READING PARTNERS 2013-14
ANNUAL REPORT
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A LETTER FROM
THE CEO DEAR FRIENDS, This past year at Reading Partners was marked by a commitment to service and unprecedented success. Our reach and impact are greater than ever, having mobilized 12,000 volunteers to improve the literacy skills of more than 7,200 students. As I reflect on our accomplishments, I admire and appreciate the work of our reading partners—volunteers, donors, board members, AmeriCorps members, school and community partners, and staff. We are changing children’s lives through the power of reading because of you.
Fund grant, this year MDRC, a nonprofit, nonpartisan education and social policy research firm, published a study of our program. This study found that Reading Partners has a positive and statistically significant impact on reading comprehension, reading fluency, and sight-word reading. Progress monitoring assessments show that students engaged in our program more than double their rate of learning. We are encouraged and invigorated by these findings and continue to strive toward even greater achievements for our students.
Service continues to be an integral part of the Reading Partners experience. From our site coordinators working with volunteers and students in low-income schools across the country to our volunteer coordinators who set out to recruit tutors, Reading Partners AmeriCorps members are committed to equipping students with the literacy skills necessary to become active, engaged, and successful members of society. As we continue to expand our reach throughout the country, our dedicated AmeriCorps members remain crucial to the experience of our students and volunteers.
We are deeply grateful for the investments made by our generous donors. As we continue to expand our impact to create change, not only for students, but also for schools and communities, I hope our supporters are as energized as I am, knowing that together we are generating lasting change for thousands of kids every year. Together, we are building a movement motivated by unlocking every child’s potential.
Though we have always enjoyed incredible success with our students, thanks to the support of the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation’s Social Innovation
Michael Lombardo CEO
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2013-14
Year In Review 7,200
STUDENTS SERVED
141
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PARTNER SCHOOLS
METRO AREAS
12,000
VOLUNTEER READING PARTNERS
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247,500
HOURS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE DONATED
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UNLOCKING
OPPORTUNITY BETH & XAVIER When Beth’s boss forwarded her an email about tutoring with Reading Partners, she immediately knew she wanted to be involved. She had always wanted to be a reading tutor, and she jumped at the opportunity to work with Reading Partners at McClure Elementary School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Beth’s first impression of Xavier was that he was shy and the “cutest [kid] I’ve ever seen in my life.” When Xavier and Beth first started their partnership, Xavier was a year behind in his reading. Xavier read very slowly and had a difficult time sounding out words. Over the past year and a half, Xavier has improved in all aspects of his reading—from sounding out words to general fluency to his overall confidence in his own reading ability. This year, Xavier’s biggest challenge was participating in his school’s winter reading recital, where each Reading Partners student would read a page of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Xavier’s page included dialogue and required, as Beth describes it, “quite a bit of inflection.” Beth knew his biggest hurdles would be both his speed and projecting his voice so that the entire audience could hear him. To practice both speed and projection, Beth and Xavier made a game out of the process: setting an 4
egg timer and seeing how far Xavier could get in the passage before time ran out. Once Xavier was comfortable with his speed, Beth had him move farther and farther away from her as he read— eventually, he was reading his page to her from across the room! The recital was a resounding success, and Beth and Xavier were both able to celebrate his progress and achievements. “ Without a
doubt, Reading Partners is the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done in my life.”
Over the past 18 months, Beth has been an integral part of unlocking Xavier’s reading potential. Xavier tested at one year behind his grade level when he began Reading Partners. After one year of tutoring, he was just four months behind! When asked about her experience with our program, Beth remarked, “Without a doubt, Reading Partners is the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done in my life.”
92%
STUDENTS MORE THAN DOUBLED THEIR RATE OF LEARNING for every month enrolled in Reading Partners
89
OF PRINCIPALS reported schoolwide improved reading progress
TARGET STUDENTS % OF increased their monthly
72
rates of literacy learning
TARGET STUDENTS % OF narrowed their literacy
BEFORE READING PARTNERS
WITH READING PARTNERS
gap with peers who read at grade level
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MOBILIZING
COMMUNITIES SPOTLIGHT ON INNOVATION Reading Partners was invited to the first-ever What Works Showcase at the White House, hosted by the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Social Innovation Fund. We appreciated being selected as one of 10 highimpact national organizations with proven, innovative solutions to address some of our country’s most
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critical social challenges. Nathan, a fourth-grader at Wheatley Education Campus in Washington, DC, and Josh, an AmeriCorps member and second-year site coordinator, took the stage together to demonstrate the fundamentals of our program. One event attendee commented, “I knew what Reading Partners was, but seeing it in action was so amazing.”
AMERICORPS 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION This year marked the 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps and our 300+ members turned out to celebrate. From The Presidio of San 20 YEARS Francisco to the South Lawn of the White House, our members stood side by side with their peers, AmeriCorps alumni, policy makers, and more to commemorate service. Joined by President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton, our AmeriCorps members had the unique opportunity to visualize this generation’s commitment to service and the impact AmeriCorps members have across the country. Former President Clinton remarked, “To my last day on Earth, I will be grateful that I had a chance to start AmeriCorps.” We, too, are grateful for AmeriCorps and its commitment to being a true Reading Partner.
PARTNERING WITH THE CITY: THIRD GRADE READS IN BALTIMORE Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has united with Reading Partners to increase literacy rates for kids in Baltimore. Thanks to an executive order that encourages city employees to volunteer up to two hours a week while still being paid, employees of the City of Baltimore have contributed over 400 hours of tutoring in local schools. In addition to this direct service, the Baltimore City Parking Authority organized a book drive that collected over 2,400 books that were delivered by city employees straight to Reading Partners locations throughout the city. We are inspired by the support of Mayor Rawlings-Blake and are hopeful that her leadership will encourage influential members of Reading Partners communities to join forces in the efforts to unlock every child’s potential through the power of reading.
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EXPANDING
WHAT WORKS PROVEN RESULTS MDRC, a nonprofit, nonpartisan education and social policy research firm, conducted a rigorous, randomized control trial (RCT) of Reading Partners in 19 schools across three states, involving more than 1,200 second- to fifth-graders. The evaluators found not Reading only that Reading Partners [is] “an Partners’ program untapped force has a positive and statistically in the fight for significant impact literacy.” on student reading proficiency, but also that our program is effective for a diverse population of students. The findings of this study are so encouraging that both Education Week and The New York Times highlighted the results of the study, with The New York Times identifying Reading Partners as “an untapped force in the fight for literacy.”
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GROWING OUR IMPACT Our MDRC evaluation results provide evidence that Reading Partners made a significant difference for the 7,200 students we served last year. We know, however, that 9 million low-income students across the country are struggling with reading. To address this need, Reading Partners’ strategic plan is focused on broadening our impact to make a measurable difference in childhood literacy rates in the United States. We are committed to increasing the number of students served, deepening our partnerships with Nine million school districts, low-income innovating to test students across new programs, and launching new policy the country are initiatives. These struggling with efforts will position reading. Reading Partners to lead the charge in helping to ensure that the 9 million students who are not proficient in reading have the support they need to succeed in school and life.
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finances FINANCIALS FOR JULY 1, 2013–JUNE 30, 2014 Income Foundation Grants Government Contracts/Grants Fee for Service In-kind Donations Individual Contributions Corporate Gifts/Grants Events Investments & Other Total
$9,669,324 $3,991,712 $2,527,697 $1,652,815 $1,480,314 $548,588 $119,481 $22,852 $20,012,783
48% 20% 13% 8% 7% 2% 1% <1% 100%
Program Services Management & General Fundraising Total
$14,805,779 $2,067,653 $1,953,058 $18,826,491
79% 11% 10% 100%
Net Income
$1,186,292
Expenses
Statement of Financial Position Current Assets Fixed Assets Other Assets Total Assets Current Liabilities Equity Total Liabilities & Equity 10
June 30, 2014 $4,936,923 $589,922 $387,029 $5,913,874
June 30, 2013 $2,915,676 $368,912 $1,123,276 $4,407,864
$1,330,031 $4,583,843 $5,913,874
$1,150,683 $3,257,181 $4,407,864
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thank you Reading Partners is deeply grateful for our generous supporters. The following supporters gave between July 1, 2013, and June 30, 2014. *Indicates the full value of a multi-year commitment. $2,000,000+
$100,000–$249,999
Edna McConnell Clark Foundation True North Fund* (including funds from the Social Innovation Fund administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service)
Boone Family Foundation* Stasia Obremskey and Dan Carroll S. H. Cowell Foundation* Cathy Cockrum Dean and Sandy Dean Focusing Philanthropy Cathy and Larry Gilson Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation The Heckscher Foundation for Children Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation* Meadows Foundation Jay K. Paul* Pearson Charitable Foundation The Pinkerton Foundation Robin Hood Foundation Sheila Head’s Hawaiian Transport May & Stanley Smith Charitable Trust* The Aaron and Lillie Straus Foundation, Inc.* Tiger Foundation Wells Fargo Foundation The George & Fay Young Foundation
$1,000,000–$1,999,999 George Kaiser Family Foundation* Co-Investors in the EMCF True North Fund (Donor Advised Funds of the National Philanthropic Trust and the Tulsa Community Foundation) Mile High United Way Early Literacy Social Innovation Fund*
$500,000–$999,999 Sobrato Family Foundation* Tipping Point Community
$250,000–$499,999 Deerbrook Charitable Trust Morgan Family Foundation* Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation* Target Corporation The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc.* Weingart Foundation*
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$50,000–$99,999 The Abell Foundation Anonymous (2) Greatwood Cale Family Charitable Fund
Serena Connelly Margaret Deterding Fund of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation Duke Endowment Daniels Fund The Franklin and Catherine Johnson Foundation* Ted MacDonald Ralph M. Parsons Foundation Peery Family Fund Piton Foundation Kenneth Rainin Foundation Rose Community Foundation* Severns Family Foundation Simmons Family Fund The W.L.S. Spencer Foundation* Trident United Way United Way of Metropolitan Dallas Warriors Community Foundation Helen and Wilton Webster Foundation
$25,000–$49,999 Aegon Transamerica Foundation Anonymous (4) The Anschutz Foundation Atlassian William Bingham Foundation Bothin Foundation Charleston Promise Neighborhood
Children and Family Legacy Fund Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina Michael J. Connell Foundation DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education Sharon Meers and Steve Dostart East Bay Community Foundation Laura and Walter Elcock and their Family Foundation Esping Family Foundation Stephanie Cohen and Erik Glover Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund The Green Foundation Walter and Elise Haas Fund Hackman Capital Partners David and Barbara B. Hirschhorn Foundation* Horning Family Fund Jimmie Johnson Foundation JPMorgan Chase Foundation Kilroy Realty Corporation Latham & Watkins LLP The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation Anne Popkin The Lisa and John Pritzker Family Fund* Quest Foundation Rice-Cameron Family Foundation
The Elizabeth T. Robinson Fund George H. Sandy Foundation Solid Rock Foundation Joyce Stupski Union Bank of California The United Way of Central Maryland The Walther Foundation The Washington Post Charities, a McCormick Foundation Fund Wright Family Foundation Yahoo! Employee Foundation Zendesk
$10,000–$24,999 The Achelis Foundation Lily Auchincloss Foundation Bank of the West Louis L. Borick Foundation Sapna and Brandon Boze John W. Carson Foundation, Inc. Change Happens Foundation City National Bank City of North Charleston The Clark Charitable Foundation The Clorox Company Foundation Crail-Johnson Foundation Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation Dwight Stuart Youth Fund eHealth Insurance James J. and Sue Femino Foundation Fleishhacker Foundation Fors Family Foundation The Sharna & Irvin Frank Foundation Karen Watson and Richard Gershen William G. Gilmore Foundation The David B. Gold Foundation Goldman Sachs Matching Gifts The Gores Foundation Grousbeck Family Foundation The Hoglund Foundation Homestead Foundation M.R. and Evelyn Hudson Foundation The Hyde and Watson Foundation Carli and Eli Khouri
Dorothy Lazier Diana and Derek Lidow The Thomas J. Long Foundation Dustin Marshall McCamy Family Fund of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta Eugene & Agnes E. Meyer Foundation Michael Michelson Fund Libby Smiley and Ravi Paidipaty Therese O’Neill Peters and Elliot Peters James O. and Harriet P. Rigney Endowment of Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina Lisa and Ian Schapiro Leo M. Shortino Family Foundation Harold Simmons Foundation Syzygy Foundation Texas Instruments The Alvin and Fanny B. Thalheimer Foundation* The Venable Foundation The Connie Burwell White and William W. White Foundation Willkie, Farr & Gallagher, LLP Greater DC Community Foundation M.B. & Edna Zale Foundation Zynga
$5,000–$9,999 The AGB Fund Asawari and Ashutosh Agrawal Anonymous Robert & Toni Bader Charitable Foundation Bakker Family Fund of Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina The Summerfield Baldwin Jr Foundation Matthew Baldwin Bayside Covenant Church The Blackbaud Fund Blue Oak Group, LLC The Barry Bonds Family Foundation BP America Inc. A.L. Chilton Foundation
Clay Foundation-West Gale Mondry and Bruce Cohen Comerica Charitable Foundation Costco Wholesale Corporation Costello Family Foundation The Lois Lenski Covey Foundation Thomas Dawson Mary and Thomas DeMund Ernst & Young Farallon Capital Management, LLC Lareina Yee and Bert Galleno Katherine Boone and Joshua Geltzer Giants Community Fund Shannon and Sam Gilliland Brittany Bagley and David Gliklich Golden 1 Credit Union Haldeman Family Foundation George Hamel Mimi and Richard Houstoun IMA Foundation Jones Day Ken and Judith Joy Family Foundation Kaiser Permanente Kelly Foundation Stephanie and Charles Knowles Bob and Jackie Lane Family Endowment of Coastal Community Foundation The Stanley S. Langendorf Foundation Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation Lothmann Family Fund of Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina Nancy and Torstein Lund Melissa Magner Phil Mahoney Katie and George Markov Marsh-Levin Family Fund of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation Kim and John Martinez Sam Mazza Foundation Charles Kenny McClatchy Memorial Fund of the Sacramento Region
Community Foundation McMurtry Family Foundation Chloe McNerney Jeannie and Robert Musslewhite Ritu and Amrit Nagpal The New Yankee Stadium Community Benefits Fund, Inc. Henry E. Niles Foundation Oakland Athletics Community Fund ONEOK, Inc. PricewaterhouseCoopers Andrea and John Rice RMLow Foundation Rocky Mountain Active 20-30 Children’s Foundation Monette Dawson and Marty Rodgers Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern California Lissa Rosenthal Sacramento Bee Book of Dreams Fund of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation Charles and Mildred Schnurmacher Foundation Kunal Shah Barbara K. and M. Sigmund Shapiro Amy Silver Ali and Brad Singer Staci and R. James Slaughter Richard Spees Jr. Laura and Greg Spivy Cathy and Sean StannardStockton Richard Star Mary and Mark Stevens Sutter Health Gary Syman Venoco, Inc Katherine and John Welch Courtney and Jake Welch Lisa and Greg Wendt World Bank Community Connections Fund WPX Energy Henry & Sylvia Yaschik Foundation Margery Yeager Charitable Giving
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$1,000–$4,999 Abacus Jaspers Management Ackley-Salvatierra Charitable Giving Fund Nathan and Marlene Addlestone Foundation The Advisory Board Company Reena and Raj Agrawal Nancy and Greg Annick Anonymous (6) Apothecary Health Solutions Katherine August-deWilde Morgan Bale Bank of Sacramento Bank of America Merrill Lynch Kelly Barlow Barnes & Noble Booksellers Pam Henderson and Peter Barry Randi and Nathan Becker Janine and Amerish Bera David Berg The Lowell Berry Foundation Bhava Communications Ryan Birtwell Brae Blackley The Boomerang Project Cecilia and Garrett Boone Andrea and Chris Borch Kristyn Klei Borrero and Noah Borrero Brickyard Berridge Fund Jenny Redo and Kevin Brown William Browning Ken and Rebecca Wolfson Bruder Philanthropic Fund of the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation George W. Bullen Esq. Memorial Fund of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation Andrea Burke Nathan B. and Florence R. Burt Foundation Harman Cain Family Foundation Jean Driscoll and Peter Calthorpe Capitol Hill Community Foundation Mrs. Helene Getz and Dr. Michael L. Carlin Ruth and Michael Cashion Susan and James Cavalieri
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John Chalsty Laura Jehl and Michael Cicero Allison and Eli Cohen Caretha and Ken Coleman Colgate-Palmolive Company Collins Family Foundation Communities Foundation of Texas Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP Barbara Crossan Allison and Michael Delman Jessica and Matthew Denecour Lori and Raymond DePole Yvonne and Michael Derse Kathryn & GP Diminich Linda Donovan Sean Duffy Lindsay and Terry Eakin Emerson Process Management EMIKA Fund Diane and Richard Evans Melinda and William D. Evers, Jr. The Exchange Club of Charleston Exxon Mobil Corporation Gary Fender Bill Fink Elizabeth and Dr. Humberto Galleno Jill and Derek Garvens Kathleen and Paul Gaynor The Carl Gellert & Celia Berta Gellert Foundation Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP Brittany Bagley and David Gliklich Isabelle and Gabe Gold Nancy Gonzalez Catherine and William Goodrum Joy Leach and Richard Goodstein Google Got Milk? The Grace Foundation JoAnn Ward and Christopher Graves Great Divide Brewing Company Kecia and Jim Greenho Shelly Lazarus and Ned Grossman Tyrone Hanlan Lauren Hanrahan Amy and Bill Harley Hannette Allen
Elizabeth Hart Val Haskell Hazel’s Hot Shot Clara H. Heinsohn Sabrina and Marco Hellman The Pete and Rebecca Helme Fund Patricia Henderson The Manny and Cecile Hernandez Charitable Foundation John K. Hoskinson William Gano Houstoun Foundation Leslie and George Hume IMF Matching Gifts Infinera Innisfree Investments, LLC Intuit Foundation Jackson National Community Fund Allison Jackson Jeanne and Joseph Jehl Mimi Johnson-Jacobs Michael and Jordan Kahn Marty Kaplan Danny Karubian John Keker David Kim Patricia L. Kimball Endowment Fund at Shasta Regional Community Foundation John King KKR - MP Charitable Gift Fund Karen Sulzberger and Eric Lax Lisa Lazarus Amy Lazarus Ted Legasey Michael Liou Alicia Nogales and Greg Little Mary and George Mansfield Debra Marshall Cathleen Massey The James and Susan McClatchy Fund of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation Paul M. McManus Bruce Mendelsohn Kathrine M. Milam & James H. Milam Family Charities Sarah Almy and Gus Moore Anna and Mason Morfit Morgan Stanley Foundation
Ann Morrical Katherine Morris Sarah Morrison William Morrison NAIOP Silicon Valley Chapter National Cathedral School Nancy and Christopher Nelle North Charleston Breakfast Rotary Club Meagan and Dan Nye Loraine and Terrence O’Neill The Odell-Kemp Fund Parnia Pajand Panwy Foundation F. Richard Pappas Kristin and Dhruv Pateder Krutika and Rajiv Patel Patxi’s Pizza The Pellegrini Family Lynn Phillips Diane L. Mooney and Frank Pietrantonio Pineapple Productions Lindsay and Alex Ramsay Foundation Random Acts of Halloween, Inc. Michael Rawlings Joan Karlin and Paul Resnick The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation Jane and Kirk Rimer Margot and Scott Ritchie Elise Rosenberg Rotary Foundation of Washington DC Ruthie’s Rolling Cafe Donna and Robert Ryan Donna De Santis Buoymaster SAP Katie Albright and Jake Schatz Rita O’Connor and Ted Schell Demi and Fred Seguritan Kevin Shannon Sierra Health Foundation Sierra Slettvet Laura and Russell Smith Russell J. Smith Doenda and Donald Smith Don Soifer Madeline and Isaac Stein Jon Steinberg Mary and Dave Stevens Anne Stewart
Stacey and Ray Thal Monica Moore Thompson Tracy Family Foundation Patrick Tracy Janet Traub Umpqua Bank Union Bank Matching Gifts Harvey and Leslie Wagner Foundation Ann and John Weissenbach Wells Fargo Capital Finance Williams Family Foundation Jennifer and Sandy Williams Yamilee Bermingham and Douglas Winthrop The Randall A. Wolf Family Foundation Womack Machine Supply Company Jane Wu Megan Pickett and Charles Wyman Fran Yoder Mary and Jeff Zients Zimmerman-Wolff Family Foundation
A special thanks to our AmeriCorps partners: AmeriCorps VISTA CaliforniaVolunteers Corporation for National and Community Service Maryland’s Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism New Yorkers Volunteer One Star Foundation Serve DC
Thanks to the following Focusing Philanthropy donors who contributed $372,700 throughout the year: Marc Ackerman Anonymous Randi and Nathan Becker Michael J. Connell Foundation Cathy Cockrun Dean and Sandy Dean Cathy and Larry Gilson Hackman Capital Partners Marty Kaplan Karen Sulzberger and Eric Lax Diana and Derek Lidow Parnia Pajand Lisa and Ian Schapiro Helen & Wilton Webster Foundation Ann and John Weissenbach
Photos by Joe Budd—Joe Budd Photo Nabor Godoy—Godoy Shots Ernesto Hernandez— Ernesto H. Photography
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NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kristyn Klei Borrero Dan Carroll Stephanie Cohen Cathy Cockrum Dean Walter Elcock Lance Fors Susan Hayes Ted MacDonald Anne Popkin Andrea Rice Mark S. Sexton Jamie Slaughter Kathy Taylor
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readingpartners Reading Partners National Headquarters 180 Grand Ave., Suite 800 Oakland, CA 94612 (510) 444-9800 www.readingpartners.org
BALTIMORE 916 N. Charles St., Ste. 250 Baltimore, MD 21201 (410) 585-7600
LOS ANGELES 5482 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 350 Los Angeles, CA 90036 (213) 399-8599
SF BAY AREA 180 Grand Ave., Ste. 800 Oakland, CA 94612 (510) 444-9800
CHARLESTON 5880 Rivers Ave., Ste. C North Charleston, SC 29406 (843) 860-3915
NEW YORK 225 West 35th St., 9th Fl. New York, NY 10001 (646) 395-3831
SILICON VALLEY 600B Valley Way Milpitas, CA 95035 (408) 945-5720
COLORADO 3131 Osceola St., Ste. 303 Denver, CO 80212 (720) 409-9909
SACRAMENTO P.O. Box 5946 Sacramento, CA 95817 (916) 996-0830
TULSA 601 S. Boulder Ave., Ste. 1000 Tulsa, OK 74119 (918) 949-1979
DALLAS 2910 Swiss Ave. Dallas, TX 75204 (214) 821-4500
SEATTLE 815 First Ave., Ste. 328 Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 355-6699
WASHINGTON, DC 1224 M St. NW, Ste. 301 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 701-9110