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Annual Report 2013

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Mission Statement

Conley Outreach Community Services is a 501 c (3) not-for-profit organization

devoted to “Caring for the Heart of Community”. Our mission is to provide and

coordinate community mental health and human service programs in rural

Western Kane County by understanding community needs, creating systems of

support, and collaborating with other community and faith-based partners.

We are humbly committed to:

caring for our communities and its residents

loving our neighbors

unconditionally sharing life's burdens prayerfully

and

trusting God's direction patiently.

We strive to work collaboratively with a diverse cross-section of community

minded individuals and organizations to develop programs and services that

meet the emerging needs of this rapidly growing area.

We seek to be:

a catalyst for community development

a hub for human services, and a place for nurturing the lives of individuals, families and neighborhoods

We hope, through the Habitat for Community at the Conley Farm to preserve

the rural traditions of Western Kane County and integrate traditional farming

practices into holistic mental health services.

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A Message from the Executive Director

Dear Friends of Conley Outreach,

I have often described Conley Outreach as

being a bit like the Wizard of Oz. It appears on

paper to be huge, mighty and powerful even, but

when you look behind the curtain, there is a very

small group of people pulling some very large

levers. From Holiday Spirit and the Salvation

Army kettles, to our grief camp and onsite grief

support, Monthly Meals program and Clothes

Closet, literally thousands of people have

received help through this organization. As you

look at the staff list, comprised of all part-time

staff, you may wonder how in the world we are

able to do that we do. I confess, I wonder that

myself some days. Then I look at the army of

volunteers who come alongside us to partner in

this effort and I know how it all gets done. Unlike

Oz, Conley Outreach doesn’t use smoke and

mirrors or even flying monkeys to magically

fulfill its mission. No, the magic comes from

these regular folks, who care enough about this

community to take time out of their busy lives to

faithfully partner with us. Together we grant

wishes; help people who are scared, lonely and

need support; and make dreams come true (see

sidebar). And that is the best magic of all.

Sincerely,

Carol Werdin Alfrey Carol Werdin Alfrey, Ph.D.

Executive Director

Supporting our Mission: Special Events on the Farm

Since 2010, the Conley Farm has hosted numerous weddings, receptions and family reunions for our friends and neighbors. Thanks to Bruce Conley’s vision and Tigger Kainz’s leadership and extraordinary creativity, the farm has been a place not only of healing and hope, but one of celebration and laughter. The rental fees from these events are what enable us to maintain and improve the property. With this additional income we have been able to construct a pergola connecting the pavilion to the barn, build a gazebo in the upper glen, rebuild the bridge in the horse pasture construct two washrooms in the silo house and pay our part-time farm coordinator. Our volunteers have also added a wall and doors to the back of the barn to provide access while protecting the stored equipment from the elements. The farm has become not only beautiful, but functional as well!

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Board of Directors and Staff

Board of Directors

Marjorie Anderson President

Claudia Tremaine Vice President

Allen Miller Secretary/Treasurer

Sarah Conley Member

William King, Jr. Member

Lynn Meredith Member

Eric Ryan Member

Staff

Carol Werdin Alfrey, Ph.D. Executive Director

Laura Ryan, B.S. West Towns Assistant

Colleen Kindelin Intern

Wendy Peck, M.S., LCSW On-Site Bereavement Coordinator

Sue Schultz Farm Coordinator

Lora Windsor, LCSW Bereavement Support Group Facilitator

Kim Wendling, B.S. Financial Agent

“The Conley Outreach organization is a great benefit to our community, and I

am honored to be able to serve in some small way with it. Taking part in meetings

with the COCS Board has provided me the chance to see first-hand how much of

a blessing the organization is to so many community members with real need. Our

Executive Director, Dr. Carol Alfrey, has provided a drive and direction that has

led COCS to continually and effectively offer services like community assistance

and grief counseling that would often be either overlooked by or unavailable to

the community members it serves. The presence of so many community volunteers

that contribute to its success is inspiring, and the gifted and giving individuals

behind COCS suggest that it will continue to successfully seek out and serve true

areas of need within the community.”

-Eric Ryan, Board Member

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Programs & Services

Grief Support Friendship Night - support group for adults grieving any type of death loss

Mourning After - support group for younger widows/widowers or those who have

lost a life partner

Grieving Parent Support - group for any parent who has

lost a child, no matter how long ago the loss occurred or

the age of the child at the time of death

Good Time Out/Grief Time Out (GTO) - special monthly

grief events for children, teens and families

Good Grief Day Camp - weeklong camp for children ages

6-12 who have lost a parent of a sibling

Grief Share Seminar/Support Group – 13 week session featuring Christian experts on

grief and recovery from a Biblical perspective

On Site Crisis Assistance – help for schools, businesses and other groups experiencing

a traumatic loss

Community Services The Family Nurturing Program - information and support to parents of preschool

special needs children through a series of Parent Coffee Talks and Family Fun

Nights and the Summer Connections Program.

The Community Care Team – a network of adult

natural helpers who receive specialized training in

how to effectively listen, respond, and refer friends

and neighbors for help and assist area residents

through a variety of volunteer opportunities.

Emergency Assistance Program – limited, short-term financial assistance to local

individuals through the Good Samaritan Fund, Holiday Spirit and Salvation Army

Extension Services. Help also available through the Good Samaritan Clothing

Closet and Monthly Meals program.

West Towns Human Services Referral and Advocacy – free, confidential resource and referral service links area

residents to over 80 health and human agencies in Kane, Kendall & DeKalb counties

Two Local Offices – space available for area mental health providers to see clients

close to home in Elburn and Sugar Grove

West Towns Community Resource Team – group of 20 local agencies that meet

monthly to discuss service needs in rural western Kane County.

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Demographics

Clients by Program Type

Grief

West Towns

CCT

FNP

Financial Support

Grief Client Services

Care Bears

Grief Groups and Events

On Site Crisis Assistance

0 200 400 600 800

West Towns

CCT

FNP

Hours/Contacts

Clients Served

In FY2013 Conley Outreach touched over 2,950 lives in our community.

480 families were linked to over 85 health & human service providers through the West Towns Network. 670 requests for help were answered. 45 received Mental Health First Aid Training

199 people received financial assistance from one or more of our benevolence funds

600 hot meals were provided by partner churches; 368 people received clothes from the Good Samaritan Closet

183 volunteers provided over 725 hours of community service through the Community Care Team

123 Early Childhood students and their families received 253 hours of support and training through the Family Nurturing Program

Over 800 people received grief support through one of Conley Outreach’s programs.

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2013 Highlights

Farm Construction Projects Conley Outreach made several improvements to the

Conley Farm in 2013. To accommodate larger wedding venues, a beautiful gazebo was constructed

in the upper glen of the horse pasture. The horse stalls were de-cluttered and organized for storage, grief

camp and other special events. The open area in the back of the barn has been enclosed and now sports garage and regular doors to provide access to the lawn

tractor and other equipment in that storage area. The posts have also been removed to smooth out the patio area between the barn and the boxcar.

Summer Connections Program Conley Outreach revamped its Family Nurturing Program in 2013 to be more responsive to

the needs of our Early Childhood families. Summer Connections, a 5-week program for EC

kids and their parents, was designed by the Kaneland staff to provide support for parents

and children over the summer months when problems often emerge. The program met for 2 hours, once a week during June and July. The children met with licensed staff and

paraprofessionals to work on communication, social and academic skills while parents met with another professional for support and training. Evaluation of this pilot program was overwhelmingly positive. It will be implemented on a permanent basis.

Hands-On Community Support Our commitment to “Caring for the Heart of Community” was

evidenced in 2013 by our many outreach programs to help those struggling to get by. Over 600 hot meals were

provided by partner churches through our Monthly Meals

program at the Elburn Food Pantry. Over 360 people

received free clothes through the Good Samaritan Clothes Closet in Sugar Grove. 160 Kaneland/Big Rock area

families received toys and clothes for Christmas through the Holiday Spirit program, a joint program between Conley Outreach, the Kaneland Schools and our community donors.

Financial Assistance to Area Families In these tough financial times, Conley Outreach has stood in the gap for many struggling families. In FY2013 we helped 199 people with rent/mortgage payments, food, medical

bills, utility bills, medicine, gasoline, car repairs and other critical needs. Over $24,000 was distributed from the Good Samaritan Fund, Salvation Army Fund or the Holiday Spirit

Emergency Assistance Fund.

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Financial

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION JUNE 30, 2012 AND 2013

ASSETS

2013 2012 CURRENT ASSETS

Cash $ 27,445 $ 25,751

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS $ 27.445 $ 25,751

FIXED ASSETS Equipment 5,637 5,637 Less – Accumulated Depreciation 3,382 2,254

TOTAL FIXED ASSETS 2,255 3,383 TOTAL ASSETS $ 29,700 $ 29,134

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS

CURRENT LIABILITIES Accounts Payable $ 1,601 $ 1,119 Accrued Liabilities 745 1,003 TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 2,346 2,122 TOTAL LIABILITITES 2,346 2,122 NET ASSETS

Unrestricted 22,815 21,741 Temporarily Restricted 4,539 5,271 TOTAL NET ASSETS 27,354 27,012 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS $ 29,700 $ 29,134 (Conley Outreach’s Financial Records audited by Knutte & Associates, P.C. in 2012 and 2013)

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Financial

Total Income--$134,968

Grants & Contracts--57%

Contributions--19%

In Kind Donations--21%

Interest--<1%

Other--2%

Total Expenses--$133,894 Program--90%

Administration--8%

Fundraising-2%

Program Expenses--$119,980

West Towns-59%

Good Samaritan--21%

Good Grief--12%

Holiday Spirit--5%

Family Nurturing--1%

CCT--2%

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Funders and Donors

Granting Agencies

Inc. Board, NFP United Way of Central Kane County ATT (United Way)

Founders ($1,000+)

Anonymous Ben & CJ Conley Kaneville United Methodist Church Joseph & Ginny Kuzniar Northside Pub Rich’s Auto Service

Benefactors ($500-$999)

Al & Marjorie Anderson Bridget Link Shodeen Foundation Turkey Gobbler Camp Tom & Wendy Wright

Donors ($250-$499) Dave & Jeri Ott Compton Family Blackberry Lodge #359 Kaneland WINS Paisano’s Pizza & Grill Sugar Grove Corn Boil

Contributors ($100-$249)

AFM Electrical Nancy Aho Alice’s Place American Legion Auxiliary Jim Berringer Big Rock Township Michael & Donna Bingham Conley Funeral Home Heather Coulter Edwards Engineering Barbara Fetzner

Chuck & Nadine Flint Elburn Chiropractic The Elburn Herald Elburn Market Girl Scout Troop 554 Holiday in the Grove Kaneville Classics 4-H Kiwanis Club Campton Hills Dr. Harry Krauspe Kuipers’ Family Farm Ron Limbrick Donald & Carol Mead Jerry & Polly Murphy Nancy Olsen Parkhouse Family Sally & Roger Pearson Jennifer Pfingsten Rich & Becky Pressuler Jim Ratos Tom & Janet Runty Wasco Dairy Queen Pat White Construction

Partners (under $100)

Amazing Grace Antiques Anonymous Norm & Diane Berquist Kris Conley Blackberry Creek School Dave & Rita Campbell Joe & Sherry Cruden Manda and JD Davis Phyllis Deppe Jon & Sue Diaz Elburn American Legion Bridget & Raymond Favero Tom & Mary Fink Tom & Carol Flanders Glen & Julie-Ann Fuchs Nancy Fuller

Ken & Mary Gustafson Alan Guthke Constance Harney George Horna Earl & Suzanne Johnson Lois Johnson Michael & Marie Klanang Jeannette Klotz Marcie Konen Lisa Kozikowski Blen & Perry Lakin Sandra Bauer Lay Karla Nash Rob & Myra Ottoson Carrie Petrie Jo Anne Riley John Shields Elementary Lana Ruleau Cheryl Rose Mr. & Mrs. Ron Sanders Schellinger Family Dan Schleifer Schmidt Family Ken & Sue Schultz Cindy Simpson Deborah & James Stob Kay Swift James & Marilyn Swift Diane Turrubiartes Lois Ullock Mary Unterberg Donald & Beverly Wagner Donna Wambeke Sandy & Emil Weiss David & Lynette Werdin Brian & Kathy Wetters Catherine Whiteside Elma Wilmath

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Donations In Memory Of Zach Bingham William Creed Shirley Fay Floreine Krumphotz Ron Molitor

In-Kind Donations

Always in Style Kris Conley Elburn Lions Club Zach Flanders Barb Hollmier Roger Kahl Michael & Tigger Kainz Kaneland WINS Marcie Konen Mary Konen William King Jr., Attorney Kuipers’ Family Farm John Novak & Sons Paisano’s Pizza & Grill Schollmeyer Landscaping Sensible Threadz Ken & Sue Schultz Sugar Grove BP Sugar Grove Fire Auxiliary Sugar Grove Township Neil Wallner Al Withey

Partner Churches

Elburn Congregational Family Life Church Grace United Methodist Kaneville United Methodist Lord of Life St. Gall Village Bible Church

Kaneland WINS collecting gifts for Holiday Spirit

Elburn LEOs wrapping gifts for Holiday Spirit Families

2012 Kuipers’ Chili Cook Off