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ANNUALREPORT

WE DO WHAT WE DO

2016

MAUREEN BLAHAEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

This year’s annual report is late. For the last five years, the National Runaway Safeline’s (NRS) fiscal year has ended on July 31st. Our audit was completed in September. And then, the annual report was distributed in October. This year began and ended di�erently.

NRS anticipated formally submitting a proposal to continue to serve as the National Communication System (NCS) for Runaway and Homeless Youth in early 2017. NRS had been under a five-year grant contract cycle for the last couple decades. And NRS had servedas the NCS since 1974. Although we were prepared to re-submit this past winter, the Family & Youth Services Bureau didn’t releasethe o�cial proposal announcement until May 10th with a submission deadline of July 10th. And NRS’ 2013-2017 contract was due to expire on July 31st.

This summer was a nail biter! The timing, the uncertainty, the budget constraints sent NRS into an existential crisis. We were forced to explore if we weren’t the NCS who were we? NRS defines itself as a 24/7/365 hotline and online crisis center. We have a mission to keep America’s runaway, homeless and at-risk youth safe and o� the streets. Our trademarks are a 40-hour crisis intervention training and the Let’s Talk: Runaway Prevention Curriculum. These are our essences. For over four decades, thousands of sta�, board members, volunteers, and donors have worked tirelessly and passionately to ensure millions of youth in crisis were supported. What would happen to future youth if we weren’t here to help?

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF NRS DISAPPEARED? Fortunately, for youth and families across the country, this question went unanswered. On September 20th, NRS received notice that we would continue for the next three years providing crisis intervention hotline and online services. Without a contract in August and September, NRS continued with limited funds to provide crisis services to our nation’s youth without interruption. And although our government funding has been flat since 2006, NRS continues to transform technology, training and services to better serve youth in crisis. We are able to be there for them because you are there for us. Within this annual report, we will share why we support, why we listen, why we evolve, why we can.

WHY WE CAN DO WHAT WE DO. The generosity of our donors and funders provide the vital resources to operate. On behalf of the youth and families NRS serves, thank you to everyone who supported the National Runaway Safeline from August 1, 2016 through September 29, 2017. Why we can is because of YOU. Thank you!

NATIONAL RUNAWAY SAFELINE

WE DO WHAT WE DO. WHY

RANDALL ROYERBOARD CHAIR

We have a mission to keep America’s runaway, homeless

and at-risk youth safeand o� the streets.

On October 15, 2016, Spirit of Youth raised over $170,000 for NRS. (left to right) Board Members and event co-chairs Joyce Sapir and Troy McDonald Kane with Board Member Erica Wolfort.

Spirit of Youth (SOY) is our only major fundraising event of the year and our sponsors and donors are the lifeblood of our organization and SOY. Without our sponsors, SOY would not happen. Without this event, that raises money for NRS, we wouldn't be able to keep open 24/7 helping youth and their families in crisis across the nation. It's so exciting to see how the event goes from the planning stage to fruition and the level of enthusiasm of our task force is unmatched. When we get together there is such great camaraderie and the ideas just flow – Joyce Sapir, Board Secretary, Spirit of Youth Co-chair

WE SUPPORT. NRS’ services are supported by sta�, board members, volunteers, donors, associate board members, and community partners. Here is why we support…

NRS has a proud history of over 40 years of nationwide support for our youth in need and their families. We have over 250,000 contacts annually, and continue to grow. As volunteers we get comprehen-sive training, and are well supported by our dedicated supervisors and NRS’ sta�. For me, it is truly a privilege to be able to volunteer and support the mission of NRS.

– Ken Lavelle, Board Treasurer, Volunteer, Volunteer of the Year 2017

What keeps me coming back is the friendly environment at NRS and how much support and help we receive from the supervisors. It's also a very rewarding feeling when I can help a caller. I remember a caller who was strand-ed in a city because his friends had aban-doned him there. It was nice to start the Home Free process with him and see it through all the way to the end when his bus ticket got booked.

– Jermaine Dictado, Volunteer since 2014

WE SUPPORT.

“For me, it is truly a privilege to be able to volunteer

and supportthe mission of NRS.”

– Ken Lavelle

WHY

WE LISTEN. The first step in providing support is to listen. The National Runaway Safeline’s (NRS) crisis services team listens and provides non-directive and non-judgmental support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

A chat came in from a 16 year old transgender individual, Jay, one Friday evening. Jay began the chat saying they* were suicidal, because they could no longer deal with being them-selves in a rural Christian household where their gender identity was not accepted. They were constantly harassed at school and home for their appearance, and had reached a breaking point.

Jay said that earlier that day, their parents had taken them to a lecture at their local church on “transgenderism” by a well-known anti-gay pastor. The pastor told them that “trans-genderism” is a mental illness, or something people do for attention when they are lacking God in their lives. The pastor told them not to acknowledge people’s preferred pronouns, and to confront transgender people by telling them their real gender identity is the sex they were born with. Jay talked about how the lecture made them feel defeated and worthless. It completely invalidated them as a person, and made them feel like ending their life.

Immediately, the frontline team member, aka ‘liner’, attempted to revalidate Jay’s self-worth and discussed their strengths as an intelligent, resilient, self-aware individual. The liner and Jay discussed how being trans is not an illness. The liner talked about when people do not accept Jay’s identity it is that person’s problem, and not their own. Jay agreed and said they would not let other people’s hate define them, and said they were no longer feeling suicidal.

The liner and Jay then talked about Jay’s support system and how they have been coping. Jay said that since they are in a non-ac-cepting community they looked for support through online LGBTQ chatrooms. However, a few months ago, the person online that Jay had relied on for support stopped being supportive and became a sexual predator. That experience online caused Jay to start having panic attacks, so they had recently started seeing a counselor. Jay’s counselor recognized their preferred pronouns, but also did not adequately provide them with the support they so needed. The liner found an LGBTQ center in a nearby city that Jay could go to for support when they have the car on the weekend that also had counseling services. The liner and Jay also brainstormed ways Jay could cope on their own. Jay decided to start writing in a journal, doing personal a�rmations, and going to the Trevor Project or LGBT Hotline chatrooms rather than the ones they were using before. Jay left the chat saying they felt much better than they did earlier, and thanked the liner for listening to them.

Jay was not alone during this hard time. NRS was their support system. Here to listen. Here to help.

*Since Jay self-identified as “they”, this vignette was written with that pronoun. Transgender, gender non-conforming and non-binary individuals may prefer to be referred to as “they” as a gender neutral, singular pronoun.

The youth’s name and details have been changed to respect anonymity.

WHYWE LISTEN.

The first step in providing support

is to listen.

WE EVOLVE. Our goal is to reach youth when they are in most need, when they are in crisis. This past summer, NRS submitted a proposal to the Family & Youth Services Bureau to continue to serve as the national communication system for runaway and homeless youth. During the process, NRS had the opportunity to look back on the previous five year grant cycle. The accomplishments were extraordinary as NRS has continued to evolve to connect with youth.

NRS continues focus on crisis logs as the best measure of crisis intervention services received. In 2016, NRS completed 29,806 youth crisis logs. Although NRS received over 60,000 calls during 2016, each call did not necessarily result in a crisis log being completed. In addition, crisis logs also encompass our online services. A crisis log is completed when the youth, or adult on behalf of a youth, connecting receive crisis intervention services. NRS had a 44% increase in crisis logs from 2015 to 2016 and nearly 100% from 2014 to 2016.

We continue to evolve in order to match our audience, so that we are able to help those in need, more quickly and more easily.

FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17

267,502 210,572 492,389 775,769 797,3661800RUNAWAY.org visitors

WHYWE EVOLVE.

in order to match our audience, so that we are able to help those

in need, more quickly and more easily.

2014 2015 2016 1349 3155 6586

2119 3084 3336

5264 9367 15,440

Crisis Emails

Forum Postings

Chat Requests

In addition, the new website, reinforced by social media, escalated online crisis services.

In June 2015, NRS launched a new website which saw a significant increase in tra�c.

We continue to evolve

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2017Board of Directors 2016-2017: (left to right seated) Executive Director Maureen Blaha, Joyce Sapir-Secretary, Brian Shin, Don Sands (left to right standing) Greg Buseman, Ryan Bracken, Randall Royer-Chair, Troy McDon-ald Kane, Ken Lavelle-Treasurer, Anne Schankin, Michele Lehman, Tom Lawler. Not Pictured: Suzi Cabo, Cindy Campbell, Jodi Cohen, Peter Kingma, Adriana Kissel, Jack Philbin, Robert Speed, Erica Wolfort.

WHYWE CAN.

F I N A N C I A L I N F O R M AT I O NFiscal Year 2017, August 1, 2016 through July 31, 2017*Revenue $2,073,183 Expense $2,090,462Net income $(17,279)End Net Assets $350,495Program services $1,653,365Management and general $288,191Fundraising $148,906*The complete audit and 990 for Fiscal Year 2017 and information for the two month gap period of August-September 2017 is available at 1800RUNAWAY.org/about/financials.

Our funding

provide the financial resourcesthat allow us to operate crisis services

for youth and their families 24/7/365.

partners and donors

Government PartnerFamily & Youth Services Bureau The Administration for Children, Youth & Families U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Corporate PartnersGreyhound Lines, Inc. United Airlines

NRS wishes to acknowledgethe following foundations, corporations, and individuals for their generosity. The donors listed below provided gifts between August 1, 2016and September 29, 2017.

Benefactor Level$50,000 and aboveFirst Nonprofit Foundation

Ambassador Level$10,000 - $19,999Combined Federal Campaign EmployeesLongest Day of Golf

Founder Level$5,000-$9,999Aim NationaLease AnonymousCarlton Technologies Chicago Cubs CharitiesChicago Tube and Iron Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Charitable FoundationGreyhound Lines, Inc. Troy* and Charles McDonald KanePeter Kingma* and Thom LambertKen* and Sandra LavelleStephen** and Rosemary MackOlympic Steel Radio FlyerJoyce* and Jonathan SapirSMB Help Desk, Inc. Rick Stoneham**United AirlinesVIBESBonnie** and Steve WheelerWolfort Family Foundation

VIP Level$2,500-$4,999Allstate Insurance CompanyKaren** AnagnostArcelorMittalAttorneySyncAviv Foundation, Inc.Greg* and Terri BusemanJames Criner**Adriana* and Jeremy KisselDavid and Amy Klein Marvin Korves Thomas Lawler*Michele* and Gary LehmanJack Love and Colleen ConleyRichard** Malone Randall* and Fiona RoyerAnne* and Ron SchankinLena Ward Work-Relay

Champion Level$1,000 - $2,499 AnonymousArizona State Employee Campaign AT&T Matching GrantAJ BalulisMitch Berlin Maureen Blaha and Joe Morris Ryan Bracken*Suzi* and Greg CaboCindy* and Donald Campbell Central Federal Savings Channing Family FundJodi Cohen* and David SchwartzDebbie DavisJeffrey FleishmannMorris Floyd and Alejandro HerreraFriends of Lakeview NFPFred and Sandra HolubowKosher Q LLC Stephen KunzBeth D. LewisMargaret O’ConnellBenjamin PapalePaul PariseStephen Payne Jack* and Lindsay PhilbinMary Ann Pusateri Jay Ramirez Julia and Walter Jr. Randall Carla Salvo Don* and Mei SandsJill Schwieterman** and John Walsh Brian* and Catalina ShinSulzer Family Foundation Gordon and Mary Vance Christina Van Pelt** and Larry DiskinVentasJim and Sue WalshWest Monroe PartnersKaren West William Blair & Company, LLC FoundationBarbara and David WolfortErica Wolfort*

Sponsor Level$500 - $999AmazonSmileElizabeth Baugher Larry Bechdol Beer on ClarkJennifer Benoit-Bryan and Josh BryanLinda Finley Belan Kathryn Carter Diego Ceniseroz Central Lakeview Merchants AssociationJosh Cohen Dave Dean** Adam Dewitt Joe Diulio and Bill Smith Eileen Dordek and Chris Landgraff Andrea Durbin-Odom and James Odom Erin and Jonah Elin Jenny HamelJames HolsteinICM Properties Barbara Javorcic Glen Johnson

Colleen Kane and Reynold Mathe Kiwanis Club of Lakeview Chicago Morgan Stanley New Trier High School Betsy Nore and Michael Miner Bennett Ockrim Poshard Family Foundation Second Unitarian ChurchKaty WalshYourCause.org Hye Yu

Patron Level$200-$499Chris AngellChristi Ashton-PolohaJoan and Keith Bauman Scott Besunder Michelle Bloedorn and Chris Durkin Richard Bonahoom Phillip Brooks Felix Carabello Jim CridlinCheryll Engel Brian FlanneryNatalie FrankAndrea Friedlander Dianne Gibson Jack Gilbride Joseph Gleeson and Phyllis MonksJerry and Nancy Haley Gary W. Harper** and Herek L. Clack Deborah HindeBill Hynes and Roger Ward Kathleen Jackiw John JonesJonathan Karmel Charles KatzenmeyerPhilip Landa James MaclaganTaissa Magnus Lisa McDonough Susan Miller Michael Murray Julie O’ConnellVincent and Karen Parrinello Colin Pfeiffer Brad RumskyChristine SchellAbby Simon Armando SmithJames Sugrue Jen and Max SteinRichard Stuckey Tricia Sulita Hillary and Keith Szanto Temple Sholom of Chicago Dona-Lee Trotter United Way of Metropolitan Chicago donors Ellen WebberMitchell and Linda Weinstein Mark Weisberg Marie and Cary Werner Brianne Willix Richard Willix Leah Witus

Friend Level $50-$199Reynaldo Achurra Nicole Adams AmazonSmileDavid and Rachel Andrews

Kerensa Armendariz Pamela Asplund Jeannette Atkinson Jan Avallone Rodger and Sybil Badger Matthew Barry Yamina BelabassiJanet A. Bischof-Rosario Colleen Blaha Kris Blaha Michael and Georgia Blaha Joan BoylePaul Brandman Jorie and Joel Braunold Ashley Brown David BurlageLeah Bye Courtney Calero Jane and Robert Calvin Alice Campbell and John Wright David Carbon Cindy and Sammie CarterDavid and Lisa Chan Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Bruce Cohen Myrna CohenBarbara Cousineau Marcia Coven Stacey CruzNeil DeBrassAndrea DeNunzio Jack and Maureen DevinePatricia DombroskiChristopher Durham and Andrea JuchartzSally Edelsberg Bill Egan Ed Eishen and Jeffrey LewyStephanie Leese and Jeff Emrich Michael Erdely Sherwin and Denise Esterman Lee and Cindy EversAdam Farbman Kim FetteJoan Fitzgerald Florence Flanagan Judith FlanaganTheresa Flynn James Foley Chris FrerichsBeatriz Gartler Geoffrey GassDiane GaultDeborah Gillaspie and Fred SturmGenie Gillespie Susan and Stewart Glass Mary GodlewskiAndrea GoldsteinTrudy Goldstein Miriam Gordon Richard and Sandra Goyer Alex Grace Denise GulottaDennis Gulotta Rosemary GulottaLori HabermanJames and Rhonda HallAndrea Hamblin and Nora Tesmond Luke HamiltonSabrina Hampton David Hartney Scott Hatland Trish and Robert HattanKathleen HeneghanDanielle Hernandez

Laura HernandezSarah Hoban and Mitchell Walker Melanie Hodges Kirk and Kimberly Hoopingarner Heidi HostetterAndrew HulburtKathryn Jacobi Sue A. James Mary Clare Johnson Michael KamradtLindsey Kahney Joanne DiBartolo Karabetsos Bruce Kaser Katherine KimKerrie Klein Nancy C. Kloetzli David KohnRick Kolhoff Marie KovarMonica Kowalczyk Craig KullmanZach Land Bennett Lawson Erin Lavelle Stella LeeLaura LegernesEdwin and Judith Leonard Candice Lucas Virginia Ann MalonePolly Marabito Andy MauPatrick and Mary Mauro Susan Mayer Nicki McCabeKaren Meadows Mark and Mary Menzel Marissa MeyerLouisa McPharlinMara Miller John MooneyJacob and Susanne Morowitz Alice Morrissey and Dan Schiff Charles Needham Lauren NelsonScott and Alice Newell Natalie Neyman Lisa Nicola Velizar Nikiforov Nancy NimsErin O’ConnellJody O’Connell Rebecca Palmore Stephen PaneralHugh ParryPepsico Foundation Charlotte Petroski Joshua and Amanda Platek Alex and Elisa PopoviciSabina RaverRobert ReegRhyme & Punishmint Rachel Rosenberg Nancy RosmanTravis RossMark and Susan Rothas Karyn Sacker Vincent Sanchez Frank and Barbara Lee Santos Jacquelyn Schankin Erin ScheckDana SchinzelKathleen Schwappach Alan and Sandy SchwartzDenise and Mark Schwartz Anita Siegal David SincoxMichael Sheehan

Hyunsoo Shin Alan Shirley The Sleeters Michael Sloan Douglas and Katherine SmithJ. Smith Jessica Smith Doug Snyder John StainthorpMary Jane SteeleNancy Stockmeyer Joe StoneSilvija StrikisRichard TararaStephanie TeachTacadia ThompsonErnie** and Katy Toth Kristen TruffaRandy and Toula TurzinskiUnited Way of Greater Philadelphia donors Viki Van ArdsdaleJack Van KempenBarbara VaughanRichard Vines John and Jennifer WalshMichael Ward Laurie Weinberger Vanessa WhiteKiley Whitty Ron Willhoff Alexander WinterRobert WolfJustin Wolfort Katrina Wyss and Sara Eisenbaum Debra Depinto Yaccino Joseph ZambranoRobin Zandri Benjamin Zygmunt

In Memory of Barbara Bechdol Larry Bechdol

In Memory of Robert Busby, Sr. Maureen Blaha and Joe Morris

In Honor of Greg Buseman* West Monroe Partners

In Honor of Suzi Cabo* United Airlines

In Honor of Dave Dean** Mary Jean Steele Nancy Stockmeyer

In Memory of Robert Flannery, Sr. Maureen Blaha and Joe Morris

In Memory of Barry Hulmne’s mother Karina Rios

In Honor of Jesus Christ Travis Ross

In Honor of Charles Kane Vincent Sanchez

In Honor of Amy Klein Craig Krandel

In Memory of Sadie Ladick Karen Meadows

In Honor of Ken Lavelle* The Sleeters

In Memory of Ken Lucchesi Maureen Blaha and Joe Morris

In Honor of Richard Malone** AT&T Matching Grant Joe Diulio and Bill Smith Charles Katzmeyer Brad Rumsky Karyn Sacker

In Memory of Tara McIssac Dages Keates

In Memory of Gale Paneral Stephen Paneral

In Memory of Chris Powers Maureen Blaha and Joe Morris

In Honor of Julia and Walter Jr. Randall William Blair & Company, LLC Foundation

In Memory of Al Root Keith and Joan Bauman

In Memory of Ruth Schankin Maureen Callahan Kathrina Davis Kathryn Jacobi Doug Snyder Judith Stevens Cathy and Curt Utterback

In Honor of Bob Singer Ed Eishen and Jeff Lewy

In Honor of Noel Slesinger Tyler McLean

In Honor of Transgender Teens Marie Kovar

In Honor of Gordon Vance Deborah Hinde

In Honor of Katy Walsh Thomas and Elizabeth Eisele

In Memory of Caitlin West Karen West

NRS gratefully acknowledges the hundreds of gifts under$50 and in-kind donations from individuals and businesses in support of our annual benefit and our daily operations – thank you! Please note all support of Spirit of Youth 2017 will be recognized in Fiscal Year 2018.

It is possible that we have inadvertently omitted someone or printed the name of a donor who wished to remain anonymous. If an error has occurred, please inform Katy Walsh, Director of Development and Communications, at 773-289-1727.

*Denotes Board Member**Sustaining Board Alumni

THANKS OUR DONORS AND PARTNERSNATIONAL RUNAWAY SAFELINE