Annual Report

2011

Our Piece

Of The PiePPieieOOur ur ur Of The ieie

Even though we faced a challenging economic

environment in 2011, OPP continued to transform

the lives of urban youth and to help them become

successful adults and productive members of our

community. We are truly grateful for the support

and encouragement you’ve given us in this important

work, and we’d like to share a few of this year’s major

highlights with you.

In June, our first group of students graduated from

Opportunity High School. This unique partnership

with Hartford Public Schools gives young people who

dropped out of other high schools a second chance

to earn their diplomas. There were 40 students in

the groundbreaking Class of 2011, and they’re now

finding good jobs and furthering their education at

colleges and universities. Enrollment at OHS continues

to grow, and we’re looking forward to many more

successful graduating classes in the future.

We also launched a Champions Council this year.

The council is made up of an elite group of leaders

and executives from across the Greater Hartford

region. They will help guide us as we continue to

improve our services and expand our funding

sources. We expect to add several new members

to the Champions Council in the coming year.

Finally, we’ve taken significant steps to strengthen

and enhance our organization so we can take advan-

tage of growth opportunities that arise in the future.

We named Hector Rivera our new Chief Operating

Officer, and welcomed Scott Sugarman, Director of

Educational Initiatives, and Sean Seepersad, Ph.D.,

our first full-time Researcher, to our staff. We already

have a great team at OPP, and these dynamic indi-

viduals will help us continue to improve and innovate

so we can deliver even better results for the growing

number of youth we hope to serve in the future.

Still, OPP is only part of the story. Successful youth

have parents and employers who support and care

for them. In the pages that follow, you’ll read about

three youth whose lives have been transformed by

OPP and meet the people who helped to make that

transformation possible. We promise that with your

help and support, there will many more success

stories in the years to come.

Bob Rath, President and CEO

Mike Connelly, Chair of the Board

Dear Friends,

From July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011,

OPP served 1,119 urban youth

∆

∆

Randall Williams’ mom, Minnie, cried when her son graduated from Opportunity

High School (OHS) this spring.

So did Randall.

“I made a lot of friends at OHS and I had wonderful relationships with my Youth

Development Specialist, teachers and staff,” Randall says. “I felt like I was leaving

my family.”

Randall was one of 40 students in the fi rst-ever graduating class at OHS, which

gives youth who have dropped out of other high schools a second chance to earn

a diploma.

“Randall didn’t do very well at Hartford High,” his mom admits, “but the folks at

OPP and OHS really helped him turn his life around. I think he surprised himself

by how well he did in school and the fact that he graduated with honors.”

“OHS has a very unique and supportive learning environment,” explains Mike

Nelson, one of OPP’s Youth Development Specialists at the school. “Our classes

are small, our teachers are committed, and each student has a YDS who helps

them map out their future. Everyone gets a lot of personal attention here and

the tools to succeed. We’re all very proud of what Randall accomplished. It’s been

a pleasure working with him and seeing him develop and grow. Although well

on his pathway to success, Randall still comes back to visit and we hold him up

as a role model for students at OHS today.”

This fall, Randall enrolled at Capital Community College, and again OPP was by

his side.

“Billie Augustin (OPP’s Youth Development Specialist at the college) helped us

fi ll out the paperwork Randall needed to get into school,” Minnie Williams says.

“She also helped us get fi nancial aid so Randall can focus on his studies, rather

than worrying about getting a job right away. We really appreciate everything

she’s done for us.”

“We know that college can be a challenge, even for a good student like Randall,”

Augustin says. “That’s why we do everything we can to make the transition from

high school as smooth as possible. And, since I’m at the college every day, I can

keep an eye on Randall. I’m pleased to report that he’s doing very well so far.”

This is just the start of Randall Williams’ journey. “I love animals and I want to be

a zoologist some day,” he says. “Before I went to OHS, I didn’t think that would

be possible. Now, thanks to Mike and Billie and my mom, I don’t believe there

are any limits on what I can do.”

Randall Williams

First Class

First Class

First Class

First Class

∆

95% of students

at Opportunity High School earned more credits

than they did at their previous school ∆

∆ 89% of youth enroll in an

Associate’s, Bachelor’s or vocational program ∆

Featured with Randall Williams left to right: Mike Nelson, Minnie Williams, and Billie Augustin.

Isiah Vinters understands that he’s one of the lucky ones. “I’ve got a great job,

I work with people I like, and I have plenty of opportunities to advance if I keep

doing the right things. Not everyone can say that in today’s economy.”

Vinters, who was featured in an article in the Wall Street Journal about young

people getting their fi rst job, has been working at the Shop Rite supermarket

in East Hartford, CT for the past eight months. He was recently promoted to a

new position in the Produce Department.

“Isiah is a natural for an organization like ours, where customer service is the

foundation for our success,” says Jordan Cohen Coe, who, along with her family,

owns and operates the Shop Rite in East Hartford and another supermarket in

Manchester. “Isiah is effi cient, friendly and always has a positive attitude. No-one

at the store was surprised when he received an Exceptional Experience© Award

(a copyrighted recognition program at Shop Rite) after only eight weeks on the job.”

There are other keys to his success as well. “I spent four months at OPP learning

the skills I’d need to land a job and be successful once I was hired,” Vinters says.

“I was also very fortunate to have Robert Felder open the door for me.”

“My role is to be an ambassador to the workplace,” explains Felder, who has been

an Employment Specialist at OPP since 2009. “Because we have a solid relation-

ship with Jordan, as well as many other employers in the Hartford area, I was able

to get Isiah an internship at Shop Rite last summer. They liked his work, and hired

him as an associate at the store. Clearly, he’s using his natural abilities, and the

skills he learned at OPP, to full advantage.”

“My family, and our Human Resources team, has a long history of working with

youth in the Hartford area, and I’m proud to carry on that tradition,” says Cohen

Coe, who recently joined OPP’s Board of Directors. “There’s no doubt that the

requirements of our business will keep changing, but I’m confi dent OPP will

continue to prepare bright young people like Isiah who will be able to meet our

needs seamlessly.”

“Working at Shop Rite has already been a great experience for me,” Vinters says,

“and I really appreciate all the help and support I’ve gotten from Robert and

Jordan. But what’s really exciting is that I’m starting to see opportunities for the

future that I never even knew existed before. It’s really amazing what you can do

when good people believe in you.”

Isiah Vinters

when good people believe in you.”

One of the

Lucky Ones

80% of youth are

graduating

high sc

hool with

in four y

ears

∆

∆ 73% of youth maintained

meaningful employment for

t

welve months or more∆ ∆

Featured with Isiah Vinters left to right: Jordan Cohen Coe and Robert Felder.

Jay Watkins took a slightly different route to OPP than many other youth:

he was referred by his probation offi cer. “I got into trouble when I was 17,”

Watkins admits, “and I ended up in the Corrections System. Marlowe Barnes

and OPP gave me a chance to turn my life around, and my mom made sure

I didn’t waste the opportunity.”

“Jay was 17 years old, with no job and no education when he was referred to OPP,”

recalls Donna Forrester, Jay’s mom. “The fi rst thing we did was make sure he

fi nished high school. He didn’t graduate until he was 19, because he had to repeat

his senior year, but seeing him get his diploma in June was one of the proudest

moments of my life.”

“We wanted to make sure Jay was prepared to take the next steps when he

fi nished high school, so we enrolled him in OPP’s Career Competency Develop-

ment Training while he was at Hartford Public High,” explains Marlowe Barnes,

a Youth Development Specialist who works with hard-to-engage criminally-

involved youth. “Jay is defi nitely a fast learner: he landed two jobs this summer

and started college in September.”

Finding a job wasn’t easy, Watkins admits. “I decided I wouldn’t take ‘no’ for

an answer. Once I put in an application, I would go back two or three times a

week to follow up. Both my mom and Marlowe told me that persistence would

pay off, and they were defi nitely right about that. My days are very busy right

now, but I’ve never been happier.”

In September, Watkins began taking a full course load at Capital Community

College. “Billie Augustin (the Youth Development Specialist at the college, who

also works with Randall Williams) helped us with admissions and fi nancial aid,

which was a real blessing,“ Forrester says. “College is a lot tougher for Jay than

high school, but he’s a good student, and I know that he’ll continue to do well.”

“OPP is very special, because we can stay close to young people for years and

provide a wide range of resources to help them keep their lives on track and

become successful,” says Barnes. “Even better, all of us who work here get an

amazing feeling of personal satisfaction watching these young people grow up

before our eyes.”

“Both of the jobs I have now are in food service, and I’d really like to have my

own restaurant some day,” says Watkins. “Marlowe, Billie and my mom make me

believe that anything is possible and that I never have to give up on my dreams.”

“I’m truly grateful for everything OPP has done for us,” Forrester says. “Jay is a

completely different person than he was three years ago, and I truly believe OPP

helped save his life.”

Jay Watkins

A Complete

Turnaround

∆ 46 high school drop-outs

reenrolled in high school after coming to OPP ∆∆ 53% of youth are attaining

an Associate’s, Bachelor’s or vocational certification within

five years of graduating high school∆

Featured with Jay Watkins left to right: Donna Forrester and Marlowe Barnes.

Financial StatementFor the year ended June 30, 2011

Craig & Kimberly Anderson

Anonymous

Ronald Apter

Don Ashton

Rob Bartha

Jeffrey A. Bartholomay

Raymond Bazzano

Djuana Beamon

Jay & Jeanne Benet

Dean & Barb Benne In memory of Betty Rath

Rob & Lisa Berman

Lee & Melody Bernhardt

Thomas M. Bienemann

Kathleen Bolduc

Indrit Brahimi

William A. Brown

Dan & Kelly Browne

Kevin & Marlene Buckman

Joseph Campert

Daynor M. Carman

Chuck Chamberlain

Jerrol Charles & Family

Wayne & Tracie Chuang

Mary & Joseph Cicarello

Sherry Ann Coelho & Keith Merritt

Andy & Ruth Cohen

Jordan Cohen Coe, ShopRite of Manchester/East Hartford— Waverly Markets LLC

C. Edward & Margaret Connelly

John & Pauline Cusmano

Kelly Cusson

Alden Davis

Deanna & John Discenza

Lynn Dolan & Kevin Wojcik In honor of Mary Jane Wrenn

John D. Donnell

Matthew Dwyer

Luke & Melanie Ebersold

E-Tech Systems LLC

Richard & Wendy Fair

John Forren

Lloyd Frazee

Kelly A. Gallagher

Paula Gilberto

Angela Gomes

Peter & Winifred Grimaldi

Richard Guglielmetti, Furniture Emporium

William & Joanne Hastings

Paul & Nancy Hoey

Jerome & Margaret Houle

Marlene & Jim Ibsen

Aaron T. Jainchill

David C. Johnston

Lois M. Kate

William & Susan Kelly

Howard Knoll

Michael & Jaydene Laros In memory of Betty Rath

Frank Leone

Jo-Anne Leventhal

Matt & Annette Lilly

Stephen & Jennifer Lima

Tom Lofredo

Michael Longo

Brendan & Mimi Lynch

Dale R. Masslon

Joe Mastroianni

Karen McAndrew

Marie McFadden

Marcus McGregor

Patrick & Sharon McHale

Nancy M. Mulroy

Patrick Murray

Mark Murzin

Robert Naylor

Gregory & Haddya Nye

Michael J. Parkin

Jeremy Paul

Stephen Peterson

Doreen Petrozza

Robert Pitocco

Tarra Pressey

Joseph Ragusa

Elizabeth Rath In memory of Betty Rath

Charles Rath In memory of Betty Rath

Lindsey Robbins

Avery & Monica Rockefeller

Gregg Rosh

Joseph Santoro

Jake & Mary Lou Schaeffer In memory of Betty Rath

William & Sandra Semevolos

Eugene A. Sheehan, III

Rebecca Sherlock

ShopRite of Enfield—Miller Family Farms

Frank Simboski

Thomas Sliney

Ann Slyh

Donna Sodipo

Stephen Sonnone

John & Diane Sperger

Dwight & Margaret Stauffer

Lisa A. Stewart

Kathy Stillson In memory of Betty Rath

Kurt & Jane Strasser

Mr. & Mrs. Mark Torello

Ann Traynor

Elizabeth Tyler

Matt Vendetti

Jose Villaluz

AJ & Jodi Wasserstein

Iris White

Arthur & Vivien White

William Wilcox

Andy & Julie Willett

Foundations & CorporationsAmerican Eagle Federal Credit Union

Bank of America

Beatrice Fox Auerbach Foundation Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving

Carnegie Corporation of New York

CIGNA

Citizens Bank

Crosskey Architects, LLC

Ensworth Charitable Foundation

Fisher Foundation

Goodwin College

H.A. Vance Foundation

Halloran & Sage LLP

Hartford Foundation for Public Giving

Hartford Hospital

Home Depot

ING

Jackson Lewis LLC

John Hunt Scholarship Program at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving

KTI, Inc.

Lincoln Financial Foundation

Lindberg & Ripple

National Youth Employment Coalition

Nellie Mae Education Foundation

NewAlliance Foundation

People’s United Community Foundation

Prudential

Reflexite

Sovereign Bank

State Farm Companies Foundation

Sullivan & LeShane Companies

TD Charitable Foundation

The Fund for Greater Hartford

The George A. & Grace L. Long Foundation

The Prudential Foundation

The Technology Group

The Tow Foundation

Travelers

Travelers Foundation

Waterford Group

Webster Bank

Wells Fargo Foundation

Whittlesey & Hadley PC

YWCA Hartford Region

GovernmentCapital Workforce Partners

City of Hartford

City of Hartford, Office of Youth Services

Connecticut Child & Adult Care Food Program

Connecticut Department of Children & Families

Connecticut Department of Education

Corporation for National & Community Service

Hartford Public Schools

National Endowment for the Arts

United States Department of Labor

United Way of Central & Northeastern Connecticut

Individuals

Leadership Circle

Anonymous

Claire Burns

Mike & Schalleen Connelly

Denise deFiebre

Matt Frazee

Larry & Kate Greenberg

Kate Family Foundation In honor of Fritz Kate & Betty Rath

John & Mary Little

Bob & Marilyn Rath In memory of Betty Rath

David & Donna Reis

John & Lisa Sundean

Wilson Family Fund

Friends

Tokunbo Akinbajo

Sandra L. Allen

Lourdes Alvarez-Ortiz

Funding Sources 2010-2011Expenses 2010–2011

Operating Revenues

Government $2,363,468

Corporations, Foundations and Individuals $1,442,603

United Way $350,144

Program Fees $4,614

Total Revenue $4,160,829

Operating Expenses

Youth Development Services $764,425

Youth Business $945,244

Opportunity High School $1,055,950

Youth Employment Services $508,670

Education* $496,572

Total Program Services $3,770,861

Management and General $606,216

Fundraising $277,681

Total Supporting Services $883,897

Total Expenses $4,654,758

Temporarily Restricted Net Assets $470,066

Net Assets released from restrictions -$149,000

Change in Temporarily Restricted Net Assets $321,066

Total Change in Net Assets -$172,863

Net Assets at the Beginning of the Year $1,490,129

Net Assets at the End of the Year $1,317,266 Youth Business

Youth Employment Services

Opportunity High School

Education *Education expenses include AmeriCorps

Management and General

Fundraising

Youth Development Services

Mike Connelly, Chair

John Little, Treasurer

Tokunbo Akinbajo, Secretary; Chair of Governance Committee

Daniel Browne, Chair of Development Committee

Zeanique L. Barber

Rob Berman

Wayne Chuang

Jordan Cohen Coe

Denise deFiebre

Matt Frazee

Joanne Hastings

Brooke Karsten

Kate Liburdi

Jennifer Lima

Robert Pitocco

Stephen Sonnone

Jim Walsh

Alvin R. Wilson, Jr.

Board Emeritus

Larry Greenberg

Andy Cohen

Frank Scalise

Bob Rath, President & Chief Executive Officer

Hector M. Rivera, Jr., Chief Operating Officer

Board of Directors

Management

Champions Council

Design by WondriskaRusso (wondriskarusso.com) Photography by Lanny Nagler (lannynagler.com)

Administrative Office 20–28 Sargeant Street Hartford, Connecticut 06105 860.761.7300

www.opp.org

Edward Budd Mickey HerbertPeter KellyDon Wilson