Celebrating Our Staff

2013 Annual Report

April 1, 2013 – March 31, 2014

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Celebrating Our StaffIn his 1964 State of the Union address, President Lyndon Johnson declared a War on Poverty. His goal was to “take on income inequity and to develop special projects for pockets of poverty… to give citizens a fair chance to develop their own capacities.”

A partial list of legislation resulting from the 1964 address includes:

•TheMedicareAct •TheFoodStampAct •TheEconomicOpportunityActwhichcreated: •CommunityActionPartnerships

Thisannualreportcoincideswiththe50thAnniversaryoftheWaronPovertyandthecreationofcommunityactionpartnerships.BMACsharesallbutthreeyearsofthishistory.

ToestablishacommunityactionpartnershipinWallaWallarequiredafearlessdedicationtothetaskofhelpingothers.WhiletheWaronPovertyhadcreatedthemeans,itwasuptoindividualcommunities to implement the programs.

FoundingBMACstaffmembershadtheirmethodschronicledinlocalnewspaperclippingsandintheminutesofearlyboardmeetings.ThemostcolorfulaccountsbyfarwereinUnion-BulletinarticleswhichpresentedtheformationofBMACinthecontextandlanguageoftheerawheresideburnswerebushyandnaturalfiberswererarebutgoodgrammarandcriticalthinkingwerealiveandwellascitizensdebatedtheideaofcommunityaction.Thestorieschronicledprogress,powerstruggles,andsetbackswhileshowcasingafeistyagencytakingitsplaceonthetapestry of a tumultuous time.

TherecentretirementofSteveMosshaduscombingthroughboxesofarchivedmaterial,hopingtotracethesourceofwhatconstitutesBMAC—theBMACthatSteveMosssoperfectlyrepresented.

Siftingthroughtheaccumulation,itbecameclearthateven

throughfluctuatingeconomicconditionsandshiftingpoliticalviewpoints,BMACsurvived:asurvivalbasednotnecessarilyonfundingorprogressivelegislationbutbecauseofthegenerationsofdedicated,competentstaff.Ouragency’scorestrengthisitspeople and at their core is kindness.

Asonestaffmembersaid,“Whenaclientcomestoseeme,IamBMAC.”Likewise,BrendawhoworksinCommunityJobs

representsBMACatthelocalgrocerystoreasshe’srecognized and praised for hercaring.Bobwhodoesenergy assistance received thisfromoneclient,“Thankyoufromthe

bottomofmy90-year-old-heart.”ForHelen,itwasn’ttheFederalLowIncomeHomeEnergyAssistanceProgramthathelpedher—itwasBobanditwaspersonal.

Beyondthepersonalconnection,careistakensothatprogramresourcesarenotsquandered.BMACworksincreative,collaborativeandaccommodatingwaystobringaboutoptimumresults for clients.

BMACstrivestoremovethestigmaofpovertythroughindividual,personalactsofkindnessandsocialservice,toapproachtheproblemateyelevelwithnobureaucraticbufferseparatingtheneed from the solution.

FightingtheWaronPovertyishardwork—doingitforover47yearsseemsnearlyimpossible,butatBMAC,thestaffhavefoundwaystobejoyfulintheseriousbusinessofhelpingotherswhilestillrespectingthehistory,essenceandspiritofBMAC.

BMAC’s 46th Year at War With Poverty

Helping People. Changing Lives.

Onestaffmembersaid,“Whenaclientcomestoseeme,IamBMAC.”

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Celebrating Our Staff

2013 Board of DirectorsOfficers Chair:TrevorDorland Vice-Chair:MeaganAnderson-Pira Treasurer:SteveDickerson Secretary:JessieIlaoa

Target Sector AngelReyna-Bravo KerriCoffman DaveBeebe

Private Sector IslandAinsworth CherisCurrent,PhD

Public Sector JimBarrow RobertK.“Bob”Johnson MarkHisey

Message from Trevor Dorland, Chairman of the Board, and Kathy Covey, CEOChoosingtofocusonBMACStaffforthisAnnualReportwasunanimous.Inthisyearofchangeandtransitionitwouldbeimpossibletohighlightoursuccesseswithoutputtingthefrontlinestafffirst.

Also,theretirementofSteveMossafter37yearscreatedaseamlesstransitionofauthorityandvisionwiththeselectionofKathyCoveyasnewCEO.SteveandKathyaretwoindividualswhosestrengthanddedicationhavebeenforgedthroughdecadesofworkingsidebysideto shape and sustain the agency.

OurspecialthankstoBMACstaff,boardmembers,volunteersandourgenerous donors for helping people grow and succeed.

"Peopleforgetyearsandremembermoments."

— Anne Beattie

KathyCoveyCEO

TrevorDorlandChairmanoftheBoard

TrevorDorlandpresents a check to SteveMossfor$10,000on his retirement: money raised through individualgiftswhichwillestablishafundinhis honor at the Blue MountainCommunityFoundation.

Picturedabove:casemanagersinSupportiveServicesforVeteranFamilies,BMAC'snewestprogramthat serves homeless veterans.

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Housing Employment & EducationHousing Services •BMAC’shousingteamhelped135householdsmaintainsafe,affordablehousingwithin BMAC-ownedand/ormanagedrentalunitsforpeoplewithbarrierstomaintaining independent housing.

•Oftheresidentsinourunits,22facechronicmentalillness,80arelow-incomeseniors,and 17havedevelopmentaldisabilities.

•Ourhousingcrewassessedandweatherized24homes,abated lead-basedpaintin3 homes,andprovidedhandicap-accessibleimprovementsto2homesthroughAgingand Long-TermCare.

Permanent Supportive Housing •LincolnTerraceApartmentsprovidedpermanentsupportivehousingfor20homeless families,with27adultsand44children.

•Morethan90%ofLincolnTerraceresidentsretainedtheirsupportivehousingat LincolnTerraceoraccessedpermanent,independenthousing.

•Ourcasemanagerhelpedapproximately10%ofresidentsreunifywiththeirfamiliesand/or children,andreferredover40%ofadultresidentstoBMAC’scareerandeducational services.

Supportive Services for Veteran Families •Our6SSVFcasemanagershelpedtopermanentlyhouse250homelessveteransandtheir familiesinthe15countiesservedbyourlocalVAMedicalCenter.Ofthese,39%were households with dependents.

•82%werehouseholdswhoseincomewaslessthan30%oftheareamedianincomeof their county.

•31%ofourclientswereveteransservinginpost-911combatzones.

 Transitional Housing •TransitionalHousingcasemanagershelped86individualsin25familiestransitionfrom homelessnesstoself-sufficiency.

•Afterhelpingthemsecurehousing,ourcasemanagershelpedfamiliesdevelophousing sustainabilityplansandovercomebarrierstoemployment,whileprovidingassistancewith rent,utilities,transportation,childcare,andconnectionstoavailableresources.

BMAC’shousingcrewuses this pressure diagnostic tool to identify where potential for energy savings exist in every dwelling we weatherize.

TheDesotoSeniorApartmentComplexeswerebuiltthisyearatEaganSt.andMelroseSt.tohouselow-incomeseniorsin13accessible,senior-friendly units.

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Employment & EducationJob Training •OurJobTrainingteamhelped61youthsandadultsobtainemploymentthroughwork experience,on-the-jobtraining,oroccupationalskillstraining.Staffalsohelpedclients enterintopost-secondaryeducationtofurthercareeropportunities.

•CommunityJobsstaffconnected34parentsreceivingTANF(TemporaryAssistancefor NeedyFamilies)withjobexperienceatlocalnonprofitsorgovernmentagencies.

•373peopleusedtheEmploymentTrainingCentercomputerlab,wheretheyaccessed careerplanningtools,independentlearningsoftware,laserprinting,skillassessments,and help with résumés and cover letters.

•YouthJobsstaffpartneredwithWallaWallaCommunityCollegetohelp24youthslacking sufficienteducationlevelsattendSkillSteps,preparingthemtoenrollincollegecourses.

 

AmeriCorps •Overthe10.5-monthserviceterm,ourAmeriCorpsteamof30nationalservice volunteerscompleted51,828.25hours(theequivalentof5.92years)ofcommunity serviceinWallaWalla.

•20localnonprofits,schools,andgovernmentagenciesbenefitedfromfull-time AmeriCorpsmembersplacedon-site.

 Asset Building •153peopleattendedMoneySmartworkshopsaboutpersonalfinancetopics,including credit,banking,budgeting,andsaving.

•4AARPTax-Aidevolunteershelpedfile389taxreturns,helpingtobring$693,309infederal refundsbackintoourlocaleconomy.Staffandvolunteersspreadawarenessaboutthe EarnedIncomeTaxCreditandotherfederaltaxincentives.

Adult Literacy •OurLiteracyCoordinatorpaired65learnerswith44volunteertutorstostudytoachieve personaleducationgoals,includingGEDcompleting,citizenshiptestingandbetterwriting and computer skills.

•40studentsmadesignificantimprovementintheirEnglishconversationskillsand3of thesestudentswereabletotransitiontoclassesatWallaWallaCommunityCollege.

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Thank You To Our Volunteers & DonorsAdditional ProgramsEnergy Assistance •Energyassistancestaffadministered$507,311inheating, powerandutilityassistanceto1,096householdswith 3,783individuals.

•Somerecipientsreceivedwoodoroilfueltomaintain heat through the winter.

 Pro Bono Lawyer Referral Program •17volunteerattorneysdonatedatotalof385.15hoursof civillegalaidinfamilylaw,landlord/tenantdisputes, bankruptcy,andelderlaw.

•Theyhelped202low-incomeindividualscompleteand filetheircourtforms.Theirservicesamountedto $85,628.50worthoflegalassistance.

•Theprogramcoordinatorcontinuedtocollaboratewith WallaWallaCountyCourtFacilitatorBridieHood, mutually ensuring quality assistance to unrepresented individuals in family law cases.

Food •Ourfoodwarehousestaffcollectedanddistributed 1,234,500poundsoffoodforhungrypeopleandfamilies. 616,727poundsofthiswenttofoodpantriesinWalla Walla,Garfield,ColumbiaandAsotinCounties,where 23,027householdsobtainedfood.

•617,773poundsoffoodwentouttohungrypeople throughotherserviceproviders,suchashomeless shelters,low-incomeseniorcenters,andthequarterly SecondHarvestMobileFoodBank. 

Commitment to Community (C2C) •Ourneighborhoodorganizersworkedcloselywith 40familiesin3neighborhoods,focusingondeveloping commonneighborhoodvisionsandstrengthening connections.

•285peopleattendedneighborhood-wideChristmas andThanksgivingcelebrations,andover550people attendedDíadelosNiñosinWashingtonPark.

•Neighborsvolunteeredover500hourstobeautify andstrengthentheirneighborhoods,andneighborhood organizersspent200hoursinafter-schoolchildren’s groups,homeworkclubs,andmothers’groups. Neighborsandourownstaffclown,Bubbles,getdownonthedance

flooratC2C’s9thannualDíadelosNiñoscelebrationatWashingtonPark.

VolunteersgleanfreshspinachandradishesfortheBMACFoodBank.Over70,000poundsoffreshproducewascollectedthroughBMAC’sWallaWallaCommunityHarvestprogramtodistributetolocalfoodpantries.

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Thank You To Our Volunteers & Donors

GleaningSamuelCurtisLauraEngelmanCarolHargreavesJennaSkinnessNicoleZok

C2CMargaritaAlmanzaLauraBarreraVanessa Beltran NicholeBrionesAndreaDiazSandiGoingsBreanne Hopson LoriHopsonDorothyKnudsonBenitaMartinez

DahliaOlmosErikOshiroMaritzaSanchezWarrenSythRobbinWilcox

Pro BonoLorenaAultSallyButtsJanelleCarmanDanClarkMatthewCluverIshbelDickensReneErmSandyFloresAndyLewellynSteveLovekinKathyMartin

AlexandraMontagueGaryPontiElizabethPowellChaleseRabideauDanRoachIrvingRosenbergDavidSurrattDanYoung

Food BankScottAndrewsGlennaAubreyJeanBrayKelly BudauAnnayCárdenasCarrieDaudtAlmaGarzaMikeHays

Roy HukillDavidLengenfelderJudyandJ.LightleJohnnyMarquezD.andJohnMaplethorpeShirleyandWesMillerBrandonOgdenJeanReisterJoanThompsonSherriandBillWatsonFrancineWestBobYaw

Adult LiteracyCindiAsmusChelanBrownClarkColahanRonaldColeman

JamesCrislipHelenFerraroRobertFrohardtDannyGoldenMarkGrandstaffMaureenHendersonRoger KincaidZoeLindsayJonathanLuoPattyMessengerKenMorganPatriciaMortzNormanOstermanTheresaRegimbalWillyVanKriekenChristineWallinConnieZigler

$250+AbadanAllstateColliganAgencyAmericanWestBankAssumptionCatholicChurchBannerBankPortlandBranchBaselCellarsMarkBeckandAnnieCapestanyH.J.andEvelynBergmanBethIsraelSynagogueMarcandKarriBruceRichandNancyCarterCatholicCharitiesChristLutheranChurchColdwellBankerFirstRelatorsStevenDettwilerTrevorDorlandCraigandJoisanEliaEmmanuelLutheranChurchGoldWingRidersHastingsEntertainmentSergioandWendyHernandezJohnandCherylHerrHessLawOfficeGeorgeJamesonBrandonJohnsonRobertJohnsonJeroldKamanMichaelKelcyBruce and Betty KrauseNoahLeavittandHelenKimW.ScottLoweryLutcherandPhillipsMcAdams,Ponti,Wernetter&VanDorn,P.S.

DonaldMillerMolineHealthcare,Inc.AndrewMyersNelsonIrrigationCorporationNorthwestGrainGrowersToryPattersonMichaelandCherylPetersAnitaPipesPositiveLifeRadioRotaryFoundationofWallaWallaDerekSarleyRyanSchreckDuaneandBarbaraScottKennethSheltonSt.FrancisCatholicChurchSt.PatrickCatholicChurchEllenandCharlesThielThomasandJudyReedBrentandBradTompkinsDanVernonandNancyForsthoefelWallaWallaAssociationofRealtorsWallaWallaCountyBarAssocia-tionWallaWallaElksLodge#287WallaWallaFarmersCo-opWallaWallaHousingAuthorityWallaWallaValleyLionessClubWallaWallaValleyWineAllianceAnonymous(2)

500+ Pounds of FoodAlbertsonsSuperValuBlueMountainHumaneSocietyCastoldiFarmsCavalli’sOnionAcres

ConnellFoodBankCottBeveragesGeneandAnneCurcioDanDeFoorBobDoepkerFeastofCarolsFritoLayGageFarmTrustJasonGibbsGoldenAgeFoodShareHelplineKnightsofColumbusNelsonIrrigationCorporationPositiveLiveRadioChrisPriceRelayforLifeWallaWallaRichardGrahamSafeway/PlazaSt.PatrickCatholicChurchSuper1FoodsWallaWallaAssociationofRealtorsWallaWallaFarmersCo-opWallaWallaHighSchoolWallaWallaRiverPackingCom-panyWallaWallaSymphonyWalmartWashingtonWheatFoundationX-LineFarmsAnonymous

In-Kind DonorsAlaska AirlinesAmericanWestBankJoanAragone

DinaA.BakerKris BarrySherrillBoonCharlesSmithWineDorisCookScottDavidsonJimmyDotsonFirstCongregationalChurchKerrinGriggsDavidGrossmanDawnHammondHaysElectricJumpin’JellyBeanzJamesandRebeccaKennedyGaryandNitaKoehlerLambdaLaureateLesSchwabTiresofCollegePlaceSaritaMcCawHarryA.OlsonDebraPetersJoleneRiggsCherylRittenhouseKatianaSelensPamelaSmithJonStameySwireCoca-ColaTheArkDaySchoolWallaWallaPublicLibraryWallaWallaUniversityWallaWallaValleyAcademyWalmartWashingtonStatePenitentaryWhoopemupHollowCafeLindaWilliamsKaitlinYasin

Volunteers

Donors

Listedhereareonlyafractionofourdonorsandvolunteers,chosenfortheirextraordinarycommitmentfromtheseveralhundredcommunitymembersweareluckytohavesupportingourmission.Thankyoutoeveryonewhohasgivengenerouslytohelpusmakeadifferenceinpeople'slives.YouAREmakingadifference!

1520 Kelly Place, Suite 140Walla Walla, WA 99362

www.bmacww.org

(509) 529-4980

Our Mission:Blue Mountain Action Council (BMAC) exists so that low-income people in Walla Walla, Columbia and Garfield counties are able to meet essential needs through a coordinated, community effort.

Our Programs:Food • Housing Services • Job Training • Adult LiteracySupportive Services for Veteran Families • Energy Assistance AARP Tax-Aide Host • AmeriCorps • Pro Bono Lawyer Referral Asset Building Coalition • Commitment to Community

HELP uS go PAPERLESS! To join our e-newsletter list, please email emilyj@bmacww.org.

Financial Report for Fiscal Year 2013 (covering April 1, 2013 – March 31, 2014)

Partner Agency

a nonprofit community action partnership

Total Expenditures: $5,097,135 Total Revenues: $5,001,935

GovernmentServiceIn-KindFoundationCorporationIndividuals

Home Repair/WeatherizationEnergy AssistanceBMAC PropertiesNutritionEmployment Education & Job Training

Shelter/Transitional HousingOther ProgramsManagement & General

58%

1%3%12%

11%

15%16%

11%

10%10%

24%

14%

5%10%