris & James Church Louis & Karen Constan Leslie & Terry Duperon Susan Florida Mari McKenzie John Teselsky

Martha & John Kaczynski Susan & Robert Piesko Edwin & Jill Wetmore Jill Rodriguez Michael & Carol Ann Collins Thomas & Mary Damuth Mary Metzger Dave & Gretchen Nall Lindsey North Marcia Anne Pahr Jay & Denise Peplinski Barbara Reiffel James Reindel Arleen Schrank Joyce Van-Ochten Michael Zehnder Scott & Dawn Zimmer

Jim & Cheryl Dwyer Amy & Mike Grossi Janice Hennessy Linda & Howard Hollingshead Sharon Hopper & Lee Latocki Michele Hutchinson Jennifer Hutchison Eve James Shari Kennett Kay & Steve List Betty Lou Marx Carol McCellan Dimitrios & Jamie Nisidis The Pickelman Family Lynn & George Puia Elinor Saunders Christina Schian-Aldrich Joseph Sienko & Joan Hirschenberger Mary & Joe Spadafore Sheldon & Carole Spencer Sue Sulfridge Pat & Katharine Tessin Carrie & Mark Thompson

Partner Level $1,000-$1,999 Tammy Bernier Phyllis Garrison Gene & Lori Pickelman Matthew and Emily Sczepanski David & Jody L Becker Carol Champagne

Advocate Level $500—$999 Paul Albosta Margaret & Gene Beitz

Advocate Level cont. $500—$999

Ally Level cont. $250-$499

Kathleen Thompson Kristen & Adam Wuerfel

Bailey Mielke Douglas & Margaret Moody Kathy Moreno Janet Nash Joanna Nelson Dave Puskar Tom & Beth Rohde Galileo Sarmiento Kim Schinco Susan Scott Caroline Scott Karen Silvestri Mike Stodolak Cindy Townley Donation Friend in Memory of Judy Zehnder Keller Barb Vennix Drew & Tracy Zehnder William & Karen Zehnder Tom & Fran Zuzula

Ally Level $250-$499 Kristi & Dave Bellsky Donna Berg Heidi Bolger Jaime Cramer Stephanie Domina Helen Egleston Greg & Christina Eisengruber Tara Frank Marshall Frantz Melissa Fresorger John Hoffman Karen Lang Krause Timothy & Linda Lou Kreager Kenneth & Janet Lecureux Danise McAnelly Jeffrey & Tina McCulloch Marcia Michael

LEAVING A LEGACY

LEAVING A LEGACY

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Through a planned gift you can create your own philanthropic vision and make a meaningful impact in our community for generations to come. Planned giving is your intention to contribute a gift to an organization during or beyond your lifetime as part of financial or estate planning. These gifts may include bequests, charitable trusts, appreciated assets, life insurance, retirement plans, or real estate. These contributions help Underground Railroad sustain survivor safety, healing, and hope for a better future.

Your lasting impact can be made through...

Gift in a Will or Trust Remembering Underground Railroad with a bequest is an excellent legacy for you and your family Retirement Plans Tax-deferred retirement assets are attractive assets for charitable giving. Items include IRAs, 401k, 403b plans, pensions, etc.

Charitable Gift Annuity Make a gift to Underground Railroad and, in exchange, receive a guaranteed lifetime income Charitable Remainder Trust Receive stable and secure income for a period of years based on value of trust. When the trust terminates, the remainder passes to Underground Railroad Charitable Lead Trust The reverse of the charitable remainder trust. The income from the trust is first paid to Underground Railroad (leading the way). After a specified number of years, the trust allows you to pass on the assets to your heirs Life Insurance Name Underground Railroad as the beneficiary of your policy or donate an active, paid up policy

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Make a Monetary Donation Your donations provide immediate physical needs and long term solutions for survivors in your community.

Donate Stock When you donate stock you make an impact in your community, and avoid paying costly capital gain tax as well. .

Donate Goods Your donations of food, clothing, cleaning supplies, personal care products, and household items help keep our shelter and housing programs running. Surplus donations stock our resale store and help fund our programs.

Let Your Business Give Back Engage employees to volunteer, offer workplace giving opportunities, or organize a collection drive at your business.

Organize a Group Give back through your church or civic organizations. We have many group opportunities available.

Come One Come All One person can make a difference! We have one-time and long term opportunities to join our volunteer family.

We rely on the support of our community!

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Help create safety, empowerment & change for survivors in Saginaw County

Donate Volunteer 19

Programs & Services

$3,675,722 Shelter & Services Court Support Programs Transitional Housing Sexual Assault Fundraising Education/Outreach Management/General Resale Shop

E X P E N S E S

$1,274,856 34.68% $376,831 10.25% $1,190,467 32.39% $68,233 1.86% $112,190 3.05% $123,478 3.36% $264,216 7.19% $265,451 7.22%

Operating Expenses

$3,675,722

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Personnel Occupancy Office Expenses Specific Assistance Miscellaneous Interest Travel & Conferences Advertising & Recruitment Depreciation Membership Dues

$2,288,325 $242,787 $230,826 $564,987 $48,233 $14,207 $64,980 $24,728 $183,734 $12,915

62.26% 6.61% 6.28% 15.37% 1.31% 0.39% 1.77% 0.67% 5.00% 0.35%

Contributions

$466,366 Businesses Churches Clubs / Groups Foundations Individuals In Kind United Way

$44,791 $25,208 $13,764 $164,490 $145,838 $67,360 $4,915

9.60% 5.41% 2.95% 35.27% 31.27% 14.44% 1.05%

R E V E N U E

Income

$3,825,840 Contributions Rent & Fees Grants Interest Special Events Store Sales Miscellaneous

$466,366 $35,750 $2,912,107 $58,510 $104,088 $179,289 $69,730

12.19% 0.93% 76.12% 1.53% 2.72% 4.69% 1.82% 21