On Wednesday, BuildaBridge was honored with a visit from Mr. David Eisner (right), CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), Ms. Mary Strasser (front left), Pennsylvania State Program Director

of CNCS and Karen Kaskey (back left), Executive Director of PennSERVE. BuildaBridge was selected as a site visit for the group becasue of BuildaBridge's partnership with CNCS (since 2002) when BuildaBridge was first awarded a grant for three AmeriCorps Vista Volunteers to work in capacity building for BuildaBridge.

 

The work of the VISTA’s has significantly increased BI’s capacity to serve the most vulnerable (at-risk) children and families in the city of Philadelphia; and has assisted the organization to build capacity and move toward being self-sustaining in three significant areas 2002-2008.

1. Program Capacity Development 2003-2008

• Creation of Procedure Manuals for every area (Volunteer recruitment, interviewing & placement; Community arts programming; Resource Development) creates organizational memory for ways of accomplishing the work of the organization.
• Developing accurate and organized Donor Database - allows the development of a program of long-term individual giving to the organization, eventually reducing dependence upon grants
• Growing from two (prior to VISTA) to eleven social service agencies serving homeless and vulnerable children and families
• Developing a comprehensive volunteer training manual and process, recruitment process, marketing strategy, incentive award, and integrated volunteer database produced
• Creating the four key fund-raising events that will be annual fixtures (Champaign & Cake Donor Reception, Silent Art Auction, Women’s Tea & Men’s Breakfast); “Give a Child the Gift” Annual campaign, and the Annual Christmas Card sale.
• Developing a two-week Artology Camp focusing on art and biology learning for 4th to 7th grade kids that participated in our shelter programs during the year;
• Creating "Act Out for Peace", a drama and conflict resolution six-week program for teens from our Germantown community.
• Developing Life Arts Academy programs (Money News Network, Healthy Lifesytles, Parenting, Healing Place)
• Developing and implementing a Capital Campaign that will provide the financial resources and support for a local arts education and therapy studio.
• Leading the continued development of a technology-based Artists on Call program that creates a database for enlistment,
• Assessing the needs of 25 homeless shelters in Philadelphia

2. Partnerships & Collaborations 2003-2008. Building formal relationships with individuals and organizations establishes strong community support and partnerships.

The Ayuda Community Center & Spirit & Truth Church, the School District of Philadelphia’s Homelessness Initiative Program, the Philadelphia Department of Human Services’ Community Based Prevention Services Department, the Second Baptist Church of Germantown, the Germantown Community Presbyterian Church, the Red Door Church, Salt World, Inc., St. Joseph’s University, Bryn Mawr University, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, University of the Arts, the Campolo School for Social Change of Eastern University, and Messiah College. Wayne Presbyterian, Freedom Theater, Messiah Dance Works, St Jesuite Volunteer Corps, Bank of America, American Express, Jacobs Music, Enon Tabernacle, Young Life, Institute for the Preservation of African-American Music. , St. Barnabas Mission, Trevor’s Campaign, Red Cross House, Communities In Schools, and Northwest Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network. Bank of America, Catholic Social Services, First United Methodist Church of God, Lutheran Theological Seminary, Bridging the Gaps Coalition of Medical Schools Interns Program, Gas & Light Theater, Germantown Boys & Girls Club, Neighborhood Interfaith Movement, Mt. Airy Church of God in Christ, Community Design Collaborative, Jane Adams House, Woodstock Family Transitional Home, Travelers Aid, Lucien Krump Gallery, Awbury Arboretum, Morris Arboretum, Clivedon House of Fairmont Park, Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition, Swarthmore College

3. Resource Development 2003-2008:

• Over 350 Volunteers giving over 12,000 hours of service (valued @$18.77/hr): $225,240
• Non-cash in-kind resources: $203,984
• Cash Resources: $214,000 individual gifts
• Cash Resource $651,000 grants and contracts

Grantors include: School District of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Safe & Sound, Compassion Capital Fund, Wayne Presbyterian Church, Department of Human Services, Department of Behavioral Health, American Express Foundation, Philadlephia Cultural Fund, Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, United Way, Advanta, Union Benevolent Fund, First United Methodist Church of God, Dolfinger, Citizens Bank, Dept. of Community Economic Development, Huston Foundation, Sussman Auto, New Hart Church, Second Baptist of Germantown, Lutheran Seminary, Rentchler Foundation, Philadelphia Dept. of Commerce, Mellon Trust Bank.

Vistas (2003-2008)

Kamal Davis (2003)
Casey Milford (2003)
Andrea Lemoins (2004)
Charlene Melhorn (2005)
Mindy Imholt (2005)
Lauren Lim (2005)
Suzanne Lanza (2005)
Sylvan Argot (2006)
Mike Marzen (2006)
BethAnn Jensen (2006-7)
Saman Khan (2007-8)
Trista McGetrick (2007)
Sara Fioriglio (2008)
Anna Murphey (2008)