Annual Report FISCAL YEAR 2020 - wfeh.org

F I S C A L Y E A R 2 0 2 0Annual Report

WELLNESS FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT FY20202

To empower children and adults to prevent and reverse chronic disease through a plant-based diet and healthy lifestyle.

Our Mission

WELLNESS FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT FY2020 3

Dear Friends of Wellness,

What a year 2020 has been! Wellness Foundation started our fiscal year as a nonprofit organization that delivered all of our programs at schools and community spaces around the East End of Long Island. The COVID-19 quarantine brought about an important pivot to move our programs online. We retooled and relaunched our research-based adult programs and will digitize our WKids’ curriculum by year’s end. Since we started online programming in June, we have had participants from 5 countries, 23 states and the District of Columbia. Without these new digital programs, we never would have been able to reach people across the country, much less the world.

While COVID-19 provided a push to move online, it also made our resources even more vital. Wellness Foundation programs are designed to prevent and reverse chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity that plague over 60% of Americans and create the conditions for serious complications and even death with a COVID-19 infection. Not only are chronic diseases a huge strain on our health care system, but they prevent people from living healthy, active and happy lives. It is clear that chronic disease prevention must become a priority in health care, and Wellness Foundation has the track record to deliver results.

This year has also been a time of racial reckoning. Wellness Foundation’s team took the opportunity for some serious reflection about what we can do to address racial disparities in our world. We believe our nation must address the systemic inequities that lead to people of color having worse health outcomes, and Wellness Foundation must do its part. We are holding ourselves accountable to be more inclusive in our organization and to bring attention to the systemic racism that contributes to poor health.

2020 was supposed to be Wellness Foundation’s year to rebuild our board and our donor base after the retirement of our founder in 2019. Instead, we had to cancel our major fundraising benefit and donations were down for the year. Despite these challenges, our mission is more critical than ever, and we believe our hard work and dedication will prevail with thousands more people paying to take our programs outside of our local community. If you’ve taken one of our wellness programs, we hope you will tell a friend or family member about the new opportunity to take our programs online, and we hope we can count on your financial support to keep our life-changing programs operating.

We are grateful for your continued partnership as we embark on this new and exciting wellness journey.

With Gratitude,

Michele Sacconaghi PRESIDENT & CEO


Investing in your health has never been more critical than during a pandemic!

Challenges

America was already fighting a health crisis.

RISK FACTORS FOR CHRONIC DISEASE AND COVID-19

African Americans, LatinX and Native Americans are more likely to suffer from heart disease, diabetes, stroke and high blood-pressure which is leading to a 2x higher mortality rate from COVID-19 among African Americans and almost 5x higher rate of hospitalization among African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans. A staggering 81% of child deaths from COVID-19 are African American,LatinX, Native American or Asian.

According to the CDC, people with 2 or more chronic diseases are 4.5 times more likely to be hospitalized from COVID-19. Some of the risk factors are the exact underlying conditions that our programs help to prevent and reverse like diabetes, obesity, heart conditions and high blood pressure.

One person dies every 36 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease

60% of adults have a chronic disease

have 2 or more40%

42%of adults are obese

1 in 10 Americans has diabetes

1 in 3 Americans has pre-diabetes

&

2x higher Covid-19 mortalityAfrican Americans

5x higher rate of hospitalization African Americans/ Hispanics/Native Americans


Our popular in-person program for adults, Wellness Challenge 360°, provides a full circle approach to wellness, adding exercise and stress management to the plant-based nutrition component and continues to receive rave reviews from participants and medical professionals. Participants experience significant decreases in cholesterol, inflammation, diabetes markers and weight as well as increase in overall health and happiness. Most importantly, participants learn that they have the power to prevent and reverse most chronic diseases.

In January, we trained 10 health professionals at Plant-Powered Metro New York to deliver our Wellness Challenge 360° in New York City.

The Lancet Medical Journal

Five Chronic Disease Risk Factors HIGH BMI

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

PHYSICAL INACTIVITY POOR DIET*

TOBACCO & ALCOHOL USE

Results:

*Diets low in fruits and vegetables and high in sodium and saturated fats

Wellness Challenge 360°

Adult results in 7 weeks

10 lbs. average weight loss,

2 inches average decrease in waist

size, 35 pts. average

cholesterol reduction

Reduced medications for

high blood pressure, heart

disease and diabetes

Increased energy levels,

reduced chronic pain and

experience to follow an exercise

program

Experience and support to follow a

plant-based diet

Reduced stress and improved

positive attitude about life

O U R Life-Changing P R O G R A M S


Pivoting to Online Programs We’ve helped thousands of people on the East End of Long Island transform their health with our in-person programs. With the unprecedented changes in our world due to Covid-19, we knew our immune-boosting programs were more important than ever. We didn’t wait for the pandemic to pass but rather seized the opportunity to deliver our wellness programs online to help people across the country and world achieve great results at home.


Supporting Racial JusticeWellness Foundation joins the many other voices in committing to address racial justice in America. We must do our part to help Americans of color have access to the resources and information they need to lead healthier, happier lives. Specifically...

—We pledge to investigate our own privilege and continue to listen and learn how best we can further embed racial equity into our work.

—We commit to bringing greater racial diversity into our Board room, staff and partner organizations.

—We will find opportunities to raise awareness about the disparities that exist and the systemic racism that contributes to poor health.

—Lastly, while our children’s programs work with a very diverse group of children and families, our adult programs have not attracted a diverse clientele. Our goal is to increase access and inclusion for those programs.


Our team has been working tirelessly to create and provide resources to help people cope with the stress and health challenges of the pandemic.

C O V I D - 1 9 Initiatives

JUMPSTART 360°Online program giving adults the tools to fight

chronic disease and improve their health anywhere

in the world.

HEALTHY AT HOME Resources on our website.

THRIVE IN FIVE Free guided program

to help people boost their health and experience plant-based wellness.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR JUMPSTART 360°

Provided for families hit hardest by Covid-19 with job loss and health issues.

EDUCATION RESOURCES

Tools provided to local food pantries to help individuals and families create healthy meals protect and improve

their health.WELLNESS WARRIORS

INTERVIEW SERIES Online interview series

to educate, empower and inspire people to take charge of their health.

CONVERSATIONS

CHANGE AGENTS


When COVID-19 hit, we wanted to make it easy for as many people as possible to try a plant-based diet, so we launched our popular Guided Thrive in 5 Program. Participants receive our free five-day meal planner complete with budget and time-friendly recipes and shopping lists and we coach participants through five days via a private Facebook community.

We’ve reached 23 states and 5 countries since we moved online.



Our brand new 4-week online course is plant powered but it also goes beyond the plate where so many other approaches fall short.

Jumpstart 360°:• Teaches the power of a plant-based diet

for optimal health and immunity• Helps participants create an exercise

program that works for them• Provides tips and tools to help manage

and reduce stress

To maximize the microbiomeWhere your

immune system lives

“I am so grateful to have access online to such a high caliber program based on the latest research. The benefits were quick and real! I lost weight, have less joint pain, more energy and better sleep. I am so glad I made this investment in my health.”

Nancy, Pennsylvania

Reduce inflammationThe root of most chronic disease

Optimize immunity The best protection

against COVID-19 is a healthy immune system

“I am a type 2 diabetic and before Jumpstart 360° my blood sugars were through the roof. I’ve taken the class twice and have dramatically lowered my blood sugar. When Covid started, my doctor told me that because of all my health issues, I would likely not survive Covid if I got it. As I write this, I am thrilled to tell you; that during my second round of Jumpstart 360°, I not only survived Covid, my health is even better than before! I believe this program helped me strengthen my immunity and save my life.”

Elizabeth, Mississippi

How we’re changing lives with Jumpstart 360°


Wellness Foundation has a world-class Advisory Council and has won the praise of some of the most respected experts in the field of wellness and plant-based nutrition. In March, we launched a popular online interview series to viewers around the world to deliver valuable lessons on health and immunity throughout the current health crisis and provide viewers the opportunity to ask questions of experts.

CONVERSATIONS

CHANGE AGENTS

To date, our interview series has had over 10,000 views

Some of our guests have

included:Dr. Michael GregorHow to Survive a Pandemic

Eric AdamsBrooklyn Borough PresidentReversing Type 2 Diabetes with a Plant-Based Diet

Rip EsselstynLiving a Plant Strong Life

Dr. Neal BarnardYour Body in Balance

Kathy FrestonHealing our Health and the Planet

Dr. Joel FuhrmanEating for Super Immunity

Joe CrossFat Sick and Nearly Dead



beef production uses

20x

poultry production uses

3x

morelandthan

It uses about of the world’s farmland83%

plant-basedfoods

like beans, peas & lentils

It is responsible for

80%of deforestationin the Amazon

It produces more than

500 million tonsof manure annually in the US,

emitting toxic gases into the airand polluting water

It contributes about

66%of all agricultural greenhouse gas

emissions in the US

has disastrous eects on the environmentAnimal Agriculture

Experts and scientists all over the world, including a special report on climate change from the United Nations, describe a plant-based diet as a major opportunity to fight climate change. The UN report includes a policy recommendation to reduce meat consumption globally.

The greenhouse gas footprint of animal agriculture equals that of every car, truck, bus, ship, and airplane in the world combined. There is simply no pathway to achieve a true reduction in global warming without a decrease in the scale of animal agriculture and a change in human diets.

Plant-Based to Save the Planet


Our Children were already facing a major health crisis.

Chronic diseases are growing in vulnerable children, but they can be prevented. Wellness Foundation is on the frontline teaching at-risk kids and their families to invest in good health. Almost half of the students we serve are economically disadvantaged and at greater risk for heart disease, obesity, diabetes, contracting Covid-19 and facing dire consequences from it.

33% of American children are overweight or obese and at risk of developing diabetes as adults.

It is predicted that 1 in 3 American children born in the year 2000 or beyond will develop diabetes (and that jumps to 1 in 2 for Hispanic children).

Children as young as ten years old are being diagnosed with hypertension and high cholesterol, both of which are primary factors in cardiovascular disease.

This generation of children is predicted to be the first to have a shorter lifespan than their parents due to the prevalence of chronic disease.

Impact:Since its inception, WKids has reached and empowered over

25,000 childrenand families

During school year 2019-2020,

650 childrenand familiesparticipated in our WKids inthe Classroom program before schools closed due to COVID-19


Our transformative in-school program continues to win acclaim from school administrators, teachers, world-class nutrition experts, parents and most importantly – KIDS! Designed to complement curricula for pre-school through high school, each interactive lesson incorporates exercise, mindfulness and whole food nutrition. Kids learn what will help them thrive and how to take care of this one body they’ll have for life. The program runs 6-8 weeks and provides the foundation for a lifetime of good health.

• Through a generous grant we were able to expand the program to schools on the North Fork of Long Island for the first time in the fall of 2019.

• Throughout the summer we safely engaged students and planted lettuces at one of our Wkids school gardens Produce from the garden was used by the school kitchen to prepare meals for low-income students receiving at-home delivery.

WKids in the Virtual Classroom Our WKids’ Educators have been hard at work putting our curriculum online and will make it available to all of our schools on the East End via an online learning portal beginning this fall. In addition, we will make our 6-lesson WKids Healthy at Home video series available to schools, kids and families everywhere. This series includes virtual field trips taking kids out of the classroom and into farms, gardens, orchards etc. to see where whole foods come from. Although we miss being in the classroom, we aren’t letting the pandemic keep us from providing this vital information to kids and families and in fact, we plan to reach more kids than ever before through our online series.

SCHOOLWELLNESSPROGRAM

78%

of familiesreport consuming more whole foods

57%

of familiesreport a decrease in consumption of junk foods or sweets

70%

of familiesreport consuming less soda and sugary beverages

84%

of familiesreport sharing lessons with other family members



ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 410,280

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE 398

PREPAID EXPENSES 2,111

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 412,789

FIXED ASSETS

PROPERTY & EQUIPMENT 14,869

ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION (11,580)

TOTAL FIXED ASSETS 3,289

OTHER ASSETS

INTANGIBLE ASSETS 6,382

TOTAL INTANGIBLE ASSETS 6,382

TOTAL ASSETS 422,460

LIABILITIES

CURRENT LIABILITIES

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE 1,043

PAYROLL LIABILITIES 862

ACCRUED EXPENSES 17,015

PAYROLL 2,553

PPP LOAN 85,000

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 106,404

NET ASSETS

BEGINNING NET ASSETS 452,782

CHANGE IN NET ASSETS (136,795)

TOTAL NET ASSETS 315,987

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS 422,460

Financials FY ENDING 6/30/20

INCOME

DONATIONS/GRANTS 346,356

INTEREST INCOME 15

PROGRAMS SERVICES 8,259

FUNDRAISING EVENTS

ANNUAL APPEAL 20,248 MINDFULNESS & COCKTAILS 19,800

TOTAL FUNDRAISING EVENTS 40,048

TOTAL INCOME 394,677

GROSS PROFIT 394,677

EXPENSES

PROGRAMS AND OUTREACH

PROGRAMS 57,901

PROGRAM EMPLOYEE EXPENSE 248,719

TOTAL PROGRAMS AND OUTREACH 306,621

GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE

TOTAL OCCUPANCY 3,299

OTHER G&A 45,640

EMPLOYEE EXPENSE 59,778

TOTAL GENERAL & ADMINISTRATIVE 108,717

FUNDRAISING

EVENTS, MAILERS & OTHER 40,934

CCS CONSULTING —

EMPLOYEE EXPENSE 75,790

TOTAL FUNDRAISING 116,724

TOTAL EXPENSES 532,062

NET ORDINARY INCOME (137,384)

NET OTHER INCOME 589

TOTAL NET INCOME (136,795)


Our Generous DonorsF I N A N C E R S $50,000 AND UP

Peter Dubens, (Oakley Capital)Goldman Sachs Gives Douglas and Pat Mercer

B E N E FAC T O R S $20,000 – $49,999

Amy & Joe PerellaMichael A Peterson Foundation Southampton Bath & Tennis Club

PAT R O N S $10,000 – $19,999

Paddlers for Humanity Kathleen King Charitable FundMichele and Toni SacconaghiSeattle Foundation

C O N T R I B U T O R S $2,000 – $9,999

Maureen Cahill Facebook Matching funds Kazickas Family Foundation Inc.Moore Charitable FoundationRobert J & Beverley F MurphyVirginia & Warren Schwerin

S U P P O R T E R S $1,000 – $1,999

Stuart Baker Burch Family FoundationMr. & Mrs. Michael A CavataioJames C Edwards Jr.Stephanie & Lawrence Flinn Jr. TrustBrian HigginsJohn & Ines Kingsley Jr. John F. Loverro Memorial FundJames Peterson FoundationAima Raza & Agha KahnJanet C. Ross Frederick & Bettina Stelle

B AC K E R S $300 – $999

Michelle & Chris BabuSusan Berger Timothy Bishop Linda Beard Brandi Mary J. Brock Siri Burki Edward Conard & Jill Davis Conrad CostanzoMichael Duran Jane FinalborgoLisa Herbert Michael V Kazickas Kendralee KohlerKaryn McGowin Laura Moore Jill ScheererJonathan ShefferElsa SoyarsAndrew P Steffan Ann Tintle Carmo Ira & Calista Washburn Beth WittigNorman Volk

H E L P E R S UP TO $299

Karen Amorelli John W & Carol N Andrews Albert Buatti & Rose Guglielmo Charles & Ellen CollinsMichael EdwardsFrancine Fabian Doug FinkelsteinChristine Glennon Karen Gluck Patricia A Grantham Steve Haweeli Marilyn Horton Pamela Dana Hudson John Jacobs Rebecca Jones James & Barbara Kinnier Frederick D & Marion B Kneip Landscape Details Susan S. & Rees Lee Jones Ms. Hilary Osborn Malecki Alfred & Virginia Morgan Eileen Obser Linley & Anthony Pennebaker-HagenDianne Rulnick Sag Harbor Naturally, Inc. James & Julia SykesPatricia Wood 76A Jobs Lane Deli, Inc. Amazon Smile

P O B O X 1 1 4 1 S A G H A R B O R N Y • 6 3 1 . 3 2 9 . 2 5 9 0 • W F E H . O R G

Wellness Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public foundation. © 2020 Wellness Foundation Design by Acre Arts Inc.

Leading the way in plant-based wellness for the health of people and the planet.

Our vision for the future Expand digital programming for children

and adults to grow our nationwide audience while providing ongoing support to our East End community.

Engage partners in communities in need to ensure health resources are accessible to all while continuing to raise awareness around health disparities.

Build a more sustainable future for Wellness Foundation by developing partnerships across the country to support the expansion of our new programming and encourage growth of operating revenue.

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Annual Report FISCAL YEAR 2020 - wfeh.org

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