2016, WE CAN’s 15 th year, has been one of growth on many fronts. We experienced significant increases in the number of women seeking infor- mation and services. In 2016, we served more than 2,500 women and had more than 13,500 calls, walk-ins, and inquiries, a 45% increase over 2015! This included more women from the Upper and Mid-Cape than in the past. We also served nearly 1,850 women multiple times, with different services. Thanks to support from our donors, business partners, and volunteers, we have been able to deal with these chal- lenges, as described in some of this year’s highlights, below. The best way to understand why so many women turn to WE CAN for help and to appreciate how fundamentally life-changing WE CAN’s ser- vices can be, is to learn the stories of our program participants. On the next pages of this report, you’ll read about four of these women. These women and their stories are not unusual or exceptional – they are truly representative of those whom WE CAN has helped. We launched several new pro- grams, including GROW (Get Results with Others’ Wisdom), a 6-month program, offered in Hyannis and Harwich Port, for women who have owned their businesses for 2 years or more, and who wish to strengthen and/or grow their businesses in some way. We added a third personal de- velopment workshop series, Reclaim Your Life, an 8-week program offered in Orleans, that helps women make plans to get from where they are to where they want to be. We added several new workshops, including one on student loan debt relief and preparing financial statements for Family Court, and continued our regular offerings, including one on le- gal issues facing grandparents raising grandchildren. We took steps to strengthen our ability to serve a more diverse pop- ulation, translating our materials and forms into Spanish and Portuguese, hiring a tri-lingual staff member, re- cruiting multi-lingual volunteers to provide services, and investing staff time in diversity training. Additionally, we have increased or strengthened our partnerships with local businesses in several ways, in- cluding an outreach program to let businesses and their employees know about WE CAN’s programs and services. Collaboration with other organizations continues to be a WE CAN hallmark. For example, this year we increased our collaboration with the Falmouth Service Center by adding 1-1 finan- cial and work support consultations to the legal consults we have offered there for nearly 2 years. We have also replicated our 10-month PathMaker mentoring program at Museums on the Green. And through a collaboration with Cape Cod Child Development, we have begun to offer monthly services in Hyannis. Volunteers are the heart of WE CAN. In 2016, we achieved Service Enterprise Certification, which indicates that we extensively leverage volunteers and their skills to successfully deliver on our mission. We were thrilled to receive United Way of Cape Cod’s Award for Non-Profit Excellence, in no small part a testament to our ability to ef- fectively leverage volunteer resources. All of this growth and development is a direct result of strategic planning by our board and Special Advisors and the dedication of our outstanding staff, who continue to effectively and cre- atively meet every new challenge we face. With the theme “Just Imagine”, the 12 th annual “A Day of Words, Wit and Wisdom” was truly inspiring. Thanks to sponsors and attendees, the event raised over $140,000 for WE CAN, nearly 25% of our annual budget! Once again, we have had teams par- ticipating in both the Last Gasp bike event (with Cape and Islands United Way) and the Andrea Holden Run/ Walk. These community events help both to raise funds and visibility for our work. We are tremendously grateful for the special events that others held for us, for example, a shopping event by Consigning Women; a terrific lun- cheon and fashion show done by the Chatham, Stage Harbor and Stone Horse Yacht Clubs; the premier of the film based on Joan Anderson’s “A Year by the Sea”; tournaments by the Cape Cod Women’s Golf League and the Ocean Edge Women’s Golf Association. We were especially grate- ful for three continuing events: The Current Quarterly Magazine’s fash- ion show, produced by Amanda Con- verse, the Orleans Wine and Spirit’s Grand Wine Tasting and Puritan Cape Cod and Cape Cod Magazine’s Girl’s Night Out. Thanks to Orleans Wine and Spirits, WE CAN continues to benefit from the sale of Boeri Winery’s Barbera, Chardonnay, and Moscato (with a WE CAN label on the back side) in a dozen shops on the Cape. Similarly, life coach Shayna Mahoney’s HOPE Candle and an oil and vinegar pairing from Gustare Oils and Vinegars ben- efit WE CAN. To help us keep pace with the growing demand for WE CAN programs and ser- vices and to meet the emerging needs of women from all Cape communi- ties, we recently launched WE CAN Community Builders, a way for busi- nesses or individuals to make commit- ments of $2,500 or more per year for 3 years, with 15% going to our newly established Endowment fund. We are so grateful for WE CAN Cham- pions, those individuals who make sustaining donations of $10 or more each month. Each of these supporters is tremendously important, because they allow us to plan and know that we can continue to provide our unique, effective, and empowering services to the women of Cape Cod. As of this writing, we have 91 Champions, closing in on our year-end goal of 100! WE CAN’s work is funded almost exclu- sively by individuals, businesses, and other organizations that are part of the Cape community. We are truly apprecia- tive of this support from our community. 2016 Annual Report 2016 Highlights Empowering Women Sharon K. Hawkins President, Board of Directors Andrea Genser Executive Director
Transcript
2016, WE CAN’s 15th year, has been one of growth on many fronts. We experienced significant increases in the number of women seeking infor-mation and services. In 2016, we served more than 2,500 women and had more than 13,500 calls, walk-ins, and inquiries, a 45% increase over 2015! This included more women from the Upper and Mid-Cape than in the past. We also served nearly 1,850 women multiple times, with different services. Thanks to support from our donors, business partners, and volunteers, we have been able to deal with these chal-lenges, as described in some of this year’s highlights, below.
The best way to understand why so many women turn to WE CAN for help and to appreciate how fundamentally life-changing WE CAN’s ser-vices can be, is to learn the stories of our program participants. On the next pages of this report, you’ll read about four of these women. These women and their stories are not unusual or exceptional – they are truly representative of those whom WE CAN has helped.
We launched several new pro-grams, including GROW (Get Results with Others’ Wisdom), a 6-month program, offered in Hyannis and Harwich Port, for women who have owned their businesses for 2 years or more, and who wish to strengthen and/or grow their businesses in some way. We added a third personal de-velopment workshop series, Reclaim Your Life, an 8-week program offered in Orleans, that helps women make plans to get from where they are to where they want to be. We added several new workshops, including one on student loan debt relief and preparing financial statements for Family Court, and continued our regular offerings, including one on le-gal issues facing grandparents raising grandchildren.
We took steps to strengthen our ability to serve a more diverse pop-ulation, translating our materials and forms into Spanish and Portuguese, hiring a tri-lingual staff member, re-cruiting multi-lingual volunteers to provide services, and investing staff time in diversity training.
Additionally, we have increased or strengthened our partnerships with local businesses in several ways, in-cluding an outreach program to let businesses and their employees know about WE CAN’s programs and services.
Collaboration with other organizations continues to be a WE CAN hallmark. For example, this year we increased our collaboration with the Falmouth
Service Center by adding 1-1 finan-cial and work support consultations to the legal consults we have offered there for nearly 2 years. We have also replicated our 10-month PathMaker mentoring program at Museums on the Green. And through a collaboration with Cape Cod Child Development, we have begun to offer monthly services in Hyannis.
Volunteers are the heart of WE CAN. In 2016, we achieved Service Enterprise Certification, which indicates that we extensively leverage volunteers and their skills to successfully deliver on our mission. We were thrilled to receive United Way of Cape Cod’s Award for Non-Profit Excellence, in no small part a testament to our ability to ef-fectively leverage volunteer resources.
All of this growth and development is a direct result of strategic planning by our board and Special Advisors and the dedication of our outstanding staff, who continue to effectively and cre-atively meet every new challenge we face.
With the theme “Just Imagine”, the 12th annual “A Day of Words, Wit and Wisdom” was truly inspiring. Thanks to sponsors and attendees, the event raised over $140,000 for WE CAN, nearly 25% of our annual budget! Once again, we have had teams par-ticipating in both the Last Gasp bike event (with Cape and Islands United Way) and the Andrea Holden Run/Walk. These community events help both to raise funds and visibility for our work.
We are tremendously grateful for the special events that others held for us, for example, a shopping event by Consigning Women; a terrific lun-cheon and fashion show done by the Chatham, Stage Harbor and Stone Horse Yacht Clubs; the premier of the film based on Joan Anderson’s “A Year by the Sea”; tournaments by the Cape Cod Women’s Golf League and the Ocean Edge Women’s Golf Association. We were especially grate-ful for three continuing events: The Current Quarterly Magazine’s fash-ion show, produced by Amanda Con-verse, the Orleans Wine and Spirit’s Grand Wine Tasting and Puritan Cape Cod and Cape Cod Magazine’s Girl’s Night Out.
Thanks to Orleans Wine and Spirits, WE CAN continues to benefit from the sale of Boeri Winery’s Barbera, Chardonnay, and Moscato (with a WE CAN label on the back side) in a dozen shops on the Cape. Similarly, life coach Shayna Mahoney’s HOPE Candle and an oil and vinegar pairing from Gustare Oils and Vinegars ben-efit WE CAN.
To help us keep pace with the growing demand for WE CAN programs and ser-vices and to meet the emerging needs of women from all Cape communi-ties, we recently launched WE CAN
Community Builders, a way for busi-nesses or individuals to make commit-ments of $2,500 or more per year for 3 years, with 15% going to our newly established Endowment fund.
We are so grateful for WE CAN Cham-pions, those individuals who make sustaining donations of $10 or more each month. Each of these supporters is tremendously important, because they allow us to plan and know that we can continue to provide our unique, effective, and empowering services to the women of Cape Cod. As of this writing, we have 91 Champions, closing in on our year-end goal of 100!
WE CAN’s work is funded almost exclu-sively by individuals, businesses, and other organizations that are part of the Cape community. We are truly apprecia-tive of this support from our community.
2016 Annual Report
2016 Highlights
Empowering Women
Sharon K. Hawkins President, Board of Directors
Andrea Genser Executive Director
Information and Referral When a woman calls WE CAN, the first thing we do is listen. Our staff and volunteers are skilled at understanding each woman’s situation. Through our extensive referral network, we can direct her to the most comprehensive set of resources she needs, including, naturally, WE CAN programs and services. Roberta lost her home to foreclosure and was living in an unheated bike shop in her brother’s back yard, essentially homeless.
“I truly didn’t believe another bunch of cheery do-gooders could help me find a place to live where I could keep both of my dogs. But I was desperate, so I gave WE CAN a call. Without the gentle pushing and guidance through the morass of government and other agencies I don’t know where I would be. WE CAN gave me hope when I was depressed, gave me a map to follow out of my despair, and gave me the tools I needed to make a good thing happen. As a result, I—and my two dogs—have a wonderful subsidized apartment in Province- town now. Information and Referral services are VITAL!”
There are hundreds of non-profits and many other resources on the Cape. Add to those, applications and other forms that may be important, and it’s easy to understand how a woman might need assistance not only identifying the resources she needs, but also help navigating through them all. As Roberta’s story demonstrates, WE CAN’s Information and Referral service can be life-changing!
Mentoring with PathMakers For this 10-month program, women (called PathMakers) are paired with Mentor-ing Partners through a speed dating-like process so that the PathMaker can be completely involved in the selection of her Mentoring Partner. The Mentoring Partners are volunteers who support PathMakers on their journey of transition and personal growth. Each pair meets individually and the entire group comes together monthly, for workshops. There are also monthly meetings for the Men-toring Partners to facilitate sharing experiences with each other and to help support them in their roles as mentors. PathMaker graduates have returned to school, bought homes, published books, and started their own businesses. Many women also join the program for added support as they travel through a difficult life transition such as a serious illness, personal loss, or challenging divorce. One recent PathMaker graduate, June, had begun a fashion design busi-ness when she learned that her daughter had a medical issue that would require much more attention over the next few years. But instead of putting the cloth-ing design business on hold, she transitioned to create an accessories brand and business. This allows her to care for her daughter, continue to be creative, and build a successful business.
“Because of my experience with WE CAN, it wasn’t a question of ‘If I could’, it was just a question of ‘How I could’. WE CAN helped me gain confidence that I didn’t even know I was lacking and allowed me to own the drive and determination I have, that I didn’t realize I had, until I started my journey as a PathMaker.”
Legal, Financial and Work Support Services WE CAN’s volunteer attorneys and financial professionals offer low—to moderate—income women free, one-to-one legal and financial consulta-tions on a wide range of matters. Through the generosity of these volunteers, WE CAN also offers several legal and financial workshops, including one on legal issues for grandparents raising grandchildren, Family Law overview, a bankruptcy workshop with an attorney and a CPA, and one on student loan debt relief.
The agenda for all work support consultations is determined by the participant and her needs. Debra was going through four major life transitions—the loss of her mother, moving to a new area, finding work, and going through a divorce. She needed support.
“I walked through the doors of WE CAN in Harwich Port and never looked back. I began my first session with a wonderful work support volunteer. She critiqued my resume, but gave me so much more. She listened, she shared, helped me find my confidence. I left that day with several brochures about resources and programs that would give me the boost I needed.”
Like many women who turn to WE CAN for support, Debra participated in other WE CAN programs, including PathMakers. Now she has a part-time job with benefits and is developing her own property management business!
After consulting with Cape Cod SCORE, Cape Cod Young Professionals, and other Cape non-profits, WE CAN has recently launched: GROW (Get Results with Oth-ers’ Wisdom). These monthly, 3-hour workshops are for women who have owned their businesses for 2 years or more and who wish to grow their businesses in some way. GROW groups have 6-8 business owners who meet monthly for 6 months to share their experiences, knowledge, and goals while in the support of other women. The workshop series began in October, in Hyannis and Harwich.
Personal Development Programs and Support WE CAN currently offers three 8-week personal development programs. From Surviving to Thriving, offered in Harwich Port, is designed to bring women out from behind what holds them back, focus on what is important for them and their family, and to identify available opportunities. Participants develop one-month, six- month and one-year plans to achieve their goals. Design Your Life is structured to empower women to design the life they want to live. This program, offered in West Barnstable, helps participants build a fulfilling career, cultivate a passion, create financial abundance, or take on any other goal in their lives. A new 8-week program, Reclaim Your Life, helps women make plans to get from where they are to where they want to be by building clarity, confidence, and connection. Susan left a long career as a nurse and moved to the Cape to care for her ill parents. Following their deaths, she realized that she had been so absorbed in her role as a caretaker that she didn’t know who “me” was any-more. From Surviving to Thriving opened the way to rebuilding her sense of self, her confidence, and even new friendships.
“I believe I can make my life and I am discovering who ‘me’ is.”
Susan has since participated in other WE CAN programs and volunteers for the organization in various ways.
WE CAN also offers 6-session support groups in Harwich and Mashpee for wom-en in the process of, or dealing with, the aftermath of divorce or the breakup of a long-term committed relationship.
WE CAN has focused on helping Cape Cod women of all ages and life situations navigate major life transitions or crises. WE CAN’s programs and services have evolved in direct response to clear, but unmet needs in our community. Some are delivered in collaboration with other Cape non-profits. All are designed to foster independence and empower our participants to create lasting, positive change for themselves and their families.
13,589 Calls and Walk-Ins* • Situation and needs assessment
• Identification of appropriate resources
• Introductions to other service providers and resources
813 Combined Attendance *
• 10-month program offers one-to-one and group mentoring for women
• Setting and achieving individual goals
• Mutual learning and support
1,019 Program Participants *
• One-to-one consultations with an attorney, family law, landlord-tenant, wills and estates, and workshops on various aspects of family law—Harwich Port, Falmouth and Hyannis
• One-to-one consultations and workshops with financial professionals on managing money, debt, and savings planning –Harwich Port and Falmouth
• One-to-one work support consultations, from career exploration through resume prep, job interview coaching to business start up and support. —Harwich Port and Falmouth.
• GROW, six-month program for women business owners —Harwich Port and Hyannis.
675 Combined Attendance *
• “From Surviving to Thriving”, offered by Certified Professional Life Coach
• “Design Your Life”, led by LICSW and Certified Professional Life Coach
• “Reclaim your Life”, led by a Martha Beck-trained Life Coach
• Divorce Support Group
2016 Board of Directors
Sharon K. HawkinsPresident
Pam KuklaVice President
Daniel A.P. SchwenkTreasurer
Jane Teixeira-HenryClerk
Cate Casey-LaneTeri CavanaghMargie HuggardLinda MarkhamMary MorganRussell (Rick) P. MorrisDavid OppenheimLori J. PinardJanet TaylorDebbie ToddDavid Willard
2016 Special Advisors
Judith CornwellCarroll Beegan FollasSuz KarchmerAnne D. LeClaireRo Morrissey
Annual ReportPhotography: Karchmer Photo, WE CAN StaffCopywriting/Editing: Pam Kukla, Karen RyanData Analysis: Siobhan Clune, Daniel SchwenkDesign: Nest New England, Kari HallPrinting: Curley Direct
2016 Staff
Andrea GenserExecutive Director
Ivana AmatoAssistant Reception Coordinator
Siobhan CluneDevelopment Coordinator
Kara Kennedy DuffProgram Coordinator
Jane HaistVolunteer & Operations Coordinator
Tracy JohnsonProgram Coordinator
Karen RyanCommunications & Program Coordinator
Elisa WilsonProgram Director
783 Route 28 Harwich Port, MA 02646
Telephone: 508.430.8111
Fax: 888.694.6199
WECANCENTER.ORG
Comparative Data Highlights2015 & 2016
2016 Income(12 months)
2016 Expenses(12 months)
Staffing & Programs Events Building & Occupancy Professional Services Outreach
Events Individual Donors Grants Business Partners Program Participants
We apologize for any omissions or errors and trust that you will bring them to our attention. Special thanks to our program participants, who remain anonymous, but
2016 Annual Report WECANCenter.org
Last Gasp Team WE CAN/United Way
(Team Effort raised $23,418)
Jane Anderson
Ruth Anderson –Zabre
Diane Boylan
Laura S. Carah
Mike Downing
Clare Garrity
Andi Genser
Rachael Hicks
Larry Jobson
Hope LeClaire
Caitlin Littlefield
Susan Mabile
Michael McDonough
Susan Newlin
Darlene Perkins
Kathy Robbins
Catherine Showalter
Lauren Showalter Downing
George Swope
Jen Tanenbaum
Diane Todd Michienzie
Connie Van Rheenen
WE CAN Community Builders –
Three-year commitment, minimum of $2,500/ per year Cape Cod Commercial Fisherman's Alliance
Chatham Cookware/ Rebecca Segura
Chatham Ts & Chatham Clothing Company
Chatham Wayside Inn
Sharon Hawkins and Allen White
Suz and Michael Karchmer
Mahi Gold
Margo's of Osterville
Linda Markham, President, Cape Air
Rick and Donna Morris
Pine Acres Realty
Polhemus Savery DaSilva Architects Builders
Nan Poor
Dorothy A. Savarese
Heidi Schuetz & Dan Wolf
Shepley Wood Products
Janet Taylor
Whiteley Plumbing & Heating Inc.
Sara Wilson
* WE CAN Champion – Monthly/Sustaining Donors
+ WE CAN Community Builders—Three year commitment -
