Self-esteem is our sense of our own worth or value. When we find ourselves at a difficult point in our

lives, our belief in ourselves can waiver. Or worse, it might disappear entirely. At these times it can be difficult to discover the strength to carry on.

WFC works to empower individuals to live the lives they imagine. Being empowered means knowing that you are capable and competent. It means appreciating all of the qualities and experiences that make you who you are, and having an irrefutable sense of your worth.

In these pages we share stories of those who found the strength to persevere and grow…and in the course of their journey, realized just how capable—and how amazingly strong—they are.

May your journey remind you that you, too, rock.

Onward to 2017.

ROBYN-JAY BAGE, M.P.A.Chief Executive Officer

I rock, therefore I am I don’t need you to tell me I’m in the bandI Rock, Therefore I amPrince, 1996

WFC ANNUAL REPORT 2016

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2014-15

MISSIONWFC is committed to promoting equity and to improving quality of life through services that foster empowerment and independence.

OUR GUIDING VISIONTo be the leading agent for positive social change.

OFFICERS

PRESIDENT Kathleen Whelan-Ulm

VICE PRESIDENT Lydia Vasquez-Heredia

TREASURER Terry Greco-Nash

SECRETARY Kristin D. Losi, Esq.

DIRECTORS AT LARGE

Nicole J. Barillaro, Esq. Kelly Davis, Esq. Elizabeth SargeantTyler Vartenigian

WE ARE WFC STRONG

“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”

Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta

84%of students increased their knowledge of the environment after completing the Environment Unit.

STAR

A fter the passing of Josh’s mother, Josh’s father enrolled him in the STAR Program. When he first joined us, Josh was sad and very quiet. His work was poor, his

homework barely legible. Moreover he was his worst critic, never believing he was good enough.

Through the STAR program, Josh began to open up and talk with his teachers and peers. His social skills vastly improved. Tutoring helped him to learn how to approach his schoolwork, and the hands on activities brought science lessons to life. Josh is now confident and happy, even outgoing. Josh’s teachers have noticed an improvement in his homework, and positive changes in the classroom as well—he speaks up and answers questions during class. His father has also seen positive changes in him, and has thanked Project STAR for all of the

help his son has received from the program.

WFC ANNUAL REPORT 20162

Project REACH

C arrie was an 18 year old youth who was unstably housed. When she lost custody of her children, Carrie was severely depressed and hopeless. Gina, her advocate, took action

and met with Carrie weekly to discuss her goals and ambitions. Carrie talked about being unemployed and feared she would become homeless. Gina helped her to create a resume and learn how to cope with her negative thoughts. Gina empowered Carrie to see every situation with optimism. Within a month of her working with Project REACH, she received a call for a job interview. They practiced interviewing skills many times, until Carrie was well prepared. Two weeks later, she received an offer of hire.

Several weeks later, Carrie’s mother kicked her out—again. She and Gina spent hours searching for apartments. Within a month, she’d found a place in the Middletown area that was willing to work with her. For the first time in her life, she felt accomplished and proud. Carrie is now living in her three-bedroom apartment with her children, employed, and is working on making the rest of her dreams come true.

Open DOHR

While maintaining a part-time job at a fast food restaurant, Diane completed the certificate training program and attained her CNA license in April 2016.

She wanted to do an internship to gain experience in the field, but found it challenging to schedule time around her work hours. She was afraid if she turned down shifts, she would be fired.

In spite of her fears, Diane had a strong desire to pursue a career in healthcare and decided to quit her job to take a paid internship at a healthcare facility. Diane did an excellent job performing her assigned duties, and exhibited a willingness to learn and take initiative. As a result, the Nursing

Director of the facility requested that the minimum required work experience hours be reduced and offered her a position as a regular employee. Diane accepted the offer

and was officially hired at the healthcare facility as a certified nursing assistant.

93%of youth reported the independent use of at least 2 self-care/coping and/or survival skills developed in conjunction with outreach services.

67%of CNA licensed youth gained part-time or full-time employment in the nursing field.

The

com

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te, a

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ited

WFC

Fin

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al R

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ava

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est.

School Readiness $809,466

SACS $513,464

STAR Before & After $360,802

Yoga4Change $42,873

REACH $305,936

Open DOHR $233,546

Support Services $139,454

The program scored a

93%positive response rate on a family survey, a rate deemed commendable by NAEYC compared to other programs.

83% of clients accessing ongoing services reported the ability to identify and utilize a minimum of two supportive people or skills based on client feedback surveys.

School Readiness

When we first met Lilian’s mom, she’d fled an abusive relationship and was desperate for a job in her new home state. When she brought Lilian

to school, she’d share all the places she’d applied. A couple of weeks later, she was excited to tell us that she’d been hired. Her life was finally coming together. She dropped her daughter off every day before she went to work and picked her up in the afternoon, happily talking about how her day had gone. Her confidence grew. Moreover, she had a place to bring her daughter where she knew Lilian was safe and well looked after, which enabled her to focus on her goal of a better life for her and her family.

Lilian has had her own success. When she joined the program, she was very quiet and fearful of everyone and everything. She barely even spoke to the teachers. She flinched with any sudden movements. Now not only is she making new friends, actively participating in class activities, but her confidence has soared. One week she learned how to write the letter M. Two weeks later she learned to write the letter O. Lilian remembered how to write both letters, and was proud that she could write her mom’s name.

Government & Public Support $1,821,620

Childcare Program Fees $455,773

Special Events $30,182

Investment & Rental $18,719

Contributions In-Kind & Other $90,739

2016 F

inan

cial

Hig

hli

gh

ts

3WFC ANNUAL REPORT 2016

Sexual Assault Crisis Services

W ithout any help or guidance, Christy had to speak in open court about surviving sexual assault. Despite her courage, she was denied an order of protection against her former

partner. Christy contacted SACS because she needed assistance navigating the court system. Lindsay, her counselor, sat with her, explained the steps that she needed to take and provided her with other reporting options.

With the support of her counselor, Christy found the strength to file a police report—something she thought she’d never be able to do.

She also met with a court-based victim advocate to file for an order of protection, and stated. “Lindsay empowered me to take back control

and move forward.”

75%

1%4%

1%

19%

2016 REVENUE$2,417,033

34%

6%10%

13%

15%

21%

1%

2016 EXPENSES $2,405,541

WFC STRONG

99 Restaurant Accel International HoldingsAdvanced Behavioral HealthJulie Agvent-ColsonSherri AlstonAmazon SmileAnthem BC/BS of CTArborview Dental CareAT&T Employee GivingRobyn-Jay BageElaine BaigertBank of America Employee

GivingAlice BarillaroEd BarillaroNicole Barillaro, Esq.Barker’s SpecialtyCathy BattistaMatt & Patty BavolackBenevity Community Impact

FundGale BentleyDr. & Mrs. Sherwin BorsukBoscov’s Bow Tie CinemasMegan BuddA. Lee CampioneMarcus CantuStephanie CarpenterRosa CarreroMiguel CastroBruce R ChamberlinCHFAGinny ChirskyNicholas CianciKara ColaccinoMartha ColaresiFreddie Coleman (Disney Ears)Community Foundation of

Greater New Haven

Carissa ConwayDiane CooperCooper-Atkins CorporationCORT FurnitureStephen CoteSheila CoughlinIan CranstonCuno FoundationTonya CurtissDad’s RestaurantKelly Davis, Esq.Michelle DeBargePatricia DeFeoKatie DurandJody ErdfarbColleen FazzinoMeredith FenwickRebecca FernandezBarbara FisherBeth FisherEllen FlanaganRosanne FordFrontier Communications CSFG. T. Tire & Service CenterAldo GiaccoJohn GiovannucciGive with LibertyCynthia GlasserJoAnne GrabinskiAurora Grant Ruth GrecoNicole GrondahlLuz GuerraH & R BlockHartford HealthCareEd HoganDonna HunterTanesha HunterDana Hunter-MoyerHunter’s Memorial Golf Course

Ice Cream Emergency!Ion Bank FoundationJonal LaboratoriesBarbara & Joe KaploweLisa KidderKarl KilduffEvonne KleinLiana KlineKathy KubeckLois KulasPat LadnerMr. & Mrs. Robert LambBob LaRosaJames LaRosaLazarus & Sargeant ArchitectsRobert LeightonLibby at New Haven Hair & Skin

SalonLiberty Bank FoundationLifetouch PortraitsJohn LineenKristin Losi, Esq.David LowellMichael P. LynchDon MaletoRebecca MaletoJudie MarshallRebecca MatthewsJessica McKenzieRoseann McLauryIvette MedinaMeriden Adult EducationMeriden FoundationMeriden Schools Federal Credit

UnionMeriden Wallingford ChrysalisMiddlesex Community CollegeMidstate Chamber of

Commerce, Inc.Jane Milas

Brenda MillerMag MorelliPatricia MorsePauline MowryMule Security Systems, Inc.James H. Napier FoundationTerry NashMargarita OgorzalekAstrid OjedaLynn OlsonJonnie OwensChristine Owens MorganNicole ParadisAtty. Jon PatruccoMr. & Mrs. Greg PepeSonia PeroneElisabeth PimentelKaren RobergRobles CorporationMichael RodriguezAlyssa RohdieAlice RosenthalElizabeth SargeantKathy SaulMolly SavardChris & Robert ScullySilicon Valley Community

FoundationDeidra SimsDavid SmithTaryn SmithKaliuha SpearsSusan SteinCharles StohlerMartha StoneZoe StoutDawn SwaggerAlyssa SwanigerPeri SwanigerAmisha Tailor

The Benevity Community Impact Fund

The Cheesecake FactoryThe Community Fund for

Greater New HavenMark TorelloTri-Town Golden K KiwanisTruist CreditElizabeth TylerUI Employee GivingUnited Way Coastal FairfieldUnited Way Central &

Northeastern CTUnited Way Greater WaterburyUnited Way MA BayTyler VartenigianLydia Vasquez-HerediaViola, Chrabascz, Reynolds &

Co., LLPStacey Violante Cote, MSWVioli’s RestaurantTrish WaldenMaureen Weaver, Esq.Web Solutions Inc.Karen WeingrodKathleen Whelan-UlmJason WhippleEric WolfAlicia WoodsbyYak Industries, LLCybf BeautyYoga 4 ChangeYourCause Employee GivingAmy Lynn Zurlo

Women in Leadership Dinner 2016 SponsorsGOLD SPONSORWiggin and Dana, LLP

SILVER SPONSORThe Technology Group, LLC

BRONZE SPONSORSCarmody Torrance Sandak

and Hennessey, LLPCT Housing Finance AuthorityLaRosa Building Group, LLCMARCUM, LLPWebster Bank

PROGRAM SPONSORSCignaMohegan Sun

Contributors & Community Partners 2015-16

Major Funding Streams 2015-16Administration for Children & FamiliesCity of MeridenCT Department of EducationCT Department of HousingCT Department of Public HealthCT Department of Social ServicesCT Judicial DepartmentCT Office of Policy and Management

Meriden Wallingford United Way Middlesex United WayU.S. Department of AgricultureU.S. Department of EducationU.S. Department of Health & Human ServicesU.S. Department of Housing & Urban DevelopmentU.S. Department of JusticeU.S. Department of Labor

Women and Families Center 169 Colony Street Meriden, CT 06451(203) 235-9297www.womenfamilies.org

FLOWER SPONSORSBansley/Anthony, LLCCentury 21 Allpoints RealtyFlo-TechKevin GrondahlHarvard Pilgrim HealthCarePeople’s United Insurance AgencyPPI Benefits SolutionsThe Health Consultants GroupThe L. Suzio York Hill CompaniesThe Law Office of Christopher Lube, Esq., LLCUnited Healthcare Oxford