Generation SERVE 2017 Annual Report

2017 Engaging children in volunteerism and empowering them to make a difference in their communities

ANNUAL REPORT

OUR SERVICE PATHWAY

FAMILY VOLUNTEERING

Volunteers in early childhood

Develops a habit of volunteering

SERVICE LEARNING

Experiences change in perspective

Develops passions/feels empowered

YOUTH LEADERSHIP

Takes a leadership role in community

Lifelong volunteer, philanthropist, community leader

Dear Supporters, We are proud to serve the children, families, and nonprofit organizations that you will learn about in this report with our Family Volunteering, Service Learning, and Youth Leadership programs. The data you see here provides a snapshot of the impact that we had on the community during 2017. But, what we are truly inspired by is the impact our youth will have on the world in the long-run! By engaging youth in our Service Pathway, we are developing the next generation of community-minded leaders who will lead their communities to be inclusive, connected, and sustainable places for all who live there.

Thank you for your support of our mission and your investment in the success of our future communities!

IN

2017

7,234 children, ages 3-17 volunteered with their parents/caregivers.

16,073 service hours were contributed to the Austin community by our volunteers.

100 nonprofit partners were supported by our service activities & programs.

Marissa Vogel, Founder

Adelphi Acre Gardens • AGE of Central Texas • Allen Park • American Heart Association • Annunciation Maternity Home • Any Baby Can • Arthritis Foundation • Austin Animal Center • Austin Creative Reuse • Austin Diaper Bank • Austin Disaster Relief

Central Texas Food Bank • Central Texas SPCA • The Christi Center • City of Austin Graffiti Abatement • City of Austin Watershed Protection • Coats for Kids • Colin’s Hope • Colorado River Alliance • Dell Children’s Hospital • The Dog Alliance • Easter Seals of Central

Meals on Wheels Central Texas • Micah 6 Pantry • Mobile Loaves & Fishes • Mothers’ Milk Bank • Mount Bonnell Park • Neill-Cochran House Museum • Operation Blue Santa • Operation School Bell • Partnerships for Children • Pease Park Conservancy • Pop-Up

Network • Austin Dog Rescue • Austin Humane Society • Austin Parks Foundation • Austin Pets Alive! • Austin Sunshine Camps • Austin Wildlife Rescue • Austin Zoo • AVANCE Austin • Barton Hills Assisted Living • BookSpring • Brighter Bites • Brookdale Beckett Meadows • Brookdale Westlake Hills • Bull Creek Foundation • Cards for Hospitalized Kids • CareBOX Program • Caritas of Austin • Carrying Hope • Casa Marianella • CASA of Travis County •

Texas • Ecology Action of Texas • El Buen Samaritano • Elmcroft Senior Living • Emancipet • Family Eldercare • For Every Child, Inc. • Foster Angels of Central Texas • Foundation Communities • Front Steps • Generation Citizen • GirlForward • Goodwill Central Texas • Harmony Point Memory Care • Heart of Texas Lab Rescue • Hindu Charities for America • Homeless Task Force • Hope Clinic • Hope Food Pantry • Inside Books Project • Jeremiah Program • Keep Austin Beautiful • Manchaca Community Garden • Mayfield Park •

Birthday • Refugee Services of Texas • Ronald McDonald House • Run Free Texas • SAFE • Saint Louise House • The Salvation Army Austin • Sammy’s House • Shoal Creek Conservancy • STARRY • Texas Advocacy Project • Texas Baptist Children’s Home • Texas Humane Heroes • Texas Parks & Wildlife • Thinkery • TreeFolks • Westminster Manor • Williamson County Animal Shelter • YMCA of Austin • Zilker Botanical Garden

FINANCIALS

OUR COMMUNITY

32+21+16283 74+11+15

January – December 2017

Revenue: $546,640

Where our volunteer families live % of families in each area

Earned Income: 3%

Family Sponsors

Foundations

28%

32%

Corporate

Individual

16%

21%

Expenses: $543,820

Admin: 15%

183

8% 8%

5%

183

130

15%

275

12

6%

Program

74%

%

35

183

290 290

360 183

8%

3% 183

35

71

360

20%

1

8%

183

290 290 290

71 71

5%

183

Where our nonprofit partners are # of partners in each area 183

3 4

3

183

130

Fundraising

11%

1

8

1

275

14

35

183

290 290

360 183

6

10 183

35

71

360

30

1

183

290 290 290

71

6

71 183

16 nonprofits have multiple sites

OUR IMPACT Family Volunteering Bringing about 1,000 service opportunities to the Austin community in 2017, our Family Volunteering program allowed 3,423 families to experience the joys of volunteering together side-by-side.

Serving alongside a parent or guardian is always meaningful for youth, whether they are three or 17 years old. In 2017, Generation SERVE put more opportunities on the calendar for pre-school age children and for teens and their parents, to make sure we have age appropriate activities for every stage of development.

Our volunteer families report to us that they see the impact on their children from consistent experiences with volunteerism:

Austin Families Give Back: Family Volunteer Day Family Volunteer Day is a national day of service that celebrates the power of families who volunteer together. In November of 2017, we hosted our inaugural event to provide families with the opportunity to learn about giving back to our community, while sampling hands-on service activities to benefit 30 local nonprofits.

763 attendees from 220 families worked side-by-side for our community in eight service areas throughout this special day!

93

say important conversations were triggered by our service activities

93

say their child’s desire to make a difference in their communities increased after participating in our activities

% %

90

their child has a better % say understanding of community needs after participating

Animal Care

Children

Environment

Refugees

Health & Wellness

Poverty

Education

Senior Support

Service Learning

The Extension Project Showcase

In the fall and spring, cohorts of 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders dive deep into learning about a particular service area through our Service Learning program. This is where we really see our volunteer youth find and express their passions!

At the end of each Service Learning session, we host an Extension Project Showcase, where the youth present what they accomplished with their personal extension projects.

Our 2017 Service Learning students learned about a community need and the nonprofit organizations addressing it, brainstormed solutions together, volunteered with their peers and parents, and then they each worked on a personal extension project.

For their extension project, brother and sister duo, Jack & Emily, used a variety of methods to raise money and in-kind donations for Partnerships For Children! According to Jack and Emily, “We chose to help Partnerships for Children because we think helping children in need now will create a better tomorrow.”

With a lemonade stand, email solicitation, flyer distribution, and social media request, Jack and Emily raised $1,803 + lots of donated items! Using the funds they raised, they shopped for needed items for Partnerships for Children and were able to donate an incredible amount of supplies to kids under the care of CPS and foster families.

Service Learning Extension Projects in 2017 included newsletters, educational materials, fundraising efforts, donation drives, and creative endeavors.

The projects’ missions included saving salamanders, pigs, cats, and dogs, beautifying public spaces, welcoming homeless neighbors to new homes, and providing diapers, toiletries, and happy birthdays to our local community members in need!

It’s rare that a 10 year old child has the opportunity to pursue their own project idea, implement it, develop a formal presentation, and present to a room full of kids and adults.

But at Generation SERVE, we are empowering youth to take action everyday!

At the Extension Project Showcase, these students demonstrate pride for their work and confidence in their abilities.

Youth Leadership

Teen Advisory Board

Through our Youth Leadership Program, middle school and high school students mature into community leaders who are committed to service for a lifetime. In the summer, they train to become Teen Leads and Teen Co-Leads for our Family Volunteering activities and they continue leading activities throughout the year.

The Generation SERVE Teen Advisory Board consists of 18 members, ages 13-18. They help Generation SERVE expand and improve our Teen Service opportunities.

Mia Lee is an incredible example of the leaders that emerge from this program. At age 15, Mia has been a trailblazer at Generation SERVE and has taken advantage of every opportunity available: participated in the summer Youth Leadership Program led Family Volunteering activities served on our Teen Advisory Board worked as an Intern facilitating a Service Learning Program.

She completed over 160 hours of service in 2017 alone and she is our first Gold level Presidential Volunteer Service Award winner!

Because of her service experiences, Mia has become inspired to one day be a doctor with Doctors without Borders. “I believe in the saying that a small action, multiplied by many people, can bring about change. I think that this communal involvement in service is the power behind change in our community.�

- Mia Lee

In 2017, the Teen Advisory Board (TAB) conceptualized and helped launch our first Teen Service Days service fair style events that allow teens from all over the city to come together to work on service projects.

Teen Service Days are now offered monthly, providing a new way for teens to get involved in service to their community.

ABOUT US

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Generation SERVE provides meaningful service experiences for Central Texas youth and families, engaging children in volunteerism and empowering them to make a difference in their communities.

Through age-appropriate, hands-on family volunteer activities, service learning, and leadership programs, children learn how to take action in their community while accomplishing needed work for our partner nonprofit organizations.

Liz Bronson President

Eric Greisdorf President Elect

Carla Denison-Bickett

Since its inception in 2009, Generation SERVE has organized 5,208 volunteer activities that engaged 32,627 children and their families, logging 74,764 total volunteer hours serving 100 Central Texas nonprofit organizations and groups.

Treasurer

Robin Chapman Secretary

Tracy Asamoah

Jeff Hobbs

Amber Quist

Jim Curry

Mina Kumar

Dawn Rust

Erin D’Andrea

Virginia Miracle

Mindy Weber

Brad Neff

generationserve.org

8711 Burnet Rd., Suite B-33, Austin, TX 78757