2020 ANNUAL REPORT

A partner agency of the

United Way of Saginaw County

SAFETY

CHANGE EMPOWERMENT

Serving Saginaw County for over 40 years

WHAT. A. YEAR. For better or for worse, there’s no denying that 2020 was a year to remember. It was especially unique at Underground Railroad, as we saw more and more survivors needing help, but unable to leave their homes due to the lockdown. As a result, more funding was funneled into providing tele-advocacy, feeding, caring for, and educating students who were removed from schools, and increasing cleaning and disinfecting supplies for emergency shelter. Despite increased expenses, we were able to maintain our programming and keep our services open for survivors, motivated by a staff

and Board of Directors who are passionate about seeing survivors of abuse empowered. After a few uncertain months fiscally, we are grateful that funding ended the year meeting or exceeding projections. This is entirely thanks to our incredible community. This year over 1,000 individuals contacted us for help and received

support through our programs, more than 900 volunteers found significance in service to others, and hundreds of donors supported our mission with monetary and in-kind donations. I am humbled and honored that even during this challenging time, Underground Railroad remained strong because of all of you! It is inspiring what we can accomplish together, and we’re hopeful about the continued momentum to move forward. As we say goodbye (and in some cases good riddance!) to 2020, we know that in 2021 Underground Railroad is well-positioned to provide help in the moment, and hope for the future, thanks to your incredible and unfaltering partnership.

Dear Friends,

Sincerely,

SHARON HOPPER

Future Insurance Agency

JODY KOMYATHY

Turner Boehler & Associates

MEGAN MICHELS

Thrive Social

DAVID NALL

Covenant HealthCare

JAY PEPLINSKI

Glastender

JEN WYSONG

Independent Bank

ALISA DIVINE ZEHNDER

Personal Power Press

JAMIE NISIDIS—CHAIR

Braun Kendrick

CHRISTI BIRCHMEIER—PRESIDENT

Underground Railroad, Inc.

JON PICKELMAN—VICE CHAIR

Tri Star Trust

TERRIE CHRONOWSKI—TREASURER

Yeo & Yeo

DARLENE KRUMPHOLZ—SECRETARY

Wildfire Credit Union

DAWN BOUCHER

Mannor Group

DAVID BROWN

Isabella Bank

TERRI CARMICHAEL

Merrill Lynch

Board of Directors

MISSION Our mission is to empower survivors

and create a culture of safety and

respect in our community.

WITH SURVIVORS IN THE COMMUNITY

We empower survivors

of domestic violence,

sexual assault, stalking

& human trafficking by

removing barriers to

safety, and treating all

victims with dignity and

respect.

We assume the

leadership role for

eliminating domestic &

sexual violence in the

community by focusing

on prevention through

education, resources

and training.

OUR

WORK

15,361 safe nights

in shelter

1,385 hours of

$121,794

N I N E

households received

2,957 hours of

families

individual & group counseling

answered

calls

crisis helpline

2,961 DIRECT SERVICES

at a glance 2020

childcare spent time in

over 40,000 nights of rapid rehousing, transitional housing & permanent supportive housing

461 PPOs provided

2,142 court hearings attended

pets were kept safe

with their families

including 5 dogs, 2 cats, & 1 turtle

worth of individualized assistance was

provided

N I N E COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

at a glance 2020

community members

ran the GOTR

girls in Saginaw, Bay, Huron, Arenac, & Tuscola counties were inspired by

downloads in cities and

Touchy Subjects had over

different countries K-12 youth attended

educational presentations

public awareness & community education events

Mid Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force

gave educational presentations

N I N E DONOR GRATITUDE at a glance 2020

adults & children were adopted for the holidays

$ 3 1 , 4 1 3 merchandise helped survivors directly through vouchers

914 16,303 hours of

service donated

over

Over $242,000 worth of merchandise was

donated to Underground

Railroad Resale

Our generous donors

gave over

to our annual fundraisers, providing

crucial operating support

Community groups

& businesses raised over

through third party fundraisers

$7,771 $86,069

OUR

IMPACT

Services

Crisis Helpline

Emergency Shelter

Emergency On-Call Response

Advocacy/ Therapy / Support Groups

Court Support

Housing Assistance

Individualized Assistance

Youth Services

SafePlace Program

Community Outreach

Volunteer Opportunities

Girls in the Run Saginaw Bay

Underground Railroad Resale

Cyndi worked with URR off and on for many years. Now in her 60’s, Cyndi was chronically homeless for several years and was re-assaulted during this time. After her assault, she

reconnected with staff at URR who helped her get shelter, food, clothing, and provided emotional support. Last year her URR advocate helped her apply for Section 8. Cyndi was one of the lucky eligible individuals whose name was drawn to receive the housing. One of the first people she contacted was her URR advocate who immediately supplied her with vouchers to Underground Railroad Resale. Staff at the resale store helped her find household items, décor and furnishings for her brand new home.

My daughter learned so much about adaptability and grace during this season of Girls on the Run. With the ever changing restrictions in our community, we weren’t sure what

the season would look like, but GOTR implemented measures to make a safe, in-person season possible. The fact that they were able to meet was a blessing. It was a welcome break to the day-to-day these kiddos had lived with since March. They were able to talk things out, see new and old friends and get moving. My daughter has grown so much in the past two months. She is more confident, open, and able to slow down and think things through, because of the things she learned in this program. The lessons my daughter learned from GOTR are invaluable. I truly believe they are tools she will have with her for the rest of her life .

Desiree first accessed URR’s services when she came to emergency shelter, and later joined the transitional housing program. She worked with our Sexual Assault Therapist

who taught her techniques to cope with anxiety and depression from long-term sexual assault. With URR’s help, Desiree was able to obtain housing, allowing her to live independently with her children. Then Desiree received a car donated by a generous community member. With the help of new transportation she immediately enrolled in college. Desiree told her therapist, “I can’t change what happened in the past, all I can do is look towards the future and make a change.” She is currently attending Delta College pursuing a career in social work.

We know very well how domestic violence and sexual assault affect all aspects of people’s lives and the lives of those around them,

including at work. Ensuring our managers are versed in what to look for and how to respond is a good start to helping our associates who find themselves in those terrifying and terrible situations, as well as their coworkers who are often affected too. Underground Railroad bent over backwards to accommodate our request for domestic violence training, conducting 6 separate sessions to touch all of our leaders. Their approach to training is admirable, staying fact-based when making people aware of emotionally charged situations. Furthering our leaders’ understanding of domestic violence and its ramifications is critical, especially for a business like Morley’s, which is all about people serving people.

In June of 2017 I was donating items to the resale store, and was met by the Volunteer Coordinator. As I was noticing all the donations, I said “You need some help!”

She asked if I’d like to volunteer my time. I completed the application on the spot and have been volunteering ever since. I love a challenge and this is a challenge I can do with my handicap. Knowing the funds earned from the sale of donated items go toward the work of the agency, I felt I could make a difference. This work that has benefitted someone near and dear to me —my daughter, Miranda. Miranda had a life turning point that she believed could help others. She donates items to URR to help anyone who has had the courage to leave their awful situation, has trouble supporting themselves, feels alone, or feels like they have no options. We both believe the smallest deed can change a person’s life forever.

OUR

FUNDING

Inspiration Level

$1,000+

Partner Level

$750—$999

Friend Level

$150-$249

Underground Railroad ‘s Empowerment Circle is named for the philosophy that drives our mission and work. The Empowerment

Circle is a special group of major donors whose annual support helps empower survivors and inspire change in Saginaw County.

Members receive special recognition throughout the year. Membership currently includes more than 100 individuals and families.

The list below reflects gifts made between October 1, 2019 and September 30, 2020.

Roselyn Argyle

Mary Sue Barry

David & Jody Becker

John & Sharon Benson

Tammy & David Bernier

Warren & Anna Booms

Mary Chris & James Church

Louis & Karen Constan

Leslie & Terry Duperon

Kim & Adam Harbaugh

Linda & Howard Hollingshead

David Kulhanek

Iris Marteja & Albery Manlapit

Mari McKenzie & Jeffrey Roberts

Dave & Gretchen Nall

David & Lori Pendleton

Cynthia Redmond

Jeannette Ruhl

Arleen Schrank

Charles & Judith Stuart

Tina & David Szarenski

Joyce Van-Ochten

Richard & Jill Vary

Michele Hutchinson

Jami & Matthew Kelly

Zak & Korina McClellan

Dimitrios & Jamie Nisidis

Margaret & Gene Beitz

Tom & Donna Campana

Jeanne & Greg Causley

Tim & Janet Deneen

Christopher Graham

Jimmy Greene

Todd & Lumpeny Hall

Janice Hennessy

Lynn Herkstroeter

Nancy & Thomas Hollerback

Sarah & Mike Jury

Martha & John Kaczynski

Shari Kennett

Jay & Denise Peplinski

Gene & Lori Pickelman

Diane Powers

David & Kristine Schaeffer

Mary & Joe Spadafore

The Pickelman Family

Edwin & Jill Wetmore

Michael & Marcia Wolohan

Michael & Kimberly Zehnder

Ally Level

$250-$499

Lenora Walker

Jennifer Wysong

Advocate Level

$500—$749

Donna Berg

Herbert & Frances Bernthal

Patricia Bierlein

Brittany & Timothy Counts

Maribeth & James Church

Thomas & Mary Damuth

Tammy Davidson

Kim Egeler

Holly Furlo

Barbara & George Gilchrist

James & Beth Reindel

Tracy Baldwin

Brad & Rhonda Beyer

Gary & Sandra Glaza

Linda Gleesing

Michael Grohman

Ronda Grosse

Kimberly Houston-Philpot

Nicole & Clayton Johnson Tom & Beth Rohde

Michael & Patricia Black

Kim Bodick

Barb & Brent Boggess

Heidi Bolger & David Wallace

Carol Champagne

Melinda Chinery

Kathy Conklin

Larry & Terri Daly

Ruth Ann Delude

Thomas & Helen Egleston

Michael & Patricia Forster

Rick & Mary Goedert

Amy & Mike Grossi

Helen Haynes

Angela Hebl

Paula Holevac

Sharon Hopper & Lee Latocki

Amber Johnson

Timothy & Linda Lou Kreager

Larry Lange

Kay & Steve List

John & Laurie Llewelyn

Carol McClellan

Thomas & Patricia Middleton

David Morley

Elizabeth Mueller

Christine Olivarez

Marcia Anne Pahr

Raymond & Susan Passeno

Carmen Pasternak

Susan Piesko

Vicki Rupp

Vickie Schmitzer

Janice Shaffer

Maliha Shaikh

Paula & Scott Silverthorn

Larry & Mary Lou Smith

Mike Stodolak

Melissa Wallace

David & Michelle Youngstrom

Alisa Divine Zehnder

Drew & Tracy Zehnder

William & Karen Zehnder

Roger & Nyla Kahn

Mary & Joseph Koski

Chris & Tammy Kreif

Steven & Cathy Kueffner

Pamela & Ross Lake

Wayne Maier

Mary Jane Malek

Greg Meter

Lori Milroy

Matthew & Mary Morris

Ronnie Neumann

Sue Packer

Brant Piper

Annete Preston

Esther Richards

Toby Robertson

Lanny Roenicke

Terry & Donna Ross

Harold & Elinor Saunders

Anna Schaenzer

Alice & Duane Siler

Joanna Stratman

Phillip & Rosemary Straub

June & Larry Tesch

The Bellile Family

Frederick & Sue Tobin

Angie VanWormer

Tamara Walter-Reynolds

Margaret & Joseph Wieland

at a glance...

EXPENSES

at a glance

PROGRAMS/SERVICES

Shelter & Services $1,167,854 36.72%

Court Support Programs $431,844 13.58%

Transitional Housing $945,162 29.72%

Sexual Assault $83,488 2.63%

Resale Shop $164,717 5.18%

Fundraising $86,337 2.71%

Education/Outreach $129,955 4.09%

Management/General $170,808 5.37%

Total $3,180,165 100.00%

EXPENSES

Personnel $2,125,741 66.54%

Occupancy $210,785 6.60%

Office Expenses $235,285 7.36%

Specific Assistance $382,462 11.97%

Miscellaneous $31,278 0.98%

Interest $19,411 0.61%

Travel & Conferences $35,130 1.10%

Advertising & Recruitment $3,820 0.12%

Depreciation $140,400 4.39%

Membership Dues $10,339 0.32%

Total $3,194,651 100.00%

at a glance...

REVENUE

at a glance

COMMUNITY

CONTRIBUTIONS

Businesses $28,946 6.06%

Churches $17,684 3.70%

Clubs / Groups $12,407 2.60%

Foundations $209,660 43.88%

Individuals $105,972 22.18%

In Kind $39,385 8.24%

United Way $63,790 13.35%

Total $477,844 100.00%

INCOME

Contributions $477,844 14.57%

Rent & Fees $30,781 0.94%

Grants $2,493,464 76.05%

Interest $8,916 0.27%

Special Events $45,867 1.40%

Store Sales $208,420 6.36%

Miscellaneous $13,251 0.40%

Total $3,278,543 100.00%

5647 State Street, Ste. A Saginaw, MI 48603

Business Phone: (989) 399-0007 Fax: (989) 399-0010

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