2021 Impact Report
KEEPING IT MIGHTY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Board Chair Michael Epstein Treasurer James Kindya Secretary Shelli Thomas Directors Anjela Alvarado Cheryl-Lyn Bentley Amy Dudash
WE ARE MIGHTY WRITERS
Corinne Green
WE TEACH KIDS TO THINK AND
Lyn Groome
WRITE WITH CLARITY SO THEY
Raúl Diego Rivera Hernández
CAN ACHIEVE SUCCESS AT
Anne Kringel
SCHOOL, AT WORK, AND IN LIFE.
Joseph McEwen
THANK YOU FOR HELPING US TO
Executive Director Tim Whitaker
MAKE 2021 A MIGHTY YEAR! AND OH, WHAT A MIGHTY YEAR IT WAS...
On the cover: Austin Clarkson, MW's Director of Distribution. In 2021, Austin and his distribution team delivered groceries and essentials to MW locations every day. Cover photo by Liz Spikol
2021: SEE YA, WOULDN’T WANNA BE YA The good news: Mightiness prevailed. By Tim Whitaker
No way I’m going to use this space to wax happy and light about the wonders of the past year. Delusional, I’m not. There won’t be any nostalgic looks back. No highlight reel. 2021 isn’t worthy. Not even close.
Tougher and more enlightened, thanks to our food distribution team, which made it out to our locations to serve our communities daily — despite last-minute changes in scheduling, often miserable weather and being physically exhausted. They provided turkeys for Thanksgiving. Hams for Christmas. And toys — a toy for each and every Mighty kid. Tougher and more enlightened, thanks to our development team, which kept raising the stakes and the goals so we could keep reaching more kids with literacy workshops, so we could buy vans and turn them into bookmobiles, so we could conduct vaccination clinics at our locations. Tougher and more enlightened, thanks to our volunteers, the unpaid heroes of Mighty Writers — always there, always ready to jump in, always asking, “Is there anything more I can do?”
It was a year that put Mightiness to the test in a big way … again.
And tougher and more enlightened, thanks to you — yes, you — for donating when we asked, for helping us to reach more kids with the power of writing, for supporting us when we decided to add groceries and diapers and other essentials to our mission to help those in our communities who needed help most.
But if we’re searching for a diamond in a very deep rough, this is it:
We’ll never look back at 2021 gleefully.
We made it through. And we’re tougher, and more enlightened, because of it ...
But, gratefully, we’ve grown tougher and more enlightened because of the challenges it brought.
As if I need to tell you.
Tougher and more enlightened, thanks to our Mighty programming staff, who juggled Zoom meetings, remote workshop schedules, Covid cases, bouts of anxiety and constant speculating (and hoping) that we’d be back in person with our Mighty kids again — maybe in a couple of weeks, maybe in a month, maybe when the weather changes. Maybe, maybe.
Tim Whitaker, Executive Director twhitaker@mightywriters.org
FOOD + LITERACY DISTRIBUTION Because we know that kids can’t learn to think clearly and write with clarity when they’re hungry.
In 2021, we distributed: 200,000+ MEALS 80,000 BOXES OF GROCERIES 17,500 BOOKS 7,000 CANS OF FORMULA 1.2 MILLION DIAPERS 13,000 PACKS OF BABY WIPES
MIGHTY WRITERS AT HOME
Our most popular workshops MIGHTY TODDLERS GIRL POWER! COLLEGE READY TEENISH MIGHTY BROTHERHOOD MIGHTY BROWN SKIN GIRLS MIGHTY ENTREPRENEURS FAMILY COOK NIGHT
3,200 kids participated in
To ensure our Mighty young people keep their eye on the prize, we replaced our in-person writing workshops and mentorships with virtual writing workshops, called Mighty Writers At Home.
186 different online workshops
THE RETURN OF IN-PERSON PROGRAMS Our writing centers serve as a place for children to feel safe and nurtured and to be able to express themselves. We reopened in September 2021 for in-person after-school programs to small groups of students for our core programs.
OUR RESULTS
85% 79% 85%
student retention rate of parents see improvement in their child’s writing ability of parents believe that MW helped their child’s grades in school
MIGHTY MINDFULNESS
Our mindfulness program grew out of a realization that if our mission is to teach kids to think clearly and write with clarity, we need to focus on their social, emotional and mental health.
Many of our Mighty youth frequently cope with trauma in their daily lives, causing physical, mental and emotional harm that significantly impacts their ability to learn. Through mindfulness and writing, our
66%
“I can recognize my emotions and be kind to myself, most or all of the time.”
69%
“This workshop is helping me make better decisions.”
58%
“This workshop is helping me sleep better.”
youth grow their skills and knowledge, develop healthy identities, learn to better manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals.
VOLUNTEERS
450
In our literacy programs, volunteers provided a spectrum of services: mentoring, tutoring and assisting in teaching.
In our distribution initiatives, our dedicated volunteers provided daily support on-site and hosted back-to-school, book and holiday meal drives.
volunteers participated across all sites and programs
We paired over 250 students with a volunteer mentor. Each pair met for four hours a month for a minimum of six months. Together, they established and completed three goals.
1:1 MENTORSHIPS
WORDS FROM OUR STUDENTS “My mom forced me to come here because I don’t listen. But now I come because I really like it.”
“Most of you know that I had a difficult upbringing, and it made me kind of shy. I’ve been coming to these workshops for like a year now, and Mighty Writers has helped me come out of my shell and talk to people.”
“I want a future where Black lives matter as much as all other lives. I want a future where we do not spend our entire lives conforming to standards, expectations and categories.”
“Doing this is great because you’re giving us a chance to talk about our ideas on gun violence, racism, etc., and we can find peace knowing that other kids worry about this.”
WORDS FROM OUR COMMUNITY “I am so grateful for the one-on-one tutoring session. I can see how much more confident my son is with his writing because of the positive feedback and encouragement Christina gives him. He looks forward to his one-on-one Zoom calls with her.”
“I would like to give thanks for everything that you have done for me, my family and the community. This year has been very difficult for everyone but with the help that the site has offered, we have overcome this. Thank you for all the support.”
“My daughter increased her reading and comprehension skills through the mentorship program! Please continue to keep this mentorship program going as it is a vital part of my daughter’s academic success.”
“Mighty Writers is doing a very GREAT job. It’s truly a blessing to receive everything they’re serving from breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, fruits, veggies and more.”
WHAT’S COMING IN 2022
NEW LOCATIONS
Our goals for 2022 include serving over 4,000 kids ages 3-17 in
Coming soon to Atlantic City and Northeast Philadelphia
200+ workshops both virtually and in-person. Additionally, we plan to distribute 250,000 meals, 20,000 books, over 1.5 million diapers and more to 75,000 families across 10 locations in Philadelphia, West Grove, PA, Camden and Atlantic City, NJ.
COVID VACCINATION EVENTS We’re hosting free vaccine clinics in communities with limited access
BOOK MOBILES
Our new vans will transport books, food and other resources to our sites
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT Individual Investors: ($500 & up) Katie Adams Jim & Judy Allison Anjela Alvarado Anonymous Michelle Arkuski Barbara & Theodore Aronson Jeffrey Barg Tanya Barrientos Alan Bass Sandra Brooks & Garth Beache Hilary Beard Richard & Jessie Benjamin Cheryl-Lyn Bentley Herbie Bohnet Madeleine Boyer Linda Lou Brandt Graham Brent Martin Brigham & Harriet Rubenstein Kevin & Lenore Brophy Elisabeth Camp Cummins & Susan Catherwood Gwynn O’Gara & Rob Catterton Mary Cebra Harry Chen & Andrea Apter Zoey Chenitz Lexy Clancy Eric Clausen Ann Cohen Norman Cohn Shannon Collins Martha Cornog
Katherine Couric Stuart Davidson John Dent & Leanne Wagner Karen Detlefsen Richard & Susan Dewyngaert Mark & Tobey Dichter Barry & Mary Doane John Downes Amy Dudash Michael Epstein Estate of Margaret Carson Robert Farley Amanda Feifer Stephanie & Eric Feldman Marjorie Findlay Geoffrey Freeman Klair Fitzpatrick Jeanne Forbis David & Christina Fryman Nancy Fullam Maria Gallagher & Ray Didinger Harriett Galvin Josephine & Michael Giacchino Anne Gibson Barry Glicklich Dolores Gmitter William Elfring & Linda Good Anne Gordon Corinne & Justin Green Brent Groce & Donna Cordner Harry & Lyn Groome Ted & Kathleen Halloran Sam Halperin Kate Harper Nancy Harris
Benjamin Hassebrock Peter & Alice Hausmann Robert & Eileen Heim David Dye & Karen Heller Seth Hendon Raúl Diego Rivera Hernández Lois Hoffman Deborah Holmes Richard & Ruth Horowitz D. Gregory & Judith Horrigan Jim Huang Lynda Hubbell William Thomas & Chantal Jauvin Martin Judge Roberta Kangilaski Edi & Barbara Karni Maxine Katz Peter & Sung Kim Jim and Lynanne Kindya Sheila Koehler Nadine Kolowrat Josh Kopelman Jane Koppelman Anne Kringel & Wendell Pritchett Ferne Kuhn Michele Kwasniewski John Langan & Judy Nadell Mark & Anne Ledger Kimerri Leonardo Bea & Norman Leopold Steven Levy Alan Lindy Robert & Lynn Luft Francis & Marjorie Lutz Robert Macrae
William Marimow Lyann Mastaj Mindy Mazer Joseph McEwen Susan McEwen-Fial Mike McGrath Laura & Marc McKenna Shanda & Stephen McManus Elizabeth Moore Betsy Moore Lawrence & Robin Moses Jennifer Nagda Karen Nakahara Charles Neff Arthur & Doug Newbold Geoffrey Ng Rochelle Nichols-Solomon Therese Obringer Maureen Barden & David Othmer Sarah Kloss & Hari Palaiyanur Russell & Wendy Palmer Christine Parkhurst Ephraim Paul Robin Pearson Jane Pepper Mary Pisculli Jessica Poore Frances Posel Brian Pozun Gail Redpath Mary Mattingly & Steve Reiss Kevin Renton Michael & Anne Rhoads Jessica & Andrew
Richardson Martha Ritter Buck & Cintra Rodgers Neil Romberg Vicki Rosenzweig Emily Royce Frank Rubino Patrice Sas Michael Schaffer Alex & Nicole Scherer Karen Schiavelli Liz Schumacher Nathaniel Selzer Barbara Shoulson Simran Sidhu Anne Siemer Jeff Silverman David & Rebecca Sinkler Mimi Reimel & Jack Sirott Myreon Smallwood Vincent Smart Daniel Smith William & Deirdre Snyder Jerry & Eileen Spinelli Diane Stanczak Jonathan and Judith Stein Glenna Stewart Andrew Stober Arthur & Doris Strawbridge Robert & Karen Sutton Robert Sutton Nicole Tell Kate Towson Bradley Turner Jennifer Uhlman Nancy Urbschat James & Bonnie Van Alen Matthew Verghese
Christa Wagner Rosalind Walrath Karol Wasylyshyn Sarah & Daniel Weintraub Bill & Lois West Miriam Whitaker Jane White Tracey Whitesell & Terrance Huettl Lois & Barbara Whitman A. Morris Williams Merrily Williams Vera & Peter Wilson Leni & Alan Windle J. Wolfington Jeanette Woods Ben Yagoda Sherley Young Meriam Zandi Melinda Zito Foundation Friends: 100 Women Philadelphia S. Albert Fund Alston-Beech Phila. Cultural Alliance America’s Charities Anonymous Armstrong B inspired Philadelphia Robert & Toni Bader Bahaa Fam/Carol Nowacki Katherine Baker Trust Barra Foundation Betagole Family BLBB Charitable Borowsky Family
Brick Patch Fund Brind Julian & Lois Brodsky Bushnell/Pelkey Fund Camden County Cultural & Heritage Commission Camden Education Fund Cameron Memorial CCRES Cerner Charitable Chester County Claneil Coyle Family Fund Crist Family Curcio Family Fund Elmer Roe Deaver Jack Dembow Fund Deupree Family Dolfinger-McMahon Alfred & Mary Douty Elder Family Fern Mountain Forfeiture Cy Pres Forman Family Sheila Fortune Gant Family Germeshausen Gitlin Family William Goldman Goldstein Family Greenwald Family Grum Fund Gundaker Gunst-Williams Fund Halloran Family Fund Hamilton Family Hess Honickman
Horner Howard Family I Am Trenton Independence Independence Media Robert Wood Johnson Justamere Foundation Odessa & Henry Kahrs Patricia Kind Le Vine Family Leibowitz Family Lenfest H. Chase Lenfest Levon & Claudia Nazarian Library of Congress J. Leon Lockard Longwood Rotary Christopher Ludwick Lumpkin Family MAE Private Magnolia Fund Virginia Cretella Mars Matthews Family Matthews Stein Family Mattleman Kaplan Fund Max & Victoria Dreyfus McAlaine Family Fund McCausland William J. McNichol Trust Miralie Fund Hilda Mullen Nararo NJ Council for Humanities Grace & Linton Nelson Alyson Owen, Craig Oliner PA Council on the Arts Patricia Kind Family PA Humanities Council
Penn’s Way Pew Charitable Trusts Phila. Autism Project Philanthropy Network Leo & Peggy Pierce William Penn Pew Charitable Trusts Pincus Family Poetry Foundation Powell Family Norman Raab Ravitz Family Resolve Philadelphia Rosenlund Family John B. Rosenthal Elizabeth & Arthur Roswell Saibel Schoenbach Tobey Fund Scholler Seybert Alice Shaver Shoresh Sidewater Family Joseph Kennard Skilling Smart Family W.W. Smith Trust Spring Point Partners St. Andrews Stable Road Stronach-Buschel Fund Sunflower John Templeton Tess Memorial Fund Union Benevolent Assoc. United Way of PSNJ Universal Good Inc. Van Aken Family Vert Charitable Willits-Smith Family Fund Windmill Wynnstay Corporate Community: Accenture
Amalgam Comics Amazon American Water AmeriHealth Caritas Ametek Foundation, Inc. Andres De Cos LLC AstraZeneca AtlantiCare Beaty American LLC Blue Ocean Advisors, Inc. Boston Consulting Group Bristol Myers Squibb Camino Books Campbell Soup Company Catena Media Cigna Citizens Bank Foundation Comcast Corporation Concord C.C. Players Coscia Moos Architecture CRDA Creative Spark Debellis Laukaitis Inc. Dermody Properties Dairy Farmers of America Dog Katie Gives Dollar General Foundation Dr. Rosa Lewis & Assoc. Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood EBI Consulting Elfant Equifax Erie Insurance Giving Exelon Generation FIFCO USA Food Lion Feeds Fox & Roach Fox Corp. GlaxoSmithKline Hershey Company Holman Automotive HP Inc. Illinois Tool Works Investors Bank Foundation Janssen Charitable Giving
JKG Florida Business Corp. Johnson & Johnson JP Morgan Chase JustGive Klick Health L2C Partners Laborers District Council LexisNexis Mealey Lincoln Investments PA Lumbermens Insurance Lupton Law Larry Magid Entertainment Marsh & McLennan McKinsey & Partners MEJ Holding Inc William Meredith Elementary Molly’s Books & Records Nexxt, Inc. Northstar Financial Co. Novo Nordisk USA OpenIDEO Oppenheimer & Co. PricewaterhouseCoopers PSE&G Quirk Books Rite Aid Foundation Roma Bank Community SAP America Strauss & Assoc. Planners Tick Tock Early Learning Tierney Agency Tony O’Malley Custom Woodworking Tria UHG UMB Bank van Ameringen Vanguard Ver Ploeg & Marino, P.A. Walmart Foundation Wawa, Inc. Whitaker Eye Works Willis Re Yowi
Passionate Partners: 100 Black Men All Together Now PA Avon Grove School District Avondale Rotary Club Barnes & Noble Bethlehem Church Blessings in a Backpack Brandywine River Museum Camden County Library Camden Promise Neighborhood Caring For Friends Cathedral Kitchen Center for Family Services Chester County Food Bank Chester County Library Chester Co. Women’s Services Christian St. YMCA Clarke & Cohen Property Loss Classtech Community Food Bank of NJ Cornerstone Presby. Church Creamery Kennett Square CROPS Delicious Bite LLC Delta Sigma Theta Alumnae Elsevier Foundation Farmers to Families First Book First Generation Farms Five Points Junction Food Bank of South Jersey Food Connect Food Connected Food Rescue Full Cart Garage Youth Center Giant Food Stores Gladwyne Library Grace Lutheran Church Greater Phila. Diaper Bank Hands of Comfort Herr Foods Inc.
KACS Kennett Square Rotary Club Kindred & Community LCH Longwood Rotary Foundation Macy’s, Willow Grove Manfredi Cold Storage Mantua Grace Church Mantua Haverford Center Maternal & Child Health Migrant Education Naked Flower Farm Nutritional Develop. Services Partnerships for America Pathstone Philabundance Philadelphia Housing Authority Philadelphia Parks & Rec. Progress Physical Therapy Reading Recycled Red Cross Reed’s Organic Farm Resurrection Catholic School Sacred Heart St. Jude’s Church Seeds of Hope Share Food Sharing Excess Sharswood Association Sister Jean’s Kitchen Starbucks Target Touch NJ United Way Unitarian Universalist Church Walking Bird Farm West Chester Food Cupboard West Phila. Promise Neighborhood West Grove Methodist Willowdale Chapel YMCA of Greater Brandywine Zunimex, Inc.
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