2746 W. 13th Avenue

Denver, CO 80204

303-389-0085

www.earthlinks-colorado.org

ANNUAL REPORT2016

Our 20th year opened and closed with excitement – we welcomed new participants, donors and volunteers, and, like all of life, said a sad farewell to some. Our garden saw the installation of a new hoop house thanks to the support of donors and volunteers. Previously ‘dead’ ground was brought to new life through lots of hard work, cardboard and manure. Just like the compost we lovingly tend in the garden brings new life to our soil, so our participants created new life for themselves through our programs.

As you know, we purchased our property near Bronco stadium in 2013 and have been making it our home ever since. Against our wishes, the City of Denver rezoned our neighborhood to allow for 8 story commercial development, which puts the sunlight for our gardens at risk, but also opens up new opportunities for the use of our land in the future. As our Sun Valley neighborhood is poised for redevelopment by the City and Denver Housing Authority, we find ourselves at the center of many discussions – advocating for sustainable practices and seeking to remind all who will listen of the humanity of those facing homelessness. As our country seems more angry and divided than ever, EarthLinks stands as a beacon of light, welcome, peace, personal dignity and growth. The challenges facing our participant community of adults experiencing homelessness can seem insurmountable, yet working together, many achievements are made: 60% stabilized in housing, 80% completed personal goals, hundreds of pounds of organic produce was grown and shared, bees and worms were tended, and sustainable practices were taught and shared. Hundreds (yes, hundreds!) of volunteers helped us during 2016: in our gardens, in our workshops, in our special events, in fundraising, in construction, in leadership.

These pages will provide you with some of the highlights of 2016. Your product purchases, donations, volunteer hours and kindness all supported us throughout the year. It is our journey together that matters. Only in community will we protect our Earth and one another. We can make a difference - together. We hope you will continue with us on this journey - together.

Letter from the Executive Director

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EarthLinks cultivates transformation and self-

worth with people experiencing homelessness

and poverty. By creating opportunities through

Earth-centered programs, individuals step out of

isolation and into community --

restoring each other and the planet.

OUR MISSION

Support the EarthLinks community by purchasing our products

www.bbb.org/denver/Charity-Reviews/charity-local/earthlinks

OUR SUPPORTERS

American Clay Works & Supply Co.Amp the CauseBank of the WestBrownstein Hyatt Farber SchreckColorado Housing & Finance AuthorityCommunity Shares Copper Kettle Brewing CompanyDenver Community Credit UnionDenver Urban MattersFluid Coffee Bar, LLCFront Range Organic GardenersGarden Club of DenverGive With LibertyHampden PressHolistic PathwaysHoran & McConatyide8 Incorporated

FOUNDATION PARTNERSAnschutz Family FoundationAnschutz FoundationColorado Health FoundationCommunity First FoundationCredit Union of Colorado FoundationDominican Sisters of Hope Ministry FundDominican Sisters Of PeaceFidelity Charitable Gift FundGates Family FoundationJohn G. Duncan TrustMabel Y. Hughes Charitable TrustMark Alan Sinclair FoundationMay Bonfils Stanton Memorial FundMcGowan FoundationReel Family FoundationRobert L. Belcher Family FoundationS C Ministry FoundationSchuster Family FoundationSisters of LorettoThe Colorado TrustThe Denver FoundationThe Grainger FoundationThe NowHere FundTrivial Donations FoundationVirginia W. Hill Charitable FoundationWells Fargo FoundationWestchester Community Foundation

FAITH PARTNERS B’nai Havurah Capital Hill United Ministries CHUM Holy Family Catholic Parish Jefferson Unitarian Church Just Faith Community Most Precious Blood Catholic Church Regis Jesuit High School Regis University Sinsinawa Dominicans, Inc. Sisters Of Charity Of Cincinnati Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sisters of the Most Precious Blood Sisters of St Joseph Carondelet St. Barnabas Episcopal Church

COMMUNITY PARTNERSIntegral Recoveries, Inc.Just Right Motors, Inc.Kitchen Gardeners InternationalLockton Companies, LLCMidFirst BankMontgomery Little Soran & Murray, PCNelnet, Inc.New Belgium BreweryOdell Brewing CompanyPatagoniaProtos Pizza Silverado ClubSothebys-Wendy HandlerU.S. Concepts, LLCUnited Natural Foods, Inc.

71% - Maintained stable housing (average over 5 years)

Gender 76 % Women 21% Men 3% Other

Veterans - 7% (5 0f 67)Products - 8,426 producedBus fares - 384 Monthly passes = 4,980 day passes

Engagement - 6,700 hoursMaintained Housing - 60% (40 of 67)Barriers: 60% - Documented Disability (40 of 67) 40% - Experienced Domestic Violence (27 of 67) 51% - Substance Abuse (34 of 67)

23 Participants volunteered 531 hours

39% White 21% Black 13% Latino 6% Native 10% Asian 7% Multiple 1% Other

Workshops

EXTRA ACTIVITIES Leadership Team Bee Club Writing Workshop Mindfulness Group Heart Collage Knitting Club Gardening Club Financial Advising

67 Participants

21% - 49 or under 77% - 50 or over

CommunityLinks Trips into Nature VolunteersEducational workshops open

to the public promoting sustainable urban lifestyles.

4 Workshops served 35 people

Day trips to natural areas along the Front Range with a reflection, lunch and free

activity time. 12 Trips served

55 people

Engagement of community members and participants

through volunteering. 500+ people with

5,329 hours of engagement (Valued at $125,551)

Races

846 lbs of produce harvested

Adults who have experienced homelessness and whose income is less than $11,000 a year are eligible to be a participant in the Workshop Program. Participants earn a small stipend in exchange for their work in the garden and craft workshop, while working on individual goals such as obtaining stable housing, reconnecting with family or staying in recovery. Each workshop participant worked towards achieving individual goals in 2016, and met regularly with staff social workers for support and resources.

Processed 10,500 lbs of compostable materials

into compost for our gardens

Ages

FINANCIALS

Cash Accounts and Grants Receivable Inventory & Equipment BuildingsLand

TOTAL

Gifts from our faithful donors allow us to make lasting and measurable impacts

in the lives of people who are experiencing homelessness and poverty.

INCOME

Contributions Grants In Kind Donations Special Events Product Sales TOTAL INCOME $632,830

$506,22474,119

28,775

LIABILITIES

EQUITY

ASSETS

REVENUE

Unrestricted Net Assets Temporarily Restricted Net Assets Net Income TOTAL

Special Events

13%

In KindDonations

10%

Earned Income

10% Contributions23%

Grants 44%

EXPENSES

ProgramFundraising

6 %

Administrative12 %

Program Expenses 82%

$347,951 20,450 26,123

1,129,710248,931

$1,524,235

MortgageUnsecured Loans Accts Payable and Vacation Accrued

$780,84724,851

109,418

$1,524,235

Administrative $63,868 Fundraising 29,964 Program 429,580

TOTAL $523,412

$146,272277,873

66,37482,160 60,151

EarthLinks’ Staff

Kathleen Cronan, Executive Director

Carolyn Thornton, Community Engagement Director Kelly Shinn, Program & Garden Director

Ona Crow, Program & Development Director

Mary Nelle Gage, SL, Marketing Director

Jennay Smith, Administrative Assistant Dayna Streufert, Program Assistant Laura Schneiter, Program Assistant Emily Haskins, Urban Servant Corps

2016 Interns

Catherine Coulter, VISTA Daneel Arias, VISTAKira Bloom, University of Denver Valerie Farsetti, University of Denver Maurice Lonsway, Regis University, Romero House

Board of Directors Carol MaclennanSusan GoldbachMike BoggsCarrie Johnson, Esq.Robert F. Hayes, CPAChrissy RobinsonDedrick Smith, Ph.D.Vanita BellenDeborah Bomyea, OPJanet McIntyreMarilena EchohawkMerri Mattison, Ph.D.

Advisory Board of Directors

Bette Ann Jaster, OPJacqueline Leech, SCNancy Hoffman, SC Cathy Mueller, SL