Annual Report July 1, 2017–June 30, 2018 A Message from our Board Chair and CEO

On behalf of the Blessings in a Backpack Board and Staff, we thank you Unfortunately, Missy died in 2010. She didn’t get to see Blessings in a for your generous support of our mission—to provide food on the weekends Backpack grow into what it is today—feeding 87,300 children on the for elementary school children across America who might otherwise, go weekends this school year. But her husband said he knows she would be hungry. As we embark on our 10th Birthday, we find ourselves looking back proud. “I know she’s smiling down on us today.” to the beginning when a woman named Missy Hammerstrom had a simple idea that started with a little girl and an apple. The extraordinary number of children with access to food on the weekends would not be possible without our dedicated volunteers, school officials, Flashback to over a decade ago, Missy was visiting an elementary school in corporate and athletic partners, and donors that have all made Missy’s Louisville for a community project with the United Way. She was eating lunch mission their own. when a little girl asked if she could have Missy’s apple. Missy asked the girl if she didn’t eat enough in the lunchroom. The girl said, “No, I’m taking it home We thank you for making this progress possible. Together, we will feed the so I can eat it tonight.” Naturally, Missy gave the girl her apple. kids this weekend.

That night, Missy told her husband Gary that she had to do something. She couldn’t let kids go home hungry. So she went to Target to buy backpacks. In her garage, Missy filled those backpacks with food and donated the bags to the school. With that simple act Blessings in a Backpack was born.

Rich Stephens Brooke M. Wiseman Chair, National Board of Directors Chief Executive Officer Blessings in a Backpack Blessings in a Backpack

1 Mission Blessings in a Backpack mobilizes communities, individuals, and resources to provide food on the weekends for elementary school children across America who might otherwise go hungry. Vision Every school-aged child in America has the nourishment needed to learn and grow. As a leader in the movement to end childhood hunger, Blessings in a Backpack strives to ensure children don’t go hungry on the weekends by empowering individuals and communities to take action. History Blessings in a Backpack was piloted in 2005 in Louisville, Ky., when Missy Hammerstrom (see “Message” on page 1) brought the issue of childhood weekend hunger to a local philanthropist. The first program fed 50 children, and Blessings in a Backpack continued to grow organically from there. In 2008, Blessings in a Backpack became an official 501(c)3 organization.

National Board of Directors (as of June 30, 2018)

Rich Stephens, Chair Junior Bridgeman Darby Hills Richard Gordon, Vice Chair Paul Colangelo Ubong Ituen Teresa McMahon, Treasurer Tonya York Dees Doug Meijer Sara Moores, Secretary Joe DePippo Kate Rose Ramona Ustian, Immediate Past Chair Ana Dutra Cynthia A. Ryan Michael Gouloff Reena Sood

2 Our Impact

87,300 3 million 1,092 schools 16,400 + Children fed hunger-free and 46 states* dedicated volunteers weekends provided served lived our mission

*includes Washington D.C. Evaluation Results Blessings in a Backpack measures program impact on a deeper level than bags and pounds of food distributed. Student surveys found that, in addition to no longer feeling weekend hunger pangs, children fed by Blessings in a Backpack also experience the following impact on their lives:

• 78% feel cared for by their community • 60% report fewer behavorial issues • 60% have better school attendance

• 71% feel they are helping their family • 59% find it is easier to learn at school

3 Fiscal Year 2018 Highlights

July 2017 February 2018 We were invited to the National Governors Association On Valentine’s Day, Jennfier Garner and her kids and their Summer Conference as U.S. governors discussed the issue friends packed 391 bags of food to feed the hearts and bellies of of childhood hunger in America. We packed 1,000 bags of hungry kids in Los Angeles. They wrote inspirational note cards weekend food with the First Spouses for kids in Rhode Island. to include in the bags, too.

September 2017 March 2018 Mayors and government officials across the U.S. filled In West Virginia and Kentucky, teachers made sure that none backpacks with food for the kids in their communities as of their students went hungry just because they were on strike. a part of the fourth annual Blessings in a Backpack Day on Teachers packed bags of food and delivered them to kids homes. September 28, 2017. “This is all about our kids,” said Teacher Kevin Green.

September 2017 May 2018 We hosted our first national week of awareness, Blessings The Boerne 0.5k raised $30,000 for the Blessings in a Backpack in a Backpack Week, to coincide with National Blessings in a program in Boerne, Texas, surpassing the event’s fundraising Backpack Day. Thanks to the generous support of Cigna, the goal by 500 percent. The race billed as ‘the running event for week brought awareness to Blessings in a Backpack’s work to the rest of us,’ gained international attention and was featured feed the kids this weekend. on Good Morning America, Newsweek, and syndicated radio. November 2017 June 2018 More than $20,000 was raised during our #WhyIAm campaign We teed off our fith annual Blessings in a Backpack Classic at on Giving Tuesday. The money raised helped us provide more Shoreacres Golf Course. Thank you to all of the sponsors, golfers, than 6,920 hunger-free weekends for the kids facing food tennis players, volunteers, and silent auction bidders (and insecurity across America. winners) who participated to help us feed kids on the weekends.

January 2018 June 2018 Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson signed autographs Blessings in a Backpack is proud to have completed its first for his fans to raise $25,000 for Blessings in a Backpack. This National Volunteer Conference. More than 100 volunteers, donation helped us start a new program feeding 250 kids at presenters, sponsors, and staff members traveled from all over Wheatley Elementary School in Louisville, Ky. the nation to participate in this inaugural event in Chicago.

4 FY18 Financial Summary

$10.5 Million $9.5 Million 81% in total in total revenue in total expenses program expense

Revenue and Support Expenses Athletic Partnerships ...... $610,223 Program Services ...... $7,736,426 Corporations ...... $3,140,938 General and Admin ...... $1,188,064. Foundations ...... $1,891,826 Fundraising ...... $617,159 Government ...... $287,680 Total Expenses ...... $9,541,649 Individuals ...... $1,660,987 School/Faith Based ...... $946,467 Increase in Net Assets ...... $1,049,117. . Other ...... $820,739 Ending Net Assets ...... $9,367,248 Fundraising Events ...... $923,843 In-Kind Contributions ...... $242,795 Interest & Other Income ...... *Revenues raised above FY18 expenses are restricted for future year’s food $65,268 expenses at specific program locations. Total Revenue and Support ...... $10,590,766 A full copy of our GAAP audited financial statement is available by request.

5 Donations Blessings in a Backpack extends a special thank you to the following donors* and all of our donors who supported us in Fiscal Year 2018. $75,000–$99,999 *Every effort has been made to present a complete, alphabetical list of Blessings in a Backpack donors that gave support Barrington Children’s Charities of $5,000 or greater from July 2017 to June 2018. Should you notice an error or omission, please contact Erin Kerr at (312) 366-2748 or [email protected]. Conagra Brands Foundation Kate & Justin Rose Foundation New Albany Floyd County Education Foundation Inc. $100,000 and Above Larry and Susan Patrick Walmart Foundation $50,000–$74,999 Anonymous Champions 4 Children Inc. Constellation Brands The Dale Jr. Foundation EcoMedia - A CBS Company Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit FedEx The Glass Charitable Foundation Jim And Tabitha Furyk Foundation Inc. Manna Inc. Lena Meijer Meijer Inc. Charl & Rosalind Schwartzel United Way of Frederick County Inc. Variety Feeds Kids

6 Donations Blessings in a Backpack extends a special thank you to the following donors* and all of our donors who supported us in Fiscal Year 2018. $25,000–$49,999 $15,000–$24,999

ABRH, LLC KFC A Recipe to End Hunger HMSHost Foundation Alfred Matthews GMC Deborah Lindsay and Need Inc. Holy Name Cathedral Allstate Foundation William P. and Judy Myers Adobe Foundation Home Depot U.S.A. Inc. American Honda Finance PGA TOUR Wives Association Inc. ADP IMC Chicago Charitable Foundation Corporation The Oosthuizen Family Allen Memorial Baptist Church Knox College B.A. & Esther Greenheck Foundation Anonymous Leelanau Christian Neighbors Foundation Republic Bank Arby’s Midwest Presort Service Belmont County Health Dept. Share Our Strength Bandujo Advertising & Design Julie Mohr California Pizza Kitchen Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. Bellevue Heights United Monsanto Fund The Century Club of San Diego Tempe Leadership Methodist Church Charley Hoffman Foundation Mountain Christian Church Texas Roadhouse Holdings, LLC Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois Children’s Fund Inc. Muskingum County Health Dept. Unbridled Charitable The Cameron Heyward Clark Family Foundation Inc. Foundation Inc. New Spirit Lutheran Church Foundation Inc. Randall Cobb United Parcel Service – Jacksonville Norfolk Iron & Metal Co. Cargill Inc. Davis Love III Foundation Inc. United Way Lee County NXT Capital Carl C. Anderson and Marie Jo PF Louisville, LLC Delaware General Health District Washington Christian Outreach Anderson Charitable Foundation Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, Jerry D. Wilson Protiviti Inc. Carroll County Health Dept. and Indiana Wood County Health Dept. Rich Harvest Farms Chicago Sinai Congregation Thomas Duffey Zurich North America Eric L. Smith The Christopher Family Foundation The Family Alliance Foundation Summit County General Community Foundation of Farmers Insurance Health District Frederick County MD Inc. Father Fred Foundation Swinging with Purpose Inc. Covenant United Methodist Church Fore!Kids Foundation Inc. The Thunderbirds Cox’s Smokers Outlet IX, LLC Greater Green Bay YMCA Inc. Tuscarawas County Health Dept. Discover Financial Services Harrison County General United Way of San Antonio and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie Health Dept. Bexar County Dreambuilders The Kahlert Foundation Inc. Ramona and Dan Ustian Tim and Sue Hennessy KeHE Cares Foundation William and Sheila Konar Foundation

7 Donations Blessings in a Backpack extends a special thank you to the following donors* and all of our donors who supported us in Fiscal Year 2018. $10,000–$14,999

Access Center for Excellence Edlong Dairy Technologies Jayrone Elliot Dreambuilders Southwest Florida Roofing Antares Capital ELMS Foundation John & Eileen Doherty Foundation Contractors Association Aon The Emma and Georgina Lamkin Wealth Management, LLC Speaker Family Foundation Arlington Poynette Clergy Bloomberg Foundation Tom Ley St. Vincent dePaul Church Association The Emmy Lou Tompkins Limestone Title & Escrow, LLC Tesla Ascension Foundation Los Angeles Trial Lawyer’s Charities Texas Capital Bank AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP Exelon Golf Outing Lucky’s Market Think Jerky BJ’s Charitable Foundation John and Nancy Fern Middletown Christian Church Turn Key Events, LLC Budget Golf Fifth Third Bank The Miraglia Family Advised Fund Wells Fargo Capital Finance Butler County Health Department First United Methodist Church at Stark Community Foundation The Wood and Marie Charity Guild of Catholic Women Fred B. And Opal S. Woosley Muskingum County Health Dept. Hannah Foundation Christ the King Presbyterian Church Foundation Nonn’s Flooring Inc. York Furrier Cloud Peak Energy Resources, LLC General Motors Foundation Norfolk Area United Way Inc. CME Group Foundation George L. Shields Foundation Inc. The Oconomowoc Area Community Foundation The Gheens Foundation Inc. Foundation of Wabash County Gratis Foundation Matthew Ornstein Compass Consulting Group Inc. Justine Greene Parkview Health Converse Church of Christ Greene Co Health Department Donald and Patricia J. Parsons The Cottage Bridge Foundation Heaven Hill The Patricia Crown Family Craig Industries Inc. Jody and Timothy Henkel Petrino Family Foundation Inc. Tilden Cummings, Jr. Henryville United Methodist Church The Pokagon Fund Inc. Darcars Toyota of Frederick Horsefoot Harbor Inc. Ponte Vedra United The Dorothy and Marshall Initial Outfitters Methodist Church M. Reisman Foundation Insurance Industry Charitable Michael E. Powell Dreambuilders Foundation & Foundation Rhode Island NGA 2017 Inc. UnitedHealthcare, San Antonio IPA Foundation Slovenian Savings & Loan Dreiseszun Family Foundation Ubong E. Ituen Association

8 Donations Blessings in a Backpack extends a special thank you to the following donors* and all of our donors who supported us in Fiscal Year 2018. $5,000–$9,999

3M Foundation Calvary Episcopal Church Ecolab The Harley-Davidson Foundation Akron-Newstead Rotary Club Capital City Church Elm Grove Junior Guild The Hennessy Foundation All Saints’ Episcopal Church Catholic Daughters of the Americas Emergent BioSolutions Jack R. Howard American Electric Power Centerline Solutions ERC Huntington National Bank Trent M. Anderson Central Christian Church Evangelical Free Church Huntington North High School Anonymous The Church of the Holy Trinity Events Forum Inc. Huron Valley Optimist Club Appriss Inc. Mitchell Clary Expense Reduction Analysts Independent Bank Arlington Lions Club Inc. The Coca-Cola Company Factory Connection, LLC Intrepid Capital Management Inc Arthrex Inc. Community Financial Credit Union James Hardie Building Products Itasca Bank & Trust Co. Bill Ash Connexus Assoc. Inc. and Matthew Marsh J.C. Kellogg Foundation Fund Augusta Brown Holland F. Michael Covey First Christian Church Jax Refrigeration Inc. Philanthropic Foundation Crum & Forster of Louisville, Ky. JNDoyle Family Foundation Ausherman Family Foundation Inc. CSG First Federal Bank of Wisconsin Jason Johnson Avenu Insights and Analytics Cummins Rocky Mountain First United Methodist Church Johnson & Sons Paving, LLC of Guntersville Aviles-Robbins Truck Leasing Cushman and Wakefield Deanne Jones Fischer Entertainment, LLC Bandera United Methodist Church CVS Health Charity Classic Edward R. Jones Florida Blue Foundation Bedrock Community Church D.C. Everest Area School District Just Do It Now Inc. Gillian and Brett Nolan Bluefield Virginia Lions Club Dan Weaver Trucking, LLC The Kalman Foundation Foley & Lardner LLP BNY Mellon Community Partnership Dave’s Fresh Marketplace Susan and Mark Kane Fort Foote Baptist Church Bonita Springs Assistance Office Management Inc. Michael Kayman Frederick S. Upton Foundation Jennifer M. Bowen David R. And Cheryl L. Venarge Fund Ross and Erin Kerr The GE Foundation Reid R. Broda Delaplaine Foundation Inc. Jeannette Kleine Giving Alliance of Myakka City Inc. Scott and Allison Brown Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Kosair Charities Committee Inc. Good Shepherd Episcopal Church Ken and Debbie Burnside Joseph and Nancy DePippo Kyle Long The Grainger Foundation Burt Family Foundation Marc D. Detampel Kyle Stone Memorial Fund GVTC Foundation Inc. California Association of School Donne Di Domani LaGrange County Chamber Business Officials (CASBO) East Central Association of Realtors Stephanie Hall of Commerce

9 Donations Blessings in a Backpack extends a special thank you to the following donors* and all of our donors who supported us in Fiscal Year 2018. $5,000–$9,999

LaGrange County Community Agnes and Geoffrey O’Connor Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, LLC VPay USA Foundation Office Furniture Center State Farm Mutual Automobile Wabash County United Fund Inc. Michael K. Lee PepsiCo Insurance Company Jocelyn Watkins Leidos Biomedical Research Inc. Pewaukee Lake Volunteer Service Steak 48 Chicago, LLC Waukesha County Louisville Parks Foundation Pittsburgh Childrens Foundation Inc. Matthew E. Steinmetz Community Foundation, Inc. The Manistee United Powerhouse Gym & Family Steve Stricker American Family Wegmans Food Markets Inc. Methodist Church Fitness Center Stone Foundation of Michigan Kristian and Laura Werling Vito and Linda Manone Presbyterian Church of Barrington Gregory R. Stubblefield West Bay Community Charitable Mariano’s Prince of Peace Evangelical Sunstar Foundation Inc. Marshall County Community Lutheran Church Switzerland of Ohio Local West Side Baptist Church Foundation Inc. Putnam County Health Dept. School District The West Inc. Bonnie Mealy Natalie and Avi Ramu Sysco Jacksonville Inc. Mark Wiktor Meigs County Health Department Renaissance Charitable Sysco Louisville Inc. Mark and Amy Wilson Menasha Corporation Foundation Foundation Inc. Mark Taylor Will Davis Elementary PTA Metropolitan Capital Bank & Trust Keith Rich Telefluent Communications Inc. William J. Clancy Foundation Gloria Milanowski Richard Shineman Foundation Thrivent Financial Witan Community Projects Fund Millcraft Richmond Raceway TJX Foundation Witch’s Hat Brewing Co., LLC Molex, LLC Rocky Community Improvement Fund Town Pump Charitable Foundation Zano Salons Mount Vernon Commumity School PTA Jim and Michelle Romano Township High School District 211 Ziegler Scott Murch Rotary Club of South Frederick Trinity Episcopal Church JoAnn Murphy Rowan Companies Tyner United Methodist Church The Muse Kenneth H. Rusinoff Union County Health Department Naples Gulfshore Sunset Rotary Saguaro Christian Church United Business Technologies Club Foundation Inc. Tom Sawyer United Way of Forsyth County Inc. Nina Baldwin Fisher Foundation Scott Fischer Charities Inc. United Way of the Capital Region Nora Roberts Foundation Jim Self Valero Energy Foundation The Northern Trust Centennial Fund Signature Healthcare Vizient

10 Thank you!

Blessings in a Backpack (Headquarters) Blessings in a Backpack (Chicago Office) 4121 Shelbyville Rd. | Louisville, KY 40207 135 S. LaSalle St., Suite 1921 | Chicago, IL 60603 (800) 872-4366 (312) 366-2760

blessingsinabackpack.org | [email protected]