WECF, Inc. Annual Report 2019-2020

ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020

"REVITALIZING THE WEST END COMMUNITY OF DURHAM, NC WHILE PRESERVING ITS RICH HISTORY"

WEST END COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, INC.

1309 Halley Street|(919) 536-4200|info@thewecf.org|www.thewecf.org

A MESSAGE FROM OUR BOARD CHAIRPERSON The West End Community Foundation, Incorporated is an organization that is purposed to make a difference. We work to revitalize the West End community of Durham, North Carolina through education, health care, job training programs, and human enrichment.

The Mission of WECF is to enhance the quality of life of the citizens of the West End, the Southwest Central Durham area, and the City of Durham as a whole. Founded in 1992 as Calvary Ministries of the West End Community, Incorporated, WECF is the 501(c)(3) organization that operates the Community Family Life & Recreation Center at Lyon Park (CFLRC at Lyon Park, 1309 Halley Street) in Durham, North Carolina.

On behalf of our Board of Directors, staff, and friends, we would like to thank our supporters in 2020 and beyond for your financial support to our foundation. Through your gifts, we were able to fund many of our objectives as a community organization.

You are invited to continue supporting us, particularly through two events one in the fall called the Music for a Cause Gala and the other in the spring which is our George Smith Annual Golf Tournament.

Peace and Blessings,

Fredrick A. Davis, Chair

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS Fredrick A. Davis DeLois Washington

Sandra Chambers

Kenisha Bethea

DeWarren K. Langley

Aaron Jeffries

Kesha T. Reed Ava Brownlee

Charles Barnes

Stephanie Williams

Warren Herndon Adam Perry

Wilda Carter-Neville

OUR ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM

Catherine Prince, Office Administrator

Dosali Reed-Bandele, Executive Director

OUR FRONT DESK TEAM

Kathyrn Davis

Cecil Yates

Kaitlyn Vickers

Sparkle Yates

Djuana Langley

WE ARE HERE TO SERVE!

3,000 VISITORS PER MONTH (AVERAGE)

The center has served an average of 3,000 visitors per month (preCOVID).

49% OF RENTALS COME FROM MEMBERS OF THE DURHAM COMMUNITY

WE VALUE COMMUNITY! An average of 49% of the facility's rentals come from community members for various types of events such as weddings, baby showers, and birthday parties.

COMMUNITY MEETINGS Several community organizations use the center for their monthly meetings:

Partners Against Crime 3 (PAC 3) Lyon Park Neighborhood Association

Lyon Park Rose Garden Club

The West End Reunion

COMMUNITY SCHOLARS AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM The CommUNITY Scholars After-school Program is a space where children can continue their studies from the school day in a loving and caring environment.

CSASP Facts:

100% of our students either live or attend schools in the West End community.

90% of our students qualify for free or reduced lunch. $65 a month (which totals $776 per year) covers expenses for 1 child.

The CommUNITY Scholars After-school Program is led by Ms. Wihelmenia Thornton. Ms. Thornton is passionate about giving back to the community.

She has been with the program for 14 years.

Our Partners

PROJECT FINE Project FINE Facts: 90% of the students pass to the next grade.

75% come from the 27707 zip code area.

90% are African-American or Latinx.

50% are from one-parent families.

Project FINE is a free tutorial program that takes place on Saturdays with over half of the children coming from the West End neighborhoods and schools. Project FINE provides the needed academic support that many of our youth and families want. Some come just to have a quiet place to study, and others are doing well in school, but come for the enrichment and to use the resources that are available to work on projects. Project FINE uses volunteers from the community to work with students of all levels, from kindergarten through college.

Ms. Elnora Shields is the Director of Project F.I.N.E. Ms. Shields is a champion for education and youth. She has been a long-time educator in Virginia and North Carolina teaching in schools such as Jordan High School and UNC-Chapel Hill. Ms. Shields has been with Project FINE for 34 years.

CAMP CALVARY Camp Calvary is a two-session summer camp designed to expose its campers to academic enrichment and recreational activities. The campers are guided through weekly lessons relating to self-development such as hygiene and etiquette, as well as leadership development such as public speaking and community service. Due to COVID-19, Camp Calvary went virtual for the very first time in the years that it has been in existence.

Summer Highlights 2020:

We served 31 students virtually from June to July 2020.

Our camp teachers were students from Duke University and the Durham community.

Triangle Ecycling provided laptops for campers who were in need.

Durham Head Start provided a donation to get supplies that were needed.

73% of our campers increased their reading level from 1 to 3 levels and math levels from 20% to 50%.

Our Partners

MATURE ADULTS The Mature Adult Program at our center is a welcoming and comfortable space for individuals 55 and over to relax and enjoy retirement life. Whether it is playing games, creating arts and crafts, watching movies, potlucks, or just spending time together, it is the place to be. Some activities are also provided in partnership with Durham Parks and Recreation.

Reflection from Ms. Donna Mack WECF Mature Adult Program Participant

"After retiring from my job after 42 years of service, I wanted to find somewhere to spend part of my day with individuals that liked to laugh, learn, pray and enjoy life. I found myself visiting the Mature Adult Room at the West End Community Foundation. It was “love” at first visit."

Our Partners

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. LOCK-IN 2020

The MLK, Jr. Lock-in is the result of a partnership between the West End Community Foundation, Inc., First Calvary Baptist Church, Durham Parks, and Recreation, and the Duke Office of Durham & Community Affairs. The Lock-in is a two-day, overnight event that uplifts the philosophies of Martin Luther King, Jr. by engaging Durham’s young people in conversations and activities that celebrate his life.

The 2020 Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Lock-in was held January 19-20, 2020. The theme was “Lift Every Voice: Made by History”. This free event was opened to the youth in the City of Durham.

79 youth ages 12-18 years old attended the event. 100% of the youth that attended stated that they enjoyed the event.

Our Partners

Special WECF Program

PROJECT F.E.E.D.

Project F.E.E.D. was our response to food insecurity due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

F.E.E.D. stands for Feeding and Engaging our Elders of Durham. There is an African proverb that we adopted which was truly the inspiration for this project and it states “A village without elders is like a well without water.” We value and respect our elders and wanted to make sure that they were supported during this time.

Highlights of Project F.E.E.D. 2020: 100% of our elders either lived or attended church in the 27707 zip code area.

3,469 elders were fed from July to September 2020.

8,775 healthy and delicious meals were prepared by Sweeties Southern and Vegan Catering.

220 volunteers from the West End and beyond gave their time to serve as community liaisons, meal packagers, and delivery drivers.

Our Partners

OUR FINANCIALS

Revenue

2018

Expenses

Grants: $27,064 Contributions: $19,279 Special Events: $37,135 Rental Income: $353, 599 Programs/Other: $41,192

Before Facility Depreciation

Program Services: $142,432 Supporting Services/Fundraising: $268,963

TOTAL EXPENSES: $411,395

TOTAL REVENUE: $478,269

The 2019 and 2020 audit reports will be available in July 2021.

WE VALUE OUR LOCAL VENDORS! We call on these local businesses for our facility and organizational needs:

Terry A. Williams, CPAs Treat-Rite Water Services, Inc.

Triangle Vending