Richard J. NoriegaPresident & CEO

Dear Friends,

In this annual report we celebrate the successes and accomplishments of our program sites and the families we served in 2011. AVANCE reached over 24,000 families and increased revenue over $8.5 million. We received the Best Practices award from the Texas Association of Parent Educators for our signature Parent-Child Education Program (PCEP). We are especially proud that we ranked 10th in Hispanic Business Magazine’s Top 25 Hispanic Nonprofit Organizations in the country.

This past year we saw tremendous growth. We held a national press conference in Washington D.C. to announce the expansion of the PCEP into seven new states and are set to expand to eight more sites over the next three years. AVANCE is on target to take the evidence-based program across the country and are very grateful to our funders, board members, over 900 employees, plus volunteers and especially our extended families who made 2011 one of the best years in AVANCE’s history. We thank each of you for your continued guidance and support.

Sincerely,

Toy making is a vital part of the AVANCE PCEP model. The pillow becomes alearning tool for a parent to use to teach counting, color recognition and to help develop their child’s emotional and fine motor skills.

www.avance.orgfacebook.com/AVANCEinctwitter.com/AVANCEinc

avance Happy/Sad Face pillow

Dean AguillenBoard Chairman

Our MissiOn

Unlocking America’s potential by strengthening families in at-risk communities through

effective parent education and support programs

Our VisiOn

We envision a future where we live in a world where children and parents advance to their

full potential, transforming the communities in which we live

AVANCE, Inc.National Office118 N. Medina

San Antonio, TX 78207(210) 270-4630 office(210) 270-4636 fax

AVANCE (ah-vahn-ceh) is one of the oldest, largest and most distinguished parenting and early childhood education programs in the country. Since 1973, the non-profit organization has continued to provide parent-child education and family support services to predominantly Hispanic families. Recognized by the White House, three First Ladies, and numerous media sources as an effective model to be replicated nationally, AVANCE has assisted over one million people across the country. The National Office provides administrative support, education and training; acts as the research arm for chapters and licensees; and oversees the expansion of the AVANCE Parent-Child Education program.

AVAnCE at a Glance

A Year of Accomplishments

AVANCE-Corpus Christi, in their 14th year of operation, served 1,881 families in the Coastal Bend area. It served 1,732 adults in the Cadena de Madres Program (prenatal education program), graduated 67 parents and children from the PCEP and served 82 families in the Healthy Marriage program. Another major milestone was the successful expansion of services that included opening two satellite offices to serve four additional counties; Jim Wells, Kleberg, Bee and Victoria. The Chapter successfully completed its five year Healthy Marriage program which served over 300 couples and their children. Lastly, the Chapter was awarded $175,800 from the City of Corpus Christi to finish construction of its new education learning center.

AVANCE-Austin celebrated their 13th year providing services to families in Austin, Bastrop and the surrounding rural community. This year marked the completion of the five year Healthy Marriage program. Approximately 1,000 people received services during its tenure. The Austin Chapter provided the PCEP to 92 parents and 111 children at 3 sites, and ended the program year with a waiting list of over 60 families. To date, services have been expanded to an additional two new elementary schools, helping to transform high-crime economically depressed neighborhoods into ones where families are contributing and their children are succeeding academically.

Dallas ISD Texas Assessment of Knowledge & Skills (TAKS) Results (Grades 3–11)

AVANCE-Dallas celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2011, which culminated with a special Anniversary Luncheon featuring former First Lady Laura Bush and her daughter Jenna Bush Hager. One of the most important successes this year was the advancement of over 1,000 children and parents through the Dallas programs. Through a partnership with Dallas Independent School District (DISD), 25 sites are operated at public schools and the school district also tracks academic achievement of AVANCE child graduates.

The chart below represents 846 AVANCE-Dallas child graduates who were tracked through the DISD in grade levels ranging from pre-kindergarten to eleventh grade between 1997 and 2008. As this chart indicates, AVANCE graduates consistently outperform their DISD peers in Reading and Math.

AVANCE-El Paso is proud to have served 707 children and 672 parents at 17 locations throughout El Paso County during the 2010-2011 program year. A total of 623 parents and children graduated from the program, and 46 parents obtained their GED through AVANCE partnerships. The Chapter also partners with the local school district to obtain classroom space and track AVANCE graduates. 2012 will mark their 15th anniversary.

“AVANCE is making a difference because it links literacy with essential life skills.”

Former First Lady Laura BushKeynote Speaker, AVANCE-Dallas Annual Luncheon June 3, 2011

The chart below represents 131 AVANCE-El Paso child graduates who were tracked through EISD. AVANCE-El Paso graduates outperformed their peers in Writing, Math and Science.

AVANCE-Houston operates 19 sites and offers services at four additional partnering school sites. In 2011 they served almost 4000 families and launched “GED on the Move” to help parents obtain their GED and gain access to post- secondary career options. They also awarded the first scholarship for post-secondary training, to date, ten students have continued their education beyond the GED. In addition, the Chapter opened three new sites, earned their 3rd NAEYC accreditation and expanded the Hardy Center to include Early Head Start services. A mentoring and tutoring program was also launched, a donated vehicle was awarded to an AVANCE family and, with support from the National Office, services were extended to two cities along the Texas border.

El Paso ISD Texas Assessment of Knowledge & Skills (TAKS) Results (Grades 3–9)

AVANCE-Waco was awarded several foundation and community grants in the 2010-2011 fiscal year which helped to address the elimination of the Texas Education Agency funds. During their ninth year of operation the chapter served 339 participants through Even Start, GED/ESL (English as Second Language) and the Parent-Child Education Program.

AVANCE-Rio Grande Valley is located in deep South Texas along the border of Mexico. One of the most rural and poorest communities in Texas, many families live in substandard housing areas known as Colonias without running water or electricity. AVANCE strives to aid these families by offering them a range of services including ChildFund International Services, YES (Youth Education Service) Clubs and EL (English Literacy) Civics classes. There are 12 YES Club sites and five EL Civics sites throughout four rural counties serving approximately 1,500 families and over 3,000 children annually and starting in 2012, the Cadena de Madres program will be offered.

AVANCE-New Mexico joined the AVANCE family in 2007 and provided the PCEP at 21 sites in southern New Mexico. One of their strengths is funding from an AmeriCorps grant received through the New Mexico Commission of Community Volunteerism. The grant, along with local contributions, allowed them to expand services to an additional 200 families. In 2011, 139 adults and 189 children graduated from the Parent-Child Education Program.

AVANCE-San Antonio is the oldest site at 38 years young and is proud to announce that in 2011, 476 parents and children graduated from their PCEP. Additionally, 248 parents graduated from a five week Financial Literacy Advancement Program. The Chapter also offers Early On, Early Headstart, and Head start classes. This year was also a milestone for the newly implemented Services to Fathers Program that graduated 20 Fathers for successful completion of the 12-week Curriculum. In total, 2,800 parents and children received services.

LICENSEES The AVANCE PCEP program was offered through four licensees in California: First 5 in Santa Barbara County (4 sites), First 5 in Sonoma County (4 sites), Centro La Familia in Fresno (2 sites) and Somos Mayfair in San Jose. These sites served over 225 adults and 210 children in the 2010-2011 fiscal year. During the summer, AVANCE National staff traveled to California to conduct six days of training for the Parent-Child Education Program to First 5 staff of Santa Barbara and Sonoma Counties.

AVAnCE Program Expansion

UNLOCKING AMERICA’S POTENTIAL PROJECT (UAPP)2011 saw the undertaking of an unprecedented expansion of the AVANCE Parent-Child Education Program. With a $12.6 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, AVANCE expanded the PCEP into seven states. Three research partners were chosen to implement a study to adapt the PCEP for use in their multi-cultural communities: an African-American site at the Excellence Foundation for Parents and Children Inc. in New York, a Hispanic non-Mexican site at La Casa de Don Pedro in New Jersey and a Native American Site at Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior - Chippewa in Minnesota. The National Institute of Early Education Research (NIEER) will conduct the longitudinal study. The other four sites were selected based on their alignment with AVANCE’s mission and their ability to sustain the program. They are re-grant partners; ASPIRA in Florida, El Buen Pastor Latino Community Services in North Carolina, Casa Guanajuato in Illinois, and Ready by Five - Partnership for Early Learning in Washington.

Congressman Charles A. Gonzalez, along with AVANCE staff, research and re-grant partners, made the official announcement of the UAPP at the National Press Club in Washington D.C.

AVAnCEProgram

sites

photo by John Burgess

NatioNal Board of directors

2010 - 2011

officersDean Aguillen, Chairman

Patricia Spencer Potyka, Vice ChairwomanBerthy Aguirre-Corral, Secretary

Nicolas Medina, TreasurerOlga Llamas Rodriguez, Parliamentarian

DEAn AGuillEnOgilvy Government Relations

PEtE CArrillOSilicon Valley Advisors LLC

BErthY AGuirrE-COrrAlTime Warner Cable

JOE DE lA GArzAComerica

rOBErt M. ErBriCkWest Houston Energy Consultants

CElEstE GuErrA, JDLaw Office of Rene Ramirez and

Celeste Guerra

AnA (ChA) GuzMAn, PhDPalo Alto College

CYnthiA hErnAnDEz, PhDBaylor University

JOrGE hErrErAHerrera Law Firm

niCOlAs MEDinAExxon-Mobil Corporation

PAtriCiA sPEnCEr POtYkATexas Campus Compact

stEVEn A. rAMOsNational Society of Hispanic MBAs

OlGA llAMAs rODriGuEz Port of Houston Authority

thOMAs i. stAntOnBernard & Audre Rapoport Foundation

JOE s. tErnusRetired, Ternus Consulting Services

MAriA luisA VElOz

Los Angeles Universal Preschool (LAUP)

Annual Financial information, FYE June 30, 2011

stAtEMEnt OF ACtiVitiEs

Change in Unrestricted Net Assets Revenue & Other Support Grants $40,805,757 Contributions & Other Support 2,369,378 Fundraising, net of direct expenses 302,138 In-kind 7,106,285 Interest 50,991 Gain (Loss) on sale of fixed assets (18,668) Total Revenue & Other Support $50,615,881

Net assets released from restrictions - Satisfaction of program restrictions 4,633,407 Total Revenue & Other Support $55,249,288

ExPEnsEs Program Services $ 46,169,193 General & Administrative 6,495,714 Fundraising 561,283 Total Expenses $ 53,226,190

testimonialsSan Antonio Mayor Julian Castro – “In today’s 21st century global economy, brain power is the new currency of success and for the last 38 years no organization has done a better job, particularly in minority communities, of creating that brain power than AVANCE…As their work expands, I have no doubt that thousands and thousands of more young people will be able to get a great education, reach their American dream and make a fantastic contribution to our nation. It will have a profound impact not just on local communities but on the American economy.”

AVANCE-Houston Parent – “This program has changed my life and I look forward to being a role model for my children, and guide them throughout their education.”

AVANCE-San Antonio Parent – “When I was out for surgery, I was impressed with how much the AVANCE staff cared for me during my absence. Although we only come to class once a week, they would call me to check up on me to see how I was doing and that made me feel great. I’ve made a lot of friends here. My kids enjoy singing and at home we sing the “AVANCE Star,” this is always a remedy when they are feeling bad-tempered. Overall, it is a wonderful experience and I make sure to share it with anyone I know, I advertise it and I’m AVANCE’s biggest supporter. I am very proud to be a part of this program.”

Y O u C A n h E l PYou can help AVANCE unlock America’s potential.

There are numerous ways you can do so:

tell a FriendHelp spread the word. Tell your friends about AVANCE,

about our work which positively changes lives every day.

VolunteerContact us about ways you and your family and friends can help advance

the lives of children and their families in the communities where we live and work.

DonateGifts of any size to AVANCE enable us to expand our quality programs,

strengthen our outreach efforts to vulnerable children and their families, and ensure America’s children will raise our nation to become all it should be.

www.avance.org