Letter from the Executive Director and CEO……………………………………..Page 3
Letters from the Governing Board and Trustees Board Chairmen…….Page 4
The Board of Directors…………………………………………………………………......Page 5
Donor Recognition………………………………………………………………….......Pages 6-7
Remembering Rainbows’ Founder Suzy Yehl Marta………………………....Page 8
Events and Fundraisers……………………………………………………………………..Page 9
Rainbows on the Horizon……………………………………………………………….Page 10
Featured Stories and Highlights………………………………………………Pages 11-12
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Annual Report Table of Contents
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I am familiar with loss. Almost 10 years ago my wife and mother of our three sons died after suffering from
brain cancer. During a short amount of time we also suffered the deaths of six other family members. I
wish my sons and I had found Rainbows then.
I was drawn to Rainbows because of its mission and my own personal experiences. I wanted to help others
and utilize my years of professional experience in a new way by giving back. I am proud to be associated
with Rainbows and humbled by the task ahead of us.
This past year Rainbows celebrated our 30th Anniversary and honored Suzy. We also continued to grow
our mission helping our youth grieve from their life altering events. This is truly a wonderful organization,
which has done so much helping over 3 million youth-but there is more to do.
These tragic events will always be with us. But Rainbows helps them understand with compassionate care
and love, how to deal with these events through our programs implemented by our trained facilitators
who volunteer their time to help our youth.
To all of YOU volunteer facilitators and coordinators of Rainbows programs, thank you!
There are over 40 million children in the USA alone who will experience in one year the pain from a family
death or divorce. Rainbows wants to help more of our youth. Rainbows is adapting and growing to be
here now, and in years to come, to help families and our youth. Rainbows is doing this by refreshing itself,
its materials, and its programs- all in the efforts to allow us to reach more children.
• We want to reach our youth where they are…
• Reach them how they learn…
• Using modalities they use…
Please join Rainbows and me in keeping our mission alive, prospering and growing, as we work to
minimize the pain and hardship our youth are experiencing!
Regards,
Bob Thomas
Executive Director and CEO
Rainbows For All Children
Dear Friends of Rainbows,
My name is Bob Thomas. I joined Rainbows For All Children in February of
2013 as its new Executive Director and C.E.O. Our founder, Suzy Yehl Marta,
after passionately founding and leading this wonderful organization for
almost 30 years developed a succession plan to replace herself. Suzy was
ready to pass the baton and retire. Sadly, Suzy and I did not get to meet,
and she did not get to retire—Suzy passed away last January after a short
illness.
Rainbows, which helps our youth and families around the world heal after
suffering a life altering event, such as the death of a
parent/grandparent/sibling or a parental divorce, now needed to grieve and
heal after its own loss. 2013 was a difficult year.
Annual Report A Letter from the Executive Director and CEO
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Annual Report Letters from the Rainbows Boards Chairmen
Rainbows honored me by asking that I serve as Chair of its Governing Board during
its 30th year – the last year, it turned out, in which our beloved founder, Suzy Yehl
Marta, led the organization and the first year of a new generation of leaders,
volunteers, and donors helping youth grieve major life losses such as divorce or the
death of a parent. This transition posed all sorts of challenges. At the same time,
our pride in surviving the greatest financial crisis of our lifetimes, followed by the
unexpected passing of our founder, through formulation of a new management
team and strategy for the future knows no bounds. You should share that pride
because Rainbows and the relief it provides to grieving children does not exist
without your generous spirit and active support.
As we look forward, I can promise each of our supporters and the children we serve
the following:
• Our finances are stronger than ever.
• Our Governing Board and management team are proactive, thoughtful,
and committed.
• And we look to thrive as an organization helping youth grieve for a long
time to come.
Most of us experience at some point the kinds of major life loss with which tens of millions of U.S. children struggle
every day. Rainbows cannot cure the tragedy of a child losing a parent, but we owe it to each grieving child to
provide a safe environment where skilled facilitators can help children grieve with the aid of peers experiencing
similar losses. Every time I meet an adult who experienced Rainbows as a child, the first thing I hear is how
important Rainbows was to who they have become. Every time I meet an adult who learns about Rainbows but
faced a childhood loss without its help, I hear how much that person wished Rainbows had been there for her.
Rainbows makes a difference every day in thousands of lives. The good we do for struggling children alone justifies
your commitment to Rainbows. But when we consider a child’s improvement at school, stronger families and
communities, and the next generation of children who will have today’s Rainbows children as parents, the truly great
value of Rainbows shows itself. So in this year of great transition for Rainbows, please redouble your support of our
grieving youth. Thank you, and God bless you.
I met Suzy Marta, for the first time, in June of 1991 at the Rainbows golf outing.
Little did I know the effect that our initial introduction would have on my life. At the
time, I was a recently separated father of two, Blake 13 and Brooke 11. My marriage
of over 20 years was ending. As I grieved my own failure, I watched my children
grieve the loss of a two parent/united family. For those of you that knew Suzy, you
know what came next. Suzy saw a grieving father, knew exactly where I was mentally
and wasted no time with “small talk”. Her ability to “go deep” with unlimited feeling
was uncanny. That afternoon, Suzy and I began a journey and friendship that would
last until her sudden death in January 2013. The result, for nearly twenty two years,
Rainbows and its mission have been my passion. Clearly “the hurt doesn’t have to
last forever”. Bravo to all the Rainbows facilitators, donors, employees, volunteers,
past and present Trustees and Governing Board members, and friends. Know that for
over 30 years, you’ve made a difference to so many grieving children.
Knowing Suzy was a gift. Sharing the passion has been a privilege. Carrying on the
mission is simply “what Suzy would want us to do”. The leadership has changed, but
the passion remains and the importance of the mission is greater than ever. Know
that your Trustee Board is engaged and energized. We look forward to easing the
pain for even more grieving children. Thank you for your ongoing support of this
most important cause.
David Christian II
Governing Board
Chairman
Breck Hanson
Trustees Board
Chairman
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Governing BoardDavid Christian II
David Christian Attorneys, LLC
Ted Evans
Rod Hart
Computer Sciences Corporation
Tom Manzardo
Manzardo and Associates
Lauri Mitchell
Mitchell Motivation
Frank Nardi
Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP
Liz Poplin
Merrill Lynch
Zack Shah
Lazard Middle Market
Anthony Taglia
Golan & Christie, LLP
Michael Yehl
Lifespace Communities
Trustees BoardJohn Edwardson
Retired from CDW
Breck Hanson
Associated Bank
Randy Kurtz
Cristo Rey Network
Deborah Liverett
Northern Trust Bank
Bill Lynch
Liam Holdings
Marty Marta
Law Offices of Martin Marta
Brogan Ptacin
First Bank and Trust
John Rau
Miami Corporation
Len Tobiaski
LT Asset Advisors, LLC
Jeff Wright
Urban Ministries, Inc.
Rainbows BoardsAnnual Report
$20,000 and Above
Associated Bank Corporation
CDW, LLC
Chicago Title and Trust Company
Foundation
Hanson Family
McGraw Foundation
Northern Trust Company Charitable Trust
Origer Family
$10,000 to $20,000
Elizabeth Canning Dynasty Trust
Edwardson Family Foundation Trust
Jacob J. Fink Charitable Foundation
William and Kathleen Lynch
Suzy and Marty Marta
Middleby Cooking Systems Group
Brogan and Ann Ptacin
Sage Foundation
$5,000 to $10,000
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
Foundation
Mary Ceas
Celebrity Seating, Inc.
First Bank and Trust of Evanston
Christopher J. Graff
Randy Kurtz
Randy and Lauri Mitchell
Dr. Scholl Foundation
Zach and Nadia Shah
Anthony Taglia
Taxman Family Foundation
The Farny R. Wurlitzer Foundation
TJX Foundation, Inc.
Len and Cindy Tobiaski
Thomas and Loretta Volini
Walmart
$1,000 to $5,000
@properties
Abbell Associates
Gemma Allen
The Alter Group
Ameriprise Financial Matching Gift Program
Aileen S. Andrew Foundation
Anonymous
Marijane Anton
Association of Global Automakers, Inc.
Avgeris & Associates, Inc.
BDP Services, LLC
Kelley Bergstrom Family Foundation
The John Buck Company
Katie Burke
CEVAAL Insurance Agency, Inc.
David and Kathy Chameli
Chicago Extruded Metals
David and Jill Christian
Arthur and Wanda Clausen
Clayco, Inc.
ClubCorp Charities, Inc.
Clune Construction Company
Conor Commercial Real Estate
CSC Global Health Solutions
Draper & Kramer
Richard H. Driehaus
Duane Morris
Dykema Gossett
Ecolab Foundation
Robert and Stephanie Engelman
James K. Ferguson Foundation
Fifth Third Bank
First Hospitality Group
FirstMerit Bank, N.A.
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Annual Report Donor Recognition
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$1,000 to $5,000 (cont.)
Five K. Family Fund
Friedman Properties, Ltd.
Jeanne Gannon
GE United Way Campaign
General Iron Industries Charitable
Foundation
Elizabeth Gisch
GKN Foundation
Bill and Susan Haave
Blake Hanson
Harp Krug Venture LLC
Rod and Barbara Hart
Hart Health Strategies
Health Care Service Corporation
Heartland Recycling LLC
Jack Hogan Charitable Foundation
IBM Employee Charitable Contribution
Campaign
Steve and Mary Jo Herseth
Mark and Tracey Johnson
John E. Jones
The Kara Foundation
Trish Kelly
Hans and Janis Kief
Kluth Family Foundation
Alvin and Cynthia Kruse
Gordon and Kathleen LaBounty
Ladden & Allen, Chartered
Greg and Kristin Leos
Lynch Family Foundation
Magellan Development Group LLC
Andrew R. Magliochetti
Tom and Lisa Manzardo
David Marta
Mullins Food Products
Frank and Marisa Nardi
Gregg and Dianne Novosad
Kelly O’Keefe
Dave and Catherine Olbrisch
Rick and Barbara Parsons
Polsinelli PC
Timothy and Elizabeth Poplin
Daniel Proft
Brian J. Redding
Related Midwest
Dave and Patricia Riddle
George Rourke
Randall Rowe
Salajka Family Foundation
Regina Scannicchio
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Jack Shaffer
Mabel and Ellsworth Simmons Charitable
Foundation Inc.
Correen Smith
Amy Soudan
St Joseph Catholic Church
Staffing Network LLC
Turner Construction Company
Twin Orchards Country Club
Van Heuvelen Strategies
Vanee Foods
Jeffrey Vogelsang
Tom and Amy Volini
Wahlert Foundation
Brenda Warkow
Eric and Ann Wasowicz
Herbert C. Wenske Foundation
Randy and Peggy Zahora
Donors Up To $1,000
Thank you to more than 700 additional
companies and individuals who donated
over $115,000 to Rainbows during this fiscal
year!
Annual Report Donor Recognition
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Thank you for continuing her
dream to heal grieving hearts
and for helping move her
legacy of Rainbows For All
Children into the next decade!
It is with heavy hearts and a deep sense of loss Rainbows
For All Children shares the sudden passing of our
President and Founder, Suzy Yehl Marta, who lost her
short battle against pancreatic cancer on Sunday, January
13, 2013. Suzy founded Rainbows in 1983, beginning her
quest to assist children experiencing death, divorce, or
loss which spanned more than 30 years to help aid 2.7
million all around the world.
Suzy was loved by thousands of volunteers who continue
to work as trained Rainbows Coordinators and Facilitators
around the world following her guidance and insights to
help heal children.
Annual Report Remembering Suzy Yehl Marta
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Rainbows special events collectively raised more than $268,000 in FY 2013. The
event schedule included our 6th Annual Canvases and Corks Gala Benefit, Power of
the Purse, Rainbows’ 30th Birthday Party and Tribute to Suzy Marta, Rainbows’ 25th
Annual Golf Classic, and the 5K/10K Summer Run.
Lauri and Randy Mitchell take a minute to snap a
picture with Suzy and Marty Marta at our 6th
Annual Canvases and Corks Gala Benefit in
November 2012.
Guests excited to support
Rainbows during our Bid for
Kids at the Canvases and
Corks Gala Benefit.
Rainbows’ new Executive
Director and CEO Bob
Thomas with ABC7’s
Kathy Brock and Miss
Chicago 2013, Savannah
Teegarden at Rainbows’
30th Birthday Party and
Tribute to Suzy Yehl
Marta.
Annual Report Events and Fundraisers
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With the celebration of Rainbows’ 30th Birthday year concluding, we are pleased
to announce some exciting changes on the horizon for Rainbows For All
Children!
Annual Report Rainbows on the Horizon
Rainbows For All Children is
excited to roll out our
colorful new logo. We
opened our doors in 1983.
The Rainbows team decided
a fresh and exciting logo
would be a great way to kick
off our next thirty years of
helping heal grieving hearts
as we link our past with our
exciting future.
Another exciting change is that
Rainbows For All Children has
relocated our offices to Evanston,
Illinois. We are thrilled to make
this move to expand our footprint
in the Chicagoland area!
Our new office address is:
Rainbows For All Children
1007 Church Street, Suite 408
Evanston, IL 60201
847-952-1770
www.rainbows.org
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“When I was trained to be the Coordinator of our Spectrum
Program (Rainbows on the high school level), I thought it
would be something we would offer our students for a few
years. I find it hard to believe that this is our 25th year
offering Rainbows/Spectrum to our students!
“After a few years, students who had been in the program
came to me and asked if they could give the presentations
in the classrooms because they wanted to tell other
students what they had gotten out of it and encourage
others to join. That was pretty amazing to me knowing how
difficult it can be for students to stand in front of their
peers in a classroom to give a presentation. To this day,
students still give the presentations to invite other students
to join.” – Pamela Ryan, Director of Guidance at
Providence Catholic High School
“Because of Spectrum, I am no longer mad at myself and know that I am not alone.”
Annual Report Featured Stories and Highlights
“I realized that I am not
the only one who has
gone through losses in
my family.”
“I learned that talking
eases the pain and
that there are people to
listen.”
“I changed my mind
about the way I feel
about people different
from me now that I see
everyone has a story.”
Quotes from participants in the Spectrum program at
Providence Catholic High School
In the Fall of 2009, Rainbows Online Facilitator Training debuted and provided trainees the
convenience of working online at their own pace to become trained Rainbows Facilitators.
Since it’s inception in 2009, more than 1,400 counselors, social workers, faith leaders, and
educators have completed the online Rainbows training. In FY2013 alone, 315 facilitators
and coordinators joined the Rainbows family!
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“I wanted to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Rainbows program
and all of the individuals involved in it. I lost my father from
laryngeal cancer in 1993 when I was just 9 years old. I was in the next
Rainbows group at my elementary school and continued to attend a
grief group through 12th grade. It was in Rainbows I learned the
power of having a safe and healthy support system for grief looked
like. My siblings were not as successful in finding a grief group
available to them and they have continued to suffer for it. I, on the
other hand, graduated with a master’s degree from Harvard in 2011
and, at 29, serve as a hospital chaplain so that I too might provide
crucial grief and trauma support to patients and families in need.
Without Rainbows and Mrs. Byrd (the counselor who organized
Rainbows meetings for us), I am certain my life would never have
been as successful as it is now. I hope, even on your darkest days,
you know you have changed the life of a sad, lonely, and grieving
little girl for the better.” - Charlotte Arsenault, former Rainbows
participant
Annual Report Featured Stories and Highlights