The Way HomeSulzbacher Center

611 E Adams Street • Jacksonville, FL 32202-2847 • (904) 394 8051 • SulzbacherCenter.org

Center board members, past CEO’s and past Transformations honorees who discussed the history of Transformations and ways it has changed over the years. We also paid tribute to the man who founded the Sulzbacher Center, Mr. I.M. Sulzbacher and hosted a celebration of what would be his 100th birthday. The event ended with an surprise announcement that Gary and Nancy Chartrand, Transformations Presenting Sponsors, have pledged a gift of $1 million to the Sulzbacher Center! We wish to offer our sincerest gratitude to our Presenting Sponsor, the Chartrand’s, our Event Chairs, John and Janet Wilbanks and to our Honorary Chairs, Vince and Linda Ferrigno. Through their support and the support of all of our wonderful sponsors and supporters, the Sulzbacher Center strives daily to achieve our vision of: ending homelessness one person at a time.

Fall 2013

Transformations Sets Records

Make a dif ference in the life of a needy man, woman, or child!

On October 3, 2013, we had our largest crowd ever at our 15th Annual Transformations! Over 850 of our wonderful Sulzbacher supporters were on hand to help us celebrate the many lives that have been transformed at the Center. This year we not only met our fundraising goal but exceeded it by 20%. For the sixth year, the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront graciously hosted the event and our supporters were treated to a beautiful “Welcome Home Veterans” themed reception that included all-American food, a silent auction and live band. We are grateful to the Hyatt for once again supporting our critical work by sponsoring the reception. Our wonderful friend and 12-time host, Deborah Gianoulis Held served as the evening’s emcee and helped share the amazing stories of three homeless veterans who found the way home through the services of the Sulzbacher Center. Michael Curry and his family were one such story. Michael served his country bravely as a Marine in Desert Storm. After returning from the war he had successful career in the construction industry. When the economy bottomed out and construction jobs disappeared, Michael and his young family used up all their savings and eventually found themselves homeless. With nowhere else to go they turned to the Sulzbacher Center for help. To hear Michael’s story visit our website; www.sulzbachercenter.org today!In honor of the 15th anniversary of Transformations the event also featured a tribute to past Transformations. This segment featured interviews with past Sulzbacher

The Way HomeSulzbacher Center

611 E Adams Street • Jacksonville, FL 32202-2847 • (904) 394 8051 • SulzbacherCenter.org

The Holidays and winter months are just around the Corner. We need Volunteers, like you, to conduct drives in their community. This year we will be hosting a Stocking Stuffer Drive and a gift drive for the Single Men and Women staying at the Center. Below is a list of items we need.• Uno Cards • Kids and Adult Sized Gloves • Skull Caps • Silly Putty • Small Journal • Mini Play-Doh • Pocket Calculator • New Pairs of Socks • 2014 Pocket Calendar • Pocket Hand Warmers • Chapstick / Lip Balm • Colored Pencils: 8-Pack • Coloring Books and Crayons • Mini Radios with Headsets • Pocket-Sized Sudoku or Puzzles • Multiplication / Educational Flashcards • Playing Cards (Old Maid, Crazy Eights, GoFish, etc.) • Toothbrushes • Fleece Blankets • Men’s Watches • Women’s Watches • Men’s Cologne • Women’s Perfume • Peppermints / CandycanesFor questions about our donation needs, or to arrange a drop-off time, please contact our Volunteer and Development Assistant, Jessica Fisher, at 904-394-8084 or jessicafisher@tscjax.org

Michael Curry and his family wave to the crowd

Mike Santarone and Cindy Funkhouser

As I’m writing this, I’m looking out my window. I see our Children’s building all decked out with the pumpkin patch that the GE Leadership Team created and a few little white ghosts still hanging in the trees. The first Fall holiday has already happened, Halloween was spooky and fun- many groups came and did parties for the children and the Jacksonville Zoo hosted 100 of our parents and children for their incredible Spooktacular Event. We are, as always, so thankful to this amazing community for your support.

As we are now moving into the Thanksgiving season, we are counting our blessings. This has been a very exciting year here at the Center as evidenced by the opening of our new Veterans Dorm, Medical Respite Facility, new Kitchen and expanded Career and Education programs. We had an amazing Transformations event that culminated with the truly humbling gift from Nancy and Gary Chartrand.

Even as we celebrate all these positive happenings, we are ever mindful that the need for our services is crushing.

Each day all our beds are full and we are turning away dozens of people, we are serving between 1,200 and 1,600 meals a day to hungry and desperate people. We have over 120 families on our waiting list. So-we need your support like never before in order to connect people to income, housing and healthcare, the three requirements to becoming stable. As you celebrate the holidays and count your blessings, I hope that you will remember those who have no home for the holidays. Although they may not have a home, what you allow us to give them is hope. With hope all things are possible. Thank you for all you do to support the Center and Happy Holidays!

Sincerely,

Cindy Funkhouser, MSWPresident and CEO

A special holiday recipe

from the Sulzbacher Center kitchen!Homemade Cranberry Sauce, Kevin Nacke, CEC

1 pound of fresh cranberries1 cup orange juice

1 cup brown sugar (you can use splenda) brown sugar has the best flavor

½ teaspoon salt1 cup water

Optional Flavoring - 2 Sage leaves minced or 1 Rosemary sprig minced or 1 Cinnamon Stick

Place all items in a heavy bottom sauce pan, bring to a boil then lower to a simmer. Simmer until all the berries have

popped and there is a syrupy consistency. Let cool to room temperature, then place in an air tight container.

Keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

** Kevin has started work on our 2014 Meal Group Calendar!

Call 904.394.1371 today to schedule your groups meal dates for 2014**

Let ter From the President & CEO

Legacy GivingSince its early beginnings as a simple shelter providing a place to sleep and breakfast to homeless men, the Sulzbacher Center you see today is the culmination of our founder, I.M. Sulzbacher, and other community leaders who shared a common vision: to make the Sulzbacher Center the best and most comprehensive homeless service provider in Northeast Florida. Since 1995, the names on our Sulzbacher campus buildings represent similar visionaries who felt compelled to leave their own legacy of compassion and service to all who come to our door looking for hope and a better life.

Now is the time for the next generation of Sulzbacher Center visionaries to secure its future by taking action in the present. By making a Legacy Gift, such as a bequest, charitable annuity, life estate arrangement or otherwise, your gift will provide shelter, meals, and life-changing services to people facing the despair of homelessness in the future.

We encourage you to consider your personal legacy to the Sulzbacher Center. By making a Legacy gift, your bequest will become part of the Center’s future, serving as a lasting reminder of your generosity and concern for our community’s most vulnerable citizens.

For more information about our Legacy Giving Program please contact Linda Hemphill at LindaHemphill@tscjax.org or 904.394.8051

Give twice when you send a Give a Good Night holiday card this season. How? Sending a typical greeting card each year is a thoughtful gift in itself, but your purchase of one of our Give a Good Night holiday cards extends your best wishes even further -- by giving a warm bed and a hot meal at the Sulzbacher Center to a homeless man, woman or child, in honor of the special person who receives your card.

As you gather with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas or Hanukkah, many people in hardship, including families with children will struggle to find a decent meal and a safe place to stay. Your gift of $15.00 for a Give a Good Night Christmas, Hanukkah or Thanksgiving card will give a gift of hope and a hand up to someone who needs its most, while honoring that special someone in your life.

Holiday shopping: If you would like have a Give a Good Night sales campaign at your organization, community center or place of worship, we will be happy to set up and staff a Give a Good Night sales display table with cards, ornaments and the I.M. Cookie. Hanukkah Card

Give a Good Night

Board of DirectorsStephen MalickDr. Michael PiccoJamie SheltonMisty SkipperAnne SulzbacherBarbara Vernoski

Michael Santarone, Chair

Dan Murphy, Vice Chair

John Wilbanks, Treasurer

Dr. Pam Chally, Secretary

Justin Spiller, Immediate Past Chair

Dr. Julie BakerMartha BarrettJim CannanDonna CerwonkaRobert ConnorKelly L. DeGanceMichael Del Rocco

Daniela DohertyM.J. EasterlingRefik ElerLanny FelderDr. Mary HartiganLorraine KeithJanice Kiernan

The Center’s new Career and Education Program focuses on bringing job training and job placement opportunities to Sulzbacher residents. The goal of the program is to assist our residents in obtaining a living-wage job that leads to a career not just a minimum wage “survival” job. This Fall the Center forged a new partnership with First Coast Security. First Coast Security is a privately owned, licensed security agency. The company provides armed and unarmed security officers, residential and commercial patrol services and even concierge services. In an effort to give back to the community, First Coast Security provided Class D security training to 10 of our residents. All but one (who left the class for another job) graduated the program with a very high score, half have already received jobs in the security field!

Our other efforts are bearing fruit as well. This summer Sulzbacher Career and Education Center congratulated

Graduates Abound from Sulzbacher

the first 16 graduates from its inaugural Customer Service and Computer Skills Training class and recognized our first two graduates from our Pathways to College – High School Equivalency Program. All these efforts are allowing our residents to build their resumes, find a living wage job, and find the way home.

Contact Linda Hemphill at 394-8051 or

lindahemphill@tscjax.org for more information.

Christmas Card

Christmas Ornament

One of our hard working graduates

NON-PROFIT ORGU.S. POSTAGE

JACKSONVILLE, FLPERMIT NO.3390

PAID

611 E Adams StreetJacksonville, FL 32202-2847SulzbacherCenter.org

Find us on:

Sulzbacher Center @thewayhome

I.M. Cookie Holiday Bake Sale!

You can enjoy a taste of Sulzbacher hospitality, too! Each gift box “House” contains a Baker’s Dozen (13) of delicious, fresh baked cookies; the collectible holiday tin contains 20 cookies. All I.M. Cookie proceeds benefit the Sulzbacher Center in our work to help our community’s homeless citizens find the way home. 13 cookies in a gift box: $20.00 (local hand delivery or pick-up only); 20 cookies in a collectible holiday tin: $30.00 + shipping ($4.75 in Florida; some restrictions apply). Cookie tin orders will also be available for pick up at the Center.

Beaches Community Healthcare Family Walk and Fun Festival

Saturday, March 1, 2014 at 9:00 am Sea Walk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach

Save the Date!

Need a sweet cookie treat for someone special on your holiday gift list? Pick up a gift box or holiday tin of our famous I.M. Cookie, a rich, buttery confection of white chocolate chips and macadamia nuts, baked fresh to order from our founder, I.M. Sulzbacher’s favorite cookie recipe. I.M. frequently requested this particular cookie for guests at special meetings, now a long-standing tradition carried forward to today.

Order your cookies in this cute box or a holiday themed tin

Our original recipe White Chocolate Macademia Nut Cookie