Annual Report COMING SOON to MINNEAPOLIS–ST

2017–2018 Annual Report COMING SOON TO MINNEAPOLIS–ST. PAUL: The 826 National 826MSP Network

826 BOSTON | 826boston.org 826LA | 826la.org The Greater Boston Bigfoot The Echo Park Time Travel Mart Research Institute & The Mar Vista Time Travel Mart Serves: Boston Public & Greater Serves: Los Angeles Unified Boston Area School Districts School District Satellites: John D. O’Bryant School Satellite: Manual Arts Senior High of Mathematics & Science, Jeremiah School & Roosevelt High School E. Burke High School, Boston Teachers Union School, Boston International Newcomers Academy & Rafael 826MICHIGAN | 826michigan.org 826 NEW ORLEANS 826 VALENCIA | 826valencia.org Hernandez K-8 School 826neworleans.org Liberty Street Robot Supply The Pirate Supply Store, King Carl’s and Repair Shop & The Detroit The New Orleans Haunting Supply Co. Emporium & Woodland Creature Robot Factory Outfitters, Ltd. 826CHI | 826chi.org Serves: Orleans Parish School Board Serves: Detroit Public Schools Serves: San Francisco Unified Wicker Park Secret Agent Community District, Ann Arbor Public School District Supply Co. Schools & Ypsilanti Community 826NYC | 826nyc.org Satellites: Everett Middle School, Serves: Chicago Public School District School District Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co. Mission High School & Buena Vista Satellites: Ypsilanti District Library Horace Mann K-8 Serves: New York City Public Schools & Detroit Public Library 826DC | 826dc.org Satellites: Brooklyn Public Library, Tivoli’s Astounding Magic Supply Co. Williamsburg Branch & MS 7/Global Tech Prep Serves: D.C. Public Schools & D.C. Public Charter Schools Dear Friends,

Every day, 826 plants seeds for a future in which The 826-inspired movement continues to grow all young people have the opportunity to shape and is now made up of 50 organizations around the the course of our nation through the power of the globe serving over 150,000 young writers annually. written word. 826 Network students are writing letters to loved ones across our borders, college It was a landmark year, because of you. Thank you application essays, and tales of taco monsters. for supporting 826 National as we work to ensure They are writing blueprints for better schools, all students have access to the transformative better monuments, and better transportation power of writing. systems. They are writing about empathy and power, about fear and solutions. They are writing Warmly, us into a better future by telling their stories and by writing new ones for us all. Laura Brief, CEO 826 Network students have big visions and so do we.

IN 2018:

–– 826 became the largest youth writing network in the country. –– We doubled our impact in just one year, serving 69,000 students. –– 826 New Orleans opened and the network grew from seven chapters to eight. –– 826 Digital launched and reached 31,000 students and their teachers in 48 states and 25 countries.

1 Our Mission

826 National amplifies the impact of our national network of youth writing and publishing centers and the words of young authors. We serve as an international proof point for writing as a tool for young people to ignite and channel their creativity, explore identity, advocate for themselves and their community, and achieve academic and professional success. The 826 Network serves more than 69,000 students ages 6 to 18 each year at our chapters and online via 826 Digital.

2 826 National | Annual Report 2018 What We Do

NETWORK COLLABORATION RESEARCH & EVALUATION EXPANSION & PEER LEARNING GROUPS We manage and create program We support the growth among We address common challenges and assessment tools, analyze and our existing chapters and work to opportunities amongst 826 Network interpret program data, document best bring the 826 model and approach chapters by providing ongoing practices, and research new education to new communities. professional development and pedagogy to inform and strengthen facilitating best practice sharing. the impact of our programs.

RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS NETWORK-WIDE DIRECT We aim to empower more educators SYSTEM SUPPORT FINANCIAL SUPPORT by sharing our fresh approach and We facilitate network-wide We raise funds to sustain our own curricula through intuitive and integrated systems to ensure efficient operations and direct approximately captivating teaching resources. and impactful operations nationwide. 20% of all funds raised to chapters.

826 National | Annual Report 2018 3 Why Writing?

Writing is a tool that can unlock opportunities that lead to academic and professional success. Our aim is to empower students to express their ideas effectively, creatively, confidently, and in their own voice.

“Whatever the book might say is determined by the writer who picks up a pen, begins to think, and makes the world brighter. Renee, Age 12, 826NYC

4 826 National | Annual Report 2018 THE NEED Three out of four 12th graders are not writing at grade level proficiency; that number increases to nine out of ten for Investing in a students of color (National Center for Education Statistics, 2012). Studies show that youth who cannot effectively convey thoughts and ideas through writing are more likely to receive young writer is lower grades, especially in classes where learning is assessed through projects and tests requiring written responses (Graham, 2006). Writing proficiency is also central to success in the workforce: American businesses spend $3.1 billion a small step that annually in remedial writing training (National Commission can lead to big on Writing, 2004).

THE OPPORTUNITY change for our The 826 Network addresses this opportunity gap by investing in the writing, communications, and creative thinking skills of our nation’s under-resourced students. We believe writing youth and our is the key to cultivating a new generation of creative and diverse thinkers who will define a better, brighter, and more compassionate future with their bold and communities. honest ideas. Through our creative approach to learning, even the most reluctant young writer can learn to share their story with joy, authenticity, and power.

826 National | Annual Report 2018 5 At a Glance 38,505 31,095 4,073 Students Served at Chapters Students Reached by 826 Digital Active Volunteers

1,972 1,194 1,087 993 After-School Tutoring Sessions Teachers Served Schools Served Student Publications

895 434 323 50 Field Trips In-School Projects Writing Workshops 826-Inspired Organizations Worldwide

6 826 National | Annual Report 2018 STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL From Publishing Project Survey 2017-18 OUTCOMES OF 826’S PROGRAMS –– Foster creativity –– Cultivate self-expression –– Support the development of confidence, pride, and self-efficacy

84% of students in our creative writing workshops report feeling an increase in their confidence RACE/ETHNICITY about writing.

Hispanic/Latinx 39% ACADEMIC OUTCOMES OF % Black or African American 33 826’S PROGRAMS Two or more identifications 13% –– Develop writing skills –– Activate engagement and Asian or Asian American 5% motivation in school White 4% –– Increase confidence and pride in academic ability Other 3%

American Indian/Native 2% American or Alaska Native % Hawaii Native or Pacific Islander 1% 15 increase in student writing skills nationwide, according Nearly 40% of students identified to results from our assessment a language other than English as developed in partnership with their first language. the National Writing Project.

826 National | Annual Report 2018 7 2017–2018 Highlights

Imagine a classroom of students in Tulsa, The original goal was to reach 1,000 educators in our Oklahoma writing social justice poetry and first year. We’re proud to report that 826 Digital has inventing miracle elixirs, while an educator in already exceeded that goal. In the first year, the platform Buenos Aires, Argentina invites students to write garnered 1,207 registered users, reaching approximately about bullying they’ve experienced in school. 31,095 students in 48 states and 25 countries.

826 Digital makes this type of engaged and SIGN UP TODAY OR SHARE WITH creative learning possible anywhere in the world. AN EDUCATOR YOU KNOW AT In November 2017, 826 National officially WWW.826DIGITAL.COM launched 826 Digital, a free, online platform that aims to empower educators and inspire students by sharing our fresh approach and “When I teach with 826, I give students curricula through intuitive and captivating the chance to live worlds they never teaching resources. The teacher-facing platform thought possible. enables students everywhere to experience the Gina, 826 Digital Subscriber, Reading, Pennsylvania transformative power of writing at a price all educators can afford. THE INCLUSION STORYTELLING PROJECT

826 National partnered with Cartoon Network’s Cartoon Network animators were so inspired Stop Bullying: Speak Up initiative to launch the by the stories that they decided to bring two A KID WHO WANTED Inclusion Storytelling Project. Inspired by recent of our students’ stories to life. To expand the TO BE GOOD research, the project was created with a simple reach of this partnership, the lessons created Arturo A., Grade 4, 826LA premise: if students write about their own through this project were made available to experiences with bullying, it will help them teachers everywhere via 826 Digital in fall 2018. Once upon a time, there was a kid who wanted to be good, but people summon the courage and words necessary Free bookmaking kits, developed in partnership thought he was bad. So he started to to stand up for themselves and support each with Cartoon Network, allowed educators to do good. He helped clean up trash other, helping to stop bullying before it starts. publish stories of empathy and kindness in and collect recycling. But people still thought he was bad. So he started to their own classrooms. clean up trash every day so that people Hundreds of elementary and middle school students would accept him. But people still did from our chapters across the country shared their not give him a chance. So three weeks stories and lent their firsthand perspectives to later they started to believe him and they accepted him. the national discussion on bullying, resulting in Stop Bullying: Speak Up beautiful publications like “The Incident Itched All To watch the full video, visit He was Darth Vader’s son. the Way Out” (826 Boston) and “A Friend That Will 826national.org/stop-bullying. Never Be Called Enemy” (826LA).

826 National | Annual Report 2018 9 826 NEW ORLEANS

In May 2018, 826 National proudly welcomed 826 New Orleans to our national movement for writing and creativity.

In New Orleans, 39% of residents ages 16 or older possess literacy skills below the 5th grade level. 826 New Orleans is the only youth writing center in the entire city and hopes to change the literacy landscape by inspiring the next generation of writers.

826 New Orleans—826’s newest chapter and first location in the South—serves 1,500 local youth every year with the support of more than 400 volunteers. As part of the new writing and tutoring center, The New Orleans Haunting Supply Co. supplies the ghostly denizens of the Crescent City with souls, human disguises, and other goods for the non-corporeal.

826 New Orleans is already well known in the city for projects like Pizza Poetry Day, where student poetry accompanies pizza delivery, and publications like Courageous, Eccentric, Diverse: New Monuments for New Orleans, a book penned by third-graders who shared their ideas for replacements for the city’s recently-removed Confederate monuments.

The words of New Orleans students are essential to the story of America. 826 National is incredibly excited and honored to be able to share and celebrate those stories.

VISIT WWW.826NEWORLEANS.ORG TO LEARN MORE.

NEXT UP The Mid-Continent Oceanographic Institute in Minneapolis—St. Paul is set to become the next 826 chapter in 2019.

10 826 National | Annual Report 2018 STUDENT PUBLICATIONS ACROSS THE 826 NETWORK

826 National believes that professionally bound and beautifully designed publications honor our students’ stories. And every year, hundreds of books are published in our writing centers across the country. Here is a selection created this year, which are available for purchase in our chapters’ stores and websites.

A FLOWER BLOOMING IN THE DARK 826CHI WE ARE WHAT THEY ENVISIONED 826LA THERE IS NO SCHOOL WITHOUT US 826 New Orleans LIKE THE SUN IN DARK SPACES: NARRATIVES ACROSS GENERATIONS AND CONTINENTS 826 Boston I AM FROM EVERYTHING AND NOTHING AT ALL VOL. 1 826NYC IN THE CLOUDS OVER YPSILANTI 826michigan MAGNIFICENT, HEARTWARMING, BREATHTAKING 826 Valencia SPIT FIRE 826DC

826 National | Annual Report 2018 11 Financials

TOTAL EXPENSES $1,785,434

Programs 86%

Fundraising 9%

Management & Administrative 5%

TOTAL REVENUE $1,836,799

Foundations 35%

Corporate 35%

Chapter Fees 14%

Individuals 11%

Earned Income 2%

In-kind 2%

Government 1%

12 826 National | Annual Report 2018 We are grateful to the many institutions and individuals who make Thank You our work possible. Thank you for your partnership and generosity!

$50,000+ Kate O’Sullivan and Kurt Bauer Elsevier Inc. with Debra Kaden Lacie Sandstrom AT&T Mary Schaefer & Tracie Rose and S. M. Gandhi Susan Sillins & B. C. Sarkar Cartoon Network Singer Family Foundation Becky Silverstein and Naomi Sobel Faith Gay The Hearst Foundations Morgan and Amelia Tovey Song Reader, with thanks to Beck, Dave Grable News Corp Terry Wit and Jennifer Heflin Capitol Records, and Warby Parker Philip and Alicia Hammarskjold Panta Rhea Foundation Jane Spray in honor of Kate O’Sullivan $1,000-9,999 Noosheen Hashemi UncommonGoods Andrew Strickman and Michal Ettinger Deepak and Pooja Advani The Hawkins Project Yellow Chair Foundation Tessie Topol Jeff Antebi & Stories for Ways Patrick Healy and Isabelle Georgeaux Gene and Suzanne Valla Anonymous and Means Elia Herrera and Henry Lee Kyle Vineyard Judd Apatow’s Sick in the Head $10,000-49,999 Eric Huang Rick Werder Jennifer Barrett B.K. Kee Foundation Jordan Kurland wikiHow Andrew Berdon John and Kelly Couch Victoria Maroulis Michael Williams Nancy and Duff Bevill Stephen, Hanna, Quinn, and Angela Morgenstern Eric Winston Isla Ensley John Box The Morrison & Foerster Foundation Edward Woiteshek Field Notes Brand Michael Carey Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP Anonymous (2) Hellman & Friedman LLC Ray Carpenter The Northern Charitable Trust Hellman Foundation Nick Cerrito Giving Program $250-999 Justine Jentes and Daniel Kuruna Kenneth Chiate Sean Pak 372 Pages We’ll Never Get Back Merge Records & A Very She Christine Chung David Perlson Adam Abensohn & Him Christmas Melissa Clarke Tamar and Patrick Pichette The Airforwarders Association Toni Morell and Tom Root Davis Charitable Contributions Paula and Brian Powers Douglas in honor of Marsha K. Fisher National Endowment for the Arts David Eiseman Bill and Alice Russell-Shapiro AmazonSmile

826 National | Annual Report 2018 13 Philip Ames Emily Feinberg Pearson Project Literacy Fund Tyler Whitmer Melissa Baily Nicholas Fram Paul, Clementine, and Bruce Wintroub in honor of Anne Deborah Behounek David and Elizabeth Frankel Hunter Philbrick Wintroub Richard Bi Marian and Roger Gray Erik and Kendra Ragatz Patrick Wong Jocelyn Bissonnette Gray Johnson Family Fund Adam Rex Kathryn Yontef Jonathan Blavin Marc Greenwald Rosemarie Ring Howard Yoon Alexandre Bois Bethanne Goldman in memory Sami Rashid Jennifer Zetlan Christopher Bragdon of Paul Schwartz Sascha Rand Anonymous (9) Jacob Haas Teresa Reed Jennifer Bryant $100-249 Kieron Hales Chris Robinson Michael Carlinksy Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine Harvest via Bonfire Funds Paul and Lori Saginaw Center for Cultural Innovation Elaine and Robert Andrews Benjamin Horwich Stanton Sanchez Hailyn Chen Kaitlyn Andrews-Rice Humble Bundle David and Megan Scacco Stan Chiu Nate Arnold Katie Hyde John Schwab Philip Chung and Heather Paulson Michael Attal Nicholas Jasenovec William Seybold Leonard Ciccotello Ross Bacarella in honor of Shawna Coppola Emily Johnson Kashif Shaikh Marsha K. Fisher Donna Cowan and Barry Nelson Laurence Katz Michael Shapiro Christie Bahna Susanna Daniels Kelly Klaus Rohit Singlaa Drew and Kara Bennett Justin and Sumona De Graaf Joseph and Susan Klein Dr. Beverly J. Simmons Jon and Paige Bernstein and Dr. Ross W. Duffin in honor of Kathryn Edmonds Kyle and Jennifer Klopfer Jack Bertges Rachel Stock Denise Donnelly Conor and Lauren Lastowka Jacob and Caitrin Best Frances Stroh John Duane Edward Leh Katherine Boas Elinor Sutton Elliott Badgley Foundation, Inc. John Major Wynne Bolton Jason Tennant James Esposto Marcia and Murray Schneider in honor Sarah Box of Anne Wintroub and Alex Hansen Susan and David Tunnell Alan Eustace and Kathy Kwan Linda Brewer Joshua Meltzer Elizabeth Wade Jodie Evans Kay and Arthur Brief PayPal Chad White Ben Farkas and Meghan Eison Todd and Bella Bukowski

14 826 National | Annual Report 2018 Joe Capuano and Mary Skiver Alan Gillespie Liz Meg Ray Casey Chad Golder Karen Lorang Andrew Rubenstein Brian Chavarria Ari Kahan Stanley and Janet Maleski Steve Rust Chivalry Zine Arie Van Gemeren in honor of Jenny Andrus Carley and Paul Rydberg Emily Chu Marisa Yuh Nuala Mamdani David Rynecki Nancy and John Clancy Adam Halpern-Leistner Julia Mayer and Brian Gold Violet Saxon in honor of Marsha K. Fisher Karl Hansen Matthew McCloskey Kirsten Schaffer in honor Stella Clemens Bryan Heckenlively and Shilpi Agarwal Creighton R. McMurray of Liz Sheehan in honor of Becca and Bo Hubbard Jeffrey Coddington Mari Overbeck Jordan Segall Molly Paul Cremo in memory Sara Ho Marco Segreto of J.D. Sandy McClatchy Pete and Judi Morell Jenny Hong Danny Shader Arlette De La Cruz and Tony Cassanego Mortified Show Laurie Hutchinson Dane Shikman Michael Dechert Paula Moya Lyle Hysen in honor Sleepy Creatures Julie Dougery of Marsha K. Fisher Kristen Nelson Holly and Susan Sphar Brian Doyle Virginia Jaramillo Elizabeth Nymberg Jen Spencer eBay for Charity Raj Jhaveri Daniel and Ursula Orr Jessica Remitz Matt Eisen Ari and Genelle Kahan David Orsborn Albert Thomas Anna Fagin Susan Krauss Peter and Marsha Ouimette Nathan Umbriac in honor of Marsha K. Fisher Elliot Feng Diana Lannon in honor of Angel Valdes in honor Marie Ann Fernandez-Silva Kate O’Sullivan David Owen of Marsha K. Fisher Richard Fisher in honor of Marsha K. Linda Lannon Rosamund Palmer Arie and Sheeva van Gemeren Fisher Corey Laplante Amritha Subramanian and Josh Sue Van Woerkom Patashnik Katherine Forster Ben Lasley Jo Vong Joan and Jim Penner-Hahn Mo Frechette Heidi Lee Elizabeth Wade Ryan Perkins Bryan Gaertner Joseph Lee Elisabeth Wakcher Alan Peters Ben Gale Benjamin Lester James Walters Jonathan Polson Adam Gensler Eric Levine The Way Family Margaret Proctor

826 National | Annual Report 2018 15 Jenna Williams Meredith Corporation Foundation Leah Williams and Peter Cook Microsoft Giving Program Dan Wolf Netflix Marisa Y Pledgeling Foundation Juliana Yee Salesforce.com Foundation Bob and Sharon Yoerg Target Corporation Blanca Young IN-KIND SUPPORTERS Anonymous (12) Adobe SUSTAINING MONTHLY Corporation for National SUPPORTERS and Community Service, Shane Boyar AmeriCorps VISTA Michael Hong in honor of Sam Lee DePaul University College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Elissa Klopfer in honor of Critical Role Miette Patisserie Antonio Merenda Parallel-Play Nicholas Montgomery Pinterest Matthew Pratt Scout Books Stephanie Traylor Morgan Tovey MATCHING GIFT SUPPORT Transit Tees Dollar Bank Foundation Terry Wit Goldman Sachs & Co. Matching Gifts Program Google Matching Gifts Program “No matter what is going on around me, I am compelled to write because it allows me to put things into perspective Our gratitude is boundless, but our data has limits. If your information is incorrect and places me in control. Writing is empowering and or you have a question about the donor list, please contact [email protected], and we’ll be happy to help. This list reflects gifts of $100 or more made from uplifting, even in the darkest of times. July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018. Miguel, Grade 12, 826 Valencia

16 826 National | Annual Report 2018 Our Team

826 NATIONAL STAFF Kait Steele Donna Cowan Anne Wintroub Director of Field Operations 826 Boston Representative Director, Social Innovation, AT&T Tierra Alston-Johnson Active Community Volunteer Development and Impact Associate, Shida Zamani Howard Yoon Americorps VISTA Salesforce Administrator Jodie Evans 826DC Representative 826LA Representative Literary Agent at the Ross Yoon Agency Maggie Andrews Author, Documentary Film Producer BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kathryn Yontef Director of Development & Co-Founder of CODEPINK The 826 National Board is made up of Director of Corporate Initiatives Laura Brief Sameer Gadkaree at Everytown for Gun Safety Chief Executive Officer independent directors and an ex officio chapter representative from each of the 826CHI Representative Lauren Broder eight chapters in the 826 National Network. Senior Program Officer, Joyce Foundation EMERITUS BOARD MEMBERS Director of Research and Evaluation Each chapter representative is a voting Ronicka Harrison-Briscoe Anna Griffin member of their chapter board and the 826 New Orleans Representative Nínive Calegari 826 Digital Manager 826 National Board. President, Legacy Inventive Solution 826 National Co-Founder for Schools CEO, Enterprise for Youth Cecilia Juan Corporate and Foundation Toni Morell Elia Herrera Dave Eggers Relations Manager President Litigation Associate, Munger, Tolles 826 National Co-Founder Managing Partner, Zingerman’s Mail Order & Olson LLP Founder of McSweeney’s Publishing Doug Keller & Award-Winning Author Network Growth Director Eric Abrams Lacie Sandstrom Vice President 826michigan Representative Kona Lai 826 Valencia Representative Google Ann Arbor Network Support Manager Chief Inclusion Officer, Stanford Graduate Caroline Moon School of Education Mary Schaefer Research and Evaluation Associate, Independent Consultant Kate O’Sullivan Americorps VISTA Secretary Paul Schutt Co-Founder, Issue Media Group Arfi Oktavianti General Manager, Industry Affairs, Field Operations Coordinator, Legal and Corporate Affairs, Microsoft Tessie Topol AmeriCorps VISTA Independent Consultant John Couch Treasurer Morgan W. Tovey Investment Management, Goldman Sachs Partner, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP

826 National | Annual Report 2018 17 “ I believe good stories have the power to change people.

ZOE, AGE 11, 826CHI