PDF: 2013 Annual Report - Angelic Organics Learning Center

B R A N C H I N G O U T,
Growing Together
ANNUAL REPORT
2013
Learn. Grow. Connect.
Mission
Angelic Organics Learning Center
empowers people to create
sustainable communities of soils,
plants, animals and people through
educational, creative, and experiential
programs. The Learning Center,
a nonprofit organization, is the
educational partner to Angelic
Organics, a vibrant Biodynamic
community supported farm.
Vision
We envision a dynamic and enduring
partnership between farmers and
consumers who strive for economies,
ecologies, and cultures that respect
the land and honor the people who
work it, know healthy food as a
human right, celebrate the beauty
and mysteries of life and the living
earth, encourage authenticity and
self-reliance and cooperation, and are
sustainable over many generations.
Liz Whitehurst,
On-Farm Program Director
Dear Friends of the Angelic Organics Learning Center,
The theme of our 2013 Annual Report, Branching Out, Growing Together, reflects the Learning
Center’s dedication to making good food more accessible by creating sustainable communities of
soils, plants, animals, and people. Our vision allows us to branch out to create dynamic and
enduring partnerships between farmers and consumers with a singular goal: to grow together.
We are very proud of our successes in 2013 for which we have worked so diligently, and consider
this a year of accomplishments for the Learning Center. These accomplishments allow us to better
respect the land and honor the people who work it. Because of your support, we continue to provide
the foundation that helps urban and rural people build local food systems.
We are most proud, however, of the financial stability and security we have achieved. Our careful
stewardship of our supporters’ trust through their gifts of time, talents, and resources helps to create
valuable community resources and partnerships.
Thank you so very much for your continuing support. We hope that you will enjoy this annual report
and find the information useful. Please feel free to share it with a friend.
Sincerely,
Thomas Spaulding
Executive Director
Constance McCarthy
President,
Board of Directors
Impacts
Farmer Training
Our Farmer Training Initiative works to train the next generation of sustainable farmers. Led by the
experienced farmers from the Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT), we
offer business planning, on-farm training, and mentoring directly from our region’s best farmers.
17 farm families graduated from Stateline Farm Beginnings.
334 farmers or prospective farmers received training.
We launched the Farm Asset Builder Program, to provide farm financial training along with
matched savings for farmers.
We awarded the first Beginning Farmer of the Year award to Radical Root Farm.
On Farm Education
Our On-Farm Initiative offers hands-on learning at Angelic Organics farm. We engage the body,
heart and mind to experience life on a vibrant working farm. We offer farm tours, skills workshops
and custom learning opportunities for individuals, families, schools and community groups.
We held 136 programs, with a record number of participants and a record amount of public
program income in 2013.
100% of teachers reported that field trips helped meet school or state standards in: science,
environmental education, physical education and health, social science, and language arts.
We provided over $3,000 in scholarship funds to visiting schools and families.
Civic Engagement
Our Civic Engagement Initiative works to create civic networks and associative initiatives that spark
policies for a healthy local food system and economy. The Learning Center is a founding member
and backbone organization for Advocates for Urban Agriculture (AUA), Chicago Chicken Enthusiasts,
and the Illinois Food Farms and Jobs Council.
We held the first Urban Livestock Expo in Chicago for over 200 participants.
We moderated the Chicago Chicken Enthusiasts group, connecting over 500 people with
resources and information.
We provided leadership and fiscal sponsorship for Advocates for Urban Agriculture coalition
as it provided civic engagement, education, and resource sharing among the Chicago Urban
Agriculture community.
Urban Initiative
Our Urban Initiative engages Chicago and Rockford communities in participatory development
initiatives that build healthy local food systems. We develop community-based projects and
offer hands-on learning that increases access to fresh, healthy food and improves quality of life, in
addition to connecting urban people to the land. We accompany and build capacity with project
partners and their leaders in Rockford (community-based groups in the Roots and Wings Youth
Leadership Program) and in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago (Eat to Live Farm).
Urban Initiative: Rockford
The Youth Leaders added five paid CSA
shares to their 10 free shares for senior
citizen households.
We partnered with the Rockford Housing
Authority and Blackhawk Buddy House to
expand Blackhawk Courts Farm and Gardens,
adding a fence, water system, and storage,
as well as selling food through weekly farm
stands.
340 people participated in over 400 events,
reporting increases in leadership and farming
skills, plus increased consumption of fresh
foods.
Urban Initiative: Chicago
The City of Chicago hired a contractor to
complete land remediation work for the Eat
to Live Urban Farm & Garden in Englewood.
We provided urban agriculture programming
for Yale Elementary School and the
Montessori School of Englewood, serving
349 children.
We engaged 199 adults in growing and
sharing good food through the Eat to Live
Community Garden.
Deb Crockett, Senior Program Director
Celebrating 15 Years
of the Learning Center
In 1993, Angelic Organics was the only community supported agriculture farm (CSA) growing organic
vegetables for families in the greater Chicago area. Today, there are more than 100 CSA farms serving the
area!
In 1998, Tom Spaulding (Executive Director), Neddy Astudillo, John Peterson, and a team of farmers and
volunteers formed the non-profit Learning Center so that Angelic Organics would become widely accessible
as a community resource, helping urban and rural people build a vibrant local food economy. Operating out
of a renovated chicken coop on the farm, they offered workshops, coordinated the CRAFT farmer training
alliance (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training), and launched educational programs in
Chicago and Rockford.
During the next 15 years the
organization built its program
infrastructure -- including a timber
frame barn, a strawbale and whole-tree
ecological facility with classroom and
office spaces, and urban offices in
Chicago and Rockford – to support its
major program expansion. On farms
and in the city, today, our work has
grown to include a recognized regional
farmer training initiative; urban
agriculture and leadership programs
on urban training farms; a civic
engagement initiative to transform
local, state and federal policies; and,
a variety of hands-on learning programs
on Angelic Organics farm.
In 2013, the Learning Center reached
more than 5,000 youth and adults,
more than any other previous year!
Of those 100 CSA farms serving our
region, a third are current or past
CRAFT farmers and more than 20%
are graduates of our Stateline Farm
Beginnings program. To honor them,
we presented Beginning Farmer and
Mentor Farmer of the Year awards at
the Good Food Fest in Chicago. To
further expand access to the farm and
the 70 acres acquired in 2012, the
Learning Center constructed the Mill
Bridge over Kinnikinnick Creek.
Martha Boyd,
Urban Initiative Program Director,
Chicago
Vision for the Future
Moreover, Angelic Organics Learning
Center and its foundational partner Angelic
Organics farm took a giant step towards
the future by forming the Angelic Organics
Association (AOA). The Association is the
new umbrella non-profit for the CSA farm
and Learning Center and it serves as a
community land trust.
Our Vision 2030 plan, drafted seven
years ago, emphasized protecting our
land base in perpetuity for Biodynamic
and organic agriculture, farming education
and land conservation. With the formation
of the Association, the organization is
well on its way to making that goal a
reality. The Association’s purpose is to
ensure that future generations have the
same access to life-giving vegetables
and life-changing educational programs
that people enjoy today.
In addition to protecting several hundred
acres of land, the Association’s umbrella
structure will invite new enterprises to
serve the common mission of the CSA
farm and Learning Center. One such new
enterprise is our planned Residential
Educational Center, a 48-bed ecological
facility with commercial kitchen and
meeting hall. Through this enterprise,
the organization can double the number
of youth and adults served and create
opportunities for long-term, meaningful
experiences on the farm.
There is a call to put 10,000 new
sustainable local farmers on the land in
our region by 2020. To be successful
as farms and stewards, they will need a
million new eaters to support them via
CSAs, farmers markets, and grocers.
The Learning Center is here to support both
farmers and eaters to build a healthy and
vibrant local food economy!
Randy Mermel,
On-Farm Educator
Angelic Organics Learning Center, Inc.
2013 Financial Information
Source of Funds: January 1 through
December 31, 2013
Condensed Statement of Financial Position
Jan 1, 2013 through Dec 31, 2013
ASSETS
Current Assets
Fixed Assetts
TOTAL ASSETS
535,712
516,398
$1,052,110
LIABILITIES
Current Liabilities
Long-term Liabilities
TOTAL LIABILITIES
72,580
68,557
$ 141,137
NET ASSETS
Unrestricted - Undesignated
Unrestricted - Designated
Temporarily Restricted
TOTAL NET ASSETS
690,309
82,864
137,800
$ 910,973
TOTAL LIABILITIES & NET ASSETS
$1,052,110
Condensed Statement of Activities
Jan 1, 2012 through Dec 31, 2012
Program Revenue 12%
Government Grants
33%
Individual Gifts
& Special Events 13%
Corporate, Foundation
& Community Grants
42%
Use of Funds: January 1 through
December 31, 2013
REVENUES AND SUPPORT
Individual Gifts & Special Events
Program Revenues
Sale of Merchandise (net)
Other Program Revenue
Grants Income
Corporations, Foundations &
Community Groups
Government Grants
Miscellaneous & Interest
TOTAL REVENUES AND SUPPORT
509,975
406,603
12,818
$1,182,300
EXPENSES
Program Services
Management and General
Fundraising
TOTAL EXPENSES
818,800
248,336
104,897
$1,171,443
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS
NET ASSETS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR
NET ASSETS AT END OF YEAR
$ 67,990
$ 842,983
$ 910,973
155,226
11,045
137,800
Fundraising
9%
Management
& General 21%
Educational Programs
70%
Thank you to . . .
Individual Donors
Anonymous (8)
Susan Agate and Michael Slutsky
Joseph and Ann Marie Arden
Alphonse and Anna Arias
Richard Assmus
Linda Balek
Andrea Bare
Judy Barnard
Elizabeth Bentkowski
Marianne Benveniste
Linda Berna
Ethlyn Berner
Susan Besson
Jane R. Bilger and Andrew I. Philipsborn
Christopher Blanchard
Sarah Boehm
Judith Boehmer
Jeannie Boutelle
Richard Boyd
Sean and Michelle Brady
Judy Bramson
Elizabeth Brawley
Benjamin and Alison Brown
Julie Brown and Steve Schneck
Valerie Burlingame
Conor Butkus
Jean Butzen and Jim Strickler
Antinieata Caicedo
Pamela Callahan and John Walte
Mike and Donna Calwas
Arnie Carey
Rose Carey Moinor
Ceres Foundation
Heather Chvojka
Laurie Cohen
Carol Conklin
Benton Cook
Rena Cotsones
Debra Crockett and Bill Conover
Richard and Marcia Crockett
Thomas Daley and David Svehla
Amy Davis and Lee Nagan
Jackie DeBatista
Julie Denham
Nancy Dennett
William M. Doyle, Jr.
Jacqueline Drake
Kim Duchossois
E-B Foundation
Jay and Karen Eckensberger
EF Harris Family Foundation
Christine Eischen
John Emrich
Linda Forman
Ewa Fudala
Gerry and Diane Gajos
Janet Gamble
Wendi Garringer
Susan Gayford
Janet Gerske
Virginia Gibbons
Carl and Hanna Gilmore
Brian and Jenny Gleichauf
Ginger Goral
Susan Gordon
Tara Lamb, Development
Coordinator, IT Manager
& Laura Wetter, Manager of
Foundation and Government
Relations
Dominic Green and Jessica Swoyer Green
Roger and Carolyn Greenlaw
Nancy Griffin
Sharon Grimm and Stacey Horn
Lisa Haderlein and Tom Cubr
John and Marison Hakanson
Joe Hanley and Kelly Murawski
Kristen Hayden
Debby Henning
Roger and Patricia Higgins
Charlene Hild
Shirley Hilzinger
Mark and Lupita Holley
Jeffrey and Elizabeth Holmertz
John and Kelly Hoogenakker
Shilpa Hosler
Margaret Howard
Kathy Hurley
Barbara Jenkin
Anna-Lise Jensen
Cynthia Job
Sarah Job
Melani John
Kelly Johnson
Melissa Jones
Morten Jorgensen and Family
Nancy Juda and Jens Brasch
Miranda Junge
Jeff Kott and Amanda Kaleta-Kott
Joanne Kalnitz and Marshall Sorkin
Sean Kaplan
Sharone Kaplan
Gordon and Anna Kaye
Tara Keating and Frank Gellen
James and Pamela Keeling
Helen Kessler
Anurag and Meghan Khaitan
Mary Lammert Khoury and Rob Khoury
Induk Kim and Ilter Saygin
Tracy Kjell
Joel Koplos
Krause Family Giving Fund
Michael and Kristen Krause
Altfrid and Susan Krusenbaum
Monica Krysztopa
Lisa Kueng
Josephine Kujawinski
Michael Laidlaw and Tammy Ball
Tara Lamb and Jason Ward
Warren and Susan Lammert
Beth Lange and William Martin
Susan Lannin
Thomas Lariviere
Rebecca Lavigne and Dan Kapner
Kent Lawrence
Paul and Eileen LeFort
Amy Lehman
Karen Lehman
Maarit Lehtovuori
Paul Lenczuk
Mary LePlante
Alexis Leverenz
Mary Francis Linzer
Christopher and Martina Mann
Avaneesh and Minni Marwaha
Michelle Maton and Michael Schaeffer
Laura McAlpine and Jean Kracher
Kevin McCarthy
Mark and Nancy McClelland
Matt McIndoo
James and Kate McNabb
Judy McQueary
Tom and Nancy Melvin
Jenny Meyer
Carol Mikucki
Steve Miller
Jacqualine Mitchel
Luigi Montalbano
Iris Moore
. . . all whose contributions in 2013
helped us to build a healthy local food system!
Donna Mrugala
Robert Neustadt and Mary Radostits
Jim Niehoff and Jolie Macier
Bonnie Nield
Sunnie Niklaus
Dan and Linda Nitzsche
Lila Nonevski
John and Merilee Novinson
Julie Oberweis and Josh Manion
Kathryn O’Connell
Kathleen O’Donnell
Jeff Orduno
Diane Palanica
Bob Palmer
Alison Parker
Olivia Patterson-Blake
Tom Perry
John and Haidy Peterson
Jeff Pines and Mary Samerdyke
Frank and Thea Polancic
Lisa Polasky
Alex Poltorak
Stefanie Pressl
Sam Ramirez
Ellen Ray and Ty Mulroy
Tim Regan
Robert Rehor
Boyd Rice and Karin Wagner
Carla Riggs
Candie Rink
Janice Rodgers
Elvia Rodriguez
James and Elizabeth Roghair
Barbara Rose and S. Neil Peck
Linda Rosecranz
Amanda Ruch and Jason Evans
John and Mary Rudzinski
Yoshihiro and Meggen Saka
Paula Samerdyke
Mike Sands
Heather SanJuan
Andy Scaife and Erica Duguid
Peter and Alice Schaff
Meg Schaul
Christopher Schimmel
Elizabeth Schinazi
Michael and Patricia Schneider
Kathy Schoening
Jim and Eva Schuchardt
David Schweickart
Murtaza Schmeem
Robert Shatkin
Jim Siama
Julie Simpson and Bob Heuer
Mary Sinclair
Jameson Skaife
William and Julianne Snively
Naomi Sobel and Diana Doty
Tom Spaulding and Neddy Astudillo
Sara Stevenson and Mark Breen
Ava and Alistair George Stewart
Freedman/Stillerman Family
Sandra Streed
Ken Swoyer
Joan Taylor
Ronald and Fleur Testa
Steve Tiwald and Karen Hutt
Kathleen Toohill and David Perlman
Katie Townsend
Tedd Snowden, Market Manager
Urban Initiative, Rockford
Jody Trendler
Greg and Mary Tuite
Michael Uram
Ginger Van de Velde
William Vancrey
Michael Vettraino
Michael and Mindy Viamontes
Beth and Paul Von Driska
David and Nancy Voss
Voss Charitable Family Giving Fund
Linda Wagner
Don Wedd and Lisa Rademacher
Lenae Weichel
Mari Weikel and Ken Thomson
Laura Wetter
Joanne Weidemann-Wolf and David Wolf
Tracy Wik
Paul Williams
Elizabeth Wohlleb
Lynn Wolff
Joan Zahorik
John and Linda Zanieski
Edward and Megan Zastawny
David Zinan
Donations from . . .
Anderson-Blubaugh,
in honor of Penny Blubaugh
Alphonse and Anna Arias,
in honor of Sophia Arias
Mrs. Tammy Ball,
in honor of Lloyd W. Ruesink
Sandra and Chris Cantwell,
in honor of Malorie Brown
Richard Duchossois,
in honor of Dominic and Jessica Green
Dayle & Ed Duchossois-Fortino,
in honor of the Dominic Green Family
Dominic and Jessica Green, in memory
of Wendy Adelson and Ann Lenezuk
Stacey Horn and Sharon Grimm,
in honor of Alison Parker and Alex
Needham and chickens everywhere
Patrick Healy,
in honor of Constance McCarthy
Will Heelan,
in memory of Patricia Heelan
Janine Hoft, in honor of
Linda Wagner and Barbara Rose
Jackie and Ann Kaplan-Perkins,
in honor of Dimitra’s 50th birthday
Barbara Laing, in honor of
Laura McAlpine
Susan and Warren Lammert,
in celebration of Mary Khoury’s birthday
Craig Lancaster, in honor of
Patti Lancaster
Mary Jane Lewis, in memory of
Lester and Anna Peterson
Satch Ludington, in honor of
Joanne Wiedemann-Wolf and
David Wolf
Laura McAlpine and Jeanne Kracher,
in honor of Hazel McAlpine
Thomas Neberieza and Carolyn Handler,
in honor of Joanne Wiedemann-Wolf
Nancy Quintana, in memory of
Richard Quintana
Ilter Saygin and Induk Kim, in memory of
Sadan Erol
Dianna and John Sherman, in honor of
Constance McCarthy
Carrol Smith, in honor of
Dr. Penny L. Smith-Kerker
Marilyn Vancrey, in honor of
David Wolf and Joanne
Wiedemann-Wolf
In Kind Donations 2013
Chef Johnny Anderes
Angelic Organics
Best Events
Blackhawk Buddy House
John Chapin
The Chicagoist
Digital Hub
Chef Paul Fehribach
Brian and Jenny Gleichauf
Rebecca Haldeman
Chef Jason Hammel
Tracy Kjell
KOVAL Distillery
Chef Scott Manley
Iris Moore
New Holland Brewery
Mike Nowak
Chef Chris Pandel
Alison Parker and Alex Needham
Rosenberg and Associates, LLC
Sandhill Family Farms
Judy Speer
Chef Paul Virant
Foundations, Community
Organizations, & Businesses
AARP InnoCentive Challenge Award
The Boeing Company
The Bramson Charitable Trust
The Brico Fund
The Ceres Foundation
The Chiditarod Foundation
Clif Bar Family Foundation
Digital Hub
Dr. Scholl Family Foundation
Farm Aid
Follett Corporation
Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago
Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation
General Mills Foundation
Harvey S. Miller Foundation
Honeybee Foundation
J. R. Albert Foundation
James and Pamela Keeling/Green Passthrough Fund of the Community
Foundation of Northern Illinois
Kiwanis Club of Rockford
LeFort-Martin Fund
The Leo S. Guthman Fund
Liberty Prairie Foundation
New Visions Foundation
Octane Interlounge
Organic Valley
Patagonia Chicago
Presbyterian Hunger Program of the
PCUSA
The Presbytery of Chicago
Rockford Housing Authority
S. Neil Peck and Barbara Rose Gift Fund
The Searle Funds of The Chicago
Community Trust
United Way of Rock River Valley
Walter S. Mander Foundation
Whole Foods Market, Lincoln Park
Government Grants
United States Department of Agriculture,
Agricultural Marketing Service, Farmers
Market Promotion Program
USDA, National Institute of Food and
Agriculture (NIFA) Beginning Farmers
and Ranchers Development Program
United States Department, National
Institute of Food and Agriculture
(NIFA), Community Food Projects
Volunteers, 2013
Thank you to the numerous volunteers
who donated their time and talent in
2013. We appreciate all of you!
Danica Hoehn, Program Director, Urban
Initiative (Rockford)
Jackie Kaplan-Perkins, Director of
Development & Communications
Kathy Kelley, Accountant/Human
Resources Director
Tara Lamb, Development Coordinator, IT
Manager
Adrian Landeros, Groundskeeper,
Livestock Assistant
Berta Jurado Landeros, Livestock
Assistant, Soapmaker
Kellie Laurson, On Farm Program and
Office Administrator
Jenny Meyer, Program Director, Farmer
Training Initiative
Jeff Orduno, Operations and Business
Director
L. Anton Seals Jr., Project Coordinator,
Urban Initiative (Chicago)
Tedd Snowden, Market Manager
(Rockford)
Tom Spaulding, Executive Director
Katie Townsend, Urban Farm Educator
Laura Wetter, Manager of Foundation
and Government Relations
Liz Whitehurst, Program Director,
On Farm Initiative
Board of Directors, 2013
Constance McCarthy, President
Joanne Aggens, Director
Joseph Arden, Director
Janet Gamble, Vice President
Dominic Green, Director
Mary Lammert Khoury, Secretary
Margaret Nelson, Director
John Peterson, President Emeritus
Dale Reeves, Director
Ava George Stewart, Director
Kathleen Toohill, Director
Tom Spaulding, Director, non-voting
Staff, 2013
Shelbie Blank, Farmer Training Program
Assistant
Martha Boyd, Program Director, Urban
Initiative (Chicago)
Jessie Crow Mermel, Communications
Coordinator
Deb Crockett, Senior Program Director
Sheri Doyel, Program Facilitator, Farmer
Training Initiative
Spencer Ellsworth, Urban Farm Manager
Justin Farr, Farm Finance Program
Coordinator
Rebecca Halderman, Farmer Training
Program Assistant
April Morris, On-Farm Educator
On Farm Educators, 2013
Jessie Crow Mermel
Cyndi Duda
Amanda Holmes
Dave Kostka
Randy Mermel
April Morris
Mary Rudzinski
We apologize for any errors or omissions.
For inquiries, email Denise Stennis at
donate@learngrowconnect.org
All photographs, layout, and design
by Jessie Crow Mermel
OUR PARTNERS
Advocates for Urban Agriculture (AUA)
Angelic Organics CSA Farm
Blackhawk Buddy House
California FarmLink
Comprehensive Community Solutions, Inc.
Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer
Training (CRAFT)
Chicago Botanic Gardens
Chicagoland Chicken Enthusiasts
Elihu Yale Elementary School Chicago (CPS)
Farm Beginnings Collaborative
The Farm Business Development Center at
Prairie Crossing
Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois
Illinois Stewardship Alliance
The Land Connection
The Land Stewardship Project
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, Inc.
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute
The Montessori School of Englewood
Real Men Charities, Inc.
Rockford Housing Authority
Rockford Park District
Rock Valley College
Tinker Swiss Cottage and Museum
Zion Outreach
We are grateful to many other collaborators in our work, including numerous
farms, schools, networks, individuals and other community organizations.
Chris Voss, Growing Manager
& Kellie Laurson, On-Farm
Program and Office
Administrator
On Cover (from left):
Yatte Moore, Adult Apprentice,
Mckenzie Lewis, Youth Leader,
Moo Ku Paw & Bu Seh Thaw,
Adult Apprentices
w w w. l e a r n g r o w c o n n e c t . o r g
1547 Rockton Rd. Caledonia IL 61011 - 815.389.8455
1647 W. Fulton St. Chicago IL 60612 - 312.243.5151
110 N. First St. Rockford IL 61107 - 815.963.2131