Introduction - Summer Kemp-Schlemmer
The mission of Council Bluff's Schools Foundation is to provide financial resources and support to benefit the children, the families, and the staff of Council Bluff's Community Schools District. This quarter, the school's foundation is Broadway's mission partner. And what that means is that whatever we bring in during the offering moment, 10% of that is re-tithed back into the community and for September - December giving the school's foundation is the recipient.
This morning we have the pleasure of having Bridgette Watson with us. Bridgette is the foundation's executive director. Bridgette holds a master's in managerial communications and a bachelor's in public relations. She was part of the student success staff at Iowa Western, including the role as associate dean. Associate dean. She serves on several boards including the City Planning Commission, Friends of Childrens Square, and Council Bluffs Ambassadors. She was recognized by the Midlands Business Journal's 40 under 40 award for her significant impact on the community.
In other words, she's kind of a big deal and we're lucky to have her. So, please join me in a warm welcome as Bridget tells us a little more about her work.
What the CBSD Foundation Does - Bridgette Watson, Executive Director
Thank you all so much for having me here and thank you so much for supporting the foundation during your fourth quarter. I recognize many of your faces. I don't want to assume that you all know what the Council Schools Foundation does. So here is a quick history of the foundation.
The Council Bluffs Schools Foundation started in 1991 after some community members got together and recognized a need for before and after school care for kids. So since 1991 we have provided before and after school for kids in the Council Bluffs Community School District and today we serve nearly 800 kids a year before and after school. We are the largest child care provider in Southwest Iowa.
I've been with the foundation for about eight years now. I've been in my executive director role for the last 18 months. In my first week as executive director, I received a phone call from an upset parent. At first, I thought she was angry at me and I thought she was angry at the program. I got to know her as I was listening to her and, what I heard from her comments was desperation. Melissa is a single mom and has given me permission to share her story. She is a single mom looking for care for her child with special needs. Unfortunately, at the time, we did not have the capacity to serve children with special needs before and after school. We operate out of gymnasiums and we serve on a 1:15 ratio for kids. So, what her daughter needed, we could not provide.
But, that conversation with Melissa never left me. And Melissa and I have had multiple conversations since that have stayed on my heart. When I got home, I prayed about it. And over the last 18 months, I've said a lot of prayers about it. I really feel like I've been put in this position to expand our services. We are well positioned being the largest child care in Southwest Iowa to start serving kids with special needs.
Thanks to all of you for your help with that. And, thanks to our community coming together to pray and to give. We will launch our first pilot program and serve 15 special needs kids this spring. This is all very exciting for us.
After I took that phone call that first month, we did some surveying of parents in the Council Bluffs Community School District and we have identified 200 families that could be served by a before and after school program. We will start with 15 and grow and expand that thanks to our community of people. So, thank you so much for your support this last quarter and I will stick around after service.
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Third Quarter Partner Update - Lori Andersen, Church Administator
Broadway’s third quarter giving partner was Inter-Faith Response. For those who are not familiar with this non profit, Inter-Faith provides rental & utility assistance, metro bus passes, prescriptions and eye glasses to those facing financial hardship.
With your generosity we were able to give back $6,924.37 to our community to help those who visit Inter-Faith.