2014 Annual Report - Steve`s Camp at Horizon Farms

2014
ANNUAL
REPORT
Steve’s Camp at Horizon Farms
empowers urban youth to develop
healthy bodies, hearts, and minds.
Through our programs, campers
emerge as leaders and prepare for
fulfilling lives after high school.
PROGRAM GUIDE
3 2014 at a Glance
4 Our Campers
5 Healthy Body Outcomes
6 Healthy Heart Outcomes
7 Healthy Mind Outcomes
8 Camper Profile
9Financials
10Supporters
12 Board of Directors
13 Letter from the Executive Director
14 Support Steve’s Camp at Horizon Farms
Steve’s Camp at Horizon Farms
In these photos: From top to bottom: Campers
Jacob and JJ with one of the camp bunnies.
Campers at the rock climbing wall. Campers
canoeing on the lake.
2
OUR FOUNDATION
healthy BODY
healthy HEART
healthy MIND
In this photo: Campers embarking on a morning meditative hike
Since 2011, we’ve served 276
youth from 62 schools. In
2014, we served 82 campers
and 16 youth leaders1 from
37 schools.
1. A session in 2014 was canceled due to the tragic death of a camp counselor during his time off. Had the session been held, 124 youth would have attended camp in 2014 –
about our maximum capacity with current facilities.
Steve’s Camp at Horizon Farms
3
our CAMPERS
In this photo: Boys from Summer 2014 at the end of Session 1
AsianAmerican
2%
Other 6%
92% of participants identify as African-American or Latino. 48%
indicated they were African-American, 44% identified as Latino, 6%
said they identify as another race, and 2% said they were AsianAmerican.
Latino
44%
AfricanAmerican
48%
Lives with
parent and
step-parent
16%
Does not
live with two
parents
56%
Manhattan
10%
Lives with
both
parents
28%
Bronx
38%
Queens
8%
49% of participants reported speaking a language other than
English at home. The most commonly spoken language is Spanish,
followed by French. Individual campers spoke Arabic, Cantonese,
Creole, Patois, Twi, and Wolof.
72% of participants do not live with both their mother and father.
56% indicated they did not live with two parents. 28% reported living
with their mother and father, and 16% said they lived with a parent
and step-parent. Teens who grow up with just one of their parents
“are twice as likely to drop out of school…and 1.5 times as likely
to be…out of school and out of work in their late teens and early
twenties.”2
Most participants live in low-income areas of Brooklyn and the
Bronx. The average median income in their zip codes was $28,713,
and many reported they had family members working in low-wage
service or labor sectors, such as labor/maintenance, retail/sales,
childcare, and food service. (To be eligible for free lunch in New
York, a family of four must have a household income of $30,615 or
less.)
Brooklyn
44%
2. McLanahan, Sara and Gary Sandefur. Growing up with a single parent: What helps, what hurts. Cambridge, MA: Harvard, 1994.
Steve’s Camp at Horizon Farms
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healthy BODY
In this photo: Campers Ndeye, Tamia, and Sarank
assist our lead chef, Nyanyika, in preparing a meal.
“I learned how to eat healthy, other ways
to exercise and how to be a man.”
- Jacob, 15
Coming to camp inspired
participants to live healthier lives.
We compared students’ eating habits at the beginning of camp
to their plans at camp’s end. We saw significant improvement3 for
nearly all “Healthy Body” behaviors we track:
•
•
•
•
Eating fruits and vegetables daily
Drinking water – at least 7 cups! – every day
Cutting down on soda, fast food, and salty snacks
Exercising regularly
At the beginning of camp, just 27% of campers said they eat
vegetables at least once per day. This is well below the national
average – according to a CDC study,4 about two-thirds of high
school students eat vegetables every day.
By camp’s end, the portion of campers who planned to eat vegetables
daily doubled: 58% of campers said they plan to eat vegetables at
least that much (equal to 0.65 standard deviations, a large effect).
What’s next? During the upcoming year, we will conduct follow-up
surveys to see if these gains persist. Our after-school and weekend
programs will also ensure campers continue their learning about
cooking and nutrition, as well as sustainable food systems and food
justice.
Eating Vegetables BEFORE CAMP
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
8%
19% 39% 17%
+1x/
Day
1x/
day
17%
2-3x/ 2-3x/ Rarely
Week Month
Eating Vegetables AFTER CAMP
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
23% 35% 29% 6%
+1x/
Day
1x/
day
7%
2-3x/ 2-3x/ Rarely
Week Month
3. When we say indicators showed “significant” change, this means the change in the average response likely did not result just from random variation in the data. All
significance levels reported in this document were 99.5% or better, meaning that the results have a 99.5% chance of being true. The effect size for all indicators was
0.4 standard deviations or greater, unless otherwise reported.
4. Center for Disease Control. Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Among High School Students — United States, 2010.
Steve’s Camp at Horizon Farms
5
healthy HEART
In this photo: Campers and staff work through
“trust fall progressions,” a team-building exercise.
BEFORE CAMP
Disagree
a little
8%
Disagree a lot 7%
Not sure
14%
Agree a
little
24%
Agree a lot
47%
"I don't need to fight because I
have other ways to deal with
being mad."
AFTER CAMP
Not sure
9%
Agree a
little
30%
Disagree a lot 3%
Agree a lot
58%
We looked at changes in students’ responses to questions
gauging students’ self-concept, community connectedness, and
socioemotional skills. The data showed that participants felt like
they were part of a community and developed skills for managing
stress and conflict.
Community connectedness is a protective factor: for vulnerable
youth, feeling connected to a community helps mitigate risk and
foster positive outcomes. At the beginning of camp, around 48%
of campers said they have a “strong attachment to a particular
community.” At the end, 75% said they have a strong attachment
to a particular community – a 27-point increase (equivalent to 0.87
standard deviations, a very large effect).
Campers also developed tools for dealing with conflict. At the
beginning of camp, 71% of campers agreed that they don’t need to
fight, because they have other ways to deal with being mad. In the
exit survey, 88% agreed – a 17-point increase (equivalent to 0.84
standard deviations – a very large effect).
“It's amazing how a shy, reserved 13-year-old
going through depression could evolve into
such a big part of the Steve’s Camp community
in this short amount of time. Now I’m a counselor
at this camp helping everybody I can.”
-Joe, 16, CIT in Summer 2014
Steve’s Camp at Horizon Farms
6
healthy MIND
In this photo: Campers Malaysia, Paris, and
Shameekia listen during a discussion group.
After camp, participants felt more able to
tackle problems, more comfortable engaging
in discussions, and more connected to adults
who can help them plan for the future.
At the beginning of camp, 62% of campers said they express their
opinions when their classmates disagree with them. In the exit
survey, 81% agreed – a 19-point increase, equal to 0.3 standard
deviations.
85% of campers initially said they can solve problems if they try
hard enough. By camp’s end, 94% said they can solve problems if
they try hard enough – a 9-point increase (equal to 0.27 standard
deviations).
At camp’s start, 78% of campers said they know where to get
information about college. By camp’s end, 91% of campers said they
know where to get college information – a 13-point increase (equal
to 0.25 standard deviations).
BEFORE CAMP
Disagree
a little
15%
Disagree a lot 3%
Not sure
20%
Agree a lot
46%
Agree a little
16%
“I express my opinions when my
classmates disagree with me.”
AFTER CAMP
“This camp strives to make young men and women
think deeper about the important things in life. Such as
communication, cooperation, and being comfortable to
try new things.
–Laurence, 15
Steve’s Camp at Horizon Farms
Disagree
a little
3% Disagree a lot 1%
Not sure
15%
Agree
a little
31%
Agree
a lot
50%
7
CAMPER PROFILE
MEET MELODY!
Melody first came to camp four years ago, in 2011. She had
just finished her first year of high school. In 2014, Melody
returned to camp as a counselor, serving as a role model for
campers before heading to SUNY-Binghamton, where she is
enrolled in a competitive pre-veterinary program. Excerpts
from an interview with Melody are presented below, lightly
edited for clarity.
My first summer at camp, I was very angry and had a bad
attitude. I was bullied in middle school, and I was bitter. I
thought everyone was out to get me. During the trust fall
and ropes course, I cried. It took me an hour to get up the courage to do it, but I finally did. Afterwards,
Josh said, “You will make a great counselor one day.” I thought, “What is he talking about? I’m never
coming back here.” But it stuck with me. By the end of the session, I felt united with the other campers
and staff. Camp is where I learned how to trust. When I went back to school after camp for tenth grade, I
had new friends from camp. Tenth grade felt different then.
The next summer, my mother’s fiancé passed
away while he was living with us. He was
murdered in June before my second summer
session in August. Camp helped me with the
mourning process. At camp, it’s not like in the
city where everyone is all stonefaced and cold.
Here, it’s an escape from the city and you learn
you can be friends with other people. I needed
a safe environment like that, where everyone is
together.
I am such good friends with
the other counselors. We
say, “We’re the superpowers,
the Fab Four.” We want to
be here ‘til we’re 50 – even
with our own kids. They’ll
come here too!
Steve’s Camp influenced my career choice.
When I was in ninth grade, I wanted to be a
lawyer. Now, after working with the animals and
doing the farm work, I want to be a veterinarian. I assist Josh in running the farm systems workshop.
Camp taught me how to present myself and how to communicate. Now, as a counselor, I am a role model
for the campers and you see the effect that you have on them. Campers motivate me to be my best. It’s
amazing to see how the campers changed from the beginning of the session to the end. There is no
talking down, and though there is a hierarchy there, everyone has respect for each other. It’s amazing to
see how you can change people’s lives.
Steve’s Camp at Horizon Farms
8
our 2014 FINANCIALS
Combined Statements of Activities and Changes in Net Assets
Year Ended October 31, 2014
2014
Temporarily
Unrestricted
REVENUES AND SUPPORT
Grants and contributions (including in-kind contributions
of $38,300 for 2014 and 42,000 for 2013)
Special event
Investment income
Net assets released from restrictions:
Satisfaction of program restrictions
Total revenues and support
Total
Restricted
$336,502
$34,109
$370,611
307,776
203
644,481
34,109
307,776
301
678,590
3,000
647,481
(3,000)
31,109
678,590
EXPESENSES
Program services
Supporting services:
Management and general
Fundraising - general
Fundraising - special event
Total expenses
352,459
-
352,459
48,843
24,441
116,345
542,088
-
48,843
24,441
116,345
542,088
Change in net assets
105,393
31,109
136,502
Net assets, beginning of year
366,337
95,439
461,776
Net assets, end of year
$471,730
$126,548
$598,278
Steve’s Camp at Horizon Farms
9
our SUPPORTERS
Steve’s Camp at Horizon Farms relies on the generous support of individuals, corporations, and
foundations. We are deeply grateful to our supporters for their essential contributions to Steve’s
Camp. Gifts listed below were received from November 1, 2013, to October 31, 2014
MORE THAN $10,000
Advocate Life & Health LLC
Binday, Ron
Goldman Sonnenfeldt Foundation
Kessner Family Foundation
Kessner, Steve and Cheryl
Massey Knakal Realty of Manhattan LLC
Sparks, Matt
Starr, Ira and Janice
Waterfall Asset Management
UP TO $10,000
Berger, Julius and Ellen
Biener Auto Group
Binday, Glenn
Charles, Howard and Sharon
Eastern Consolidated
Fogelson, Jeffrey and Janet
Fogelson, Susie
Greenberg, Susan
Hindes, Gary
Kania, John
Meridian Capital Group, LLC
New York Land Services
Schwartz, Mark and Marie
Sirkin, Allen and Bonnie
Sonnenfeldt, Michael
Waksal, Harlan and Carol
UP TO $5,000
Abraham, Elyce and Villy
Badger, William and Sandra
Baken, Ellen and Scott
Barany, Kenneth
Bassuk, Richard and Eslyn
Bedard, John
Belfer, Andrew and Karen
Bell Kravit, Helen
Berger, Alan and Dara
Blum, Bruce and Susan
Bonagura, Mike
Borisoff, Richard and Risa
Brandt, James and Kathryn
Brodlieb, Ken
Calhoun, Jeffrey and Meredith
Cannupa Foundation
Chrust, Steven and Sharon
Chubb & Son
Cohen, David
Cosenza, Thomas
Cutler, Jacqueline
D’Agostino, Levine, Landesman, &
Lederman
Dauplaise, Carol
Dauplaise, Richard and Debra
Steve’s Camp at Horizon Farms
Davis, Wayne Clifford and C. Ann
Merrifield
Edison Properties
Fastov, Jeff and Melissa
Feldman, Ziel and Helene
Flagg, Noel and Elise
Foster, Tim
Gilman, Jeffrey
Gold, Andrew
Greenspan, Stephen and Margery
Greenstein, Jeff and Terry
Hall, Robert and Ronna
Haruvi, Arthur
Hefelfinger, James
Henry O. Baker Insurance
Herman, Steven and Donna
Hoff, Cheri
Horowitz, Harris and Randee
Houlihan Lawrence Inc.
Jacobson, Sharon
Jarcho, Tom Gallagher and Alice
John Starks Foundation
Kaliner, Paul and Sharon
Kallem, Ira and Ellen
Kaplan, Mark and Bonnie
Kessner, Michael and Rachel
Kessner, Richard and Eve
Kessner, Thelma
Koffler, Eileen
Koslowsky, Jeffrey and Denise
Kraus, Christopher
Laser Frame & Body Repair
Laura B. Vogler Foundation
Laura J. Niles Foundation
Lavagnino, John
Lebental, Leonard and Mary
Levin, Howard and Rhonda
Lewis, Jeff and Ellen
Lily Palmer Fry Memorial Trust
Masket, Steven and Elaine
Meisel, Steven and Jean
Mizco International
New York City Regional Center
Newman, Craig and Susan
Newman, Rick and Stacey Clarfield
OM Electric
Orchin, Jeremy and Susan
Orenstein, Bruce and Sandy
Penchina, Claude and Meira
Phillips, Alan and Brooke
Rockoff, Steve and Beth
Romm, Marty and Karen
Ruskin, Donna Vitale and Tom
Sackman Enterprises, Inc.
Shefsky, Jerry and Barbara
Shollar, Tom
Silberzweig, Barry and Barrie Rosen
Slimowitz, Murray and Cookie
Straub, Scott and Arlene
Stuart Consumer Product Labs, Inc.
Swartz, Steven
Tenshore Realty
The Moinian Group
Treisman, Joel
Vastola, Raymond and Joyce
Vogel, Steve and Alyson
Wachtenheim, Jeff
Waksal, Zac
Weinstock, Stanley and Carol
Wolf, Rick and Ronni
Yagemann, Michael
UP TO $1,000
Ackerman, Kenneth
Apkon, Lisa
Arest, Justin
Arest, Peter
Binderow, Alex
Brunwasser, Arthur and Michelle
Brunwasser, Justin and Erika
Effman, Richard and Shelley
Eugene and Emily Grant Family
Foundation
Feinstein, Steven and Michele
Fertig, William and Nancy
Frank, Harley
Graff, Michael
Gutter, Sheila
Hackner, Mirel
Hattar, Yousef
Hess, Thomas
Hooper, David and Lisa
Jones, Neil Klein and Susanne
Karotkin, Nancy
Kessner, Adam and Andrea
Kessner, Robert and Andrea
Klein, Risa Lynn
Lever, Joel and Debbie
Lippman, Jason
Locker, Sydney
Lowenstein, David and Liz
Milstein, Andrew and Carol
Nugent, Dean
Peggy and Millard Drexler Philantrophic
Fund
Perl, Mitch
Prisco, Jason
Rosenthal, Harry and Phyllis
Rossman, Rob and Janice
Sadaka, Ned and Jane
10
our SUPPORTERS
Salib, Paul
Saylak, L. Stanford
Schenk, Lynn
Seldin, Peter and Carol
Signature Bank
Skurnick, Michael and Judith
Spivak, Len and Nicole
Strasburg, Joseph
Sussman, Alex and Edna
Sussman, Eric
Wachtel, Ellen Miller-Wachtel and Alan
Weber, Bill and Lee
Weinstein, Jeffrey and Bobbi
Wolpert, Allen and Marie
Yawitz, Bert and Marcia
UP TO $500
AJ Jersey
Alfred & Constance Weissman Family
Foundation, Inc.
Ariel Property Advisors
B Green Group LLC
Barbara, Jason
Barrish, Michael and Carol Lampert
Ben-Simon, Bobby
Bloomberg, David
Borkin, Marilyn
Citrin, Andrew
CityWide Apartments
Cohen, Robert and Barbara
Corbin, Greg
Drain Kleen Sewer Service
Echanique, Alyssa
Fink, Jimmy and Deborah
Goldlyn, LLC
Gosseen, Francine
Graff, Howard and Bonnie
Graifman and Slavitt, Robert and Lauri
Grazi, Kenneth and Eileen
Haber, Robert
Halperin, Lauren
Innovative Business Advisors, Inc.
Kalikow, Marc and Hannah
Katz, Dave and Judy
Kotkin, Adam
Kushner, Adam
Masliah, Amanda
Palevsky, Arthur and Karen
Pritula, Mike and Donna
Rockoff, Dara
Rockoff, Matt
Smith, Carol
Smith, Charles
Stam, Jessica
Stein, Mitch and Barbara Pollard
Unger, Ken
Vinokur, Eric and Wendy
Wailand, George and Adele
Waldenberg, Matthew
Werder, Richard and Sara
White, Mindy
Zadek and Steckel, Beth and Joph
Steve’s Camp at Horizon Farms
UP TO $250
Alpert, Allen and Susan
Baer, Cary and Frieda Weintraub
Bennett, Zachary
Berk, Wendy
Binday, Michael and Karen
Borkin, Jeffrey
Brunwasser, Matthew
Campus, Jordan
Corbin, Carol
Cuddy & Feder LLP
Elmwood Charity Fund
Gelber, Lawrence and Carol
Gramolini, Carol
Haskell, Dan
Hochberger Family Charitable Fund
K. W. Rastall Oil
Kardon, James and Nancy
Kempner, Jonathan
Kotkin, Gerald and Susan
Kotkin, Gregg
Kuntz, Stephanie Nash and Joshua
Lesser, Matthew and Erin
Manchester, Jon and Karen
Mizrahi, Farah
Nash, Harvey and Linda
Newman, Robert and Helene
Palma, Lynn
Polsinelli, Adelaide
Polsky, Daniel
Rosenberg, Susan
Schmidt, Julianne
Solomon, Joel and Emily
Starr, Eric
Stern, Sarah
WME Foundation
Wolowitz, Carol
Cohen, Wendy
DeGregorio, Sabrina
Douglas, Harrison
Fentin & Goldman, LLP
Forur, Larry
Frank, David
Ginsberg, Ronald and Candy Sebold
Green, Arielle
Gurgold, Marvin and Helaine
Keith, Kathy
Kinney, David
Kottler, Evan and Joan
Kuntz, Steve
Lever, Arielle
Linder, Alan and Joan
Luski, Samantha
McCarthy Fingar LLP
Nelson, Andrea
Novin, Barry
NYC Realty
Ontell, Josh
Peck, Edward and Paula
Petrescu, Maryann
Pohl, Cathy
Roberts, Bruce and Rochelle
Rodman, Andrew and Lisa
Rosado, Elyis
Rush, Susie
Schaefer, Philip and Wendy
Schlessinger, Stanley and Eilene
Silver, A.K.
Singh, John
Stereo Exchange
Tabas, Donna
Tapper, Benjamin
Wilson, Andrew
Yankou, Christine
UP TO $100
Chandar, Vijay
Chao, Lauren
Designed by Allison Haag
coroflot.com/allisonhaag
In this photo: Girls from Summer 2014 on a trip to Mongaup Pond
11
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
Steve Kessner, Chair
President, K5 Equities
Janice Starr, Secretary
Independent Community Leader
Ron Binday, Vice Chair
President, Advocate Brokerage Corp.
Scott Straub, Treasurer
Accountant, Shalik Morris LLP
MEMBERS
Dr. Julius Berger DDS
Director of Dentistry, Kings County Hospital
Cheryl Kessner
Private Practice Social Worker
Glenn Binday
Vice President, Advocate Brokerage Corporation
Michael Kessner
Amber Property Management
Dr. Susan Blum
Founder and Director, Blum Center for Health
Robert Kessner
Owner, Leafline Salad Co.
Tom Capasse
Principal and Co-Founder, Waterfall Asset
Management
Bruce Lederman
Lawyer, D’Agostino, Levine, Landesman & Lederman,
LLP
Dr. Howard Charles
Private Practice Ophthalmologist
Arthur Palevsky
Executive Director, Independent Living Association
Sharon Charles
Coordinator of Margaret’s Place Project, Joe Torre
Foundation
Beth Rockoff
Wellness and Nutrition Consultant, HMC Companies
Jeff Fogelson
President and CEO, Metropolitan Reclamation
Services
Ron Greschner
Former New York Rangers Player & Executive Director,
Ron Greschner Foundation
Cheri Hoff
Partner, Bracewell & Giuliani
Adam Kessner
Founder/CEO, Paddington Stone Capital
Steve’s Camp at Horizon Farms
Karen Romm
Retired School Psychologist, Montclair, NJ Public
Schools
Leonard Spivak
Retired corporate lawyer
John Starks
Former New York Knicks Player
Ira Starr
Managing Director, Long Point Capital
Stan Weinstock
President, Biener Auto Group
12
WHAT’S NEXT?
REFLECTIONS FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
STEVE’S CAMP FAMILY:
In the summer of 2011, Steve’s Camp at Horizon Farms embarked on its first summer, charged with the
mission of empowering young people to realize their purpose and potential through a unique camp
experience. After four summers of program development and growth, we have come to conceive of
camp as the starting point of a journey that encompasses campers’ high school careers, comprised of:
• Summer camp, with Second Summers offered to outstanding campers;
• School year programs that build community and provide postsecondary readiness supports; and
• Self-sustaining leadership through work opportunities for camp alumni, with Second Summer
alumni hired to return to camp as paid CITs and Junior Counselors.
This year, we’ll expand the core program tenets of building a Healthy Body, Heart, and Mind to include
a “College Gear Up” workshop series. This program responds directly to recent alumni survey data. In
that suvey, responding campers overwhelmingly said they plan to get more education after high school
and that they know where to get college information. At the same time, however, nearly half reported
that they lack basic knowledge related to the college application process, including how to research
options, complete applications for public and private colleges, and prepare for the SATs. Our “College
Gear Up” series will fill that gap, providing campers with the tools they need to realize their goals.
This year also marks the launch of a pilot after-school program at one of our school partners in the
Bed-Stuy neighborhood of Brooklyn. This school is located in a food desert, and the entire population
is eligible for free- or reduced-price lunch. Our pilot will build upon a well-established relationship with
the school community and leadership from camp alumni at the school. By providing a course focused
on food justice, followed by a leadership development series, the pilot will allow us to provide intensive
support at this school, as well as refine a model we can use at other partner schools.
We are excited for another year of learning and growth, and look forward to sharing the results.
In the photo: Campers in a “Piloga” (Pilates and yoga) class led by dedicated volunteers Gail Forrester and Dara Berger
Steve’s Camp at Horizon Farms
13
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