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Nonprofit Profile , St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center



ORGANIZATION

Mission of organization: To empower adults with developmental disabilities to discover, experience and realize their full potential as members of the greater community. St. Madeleine’s offers a lifelong program that includes job training, work opportunities and recreational activities.

Telephone: 619-442-5129.

Web site: stmsc.org.

Founded: 1966.

Milestone: Completion of our Education Center that we built to accommodate our growing enrollment. Today, we have 324 adult students (ages 22 to 75-plus); and anticipate having 400 by year-end 2010.

Annual income: $6,215,100.

Expense allocation: 85 percent supports direct services.

Corporate support: 35 percent of contributions from corporate support.

Corporate supporters: SDG & E; San Diego National Bank; San Diego County Credit Union; The San Diego Union-Tribune; Sycuan Resort & Casino; and many others.

Board chair: Roger W. Roberts, Cmdr., U.S. Navy, retired, Realtor, Prudential California Realty, La Mesa.

Board members: Vice President: Judy Mantle, Ph.D., professor, Special Education Programs, University of San Diego; Secretary: Alison Cummings, community volunteer; Treasurer: David Walters, executive vice president, 1st Pacific Bank; Trustees: Louise S. Conway, assistant principal, Hillsdale Middle School, Cajon Valley Union School District; Dee Dean, publisher, East County Herald; Michael Elconin, partner, EcoElectron Ventures; Sr. Mary Ann Flynn, RSCJ, educator; Kirk Gentry, vice president/branch manager, North Island Credit Union; Rory Goldberg, wardrobe consultant, Doncaster; Judy Klareich, community volunteer; Marilynn Linn, former city clerk, city of El Cajon; Joe Mackey, founder and president, Excell Security; Doug

McCalla, chief information officer, San Diego City Employees’ Retirement System; Victor Mosso, CPA, Victor Mosso, CPA, Inc.; Ginger Owens, advertising/quality control manager, Marcoa Publishing; Don Parent, public affairs manager, Sempra Utilities; Tom Rice, client manager, Premier Banking and Investments, Bank of America; Sr. Virginia Rodee, RSCJ, educator and board member of the Kraemer Endowment Foundation; James H. Wellman, deputy county counsel, county of San Diego; Gale Wright, community volunteer; Monica Zech, public information officer and safety educator, city of El Cajon; Staff Ex-Officio Member: Debra Turner Emerson, MBA, SMSC executive director.

Employees: 101.

Volunteers: 100-plus.

Events: Haute with Heart (Aug. 22, 2009); Morning Glory Brunch; Alley Cat Summer Fest; Sophie’s Art Gallery exhibitions. SMSC also is a beneficiary of the La Jolla Festival of the Arts and Buick Invitational.

Wish list: High attendance at our fashion show; a parking lot for our organic garden (so we can sell the plants grown by our students); funding for our new Web site; a new van to transport students; and additional funds to cover our shortfall in state funding.


OFFICE ISSUES

Recent challenge: Taking over the Alley Cat Summer Fest in downtown El Cajon; expanding it into a regional event that brings together artists and the business community, and promotes the abilities of our adult students.

Measures of success: Expanding programs and creating new ones that result in 95 percent of our students earning a paycheck and working in jobs they love.

Smartest move: Purchasing the Sophie’s Art Gallery building in downtown El Cajon that allowed us to expand services and raise our profile throughout the region.

Missed opportunity: I don’t think there was one , I’m very persistent!

Misconception: That working for less money in nonprofit means less quality staff; our employees are highly competent as well as caring and passionate about our mission.


PROFESSIONAL INSIGHTS

Personal path to nonprofit work: My master’s degree in business administration, combined with my passion for the arts, helped me grow the organization in new ways.

Toughest aspect: We’re facing a 7 percent budget cut from the state (on top of a 3 percent cut instituted in March), and decreasing donations. This means a $200,000 shortfall and cutbacks in service.

Most surprising aspect: After nearly 15 years at St. Madeleine’s, my enthusiasm and commitment have not waned; I am more determined than ever to make a positive impact to our students’ lives.

Greatest pleasure: Seeing our students’ optimism, heart and spirit , I’m so proud of all of them!


INTROSPECTIONS

Best recent moment: Purchasing property next to our main campus that will allow us to expand our Organic Garden and make it self-sustaining.

Worst recent moment: Worrying about purchasing the property for our garden; but then leasing it so we aren’t locked into a start date for our project.


Nonprofit Profile is a recurring feature of the Business Journal. Send your candidates for profiles to Tom York at tyork@sdbj.com.

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