2015 annual report - Neighbors Building Neighborhoods

Dear Friends,
2015 was a year of getting back to the basics for Neighbors Building Neighborhoods. As a
board, we focused on reviewing best practices and making sure all our procedures are a model
of best practices for the organizations we assist through the Nonprofit Resource Center. This
focus resulted in an updated employee handbook and updated bylaws. For staff, the priority
of strengthening relationships and building collaborations fostered growth through new and
existing programs.
Development Director Julie Ledbetter joined our staff in January 2015. The fundraising
roadmap program she created helped organizations implement best practices and begin
new initiatives to secure needed resources for programs. Her focus on building relationships
among Muskogee area nonprofits has laid the foundation for new collaborative initiatives to
help organizations succeed in fundraising, governance, and volunteer recruitment.
The Neighbors Building Neighborhoods grant staff was instrumental in guiding a multidisciplinary team from the City of
Muskogee, Port of Muskogee, Eastern Oklahoma Development District, and other leaders in the nonprofit and business
community to complete and submit an application to the US Department of Transportation TIGER program. The six month
process cemented collaborations that are being leveraged in other projects for city departments. New foundation and corporate
relationships have helped direct funding to the community’s nonprofits.
NBN also launched new programming in 2015. Strong collaborations with the City of Muskogee Foundation, Antioch Missionary
Baptist Church, Muskogee County Transit, and other city departments and community organizations made the Community
Treasures Youth Summer Camp an outstanding success in helping children and youth learn about the community and what
it means to be a good citizen. The new Summer Food Service Program provided 16,083 meals and snacks to children. Other
programs like the Halloween Carnival grew to include numerous nonprofit and business partners.
In closing, reflecting upon the team spirit and achievement of 2015 brings to mind a quote by Henry David Thoreau when he said
“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.”
Mike Ruby
Neighbors Building Neighborhoods Chair
Mission
Neighbors Building Neighborhoods improves the quality of life in
Eastern Oklahoma through education, organizational support, and coalition building.
Muskogee & Eastern Oklahoma’s greater good – Passion for promoting the greater good through strong nonprofits.
Empowerment – Strengthen the nonprofit sector with information, tools, and fresh perspectives.
Collaboration – Promote collaboration within the nonprofit community.
Innovation – Bring innovative thinking and big picture vision to creatively tackle the community’s myriad needs.
Accountability – Maintain the highest standards of accountability and help other groups to do the same.
Service – Provide excellent, reliable service, and recognize and honor the service of others.
Optimism – See opportunities rather than obstacles, hope rather than doubt, and pride in the community and the
contribution of all citizens.
Nonprofit Resource Center provides services, training and resources
to help nonprofits meet community needs. 161 organizations in Eastern Oklahoma were
trained in various topics including proposal writing, development and fundraising, technical
support and customized one on one consultations.
In 2015, NRC staff guided Alice
Robertson Junior High teachers and
administrators through an eight month
process of convening an advisory
committee, creating a program plan,
and developing a grant proposal for
the 21st Century Community Learning
Centers program. As a result of
completing this rigorous process,
Alice Robertson staff increased
their knowledge and ability to apply
for grants, and the school received
$683,984 for the five-year after school
and summer program.
Prevention Regional Prevention Coordinators (RPC) work to reduce substance abuse among
youth and adults by addressing factors in the community that may increase the risk of substance
abuse. They equip communities, organizations, law enforcement, and schools to solve local problems
and set local norms.
Project Safer, a collaborative
activity of RPC/SPF-SIG and
Muskogee CAN, aims to educate
people and prevent prescription
drugs from reaching the hands of
children and the non-prescribed.
The partnership succeeded in
providing 32 daycare owners
with training and installed
medication lock boxes in local
foster homes. Over 200 lockboxes
were distributed and installed for
community members, daycares,
and DHS clients.
Building Bridges for the Future of Muskogee
empowers low income
families to radically change their lives by discovering and overcoming barriers to success.
Building Bridges promotes community
awareness of poverty and is working
to change state policies surrounding
generational poverty. Since 2012, 164
people have graduated from the program.
62% of the graduates increased their
income, 57% decreased their debt, 60%
increased their education, and 19%
opened a bank account.
Stephen (right) enrolled in the program
while incarcerated with a felony
conviction and attended the 20-week
Getting Ahead classes. He stayed sober,
reduced his financial debt, and satisfied
court requirements and is now thriving.
He owns his own business, bought his
family a home, and appreciates the
importance of reading to his son.
Smart Start Cherokee County has the mission to advance a high
quality, comprehensive, accountable system of care and education for every child
beginning with a healthy birth. Smart Start connects parents to local resources and
helps children be school-ready. This year, expanded funding has come from the Inasmuch
Foundation and numerous community donors. A new 18-member coalition was formed to
strengthen the early childhood education system in Cherokee County.
Smart Start participated in Read Across America on March 2, Dr. Seuss’s birthday. Ryan Dirteater, a
local professional bull rider, visited the Hulbert elementary schools and read to over 200 children. Ten
area local businesses donated funds so that all the children received their own books.
Community Treasures Summer Camp
Community Treasures teaches children about community involvement, teamwork, and good citizenship
through fun, educational activities. 131 children attended the 8-week camp which partnered with
numerous local agencies to provide learning and physcial activities. One activity recreated the Food
Network’s show Chopped where children worked in teams to prepare their own snacks while practicing
food safety, making healthy choices, and exploring diverse and new foods. 86% of the children feel more
comfortable in a swimming pool as a result of swim lessons and 86% learned new things.
Dream Team Youth Programs
Dream Team youth programs include Night Hoops, providing a safe, fun environment for the community to
enjoy during summer evenings; summer learning program providing educational activities and nutrition to
prevent summer learning loss; and the after school program, providing homework assistance and learning
activities each day. Jalisa Wright, a struggling 3rd grader, attended the after school program. Tutoring,
homework assistance, and communication among after school staff, teachers, and parents helped her make
the Principal’s Honor Roll two semesters in a row, and increased her self esteem. She continues to attend the
after school program and participates in the summer learning program.
2015 Financial Overview
Income (Total: $2,072,101.38)
Expenses (Total: $2,050,634)
These figures are unaudited. Income includes accounts receivable outstanding as of 12/31/2015.
Funders, Donors, and Members
Ana Jimenez
Adam Colbert
Advance Auto Parts
Amazon Smile
Amy Garner
Ana Jimenez
Animal Medical Center
Antioch Missionary Church
Applebee’s
Armstrong Bank
Arvest Bank
Azalea Powwow Committee
Baker Furniture
BancFirst
Bank of Cherokee County
Bank of Oklahoma
Barbara Clinkenbeard
Bedouin Shrine Temple
Bella Mia’s
Beverly Knight
Billy Sims BBQ
Black Indian History Preservation
Boulevard Christian Church
Brad Williams
Brandi English
Brent Colbert
Brinker International CHILIS
Broadway Liquors
Brown’s Shoes
Bruce Phillips
Buffalo Wild Wings
Camp Grey Squirrel, Inc.
CASA for Children
Central Baptist Church
Chandler Road Donuts
Charlie’s Chicken
Checotah Pharmacy/Native Frontier
Cherokee Nation
ChildFund International
Chili’s
City of Muskogee
City of Muskogee Foundation
Coins 4 Critters
Corporation for National & Community
Service
Cozy Cup
Crossfit Muskogee
Crossroads Hospice Charitable Foundation
Cuztom Graphics
Daniel Miller
Delores Metzger
Diana White
Diego Humphrey, MD
Divine Love Christian Fellowship
Donahue Commercial Service
Downtown Muskogee Inc.
Drs. Odom, Coburn, & Richardson
Eastern Oklahoma Library System
Education Foundation of Muskogee
Elite Hair
Eric Jones
Erly Rush Coffee
Eufaula Pharmacy/Pippenger
Excel Therapy
Famous Footwear
First State Bank
Firstar Bank
Five Civilized Tribes Museum
Founders Place Historical District, Inc.
Funders, Donors, and Members
Fountain Head Resort
Friends of Catoosa Public Library
Foundation
Friends of the Murrell Home
Gaddy’s Drug
Georgia Banks
Gilford Good Samaritan Foundation
GNC
Golden Rules Industries
Gospel Rescue Mission, Inc.
Grace Episcopal Church
Green Country Behavioral Health Services
Griffin Holdings, Inc.
Haley & Loyd Jewelry
Hayes Law Office
Hilldale Education Foundation
Hogle Eyecare
Homeland
Jenny Jamison
Jim & Em’s Coffee
Jimmy’s Egg
John Allen
Jon Kolb
JS Rutherford, MD
Julie Watson-Ledbetter
Junior Achievement of OK, Inc.
Karen Allen
Katherine Farmer
Kathy Hewitt
Kelly B. Todd
Kenneth Gibson
Kids’ Space
Kimberly Lynch
Kristin Gross
Lake Area United Way
Lake Eufaula Playhouse
Las Fuentes
Laura Wickizer
Lindsey Roberts
Locke Law Office
Lynette Perkins
Mabrey Bank
Mahylon’s BBQ
Mark Bonney
Martha Alford
Martha & Jon Stoodley
Max’s Garage
McIntosh County Youth & Family Services
Mike Leonard & Ginger Batson
Mike Ruby
Mike’s Outdoors
Miriam Freedman
MONARCH, Inc.
Murrow Indian Home
Muskogee Alumni/Community Band
Assoc.
Muskogee CAN
Muskogee Catholic Charities
Muskogee Chamber of Commerce
Muskogee Christian Ministers Union
Muskogee City-County Port Authority
Muskogee Civitan Club
Muskogee Cooperative Ministries, Inc.
Muskogee County Community Action
Foundation
Muskogee County Council of Youth
Services
Muskogee County EMS
Muskogee County Public Transit Authority
Funders, Donors, and Members
Muskogee Creek Nation Casino
Pecan Creek Winery
Muskogee Day Nursery
Porter 4H FFA Booster Club
Muskogee Habitat for Humanity
Pregnancy Resource Center
Muskogee Public Schools
Project A Association
Muskogee Swim & Fitness Center
Quality 1 Lube & Repair, LLC
Muskogee War Memorial Park
Quick Trip
New Vision
Randi Beutelschies
NEO Health
Reaching Our Hulbert Community
Nichols Dollar Saver
Reasor’s
Norma Tisher
Rebecca Walkup
Northeastern OK Community Health Centers Reitha Pitts
NSU Foundation
Rev. Rodger L.B. Cutler
OG&E Electric Services
Rib Crib
Okie Guns & Gear
Ron Meredith Agency
Oklahoma Department of Education
Run for Pride
Oklahoma Department of Mental Health & Ryan Haight
Substance Abuse Services
Sarkey’s Foundation
Oklahoma Farmers & Ranchers
Shelley Gray
Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame
Smart Start Oklahoma
Oxford Productions
Sophisticuts
Paige Lane Frix
Sprocket Wireless
Paul Henry Carr Memorial Foundation
Steven Hill
Promoting Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) Stifel Nicolaus
Strictly Fitness
Stuteville Ford
Susan Clark
Susannah Cookson
Tahlequah Area Habitat for Humanity
Tahlequah Chamber of Commerce
Tahlequah Runner
Tahlequah Skatehouse
Tara Standridge
Tender Touch Auto Wash
The Griffin Promise
Three Rivers Museum
Tish Callahan
USA Liquors
Veva Jiles
Volunteers of America
Wheeler Metals
Whitetail Trophy Hunters Association
Women in Safe Home
World Class, Inc.
Wright, Stout & Wilburn
Zomac Music
Pat Acebo
Shymekia Adams
Brittany Beasley
Adam Colbert
Sharica Cole
Brittney Cunningham
Rev. Rodger L.B. Cutler
Micah Daniels
Brenda Derrick
Jessica Douthitt
Paige Frix
Gary Hall, Jr.
Evantis Hill
Charlotte Howe
Helen Ingram
VISTAs
Randi Beutelschies
Jack Callison
Rebecca Clark
Daniel Hardin
Emmanuel Johnson
Staff
Breanna Juengst
Kathleen Kennedy
Beverly Knight
Dana Kominsky
Julie Watson-Ledbetter
Jeremy Little
Paulette Lorsbach
Kim Lynch
Tom Martindale
Shenia McNac
Jametra Newton
Stephanie Peters
Katelyn Quattlebaum
Derrick Reed
Portia Reed
Karen Synar
Cynthia Toliver
Dalante Walker
Lindsey Roberts
Eileen Rowley
Amber Sparks
Timothy Taylor
Rebecca Walkup
Katy Wallace
Wanda Warrior
Diana White
Laura Wickizer
Consultants
Denise Caudill
Julie Moss
Edwina Walker
Board of Directors
Mike Ruby, Chair
Rev. Marlon Coleman, Vice Chair
Darryl Maggard, Secretary
Daniel Miller, Treasurer
Kathy Hewitt, Ex-officio Immediate
Past President
Ginger Batson
Debi Busch
Liliana Carbone
Jim Davidson
Shelley Gray
Ryan Hardaway
Linda Hattaway
Stephen Highers
Tonya James
Lori Jefferson
Delsie Lewis
Carla Lovelady
Bruce Phillips
Sarah Steele
Rev. Larry Smith
Rob Wallace
Foundation Funders & Business Members
Th e K i r s c h n e r Tr u s t s | R u by Fa m i l y C h a r i t a b l e Fu n d
K a t hy H e w i t t , C PA | S o o n e r R e a l t y Pro p e r t i e s, L LC
C ontact u s
info@nbn-nrc.org | www.nbn-nrc.org
918.683.4600 P | 918.683.3355 F
207 North 2nd St., Muskogee, OK 74401