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Dear Friends,
Are we making a difference? Are we helping
individuals and families achieve and sustain their
highest level of independence? From the home-bound
senior receiving a hot, nutritious meal delivered at
their home to the infant affected by HIV/AIDS being
cared for at Rainbow House, are we improving the
quality of their lives by our efforts? Are we using
the resources entrusted to us in a wise and
effective manner?
We are proud to report that the answer to these questions is YES! The
primary focus of this Annual Report will be to share
those results with you.
One of the on-going challenges for a helping organization like Volunteers
of America is to measure the extent to which our
efforts to make a positive difference in the lives
of the individuals and families served are
effective. Toward that goal we have developed
specific, measurable, time specific Outcome Measures
for each program service reflecting the unique
progress of each individual or family touched by our
organization.
For example, we do not merely count the number of meals delivered as part
of the Meals on Wheels Program we measure the
effects of the program on the health and well-being
of the individual. This is done using a nutritional
survey completed periodically by the recipient
accompanied by additional first hand observations by
the staff. In this way we can measure the benefit
of the program in the life of each recipient. |
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Throughout this
Annual Report you will hear the stories of those
helped by Volunteers of America and you will read
about the results and outcomes for which we strive.
These results give us our direction and our
confidence that the resources you and others have
entrusted to us are being utilized to the direct
benefit of individuals and families in need in
Colorado.
Thank you so much for being a friend and partner of the Volunteers
of America. So far we have not come up with a good
tool to measure the effects of hugs and smiles, but
on your behalf we freely give both to those we
serve. We hope you enjoy reading about a few of the
lives that with your help we have touched and
brightened during 2007.
Bryan J. Pulte, Chairman of the Board
Dianna L. Kunz, President & CEO |
