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. 

This past week we welcomed colleagues from California, Oklahoma, Washington, Massachusetts, and Miami (Florida) for a 2-day training on “Sustainability for Clubhouse Programs.” This was the first time we opened our doors for this type of training experience. It was exciting to engage our colleagues on roundtable discussions of best practices, challenges, solutions, and innovations. 

We were joined by amazing local guest speakers: Stewie Bitterman shared his thoughts and suggestions on Ambassador programs; John Annis of the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation presented on relationship building with charitable foundations; Jeff Steinwachs (after dropping off some delicious, fresh caught grouper and snapper) stopped in to share strategies on mission, sustainable growth, and outcomes; and Robyn Faucy presented on Results 1^st. It was truly an all-star cast of guest speakers.

Our guests included Linn Blohm and Melanie Reese of Thunderbird Clubhouse (OK), Rachel Riani and Luke Knowles of Genesis Club (MA), Bernadette Jacobs of Hero House NW (WA), Tamara Hunter and Lisa Breton of Mental Health Connections (CA), and Debra Webb, Amy McClellan, and Lalita Airan of Key Clubhouse (Miami). 

Academy members and staff enjoyed the experience of hosting our colleagues. Member and Academy board member Paul Hennekes joined William McKeever as co-facilitator of the workshop. Maureen Flaig provided our guests with a thorough tour, and our Culinary Team served a delicious breakfast and lunch each day. Several Academy board members and Ambassadors joined colleagues for an amazing BBQ on Tuesday night, all prepared by our Culinary Team. We had so much fun hosting this smart, fun, and engaging group of colleagues! This collaborative workshop provided as much benefit to our Academy community as it did to our guests. We look forward to more opportunities like this in the future.