Vanessa Alcantara and I were given the opportunity to participate in the financial sustainability workshop with our following colleagues, Andy Houltberg with the Breakthrough Episcopal Services out of Kansas, Brett Buell with the Gainesville Opportunity Center in North Florida, Lauren Walker with Hope Clubhouse in South Florida, and Richard Lane with Alliance House in Utah. We were able to share the history, governance, current strategies, successes, and challenges related to our community’s financial sustainability.  According to the United Nations, sustainability is defined “as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Therefore, lasting Academy financial sustainability is a team effort involving members, staff, board members, ambassadors, families, community partners, and volunteers. Members and staff contribute through luncheons, telethons, Academy tours, and in-house produced marketing materials. The Board of Directors, Ambassadors, and family members partake in awareness building within their respective communities by sharing their Academy experiences and inviting guests for member tours, demonstrating our open-door policy.  Community partners and volunteers offer their time and expertise enriching the lives of members in any number of our 8 Dimensions of Wellness.       

We were honored to have the following guest speakers Joan Geyer, President of the Academy Board; Stewie Bitterman founding Academy Ambassador; Matt Sauer, Collaboration and Impact Officer of the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation; Jeff Steinwachs CEO of the Steinwachs Family Foundation; Robyn Faucy Co-Founder of Results 1^st; and Al and Polly Guiffrida Academy Family Ambassadors, who shared their roles and experience of nonprofit sustainability.  

We would like to share several quotes from participating colleagues:

This was an eye-opening experience for both Vanessa and me, revealing that financial sustainability is a collective effort and the responsibility does not solely rest with any one person or group. 

While on their tour of the Academy, our members and staff shared some of our best practices with them. With Chef Ruth in tow, they spent a good deal of time exploring our culinary team, both front and back of house. For their part, they inspired us with the details of their horticulture team, and delighted us with a bounty of fresh greens and fruit from their bourgeoning “garden of hope.”  Their gift made it promptly onto the lunch menu, and was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Hope Clubhouse has a membership of over 200 members annually. They have a robust supported employment unit, and also provide housing, education, and wellness support to its members. Like the Academy, their values support the potential of all individuals to lead a satisfying and meaningful life, including becoming employed. We are proud to be affiliated with them under the umbrella of Clubhouse International, and moreover, to share mutual respect as programs that deeply value a culture of optimism and limitless potential.

Pictured left to right are Ruth Cohen, William McKeever, Erin Broussard, Ben Burnside, Mark Doren, Kevin Geyer, Ian Churchill and Patty Haltinner