FriendshipSPRING 2015 Our Friendships: The Art & Science Annual Report 2014 Find the latest LBFE news and events on page 19 ANNUAL REPORT 2014 We say that our mission is to bring professionals. Our friendships start when endings friendship to Chicago’s lonely and are much closer. That means we accelerate the isolated elders. This sums up neatly who we get-to-know-you process and often learn more are. Yet I frequently hear longtime as well as new about our elders than those who have known them supporters of Little Brothers say that there’s so for decades. to our mission and to what we do much more We’re good at this because we balance the two every day. key dimensions of our brand of friendship: the art We agree. Like our volunteers, those of us here of listening and connecting and caring, and the know that something extra often happens in our science of serving and solving and supporting. business of friendships. That’s why this year’s We pair our people skills with expert knowledge Annual Report hopes to uncap the magic of of the aging process, putting us uniquely in tune what we do. We see it as the art and science of with the changing needs of elders through the last friendship: It’s our special combination of head and decades of their lives. heart, work and play, facts and feelings. Last year 1,162 volunteers gave 32,713 volunteer More than 55 years ago, Little Brothers began its hours to ensure that celebration of life programs, mission of developing friendships with Chicago’s holiday parties, personal visits and calls of lonely and isolated elders. While much has changed reassurance, summer vacations, personalized over the past five decades, the core of our work Christmas gifts, and food bag deliveries took place. remains the same, connecting volunteers and By most standards, the numbers and the outcomes staff members with elders to build and sustain are impressive. But it’s the understanding, friendships. Many of our social activities have compassion, and care that multiply our success evolved to meet the current needs of our elders, beyond measure. but the Little Brothers’ way of getting to know our elders and building on those connections is what We balance the two key dimensions we do best. of our brand of friendship: the art of Nurturing friendships is fraught with nuances, as we listening and connecting and caring, all know. Recognizing that our relationships with the and the science of serving and solving elders begin in the later stages of their lives means a few more challenges. We’ll never know our elders and supporting. as children, teens, young adults, or mid-career I see the art and science of our work every day, every year. Here’s just a sample of how we succeed. On the cover: LBFE elder Joan, a Tina is a volunteer who traveled to Spain and FriendshipSPRING 2015 member of the LBFE Elder Advisory recognized the surname of one of our elders as the Committee, and volunteer Program name of a small town near Madrid. Tina took time Assistant Kirsten recently visited Audrey’s House, where they both enjoyed good on her next vacation to copy and frame a family weather, peaceful surroundings, and crest and a map showing the location of the city in great conversation. Our Friendships:Annual Report The 2014Art & Science Find the latest LBFE news and events on page 19 Friendship is published by Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly, Chicago Chapter, at 312.455.1000. Produced by Mary Nowesnick, MNMarketing Chicago, and Patty O’Friel Design. Jewanna Carter, Writer, Development. Photo credits for this issue include: LBFE staff and volunteers, Ruben Loffler. Spanish version translation donated by volunteer Graciella Napoles. 1 2014 Annual Report Board of Directors NICHOLAS DELGADO Spain. Tina presented this as a personal Christmas gift to Juan. This act of Chairman of the Board Principal, Chief Wealth Officer kindness demonstrates love, as well as a respect for legacy and heritage Dignitas that is so priceless to an elder. ROBIN TILLOTSON Frank is a volunteer who comes to Little Brothers every Thursday without Vice Chair of the Board fail to help Spanish-speaking elders learn English. He’s giving our elders Regional Director (Atlas) a practical tool to make their lives better—along with his belief that his The Department of Family Support Services – Senior Services 80-year-old students will learn a second language. MARILYN HENNESSY Lisa was a visiting volunteer who loved to surprise her elder John with Treasurer of the Board spur of the moment visits. Whenever she found herself nearby or wanted Retired, President to eat out, she’d call John and invite him along. Lisa knew that sharing a The Retirement Research Foundation pizza or some ribs would brighten John’s day and ensure that he had CAROL WAUGH a good meal. Secretary of the Board Retired, Registered Nurse We can’t imagine a better place for us to continue to cultivate and celebrate friendships with our elders than at Audrey’s House in TOM BEHRENS Batavia, Ill. The opening of this exceptional home away from home for Retired, Founder and CEO our elders and for LBFE was a crowning achievement for all of us in 2014. The Night Ministry Audrey’s House will be an extraordinary year-round gift for years to come. KATHLEEN BOYLAN We offer our sincere thanks to each of you for your generous financial Senior Vice President, Public Relations Public Communications Inc. support of Audrey’s House and of all the work we strive to do. We are deeply grateful for every occasion you spend with our elders in the true SUSAN CIUCCI spirit of friendship. Financial Consultant PEB Financial Group Please enjoy reviewing our Annual Report for FY2014, which we hope will continue to inspire you to be part of LBFE and share in the lasting gift BILL HASSETT CPA, McGladrey LLP of friendship. MICHAEL MELINGER Home Instead Senior Care North Shore Senior Services, Inc. PHIL MENZEL Vice President, Retail Services Nicholas Delgado Simone Mitchell-Peterson Talent & Human Capital Services Chairman of the Board Chief Executive Officer Sears Holdings Management Corporation ROSA PEREZ Human Resource Consultant NATRAJ “RAJ” BALASUBRAMANIAN* President and CEO Nebra Business Solutions * FY2014 Board Member 1 2014 Annual Report www.littlebrotherschicago.org 2 2014 In Review LITTLE BROTHERS - FRIENDS foundations. In FY2014 we received them from leaving home. Volunteers OF THE ELDERLY served 1,208 $2,080,444 in contributed support. and staff visited130 elders as part Chicago elders in FY2014. of our homebound visits program, HOLIDAYS Our Holiday including delivering plants and other Celebrations for elders provided The average age of our elders is 82 gifts to the elders to show our care 1,646 memorable experiences. and 38% use a walker or wheelchair and concern. to get around. Women comprise Elders joined us for Thanksgiving 80%, and 20% are men. Our elders and Christmas parties, and SPECIAL ASSISTANCE Challenges represent the ethnic diversity homebound elders received like limited access to healthy food of Chicago: 44% are African home-delivered meals and visits or a lack of transportation can American, 34% are Caucasian, 20% on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and threaten our elders’ independence. are Hispanic, and 2% are Asian or Easter. In April, we celebrated On 388 occasions, Little Brothers other races. LBFE’s mission and history at our staff and program assistants spring holiday event in honor of provided direct services to help We make a lifelong commitment our founder, Armand Marquiset. our elders remain as self-sufficient to our elders. We promise to Personalized holiday gifts, as possible. We also packed and remain alongside them and provide purchased by generous donors, delivered a total of 1,055 monthly opportunities for friendship, were wrapped and delivered food bags to help nourish 111 celebrations, and fun. Our elders to 988 elders. elders. count on us every day, and we could not achieve our goals of VACATION PROGRAMS We ELDERS GIVING BACK Many of relieving their loneliness and welcomed 470 elders to our our elders enjoy giving back to the isolation without the support of our vacation programs, including 338 community. In FY2014, LBFE elders donors and volunteers. elders who vacationed at the newly gathered on two occasions to make opened Audrey’s House, took day toiletry bags for the homeless at VOLUNTEERING Our volunteers trips and made overnight trips to St. James Catholic Church. Others generously contribute their time Audrey’s House, or participated in participated in the Intergenerational and attention to our elders. This summer activities around Chicago. Program to share their life year, volunteers spent hours 32,713 132 homebound elders enjoyed experiences with college students serving our elders—the equivalent special vacation-themed visits. and school children, and partnered of 817 full-time weeks of service. with students from Esperanza CELEBRATIONS OF LIFE We welcomed 665 new volunteers School to learn from each other. A Throughout the year, elders joined this year: 408 came to us as part new Civic Engagement Committee of a group and volunteered us to celebrate life. We enjoyed 257 involved 30 elders creating activities refreshments and distributed gifts individually. Our dedicated and to serve others while having fun. at 12 birthday parties. We caring volunteers are essential to This committee also hosted a bingo gathered for 12 family reunions making a positive impact on lonely social at a senior residence and a and welcomed elders three times and isolated elders. social day for LBFE elders. a week at the Lloyd Walding Brain Phone calls and visits VISITING Fitness Center.