LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES | 2012 ANNUAL REPORT
2012 ANNUAL REPORT | WORKING TOGETHER TOWARDS SOMETHING MORE FULFILLING
Thirty-three years ago, Lutheran leaders
The cost to help people in need is high; however, the cost of not helping
from several area churches met together
people in need is even higher. Our goal is to bring resources to the people
to discuss how they might join forces to
we serve to help them achieve self-sufficiency, or as close to that, as they
help more people in need in northeast
are able. Families staying together, people living in safe homes, children
Florida.
the
well-fed and doing well in school, pregnant women receiving prenatal
compassion of Christ, they were committed
care and healthy food for their unborn children, neighborhoods growing
to helping others suffering from illness, loss,
their own food, patients able to afford the medicine they need to stay as
Motivated
and
guided
by
hunger, persecution or other misfortunes.
healthy as possible – these are all examples of the fulfilling work we do.
They wanted to show compassion beyond
Two unfortunate and tragic events this year highlighted for me how much
mere feelings and words through action. They came to realize that they
our staff cares for the people who come to us for help. You can read
could do the most good by working collectively, rather than individually,
more in this report about how LSS staff from both the ACE and Refugee
within their own congregations. With the help of local business leaders
& Immigration Services programs helped the Burmese community
and the volunteer support of many, they formed Lutheran Social
celebrate M’Jar’s life and honor her passing. Likewise, when some of
Services of Northeast Florida. This 2012 Annual Report is a testament to their efforts. The five programs of Lutheran Social Services have provided much-needed help to hundreds of thousands of people in north Florida. The staff is focused on a holistic approach to improving lives – the programs work in partnership with each other and with other programs and agencies in the community to access resources that may be available to help solve complex and inter-related issues. Hunger, mental illness, substance
the refugees who our staff had helped to find jobs were killed in a car accident, the LSS staff joined with other local agencies that have refugee resettlement programs to raise money to help the grieving families. Even though the outcomes in both of these instances were negative, those affected benefited from the care and concern expressed by the LSS staff. I want to thank each of you who have supported us in our work this year, and I hope we can continue working together towards creating something more fulfilling for those who will look to us for help in 2013.
abuse, terminal illness and physical displacement are challenging enough for those of us who have financial resources; for the poor and disenfranchised, they are overwhelming.
R. Wayne Rieley President & CEO
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Motivated and guided by the compassion of Christ, since 1979, Lutheran Social Services has existed to serve and care for people in need. We do this by offering five different programs to cover a variety of needs in northeast Florida. Many times clients benefit from services provided by several of our programs. The staff collaborates in gathering and providing resources to fulfill the needs of children, adults, families and seniors.
SECOND HARVEST NORTH FLORIDA
agencies and senior citizen centers. Food is also distributed through
Director: Bruce Ganger
Mobile Pantry distributions into neighborhoods with the greatest need
Founded: 1979
11 -12 Expenses: $3,881,001 12-13 Budget: $3,984,107
Number of Employees: 38
A group of Lutheran and Jacksonville community leaders founded the Nourishment Network in 1979. This small food pantry has since grown to become Second Harvest North Florida, an affiliate food bank of the Feeding America national network. Second Harvest operates from a 30,000-square-foot warehouse facility in Jacksonville and a 3,600-square-foot facility in St. Augustine with a paid staff of 38 and more than 5,000 volunteers.
and children’s feeding programs such as Kids Cafe, Summer Meals and the BackPack programs. Second Harvest also manages a Mobile Benefits Outreach Program to identify people eligible to receive SNAP (food stamp) benefits and to help them apply as another way to expand their family’s access to food resources. Two new programs were introduced in 2012. Health Begins Before Birth seeks to reduce premature birth and infant mortality by providing services to at-risk mothers, as early in their pregnancies as possible. The program provides pregnant, low-income women with healthy
Second Harvest supports a 17-county service area across north Florida
food, the foundation of good health at any age, and with another kind
where one in six adults and one in four children are food insecure. In
of sustenance: emotional support, counseling, education and prenatal
2012 Second Harvest rescued and distributed almost 22 million pounds
care. A clinical dietitian was hired to direct the program. Second Harvest
of food, enough to create almost 14.5 million meals. Second Harvest
North Florida also initiated a Community Gardens/Urban Agricultural
receives donated food from retail grocery partners, farms, the USDA,
Initiative in 2012, partnering with other local organizations including the
food manufacturers and from individuals and organizations that host
Friends of Northeast Florida Community Gardens, Habitat for Humanity
food drives. To ensure that food supplies are available, Second Harvest
of Jacksonville (HabiJax) and BEAM to introduce garden projects on
also purchases some food. The food reaches those who struggle to feed
donated parcels in food insecure neighborhoods. These gardens are
themselves and their families through a network of more than 400
developed to empower families in hunger to grow vegetables and fruit
member agencies such as food pantries, feeding sites, social service
in quantities sufficient to supplement every meal. The project director
2012 ANNUAL REPORT | WORKING TOGETHER TOWARDS SOMETHING MORE FULFILLING
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assists food insecure neighborhoods in the planning, development,
cultivation and harvesting of community food gardens — turning a
Director: Heather Vaughan Founded: 1992 Number of Employees: 18
donated parcel into a productive and sustainable neighborhood garden. For every dollar donated, Second Harvest can create seven meals to feed those who are food insecure. For more information about Second Harvest North Florida, visit lssjax.org/programs/second-harvest or WeNourishHope.org.
ACE PROGRAM 11 -12 Expenses: $777,930 12-13 Budget: $873,222
Since its establishment in 1992, the AIDS Care and Education (ACE) Program has provided assistance to people and families who are HIVpositive or living with AIDS. The goal of the program is to improve the quality of life and health for those who are living with HIV and empower them to become active in their care decisions.
REFUGEE AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES PROGRAM
Director: Barbara Carr Founded: 1980 Number of Employees: 35
11 -12 Expenses: $1,644,910 12-13 Budget: $2,295,808
Today ACE has 19 employees and served an average of 704 people per month in 2012. Clients include individuals living in rural areas, single women, women with children, men, racial/ethnic minorities and communities of color, homeless, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender
The Refugee and Immigration Services Program was founded in the
adults, incarcerated persons, people in need of mental health counseling,
fall of 1980 in response to an influx of Southeast Asian refugees to the
injection drug users and other substance abuse users. Clients range in
Jacksonville community. It is the second oldest program of Lutheran
age from 18 to over 65 years old.
Social Services.
ACE medical case managers help clients secure access to services
Approximately 50,000 refugees are resettled annually in the United
that may include medical and dental care, food stamps, emergency
States. They are fleeing their country due to religious or political
food and clothing, housing assistance, substance abuse treatment,
persecution, famine, war, natural disasters or other instability. They
mental health services, furnishings, legal assistance, support groups,
are referred to LSS by two national voluntary agencies that handle the
educational materials, job placement, vocational rehabilitation, GED and
resettlements. Refugees are individuals who cannot return to their
continued education.
country of origin based upon persecution and are legal residents of the United States. The staff in the Refugee and Immigration Services Program comes from 14 different countries, speaks a total of 17 languages and served 1,384 refugees in 2012. The staff helps refugees learn about
Some of the services are received through the Ryan White and Medicaid Waiver Case Management, Ryan White Mental Health Program, and Ryan White HOPWA Housing program. Visit lssjax.org/programs/ace-program for more information.
American culture, government requirements, banking and employment
REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE
processes. The goal is to promote long-term economic self-sufficiency
and effective resettlement.
Director: Jerome Crawford 11 -12 Expenses: $369,046 Founded: 1995 12-13 Budget: $472,647 Number of Employees: 6
To that end, the staff provides employment services, youth and family services, resettlement orientation, and integration assistance. For more information, visit lssjax.org/programs/refugee-services.
2012 ANNUAL REPORT | WORKING TOGETHER TOWARDS SOMETHING MORE FULFILLING
In 2012, the Representative Payee (Rep Payee) Services Program provided an average of 882 people each month with prudent financial
management and counseling from qualified financial coordinators.
THE SHARING PLACE THRIFT STORE
Founded in 1995, it is one of a kind in northeast Florida. Rep Payee staff
Director: Jerome Crawford 11 -12 Expenses: $100,242
manages Social Security checks for people not capable of appropriately
Founded: 2008
spending their money. Other benefits that the program handles include
12-13 Budget: $107,854
Number of Employees: 2
Veterans Administration, railroad retirement, private pensions and
The Sharing Place is a great place to snag a bargain. Funds generated
widow annuities.
from the sale of items donated to the store provide revenue to help
Those helped include the mentally ill, the homeless, persons diagnosed
people in need served by LSS’s other programs, particularly those in the
as HIV-positive, children and the elderly residing in assisted living
Refugee and Immigration Services Program.
facilities. All served are considered low-income according to Federal
The store, located in the same building as the LSS main office at 4615
Poverty Guidelines. The Rep Payee service also provides a senior asset
Philips Highway, Jacksonville, is open 9:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. Monday
protection plan which puts seniors on a budget, pays their expenses and
through Saturday. To make a donation to the Sharing Place, call
give them appropriate spending money.
904.448.5995. To learn more, visit lssjax.org/programs/sharing-place
For more information visit lssjax.org/programs/representative-payee.
or call 904.446.9560.
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LSS Refugee and Immigration Services Program’s goal is to help
others were injured and would be unable to work for some time. Pau
refugees become settled in the Jacksonville community, educated
Mung, a Burmese minister who is also a resettlement case manager at
about American culture, and on the road to self-sufficiency. Refugees
LSS, was called that night and went straight to the hospital to assist.
need to find a job and housing quickly as there is limited assistance for
LSS and other local agencies that support refugees who are sent to
the long-term.
live in Jacksonville banded together to help. Even though the refugees
The families of Kaw Lay and Ta Nu were doing just that. Persecuted
were no longer receiving regular services from the LSS Refugee
and tortured in Burma, they had escaped to refugee camps in Thailand
and Immigration Services Program, this was a case that didn’t have
and came to the United States in 2010. They quickly found work at
boundaries. Families needed help.
a chicken processing plant in Live Oak and began grueling 190-mile
The three agencies knew that the community would respond and
round trips to work. Ten of the refugees carpooled together to make
offered a way to pool those resources. LSS opened an account to accept
the trek workable.
donations on behalf of the families. These donations were distributed
“We will do anything we can for all those affected. we have four staff members who can speak the Burmese language. They have made themselves available at any hour to assist.”
to each accident participant and their families to ensure that they could pay their rent. Some of the accident victims are getting short term medical disability, but the donations will help make up the difference from their salaries until they are healthy enough to work. “We will do anything we can for all those affected,” said Barbara Carr, LSS Refugee and Immigration Services Program director. “We have four staff members who can speak the Burmese language. They have made themselves available at any hour to assist.” The true tragedy in all of this is that these families lost loved ones while they were doing what they were supposed to do – become assimilated into the American culture. They had found jobs and were working to support their families. Their children are attending school and can speak
On the night of Oct. 12, 2012, 10 lives were disrupted when a woman
perfect English. The support of the Burmese-American community and
driving the wrong way on I-10 hit their van head on. Despite the fact
the staff of Lutheran Social Services will go a long way in helping these
that they were wearing seat belts, Kaw Lay and Ta Nu were killed and
families regain a foothold after such a tragedy.
2012 ANNUAL REPORT | WORKING TOGETHER TOWARDS SOMETHING MORE FULFILLING
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The story of M’Jar, Mauran Ja Htoi, a Burmese refugee who came to the
Once she arrived in the United States and was resettled with the help of
United States in 2005, does not have a happy ending. But it is a story
Lutheran Social Services’ Refugee and Immigration Services Program,
about perseverance, about the power of people joining together to help
she began her assimilation. She went to school at Florida State
others and about faith.
College at Jacksonville and was able to get a good job at the Duval
M’Jar was part of the wave of tens of thousands of Burmese immigrants who came to the United States in the late 90s and early 2000s for political freedom. Her father was a member of the Burmese Parliament
“God needs an angel singing in his choir.”
County Public Schools (DCPS) where she was an English as a Second Language (ESOL) paraprofessional helping Burmese children in the school system. She was actively involved in her church and often spent her Sundays going from service to service. M’Jar had contracted AIDS from her husband so the LSS Refugee and Immigration Services asked their sister LSS program, ACE (AIDS Care and Education) to assist M’Jar. She remained healthy getting involved in numerous community activities taking advantage of her beautiful singing voice. Unfortunately she was diagnosed with skin cancer. AIDS patients often have a weakened immune system that makes them susceptible to cancer. During the first bout she and her best friends shaved their heads
and found himself on the wrong side of the political spectrum particularly
together before chemotherapy took her hair. M’Jar faced life head on.
because of his role in the translation of the first bible into Kachin, one
Then, the skin cancer returned, and this time was not beatable. Her
of the Burmese dialects. M’Jar also faced additional obstacles in that
pastor told her gently, “God needs an angel singing in his choir,” before
her husband passed away from AIDS while they were in a refugee camp
M’Jar entered Community Hospice. During her last illness, the employees
in Thailand. He died the same week their son was born. A young woman,
of the LSS ACE program and her friends from DCPS arranged to give
a single mother, living in a refugee camp, fleeing her home country
her around-the-clock care at home.
because of persecution makes for many, many challenges.
M’Jar wanted her story to be told and everyone who knew her is glad
But those who knew M’Jar said that she was extremely confident in her
of the opportunity to support the happy memories of a woman who
abilities. She had graduated from college with a degree in physics and
had endless faith and was able to marshal community support with the
had endless faith that God would take care of things.
power of her personality.
2012 ANNUAL REPORT | WORKING TOGETHER TOWARDS SOMETHING MORE FULFILLING
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Lutheran Social Services’ ACE Program (AIDS Care and Education) is all about helping people get the support that they need in their fight against HIV/AIDS. The staff’s support also helps individuals on their path in life, and James’ story is indicative of their work. James was a long-time client of the ACE program and has been HIVpositive since 1987. He attended ACE’s men’s support group and about four years ago became a volunteer. His volunteer duties took on the role of receptionist, helping with the Teddy Bear Touchdown program which puts on a holiday event for children who are living with HIV/AIDS and helping to operate the ACE food pantry. “James made everyone he came in contact with feel hopeful,” said Heather Vaughan, ACE Program director. “He empowered them and
“I’ve been very blessed and I feel like if I can help someone else I’m more than happy to do it. the people at the LSS ACE Program are amazing in how they care for their clients.”
made them think that AIDS won’t take over their life.” James also was noted for always going above and beyond. When he heard of someone who needed a special pillow and blanket for their chemotherapy sessions, he went out and bought them with his own funds. He donated the items, never having met the recipient. “I’ve been very blessed and I feel like if I can help someone else I’m more than happy to do it,” James said. “The people at the LSS ACE Program are amazing in how they care for their clients. They will bend over backwards. I always felt like they had my back and they would help me out in any way possible.” Recently James was honored with the Jacksonville World AIDS Day Committee Person of the Year Award given to the person living with HIV/AIDS who has done the most for his peers.
2012 ANNUAL REPORT | WORKING TOGETHER TOWARDS SOMETHING MORE FULFILLING
“Give James a bad situation and he’ll find a way to make sunshine,” added Vaughan. Now James is using his knowledge and skills to serve as a peer navigator at the American Healthcare Foundation’s Magic Johnson Healthcare Center which is housed at St. Vincent’s Medical Center. His role is to help patients get the support they need in navigating the system. It sounds like a perfect match for someone with his talents.
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Established September 20, 2012, the Friedsam Fund honors Marie Friedsam for her many years of dedicated volunteer leadership to Lutheran Social Services. Mr. Brooks G. Andrews
The Rev. & Mrs. Dale G. Gatz
Mr. & Mrs. Frederick Schaible
Mr. & Mrs. Tracey I. Arpen Jr.
Mr. Charles P. Goodyear
Ms. Kathleen Sindicich-Lewis
Ms. Sandra S. Ashby
Mr. & Mrs. Donald L. Grimm Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Karl E. Stupski
Mr. & Mrs. C. McNeill Baker Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Christopher L. Haley
Mr. & Mrs. Richard R. Thalacker
Dr. & Mrs. William W. Buckingham
The Rev. & Mrs. Arnold Hilpert
The Rev. Dr. and Mrs. William B. Trexler
Mr. & Mrs. Ted W. Carter
The Rev. Ida Iverson
Mr. & Mrs. Alan D. Voss
Mr. & Mrs. A. Hamilton Cooke
Mr. & Mrs. David Llewellyn
Mr. & Mrs. Jerome C. Crawford
Mr. & Mrs. Donald L. Martin
Mr. & Mrs. John R. Cusick
Ms. Jeanne C. Maszy
The estate of Mr. Edgar Danciger
Mr. & Mrs. Edward A. Mueller
Mr. & Mrs. William Daugherty
The estate of Mr. Michael D. Pinion
Dr. & Mrs. James W. Dennis
Mr. & Mrs. John S. Reiser
Gifts in honor of Marie Friedsam may be made online at lssjax.org/donate/donate-gifts, by mail or by contacting Karen J. Rieley, vice president for advancement, krieley@lssjax.org, 904.730.8281. Please indicate that the gift is made specifically to Friedsam Fund.
Mr. & Mrs. Greg Dodds
The Rev. & Mrs. William P. Reister
Mrs. John Drummond
Mr. & Mrs. R. Wayne Rieley
For a complete list of all of the generous and compassionate donors to Lutheran Social Services in 2012, visit lssjax.org/about-us/supporters.
SENIOR STAFF
The Rev. James Balke Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Rusty White Dana B. Kenyon Company
Michael Bittner Marks Gray, P.A.
REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE STRATEGIC ADVISORY COUNCIL
Wayne Rieley President/CEO Jerome Crawford Vice President for Operations Karen Rieley Vice President for Advancement Bruce Ganger Executive Director, Second Harvest North Florida Richard Mochowski Controller
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS Jack Parker, Chair Acosta Sales & Marketing Dwane Tyson, Vice Chair Tyson & Associates (State Farm) Jeanne Maszy, Secretary Wells Fargo Sina Rezaei, Treasurer CIT Finance
Ted Carter Capstone Corporation Fionnuala Geoghegan Fionnuala R. Geoghegan, CPA PLLC Chris Haley Second Harvest Strategic Advisory Committee Chair Scott Harrison Southeast Toyota The Rev. Robert Kinley Trinity Lutheran Church Bill Laird Dixon Hughes Goodman Wealth Advisors Jeffrey Ludwig Ludwig Associates, P.A. Matt Parks Winn-Dixie
MEMBERS
Roslyn Mixon-Phillips The Hester Group
Brooks Andrews Ashland Hercules Water Technologies
Alan Voss Florida Blue
2012 ANNUAL REPORT | WORKING TOGETHER TOWARDS SOMETHING MORE FULFILLING
Bill Laird, Chair Dixon Hughes Goodman Wealth Advisors LLC Rita Geer Life Management Advisors, Professional Guardian Ruthie James LSS Volunteer Roslyn Mixon-Phillips The Hester Group Matt Parks Winn-Dixie Matt Price Regions Bank Barbara Puestow Elder Law Attorney
CREDITS Publisher: Karen Rieley, Vice President for Advancement Editor and Design: Scott-McRae Advertising
CURRENT ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents............................................... $988,443 Cash – restricted.. . . . . . . ..................................................... $1,271,124
<
1
%
Accounts receivable – service .............................................. $4,924 Accounts receivable – funding ......................................... $429,944 Pledges receivable. . . . ........................................................ $45,210 Inventory.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...................................................... $829,317
1%
United Way $ 82,810 Rental Income % $ 27,751 Misc./Investment $ 74,875
1
61%
Events 174,811 2% Special Fees 432,658 4% Program
Federal, State & Local Grants $ 5,892,316
$
$
Prepaid expenses. . . . . . . ....................................................... $84,501
Fees 12% Sales/Sharing 1,175,235
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS. . ................................. . . . . . $3,673,463
$
Land, buildings and equipment, net..................................... $2,767,416 Contributions 19% Private 1,845,845
Cash and cash equivalents – restricted.................................. $290,113
$
Pledges receivable, net. ......................................................... $14,123 Investment in externally managed trust.................................$143,694
TOTAL ASSETS. . ................................... $6,888,809 LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS
* This chart does not include $22,727,923, which represents the value of in-kind contributions from food donations and other non-monetary donations to LSS and its programs.
Current Liabilities Accrued liabilities. . . . . . . .................................................... $389,209 Deferred revenue. . . . . . ....................................................... $172,017
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES.. ........................... . . . . . . $2,059,967 NET ASSETS Unrestricted: Undesignated. . . . . . . . . . . ....................................................$3,944,754 Board designated. . . . . . ................................................................ $0 Total unrestricted.. . . . . . . . . ...................................................$3,944,754 Temporarily restricted. . . .................................................... $884,088
1
The Sharing Place < % $71,368
Accounts payable. . . . . . ....................................................... $227,617
Deposits held for others.................................................. $1,271,124
5%
4%
2%
LSS Property Management $ 233,180
Representative Payee $ 369,046
Advancement $ 533,923 AIDS Care
Education 8% &777,931 $
786,692 8% Administration $
Services 17% Refugee 1,644,909 $
View a complete list of corporate, foundation, organization and individual donors to Lutheran Social Services in 2012 online at lssjax.org.
AGENCY EXPENSES BY PROGRAM
Florida 55% North 5,443,519
Second Harvest
$
TOTAL NET ASSETS. ......................................... . . . . . $4,828,842
TOTAL LIABILITIES & NET ASSETS....... $6,888,809
AGENCY REVENUE BY SOURCE
* This chart does not include $22,888,205, which represents the value of in-kind donations from food donations by retailers, individual donors, farmers and other sources to LSS and its programs.
NON PROFIT ORG U.S. Postage
PAID
–––––––––––––– IN CONJUNCTION WITH ––––––––––––––
4615 Philips Highway | Jacksonville, FL 32207
For more information about any of our programs, call 904.448.5995 or log on to lssjax.org
Permit #1610 Jacksonville, FL