2016 | Annual Report

Star Partner for our collaboration on Movies in the Park and the current update of the accessibility audit of downtown Grand Rapids. Through leadership from the Governor’s Office of Urban Initiatives, Wheels to Work Walker was launched in the summer. The community partnership includes Hope Network, the Kent County Essential Needs Task Force, Disability Advocates, The Rapid, the City of Walker and area employers.On the policy front, Disability Advocates remains committed to and active on achieving the vision of an accessible and welcoming community for all. We worked this year on the successful implementation of the ABLE Act in Michigan, the Governor’s Workgroup on the redesign of the community mental health system, and the efforts to remake the Nursing Facility Transition process to name a few. In all of this, we circle back around to people and partners – we are committed to engaging people with disabilities and our community partners on this systems change work so as to have the most positive and long-lasting impact.Thank you for your support in making 2016 another successful year of Disability Advocates.We look forward to continuing to instigate change with you in 2017 and beyond.

Sincerely,

Dear Friends,In looking back on Disability Advocates’ impact in 2016, three areas of focus come to mind – people, partners and policy.In 2016, Disability Advocates continued to assist people with disabilities as they create a better life for themselves. We did this through working with individuals to set their own goals and then working alongside them as they knock down the barriers that exist on the way to success. As you will read, we have highlighted only a few of our success stories which include Robbie, Quinn, and Kimberly. Of special note, in 2016, Disability Advocates launched Youth Transition Services. Our staff are now working directly with students in area high schools in order for the students to hone workplace abilities and learn independent living skills for their adult life.Our work with our partners continues to grow in impact as well. The evidence comes from our partners themselves. At the Eighth Annual ArtPrize Awards ceremony, Disability Advocates was highlighted as a community partner for both our work on the venue accessibility guide and our hosting of the Disability Oasis. Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. listed Disability Advocates as a

Dave Bulkowski

Cameron Young

Dave & CameronDavid Bulkowski Executive Director

Cameron Young 2016 Board President

HighlightsKimberly is a Veteran who has “regained her zest for life”. We helped her to re-engage with the community, provided a few home modifications, and helped her to gain more available transportation.We helped Quinn and Robbie to gain supports while seeking meaningful employment, provided tips for working with other organizations, independent living, as well as strengthening and improving their socialization skills. Our Family Support Services included guidance for over 100 families like Quinn and Robbie.

This year marked our 35th Anniversary!Disability Advocates of Kent County was founded in 1981 by persons with disabilities who sought to help themselves and other persons with disabilities gain control over their own lives. Rooted in our beginnings, “We are who we serve.” Today, we continue the work to create an accessible and welcoming community for all and to support individuals with disabilities in living full and exciting lives. More than 50% of our board, staff, and volunteers always have been and always will be individuals with a disability.

Kimberly

Quinn

Robbie

Impactful Programming

Over the past year, Disability Advocates of Kent County has helped approximately

3,000 people with Disabilities.

The Advocacy Team collaborated with local business and municipalities to ensure a

more accessible community. Our impact includes the installation of sidewalks along

28th Street from end to end and the bus line extending into Cascade Township! Last

year, we conducted approximately 30 accessibility reviews to ensure public spaces

met minimum ADA requirements and to encourage Universal Design principals.

ADA Employment Advocacy has helped 151 people learn best

practices in maintaining employment.

In 2016 we kicked off Advocacy Workshops which hosts various advocacy speakers and

trains the participants to identify and address the most important issues they face and

discuss solutions for implementing strategies to improve policy. 97 people attended!

15 organizations participated in Disability Decorum training as we

launched the Dis.is campaign.

48 people attended our EmployAbility Work Group classes.

Family Support Services helped 106 people gain essential supports and the

knowledge needed to live independently.

55 people received work and personal adjustment training on independent living

from Independent Living Supports.

1,026 people received Information and Referral services.

8 people moved into their own homes with the help of our Nursing Facility Transitions Team.

Occupational Therapy - Adaptive Home Solutions helped 530 people to live independently in their homes.

375 people attended four moderated panel discussions and engaged with elected officials.

16 veterans gained necessary supports and are closer to independent living and employment.

99 volunteers gave of their time and talent to the mission of Disability Advocates. 10,065 intern and volunteer hours through special events, clerical, ramp-builds, benefits and more! We thank you!

Youth Transition Services is a new program this year! We engaged 30 young adults to learn and practice independent living skills within a team environment.

FinancialsRe

venu

e Government Support (Federal, State, Local) $610,019

Fee for Service and Misc. Revenue $798,464 In-Kind Gifts $209,916 Foundation and Corporate Support $153,829 Individual Support $50,742Event Revenue (Gross) $96,070

Total $1,919,040

Expe

nse All Personnel Expense $1,521,455

Occupancy and Operations $236,508 In-Kind Gifts $209,916 Equipment and Goods for Consumers $163,167 Fundraising Eventsand Marketing $56,987Travel $43,672 Office and Equipment Expense $41,026

Total $2,272,731

Ass

ets

Liab

ilitie

s &

Net

Ass

ets Current Assets

Cash and Cash Equivalents $591,880

Pledges and Accounts Receivable $497,137

Pre-paid Expense $44,071Total Current Assets $1,133,088

Office Lease Deposit $1,889Property and Equipment, net $4,515

Total Other Assets $6,404

Total $1,139,492

Current LiabilitiesAccounts Payable $17,253Accrued Compensation and Withholdings

$82,082

Deferred Revenue $53,809Total Current Liabilities $153,144

Net AssetsUnrestricted $648,813Temp Restricted $326,230Perm Restricted $11,305

Total Net Assets $986,348

Total $1,139,492

11%

8%

41%

32%

5% 3%

Revenue

2%2%

67%

9%7%

3%

10%

Expense

Total Change in Net Assets ($353,691)Revenue Released from Restriction from Prior Years $337,946

Total Operating Change in Net Assets ($15,745)

Net Assets Start of the Year $1,340,039Net Assets End of the Year $986,348

DonorsThank you for the generosity of our donors, sponsors, and grantors. Joseph & Lindsay AbramAirway OxygenTim & Nancy AlbersJulie AlexanderMark & Chantal AllardAmy DemottJoel & Kathleen AndersonMontie & Paula AnnisAnonymousJohn & Judith ApolArc Kent CountyMary & Gordon AstromJohn & June AtsmaSarah BartonBattle Creek Community FoundationBlessed SacramentBlue Cross Blue Shield Of MichiganStanley & Janna BoesElaine Borgman

Frank & Jenny LynnGinny & Dave MacDonaldPamela Myers MacDougalLynn MarchBarbara MarcusRobert & Nancy MarshallMary Free Bed GuildHarold & Angie MastGerilyn MayDennis McCormickKyle & Alexandra McKeownMeijerDennis & Kathleen MerizonSheryl MetcalfArnold MikonMile High United WayTammy MilivojevicB. Miller SiegelRon & Karen ModreskiJohn & Judith MorozGordy & Karen MouwWayne & Cynthia MullerLarry MulliganLaurie & Manderfeld MurphyNational Christian Foundation West MichiganTom NelisLee Nelson Weber

Patricia DraperJan & Bill DurrMarti DuryeaMarylu DykstraEdward N. & Della L. Thome Memorial FoundationJames & Lois EnsCecile & William FehsenfeldFerris State UniversityFidelity Charitable Gift FundTimothy & Wendy Fields-LardieFoster Swift Collins & Smith PCKathy FreemanCharles FrostGE United Way CampaignMichael & Glenda GoodshopGrand Rapids Community CollegeGrand Rapids Community FoundationGrand Valley State UniversityRoger & Susan GriffioenLawrence GrimesScott & Lynne GrinwisSarah HarrisWilliam & Marybeth HaverkampHaywood & AssociatesHeart of West Michigan United Way

Ellie SarafisRobert SaylorJanice & Mineur SchoenfeldDavid & Jerri SchroederJill SchrotenboerSebastian FoundationAmbassador Peter & Joan SecchiaLarry & Faith SegaarJenny & Carl ShangrawBrian ShaplandDave & Lin ShattoSinas, DramisCharles & Sheryl SmalliganChris & Vanarragon SmitEd & Patricia SmithMark & Blair SmithSusan K SmithSpartan NashSpectrum HealthStandale LumberSteelcaseThe Griswold GroupThe Michigan American Legion FoundationThe Schwab Fund For Charitable GivingAnn ThomasDan Thue

James & Sharon BreukerBright Funds FoundationNelly BrowerTamara Brubaker-SalcedoDave Bulkowski & Melissa BudzynskiJim BulkowskiDonald & Barbara BultmanSuzanne CadorinSteve & Kim ChristiansCity Of Grand Rapids, Diversity & Inclusion OfficeJohn & Joan ClarkThomas ClintonComerica BankJohn & Sylvia CooperJoan CornelisonPaige CornetetDan BehlerAndy & Elizabeth DeBraberLarry DengerinkCharles & Rebecca DentonDuane & Lynn DeRocheySteve DeRuiterJocelyn DettloffEileen DeVriesLarry & Victoria DodgeDolinka VanNoord & CoAnne DomanskiStephanie Dombrowski

Laura OchoaOld National BankMichael & Elizabeth OlszewskiOption 1 Credit UnionAudrey PahmanKathy PartogianWalter PawelkaBryan PayneDirk & Sharon PegmanRichard & Maureen PittFred & Donna PlatteVicki PoleniMarie PulteJohn & Gail QuinnGarry & Nancy ReendersRide for WarriorsDavid & Patricia RinardThomas & Jeannine RizzoRobert W Kellogg Charitable TrustHaley RobertsRichard RobertsRobert RobertsChristine RobertsonJohn RossanoCarl & Kimberly RossiStan & Diane RothCarol RottmanCharles & Ann RushJames Saalfeld

Ken & Gail HeffnerDennis & Jeni HoekstraRaymond & Barbara HoltPhilip & Marie HoltropDiane Hopper-ZaengleinJohn HuntingIKUS Life Enrichment ServicesIrwin Seating CompanyWin & Kyle IrwinITPDan & Ann JacquesJandernoa FoundationDon JandernoaMike & Sue JandernoaCheryl KaltzMarcia KarasCalvin & Lori KeenKent CountyKent County Board Of CommissionersGordon KoetjeRich & Cindy KogelschatzJoe & Ruth KohleyTom & Beth KosterSue KruppTerri Lynn Land & Daniel HibmaGinger LangeBill & Karen LawrenceRobert & Thea LeunkRich & Susan Liberatore

Steven & Laura TriezenbergTRUiSTUnited Way (Campaign Contributions)United Way of the Eastern Upper PeninsulaJerry & Hendrina Van SpronsenAletta & Lorenz VanderPlaatCindy & Mark VanLindenAdelyn VanTolVarnum LLPWarren & Julie VeltmanGloria & Anderson VerwayMarlene & Harold Nelson VitasinskiCraig & Jill VynThe Wege FoundationElizabeth WelchJane & Mark WheatonAmanda WilliamsCraig & LaurieWilsonKate Pew WoltersWines For HumanityKaren WolfJohn & Mary WynbeekBruce YoungCameron YoungDoug & Kim YoungDick & Barbara YoungDale Zimmerman

3600 Camelot Drive SEGrand Rapids, MI 49546

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Disability Advocates of Kent County works alongside people with disabilities as they seek to lead self-directed lives and to create accessible and welcoming communities.