Print Friendly VersionAnnual Report 2007
Ready. Willing. and Able
I n d e p e n d e n c e F i r s t ' s
2007 A n n u a l R e p o r t
OUR WORK, OUR COMMITMENT TO INDEPENDENT LIVING, DISABILITY AWARENESS AND ADVOCATING FOR CHANGE.
MORE THAN 1250 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WERE ABLE TO
IN THEIR OWN HOMES WITH PERSONAL CARE SERVICES.
59% are female.
Disability:
23% report having multiple disabilities which may extend across categories.
2% Visual Disabilities
2% Hearing Disabilities.
5% Mental Illness
86% of the people we Serve live in Milwaukee Counties.
14% live in Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington Counties.
FirstReview2007 Annual Report
Success Stories:
Homecoming for Lucy IndependenceFirst
helped Lucy to transition out of a nursing home after living there for a year and to get the community-based services she needed. Lucy is a younger woman with kids. She still requires skilled nursing services three times a day and personal assistance services for 7.5 hours a day, but is so much happier living in her parents' home, rather than in a nursing home. As a result, she has become more social and it has strengthened her relationship with her children.
Not Just Fun and Games A father came to IndependenceFirst looking for recreation for his son. His son had an unusual growth disorder along with balance problems. He didn't want to play team sports because he is so big for his age. Our Sports/Recreation Coordinator had them come to our downhill ski lessons. The son was successful, had fun and built his confidence, which should assist him to try other new things without fear.
Making the Grade A young man with a learning disability was having trouble in college, and sought accommodation ideas from IndependenceFirst Assistive Technology Coordinator. His grades were low and he was in danger of not being admitted to his major. Staff identified computer software and some accessible office supplies that might be helpful to him. He called several months later to report that the ideas had helped. His grades had gone up enough that he was admitted to his major!
Talking The Talk The IndependenceFirst
Computer Recycling Coordinator worked with a consumer who has autism and is nonverbal but needed a computer to communicate. This low-income consumer had lost everything in a house fire. The Coordinator was able to provide him with a computer, speakers, printer, scanner and internet access. Now he is able to make his needs known and to communicate independently.
From Hardly Working, to Working Hard
An IndependenceFirst Benefits Specialist had a consumer who has quadriplegia. He was working as a professor but needed a new van to accommodate his power-chair. While waiting to get a new van, he could not work. The Benefits Specialist helped him to write a Plan for Achieving Self Supports (PASS) to purchase an adapted van. The consumer was approved for the van, can now purchase it and resume his work as a professor.
There's No Place Like Home The IndependenceFirst Housing Specialist received a referral from Midwest Dialysis for a consumer who needed housing immediately. The consumer was no longer ambulatory and couldn't wait on the long list for subsidized housing. Half an hour later this consumer and daughter showed up in the Housing Specialist's office. She called a landlord and got an upper apartment until the lower unit becomes available. They were able to get the apartment within an hour.
IINDEPENDENCEFIRST'S ANNUAL POWER LUNCH FEATURED SINGER/ACTOR BEN VEREEN AND DREW INTO THE POWER OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AS A WORKFORCE, A MARKET
In depth assistance was extended to 2,198 individuals with disabilities, empowering them to meet their goals for independent living.
5,148 phone calls and emails requesting information and referrals were answered, demonstrating that IndependenceFirst is metro Milwaukee's FIRST resource on access and independent living for people with disabilities.
More than 1,250 people with disabilities were able to live their lives with dignity on their own terms, in their own homes or apartments, with Personal Assistance Services.
Nursing Home Transition: 61 people with disabilities transitioned out of nursing homes or other institutions back into the community – their preferred residence.
IndependenceFirst hired a Youth Specialist to encourage leadership skills among young people with disabilities under age 25. Goals include employment, higher education, skills development, independent living and self-advocacy.
Seven Advocacy Teams meet regularly to promote inclusion and to enhance services in the areas of disability rights, accessibility, housing, long-term care, employment, and domestic violence and sexual assault prevention for people with disabilities.
257 people with disabilities learned more about home ownership, and seven people with disabilities qualified for down payment assistance to realize their dream of home ownership.
Effective Communication: IndependenceFirst interpreted personal consultations and translated printed materials into Russian, Spanish, Hmong, French and American Sign Language for non-English speaking people with disabilities and their families.
117 persons with disabilities obtained low-interest loans to purchase assistive technology equipment or modifications through the WisLoan Program IndependenceFirst is a leader in polling place accessibility advocacy and worked with the Election Commission to meet the needs of voters with disabilities. Voter registration information was offered to every consumer in our Independent Living Services department.
ABOUT 800 BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. PARTICIPANTS LEARNED HOW TO TAP FORCE, AND A GROUP THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE DIVERSITY OF OUR METRO AREA.
Benefits Counseling: 440 people with disabilities received keeps 8,000 readers informed on a quarterly basis. information to help them make informed choices about the impact of earned income on their benefits.
Advocacy Action News, which keeps readers informed about rights and legislative issues affecting people with disabilities, was distributed to over 5,000 people
each month.
First Facts, a monthly e-newsletter which encourages the hiring of people with disabilities, was distributed to more than 450 area employers.
Over 100 adults and teens with disabilities attended classes on abuse awareness and prevention, learning about personal boundaries, inappropriate behaviors and how to say "No" and report abuse.
Disability Mentoring Day matched 85 students with a mentor for a day-long job shadowing experience in the career of their choice, an important step toward advancing employment goals.
Approximately 300 UW-Milwaukee faculty and staff were educated on issues of disability/accommodation affecting students, including accessibility and universal design for media, materials and equipment. This information will be used to improve services for people with disabilities at UWM.
In collaboration with SEWASP, our Wheelchair Sports and Adaptive Recreation Program provided 84 downhill ski lessons to 39 participants who realized that they, too, can enjoy skiing!
The program offers many other adaptive sports as well.
Six people with disabilities completed internships at IndependenceFirst or other workplaces in the Milwaukee area, and another 48 people were assisted in reaching their employment goals.
16 Advocacy Training Workshops taught 160 individuals with disabilities how to speak up for themselves and the issues that affect them.
Staff and consumers provided testimony on disability-related issues and impending legislation 741 times.
Our AODA Project conducted education and technical assistance about Deaf, Deaf/Blind and Hard of Hearing people for AODA treatment providers throughout Wisconsin, and provided ASL interpreters for AA, NA and other peer recovery groups.
194 Independent Living Classes taught people with disabilities important life skills, including time management, decision-making, financial literacy, and more.
OUR DONORS
Grants/Contracts
Abri Health Services
AT&T Excellerator
Helen Bader Foundation, Inc.
Chicago Federal Home Loan Bank
Patrick & Anna M. Cudahy Fund
Employment Resources, Inc.
FACETS
Greater Milwaukee Foundation
- Thomas C. & Sandra K. Dunst Fund
- Eugene Hayman Independencefirst Fund
- Catherine & Walter LindsayFoundation Fund
Greektown Casino
Hnedak Bobo Group
Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee
i-Care
Independent living Council of Wisconsin
Ladish Co. Foundation
Managed Health Services
Milwaukee County Community
Development Block Grant
Milwaukee County — Dept of Aging (Family Care)
Jane Bradley Pettit Foundation
Potowatomi Casino
Public Service Commission of WI
Rockwell Automation Charitable Corporation
Lucy and Jack Rosenberg Philanthropic Fund
Stackner Family Foundation
State of WI Dept of Health & Family Services
- Division of Children & Family Services
- Division of Disability & Elderly Services
State of WI Dept of Workforce Development
- Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Supportive Community Services
U.S. Dept. of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women
U.S. Social Security Administration
United Community Center
United HealthCare
United Way of Greater Milwaukee, Inc.
Vera Institute of Justice
Volunteer Services for the Visually Handicapped
Waukesha County Community
Development Block Grant
Wheelchair Recycling Project
Windhover Foundation
Wisconsin Coalition of Independent living Centers
2007 POWER LUNCH
Major Sponsors
Forest County Potawatomi Community Foundation
Johnson Controls, Inc.
M&l Bank
Northwestern Mutual Foundation
Gifts $1000 and over
Anonymous
Arizona Bridge to Independent living
Associated Bank ATID Properties
Robert W. Baird & Co. Foundation
Community Bank & Trust
Lois & Donald Cottrell Fund
Foley & Lardner
Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin
Fran Halas
Harley-Davidson Motor Company
Eugene & Norma Hayman
Interfaith Older Adult Programs
Journal Communications
Kubala Washatko Architects, Inc.
Gerry & Elaine Mainman
Managed Health Services (Centene Mgmt.)
Manpower Foundation, Inc.
Barbara Markoff
Michael Best & Friedrich
Milwaukee Aging Consortium
Milwaukee County Executive's Office
David Moskol
Mutual of America
Northwestern Mutual
Park Bank Foundation, Inc.
Push America
Reilly, Penner & Benton LLP
Cheryl Sensenbrenner
Charles & Kristin Severson
United Community Center
US Bank
US Bank Championship Milw.
Vulcan Global Mfg. Solutions
We Energies
Weekes Forest Products, Inc.
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare
$500-$999
Adaptive Community Approach
Community Care, Inc.
Crisis Prevention Institute
Dept. of Health & Family Services
Evan & Marion Helfaer
Foundation
Moshe & Debra Katz
Lori Knapp Companies
Charles & Donna Luber
Scott Luber
Milwaukee Times Weekly Newspaper
North Carolina Div. on Aging & Adult Svcs.
Post-Polio Resource Group of SE Wisconsin
Dan & Julie Rosenfeld
Richard L Weiss
$250-$499
Andrew & Paulette Mint
Barbara J. Blinderman
Doolittle Charitable Trust
Albert C. Elser
Frank & Susan Gedelman
Barbara Hamm
Hawes/Shapiro Family
Foundation, Inc.
Jane Hawes
House of Ruth Maryland, Inc.
James & Angela Jodie
Lori Knapp, Inc.
Herbert H. Kohl Charities, Inc
Betty & Sidney Lieberman
Robert E and Adeline Majszak
Shellisa D. McMurray
Richard Pieper
Kathleen D. Ryan
Noreen A. Ryan
John M. Schmid
James Schwertfeger
Synergy Health West Bend Clinic
Tobie & Roxan Tyler
Unico Group, Inc.
Martha M. Valerio
Stephen C. White
$100-$249
Abri Health Plan
Alderman Michael Murphy
Amy E. Ambrose
Atlas Development Corporation
Badger Association of the Blind
Geraldine Biller
Mary A. Birdsall-Jay
Vincent & Linda Bobot
Paul & Wendy Bonaiuto
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee
Robert & Cheryl Burger
Cardinal Capital Management
Molly Cisco
Ralph & Barbara Delforge
DVR
Connie Eastman
Doreen K. Eicher
Bob & Eve Eiseman
Sarah Enwald
First Capital Surety & Trust
Fuel Milwaukee
Morris C. Henderson, Jr.
Linda Hillebrand
Housing Authority - City of Milwaukee
Michael Jannusch
Pat Jerominski
Ronald & Patricia Jodat
Charles & Patti Kahn
Jeanne W. Kahn
Betty Kelly
William & Lee Ann Kingston
Joanne Kolodzik
Ron Kuramoto
Nicole Kurowski
liberty Resources, Inc.
Literary Services
Abby Lorenz
Sylvia Luber
Alan & Rita Marcuvitz
Masterlink Corporation
Barbara McDermott
Gale & Sunny Mendeloff
Milwaukee Area Technical College
John Mitchell
Carol G. Morriss
Lila Aryan Photography
Sheila L Ashley
Al Balinsky
David Barash
Irvin & Margery H. Becker
Edward & Barbara Beckert
Christy A. Brooks
Sandy Brusin
Anderlyne M. Canada
David & Mary Carol Cannon
CILWW
Katie Clark
Donald V. Cohen
Combined Federal Campaign of Eastern WI
Pamela Conine
Michael & Barbara Corriveau
Yoshiko Dart
Dept. of Workforce Development
Carrie L Diener
Jacquelyn L Diener
Carol Ellis
Gregory Enes
Terry Flanagan
William & Barbara Foy
Steve French
Robert & Rhonda M. Friday
Froedtert and Medical College
James H. Ganser
James & Jean Garfield
Joshua L Gentine
Ann M. Gerlach
Laura Goeden
Thomas Gonring
Michele Haas
Richard & Jackie Heise
Rich Hepner
Al & Terri Hornik
Louise Jaeckels
Marianne Jodie
Thomas & Kathleen Johnson
Lynnea Katz-Petted
Amy L Keil
Thomas & Pamela Kell
Kenosha News
Marianne King
Duane & Katherine Kobs
Komisar Brady & Co.
Deborah Kucay
Anthony M. Kuchan
Randall S. Lambrecht
Lamplight Farms, Inc.
Thomas & Debra Langham
John & Catherine Lelinski
Elliot Lubar
Sari E. Luber
Geri L Lyday
Marvin & Ann A. Margolis
Diane P. Markoff
Wendy Mathison
Selma Mechanic
Mental Health America of Wisconsin
Mental Health Assn: Madison
Milwaukee Repertory Theater
Mary Mitchell
Larry Moore
Rudolph & Jane Moravcik
Rita Mrozinski
Mary Ellen Muth
Janan M. Najeeb
Tony & Fay A. Palkowski
Tony Palkowski
Personal Touch Marketing, Inc.
Margaret M. Pinchar
Laurel Pritzlaff
Progress Center for Independent living
Jaime Reeve
Ruth Reines-Seghers
Lisa Roehl
Roethel & Associates, Inc.
Lucille Rosenberg
Rotary Club of Milwaukee, Inc.
Roundy's Supermarkets-We Care'Program
Alyson Urdahl Sanchez
Diane Schacht
Eleanor M. Schroeder
Patricia Sobczyk
Howard Sosoff
Rose Purpero Spang
Stanislaus L Spence
Toni Spot!
Patti Stengel
Michael & Karen Stiles
Stowell Associates, Inc.
SW Center for Independent Living
Angeline A. Tesch
Janet Theodor
Tri-Marq Communications, Inc.
United Cerebral Palsy of SE WI
Thomas Uyehara
Jo Ann Vetter
Anne Wall
George Wendorf
Western Bilingual Employment Services
Jack Winters
Patricia Ann Yahle
Tribute Gifts
In Honor of Scott Luber Alan & Rita Marcuvitz
In Memory of Richard Barthel Tobie & Roxan Tyler
In Memory of Dale Block Tobie & Roxan Tyler
In Memory of Jesse Cruz Tobie & Roxan Tyler
In Memory of Fred Greasby Tobie & Roxan Tyler
In Memory of Michael Liscke Chris & Barbara White
In Memory of Arthur Nyquist Doris A. Nyquist
In Memory of Michael Parker
William Lee Ann Kingston
James & Donna landwehr
Diana Sullivan
Tobie & Roxan Tyler
Chris & Barbara White
In Memory of David Priitzlaff Margaret M. Pinchar
Inkind
2007 Power Lunch
A Net Leaf
Alters Coffee Roasters
Art & Oddities
Barossa
Office of the Commissioner of Major League Baseball
Belle Dori
Betty Brinn Children's Museum
Birthdays Plus
Debbie Bodden
Carey Limosine
Philip & Stephanie Chard
OUR DONORS
Charles Allis & Villa Terrace Museums
Chip & Py's Restaurant
Christine's Flowers
Coquette Cafe
Historic Concordia Neighbors
Cafe LaSrala Restaurant-lcc
Jackson Grill
Joey's Italian Restaurant
Joseph Armeli Enterprises
Computer Recycling
Astronautics Corp. of America
Brenda Auterman
Andrew & Paulette Balint
Richard Berndt
Thomas & Margaret Knitter
Andrea Koebernik
Susan Kowalski
Gloria Leon
Libris, Inc.
Richard Lokken
John Luecke
M & I Trust Company
Teri Malmarowski
James Marten
Medical College of WI
Metro Caster
Gary Milland
Milwaukee Aging Consortium
Milwaukee Center for Independence
Donna Murray
Leslie A. Myers
Northern Instrument
Pacq, Inc.
John Palmer Smith
James Patzer
Patrick Patzer
Planning Council Council For HHS
Poblocki Paving Corp.
Core/El Centro
Danceworks, Inc.
Delafield Hotel
Elite Fitness & Racquet Clubs
Elm Grove Inn
Emperor of China
Carole Ferrara
Florentine Opera
Flowers ala Carte
Grove Restaurant
Harley-Davidson Motor Company
Hawks Nursery
Hector's on Delaware
Ko-Thi Dance Company
Locker's Florist
Milwaukee Admirals
Milwaukee Art Museum
Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee County Parks
Milwaukee Repertory Theater
Milwaukee Wave
Milwaukee World Festivals, Inc.
Next Act Theatre
Penelope's Restaurant
Racine Danish Kringle
Renaissance Theaterworks
Scarvaci Florists & Gift Shoppe
South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center
Special Editions
Sprecher Brewing, Inc.
Venice Club
Von Stiehl
We Energies
Barbara & Christopher White
YMCA
Zoological Society of Milwaukee County
Bottom Line Marketing & Public Relations
Patti Cabrera
Nicole Camosy
Carey Limosine
Cindy Chrisbaum
Barbara J. Collignon
Tom Conlin
Phillip Corona
Cream City Ribbon
Sheri Cybela
Lee Ann Fellows
Robert & Rhonda M. Friday
James & Jean Garfield
Frank & Susan Gedelman
Chris Geiger
Charles Graves
Hanson Dodge Creative
Russ & Joanne Hanson
IEA, Inc.
Harley-Davidson
Stephen G. & Kathleen Jaeckels
Japanese American Service Committee
Jim Bergmann & Associates
Ann Polakowski
Public Service Commission of WI
John Reske
Ann Ristevo
Rockwell Automation
Carla Roden
Mike Shawgo
Claire Siebold
Max Siker
Jack & Debra Spear
Olive Garden
Margaret (Midge) Pinchar
Red Lobster
Residence Inn By Marriott
Ruelle's Furniture Center
Diana Sullivan
Nicole Uyehara
Barbara & Christopher White
Billie Jo Zawahir
Shannon Zima
Statement of Activities
Year Ended December 31, 2007
R E V E N U E
U.S. Department of Education
Center for Independent Living 305,978
U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Violence Against Women 59,402
Social Security Administration
Benefits Counseling 43,324
WIPA 115,987
State of Wisconsin
Center for Independent Living (Part C) 31,370
WisTech - Assistive Technologies 59,212
Worker Relocation 76,454
AODA Intervention 114,978
Domestic Abuse 35,497
United Way 44,526
Personal Assistance Program 24,902,748
Foundations / Grants 135,136
Entepreneurial Efforts 76,022
Investment Income 923,261
Fund Development 140,864
Other Revenue 95,892
Total Revenue 27,160,651
EXPENSE S
Salaries / Burdens 23,891,997
Operational 1,723,816
Contractual Services 572,736
General / Administrative Expenses 883,458
Total Expenses 27,072,007
Change in Net Assets 88,644
Net Assets, Beginning of the Year (Adj) 17,072,999
NET ASSETS, END OF YEAR 17,161,643
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