global friends coalition annual report€¦ · global friends coalition annual report page 2 when i...

GLOBAL FRIENDS COALITION ANNUAL REPORT

2016 Building friendships with New Americans in the Greater Grand Forks Community

Global Friends Coalition Annual Report

Global Friends Coalition Annual Report B U I L D I N G F R I E N D S H I P S W I T H N E W A M E R I C A N S I N T H E G R E A T E R G R A N D F O R K S C O M M U N I T Y

OUR MISSION GLOBAL FRIENDS COALITION IS A 501 ( C ) 3 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IN GRAND FORKS, ND WHOSE MISSION IS

TO BRING TOGETHER INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO FOSTER REFUGEE (NEW AMERICAN) INTEGRATION THROUGH

WORK WITH NEW AMERICANS AND THE GREATER GRAND FORKS COMMUNITY.

Contact us: 701-746-8233 | [email protected] | www.gfcoalition.org

2017 Board of Directors

• Robin David, President

• Brent Braga, Vice President

• Sabrina Balgamwalla, Secretary

• Robbin Rendahl, Treasurer

• John/Kathy Fick, Member at Large (shared seat)

• Lisa Gibson, Member at Large

• Ione Seidlinger, Member at Large

• Jacob Greenmeyer, Member at Large

• Chyna Lynner, Member at Large

• Margot McGimpsey, Member at Large

• Linnea Schluessler, Member at Large

• Ranju Dhungana, Youth Liaison

• Prakash Pathak, Youth Liaison

2017 Staff

• Cynthia Shabb, Executive Director

• Kathryn Kester, Volunteer Coordinator

• Bridget Hill, Education and Outreach Coordinator

• Alek Krumm, Special Projects Coordinator (Remote)

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.gfcoalition.org/


Page 2

When I look back on these heartening

images of our 2016 Community Picnic I remember

the moving turnout of supporters far beyond our

expectations—and also the creative scurrying to

feed all those supporters. The happy faces, new

acquaintances, laughter, and music made for a

beautiful afternoon. And behind the scenes, staff,

board members, volunteers, and community

partners hustled to gather more food for the huge

crowd. As a result, some folks got pizza instead of

samosas, but all were fed—both in food and

goodwill.

The afternoon reminded me two important

things about our current circumstance. First, this

community has so many wonderful people ready to

step up to make this a welcoming place, as our

30% increase in volunteer hours

demonstrates. And second, Global Friends is a

scrappy organization that can get things done in

whatever circumstance. With a small budget, a

couple staff members, and an active board, we

can coordinate 140 volunteers to serve over 250

New Americans in 3 programs, 3 classes, and a

green card workshop.

Both these factors are exactly what we

need in the changing climate for immigrants and

refugees. There is considerable work to be done,

but Global Friends has the dedication and

nimbleness to cultivate that growing community

energy as we work to build friendships.

(And rest assured, we’ll have plenty of food for the

2017 picnic!)

Robin David, Board President

Reflections from the Board President…

A Story from the Executive Director…

“I feel like a statue.” This is how Sophia* a New

American said she felt after living here for under a month.

Then after placing a volunteer in the home, and attending

Global Friends Coalition’s basic English classes, Sophia

started speaking more with people, and she said she felt

more “included.”

A welcoming community is paramount to success. If

people feel welcomed, they interact more when they are out

in the community and this leads to opportunities to practice

speaking English. Volunteers are helping in many different

ways and of utmost importance is that helping hand.

Recently, two University of North Dakota Occupational

Therapy students reported that it took them over two hours

to apply for just one job for their New American friend! Yes,

sometimes things take longer than we anticipate.

2016 has been a year of growth for our

organization in so many ways. The number of volunteer

hours are up (5,360 in one year) as well as are the number

of people volunteering! We are offering more programming

including basic English, citizenship, and sewing classes. We

also offered a green card workshop for the first time. Take

a look at what we have been able to do thanks to our grant

and individual supporters!

In friendship,

Cynthia H. Shabb, Executive Director

*not her real name


2016 Financials H I G H L I G H T S :

• 83.5% increase in distinct donors as compared to 2015

• 72% of revenue comes through grants

• New in 2016: Establishment of an endowment through the Community Foundation thanks to an anonymous donor

2016 MAJOR FUNDRAISING EVENTS:

Giving Hearts Day

Slice of Thanksgiving

Grants72%

Fundraising &

Contributions25%

Events3%

Revenue

Programs88%

Bldng/Property

3%

General Admin.

7%Fundraising

2%

Expenses

• Global Friends Coalition’s first time!

• 99 donors (55 new)

• $7,815.00 raised (includes matching

gift)

T O T A L I N C O M E : $ 1 6 3 , 0 6 7 . 8 5 T O T A L E X P E N S E S : $ 1 5 3 , 4 9 5 . 0 2

• Featured artist: Memo Guardia

• $5,528.70 raised

• 118 raffle tickets sold

• Global Friends Coalition’s first fall pie

fundraiser

• 60 donors (36 new!)

• $4,401.00 raised

Soup in the Studio


Page 4

Our Major Programs

Family Mentors and

Adult Literacy Program

WHAT IS IT?

New Americans are provided cultural knowledge and

English language skills in their homes to create a better

life for themselves in Grand Forks.

WHO ARE WE SERVING?

Somali36%

Bhutanese54%

Burundi4%

Syrian3%

Iraqi1%

Congo1%

Ethiopia4%

Somali Bhutanese Burundi Syrian Iraqi Congo Ethiopia

• Served roughly 200 New

Americans through our

Family Mentors and Adult

Literacy Program

• Over 140 volunteers

• 68% of New Americans

served have lived in the

U.S. longer than 12

months;

• Volunteer mentors and

tutors amassed more than

5,350 hours of service as

compared to 4,000 in

2015

• Continued our partnership

with the University of

North Dakota’s

Occupational Therapy

department

• Volunteers Recognized:

Nicole Hoefs & Nialani

Green

• 2017 Goal: Reach out to

families who have lived

here longer than one

year to help build English

skills and community

engagement

Can you see how everyone

wins in these photos?

Volunteers and New

American families love

spending time together!


“

!”

Our Major Programs

Resilient Youth Program

WHAT IS IT?

New American youth gain academic, social, and personal

competencies to succeed in Grand Forks.

• Supported 133 New

American youth through

programming and one-

on-one mentoring

• Mentors assist with

homework, provide

academic support, and

build English skills and

confidence

• Two field trip

experiences: Kelly’s

Slough and Valley

Corn Maze

• 2017 Goal: Expand

opportunities for youth

including additional

sites (East Grand Forks

Senior High, Central

High School)

Our field trip to Kelly’s Slough

was an educational

experience as we learned

about the plants and animals

that inhabit the area. One

student asked, “Are there

alligators and crocodiles in the

swamp?” That was a perfect

question to explain what

animals do live in North

Dakota!

KELLY’S SLOUGH FIELD TRIP 2016—TESTING WATER

SAMPLES

VALLEY CORN MAZE

FIELD TRIP 2016


Page 6

Our Major Programs

Community Outreach &

Advocacy Program

WHAT IS IT?

New Americans and members of Greater Grand Forks are provided opportunities to learn more about our

community and become engaged in meaningful ways.

MAJOR EVENTS:

World Refugee Day

Community Picnic

• Reached more than

2,800 individuals with

43 community

presentations and events

• Major events: World

Refugee Day &

Community Picnic

• Premier of video, “Who

are Refugees in Grand

Forks” highlighting five

New Americans in

Grand Forks

• 2017 Goal: Increase

educational activities for

New Americans and the

Greater Grand Forks

community

World Refugee Day honors

refugees and recalls the plight

that brings people to Grand

Forks.

This year’s attendance at our

community picnic was our

largest ever! Dancing is always

popular at our events. We had

a mix of music from many

different countries.

• 10th annual picnic

• 400+ attendees

• Partnered with American Indian

Student Services

FAST FACTS:


Thank you, Donors. Neighbors ($0-49)

Kim Adams

Gina Allen

Anonymous (5)

Kalen Ault

Bernell Bachmeier

Barbara Beach

Joy Becker

Laura Berg

Patricia Berggren

Betty Bloomquist

Dawn Botsford

Rose Brandt

Kathy Brown

Katy Bushaw

Roberta Carrlson

Rhiannon Conley

Samantha Criswell

Christine Dewey

Kristine Dinsmore

Cassel Everson

Adam Fortwengler

Ron Franz

Lisa Gibson

Melissa Gjellstad

Carissa Green

Julene Griffin

Jacki Haider

Cheri Halcrow

Shana Hall

Donna Hastings

Stacey Haugen

Jed Hendrickson

Brenda Johnson

Tori Johnson

Ardelle Jorgenson

Kaitlyn Kelly

Bruce & Mary Kester

Amy Kester-Mabon

Amanda Kosior

Yvette LaPierre

Kristen Larsen-Schmidt

Judy Larson

Sandra Larson

Rebecca Leber-Gottberg

Ruth Leichter

Brooke Lentz

Rachel Lien

Amanda Mazumder

Heidi McDonald

Margot McGimpsey

Denise & Keith Mills

Emily & Evan Montgomery

Laura & Douglas Munski

Marie Neumann

Patricia Olsen

Myrna Olson

Rosa Panzarella

Sara Pascal

JC Penney Corporation

Erin Phillips

Vicki Pogatshnik

Ann & Michael Porter

Janet Rex

Amy Riker

Rossana Rosa

Kristine Sande

Carol & Terry Schneweis

Kristen Stromsodt

Deborah Swanson

Lydia Tackett

Jennifer Tarlin

Mackenzie Teepen

Michele Thiel

Brooke VanLooy

Aida Wakefield

Joel Walz

Pat & Russell Wilber


Advocates ($50-99)

Karen & Rich Axvig

Becca Bahnmiller

Carenlee Barkdull & Bret

Weber

Marilyn Berg

Patricia & Albert Berger

Pamela & Steven Braga

Kevin Brooks

Mike Brue

Elaine Carlson

Karen Cisek

Marjorie Cleveringa

Virginia Clinton

Arlene David

Yvette LaPierre & Steven

Finney

Suzanne Gandrud

Grand Forks Unitarian

Universalist Fellowship

Tyrone Grandstrand

Vivian Grotte

Cheri Halcrow

Judy Haynes

Heather Helgeson

Betsey Horken

Rex Huss

Tiffany Huwe

Tara Huwe

Jan Jelliff

Sam Johnson

Martha Keifenheim

Theresa Knox

Alek & Brock Krumm

Kristi & Jeff Larson

Sarah Lawler

Patti & Don Medal

Gretchen Mullendore

Kristi Olson

Megan Peterson

Anna & Matthew Picklo

Grand Forks Pizza Ranch

Jill Proctor

Sally Pyle

Janell Regimbal

Lynne Ronsberg

Alice Senechal

L. Ann & Jeffrey Shallman

Sharon Lutheran Church

Callie & David Stadem

Terri Staples

Linda Sund

Wayne Swisher

Therese & Jeffrey Tiedeman

United Way

Voices of the Valley

Cheryl Terrance & Neal Wade

Providers ($100-249)

Stacy Bjorgaard

Brent Braga

Laurie Brustad Kennedy

Lyn Curton

Larissa Campbell

Charles Christianson

Karla & Peter Coen-Tuff

Linda Confer

Cheryl & Dale Fadley

Kathy & John Fick

Deb Glennen

Rachel Greenlee

Kelly Greenlees


Cynthia, Moriah, & Gregory

Gust

Chuck Haga

Pete Haga

Gwen & Mark Halaas

Thomasine Heitkamp & Al

Boucher

Pamela Henderson

Cindy & Warren Jensen

Shelley Johnson

Kathy Sukalski & Tom Johnson

Karalyn Kester

Jim Manos

Wendy Mayer

Heidi McDonald

Margot McGimpsey

Judy & Barry Milavetz

Marie Neumann

North Dakotans for Diversity &

Compassion

Treasure Omdahl

Mary Haslerud & Dean Opp

Jane Osttie

Kylie Oversen

Carolyn Ozaki & Andre Kehn

Faye & Billy Pederson

First Presbyterian Church

Michelle Rydz & Paul Sum

Sacred Heart Church

Gloria & Mark Sanford

Jim Schill

Carol Schneweis

Jill & Richard Shafer

Sharon Women of the ELCA

Lois E. Wilde

Sonia Zimmerman

Visionaries ($250-499)

Harmon Abrahamson

Daphne Pedersen & Adam

Kitzes

Cec Volden & Dave Lambeth

ND Humanities Council

Robbin Rendahl

Maura & Marcus Tanabe

Walmart Foundation

Humanitarians ($500-999)

Sabrina Balgamwalla

GoodWorks, LLC

Grand Forks Herald

Andrew Lyngen

UND Nonprofit Leadership

Student Organization

Linda St. Onge

Cathy & David Perry

Retrax Holdings, LLC

Philanthropists ($1,000+)

Anonymous

BeeGee Design (in-kind)

Robin David & Brian Schill

Hal & Kathleen Gershman

Family Foundation

Erin & Carter Kunz

Jamie Selzler

Cynthia & John Shabb

Thank you, Volunteers. Zuhur Abdi

Emily Adams

Rhiannon Admidas

Sayjen Aldridge

Kathy Allard

Gina Allen

Lucy Alton

Brandon Anderson

Georgina Anderson

Yared Assefa

Clay Atkinson

Glenda Atkinson

Sabrina Atkinson

Karen Axvig

Sabrina Balgamwalla

Barbra Beach

Lynn Bielski

Carissa Birchem

Ian Bjerke

Kathryn Bjerke

Zachary Bohn

Brittany Borgan

Cody Boyle

Brent Braga

Hannah Brandon

Joshua Brandon

Tasha Byzewkski

Elaine Carlson

Nicholas Chronister

Sean Cleary

Elizabeth Clough

Samantha Coyle

Samantha Criswell

Nancy Cronquist

Ethan Custer

Rachel Custer

Dylan Dachtler

Katie Dachtler

Haily Datz

Robin David

Kayla Dembek

Marc Demers

Veronica Demers

Erin Dingman

Jess Drady

Caitlin Duggan

Andrew Eerdmans

Kim Elden

Ole Elden

Erika Ellingson

Zeinab El-Rewini

Erika Ettl

Joshua Everett

John Fick

Kathy Fick

Amy Fitzsimmons

Angie Floden

Cory Floden

Kaitlin Foley

Brooke Friederichs

Susan Fristad

Nick Galumbus

Kate Gearman

Kelsey Glatt

Heather Goodwater

Nialani Green

Jacob Greenmyer

Chuck Haga

Kay Hager

Sarah Hanson

Kelsey Hemberger

Billie Herouf

Megan Hilgers

Bridgett Hill

Nicole Hoefs

Declan Hoffman

Levi Hoffman

Lora Horner

Luke Huff Towle

Anna Huss

Tiffany Huwe

Alison Ikeogu

Miranda Ivers

Chris Johnson


Kelly Johnson

Mike Johnson

Nicolas Johnson

Sara Johnson

Tom Johnson

Tori Johnson

Clara Jurivich

Kelsey Kanwischer

Hannah Karlins

Erin Kelly

Kaitlyn Kelly

Wlat Khoshnaw

Kari Kjergaard

Rachel Kos

Erin Kunz

Jessika Lackie

Brian Larsen-Schmidt

Kristen Larsen-Schmidt

Rebecca Larson

Sydney Larson

Megan Lauck

John LeClerc

Mackenzie Lee

Brian LeFavour

Kristen Lian

Kaia Lunde

Chyna Lynner

Jessica Magee

Ellen Manos

Alexa Martel

Julia McBrien

Greely Mikayla

Kristin Miller

Erika Moderow

Tsooane Molapo

Paul Nelson

Robin Nelson

Marie Neuman

Annie Nickum

Jessica Nordmeyer

Bailey Odegaard

Dilli Oli

Patricia Olsen

Tracy Perish

Danielle Perley

Saniya Pilgaonkar

Rachel Piwarski

Diktsha Pokhrel

Ashley Prosoki

Amira Ragab

Bryanna Rasch

Amy Rassier

Emilee Rath

Ali Raza

Robbin Rendahl

Gabe Restemayer

Susanne Restemayer

Tessa Richards

Tony Ross

Warren Ross

Josh Russel

Brianna Safranski

Kate Schaab

Jamie Schacht

April Schmiesing

Ione Seidlinger

Jill Shafer

Leah Sherman

Marcus Sickler

Sydney Slais

Haleigh Stenseth

Emily Stephens

Michael Stephens

Maari Stocker

Tran Tann

Jenny Tarlin

Reginald Tarr

Kelsey Thoresen

Michael Thurn

Ivona Todorivic

Alison Tonsager

Luke VanHavermaet

Suzanne Vetter

Nicholas Wahlstrand

Anne Walker

Elizabeth Wek

Heidi Wells


Page 2

Jacy Whaley

Kendrick Whisenhunt

Pat Wilber

Brittany Winter

Zayzay Worwee

Madysen Zander

Jenna Zavoral

Joe Zavoral

Ashley Zimmer

Thank you, Granters.

global friends coalition annual report€¦ · global friends coalition annual report page 2 when i...

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