bananasinc.org

2011-12 Annual Report

Board of DirectorsDonald Jen , Chair

Chris Murray, TreasurerAbby Cohen

Nikole Wilson-RipsomRobin Phipps

Fred Atilano, Emeritus

Dear Friends,

This is a particularly exciting time for BANANAS, as we look both backwards and forwards. Backwards, because in the last fiscal year we said goodbye to two of our Founding Mothers, Arlyce Currie and Jo Ellen Spencer, and to a long-time and beloved Executive, Blanca Nunez. And forwards, because we welcome our new Executive Director, Richard Winefield, who will lead the charge as we cap off four decades of service and prepare for our future – one which may look different from our past to reflect significant changes in government funding priorities, technology, family structures and the needs of today’s parents.

Like most organizations dependent on government funds, BANANAS had a challenging year. Our government contracts shrunk, yet the need for our services was never greater. Affordable, reliable child care remains a scarce resource for many families. Yet these families, like so many before them, could count on BANANAS to provide caring, competent child care referrals, as well as a wide menu of parenting classes – all without fees to all who needed us.

But we don’t stop with families. We work hard to ensure that there is a strong network of child care providers to serve them. We help providers become established and licensed, and we provide ongoing support with workshops and trainings. Each child

care provider is, in fact, a small business that serves our community while pumping money back into the economy through their purchases, employees, and taxes. So our role in strengthening child care not only helps families, but also helps rebuild the economy.

As we ponder our past and prepare for our future, one thing is crystal clear: BANANAS remains committed to serving the families and providers who need us with caring, individualized attention. Please read this report with that in mind. We have gone beyond the numbers to present the real heart of our work through stories from individuals who serve and are served by BANANAS.

Our gut tells us that government funding for child care programs like ours is not going to snap back anytime soon. So we are doubling down on our efforts to build a more diverse base of supporters. If we already count you among them, we are extraordinarily grateful. And if not, we hope the stories and numbers in this report make a convincing case to add your name to our list.

Thanks “a bunch”,

Don Jen,Chair, Board of Directors

Don Jen

A member of the BANANAS bunch for 25 years, Robin has worn every possible yellow hat: client, staff member, volunteer, and Board member. Yet, her commitment to our mission is just as strong today as it was when she first walked through our doors in the early 1980s, looking for part-time employment in the child care field.

Robin took advantage of the counseling and job listings at BANANAS to land a position as Director of an after-school program. But after two years, she was again scanning our job boards with one goal in mind: to find a position right here at BANANAS.

She joined BANANAS as an Alternative Payments Counselor, helping parents enroll in subsidized child care programs. When she became a parent herself several years later, she moved from staff to volunteer as a Resource and Referral Counselor – and to our great benefit, she has never looked back. Twenty years later, Robin is still an active volunteer – only now as a member of our Board of Directors.

What keeps her so committed to BANANAS? Robin says that her work here gives her a real sense of purpose, since what we do can literally change lives. She has been fortunate and feels a moral imperative to give back – not just with her time, but with financial support as well. She and her husband, Tom, are long-term donors to BANANAS.

Robin feels great optimism about the future of BANANAS. “I know we will continue to set an example with creative solutions to today’s challenges. The commitment and capabilities of our amazing staff ensure that BANANAS will remain a pillar of support for families and child care providers, and I’m very proud to be part of the team.”

Robin PhippsBANANAS Board Member

Our MissionTo ensure that all families in Northern Alameda County – regardless of income – have access to child care and early childhood education through a range of services tailored to support the individual needs of parents and

providers.

Robin Phipps

At BANANAS, we support parents in a myriad of ways – from helping them find the best child care provider for their particular needs, to offering educational workshops designed to improve their parenting knowledge and skills. But parents are only half of the equation. We know the importance of building and supporting a strong network of child care providers of all shapes and sizes, so we offer a robust menu of provider trainings, resources and technical assistance.

Services for parents and families include the following:

Information and Referral: BANANAS provides referrals to all types of child care options, including family child care homes, child care centers, playgroups, coops, in-home caregivers, and shared child care arrangements. In the past year we handled 3,261 child care referral phone calls and e-mails.

Workshops and Support Groups: BANANAS offers monthly workshops to help parents approach the child care selection process, improve their parenting skills, and learn new coping tactics for a range of issues. In the past year we delivered 108 workshops for 1,165 parents and family members.

Support for Families with Special Needs Children: Finding child care is even more difficult for parents with a child who needs

special attention or services due to a disability.

We help parents of children with

disabilities through enhanced child care referrals by offering

additional support and follow-

up during their child care search. In the past year

1,139 children with special needs, members of their families, and child care providers were supported in this way.

Access to Child Care Subsidies: Many working families in low-wage jobs depend

on government subsidies for child care expenses. BANANAS helps

parents access the subsidy program and find suitable

child care, which enables them to go to work or school. We also administer a program specifically designed to cover respite

care (short-term emergency child care for families who are

in crisis). In the past year, BANANAS helped 868 children to receive child care subsidies.

“I’m a single mom and my

son has a learning disability. BANANAS provided guidance to

help me find child care so that I can attend college knowing he is in good

hands.”

Mahogany DoveParent

“My staff and I have attended

the Child Development classes for Spanish speakers offered by BANANAS.

These classes have helped us grow our child development vocabulary and have enriched our understanding of the key issues for children from

birth to age three.”

Yeira HowellFamily Child Care Provider

Programs & Sources

Basic Necessities: We offer free clothing, equipment, toys, diapers, and furniture for infants and children of low-income families. These items are donated by other parents and supporters, and families in need can simply take what they need without the hassle of paperwork. In a typical week, close to 100 families visit BANANAS for this purpose.

We strengthen the network of child care providers with services that include:

Provider Resources and Support: BANANAS provides care givers with information on a variety of topics, including start-up and licensing, insurance, curriculum, safety, federal food programs, training opportunities, accreditation, field trips, equipment, and supplies. Our referral service helps providers reach or maintain their capacity. In the past year thousands of providers turned to BANANAS for support, which we provided in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Spanish, Laotian Thai, Mien, French, and Amharic.

Training and Professional Development: BANANAS offers career counseling, job listings, workshops, and other professional growth opportunities specifically designed for providers. In the past year we delivered 158 workshops and classes for 3,543 for child care providers.

A Focus on Inclusion: BANANAS provides free, multilingual training specifically designed to support child care providers as they build inclusive programs for children with special needs. As noted above, hundreds of providers received this support from BANANAS in the past year, in a variety of languages.

For both parents and providers, we reach beyond our physical

boundaries via our website, where visitors from across the county to across the country find a wealth of information on child care, child development,

online and offline resources, and of course, what’s happening

at BANANAS.

As new members of our neighborhood,

we would have been lost without the local knowledge and personalized advice BANANAS

provided. We now enjoy two nanny shares which are working out beyond our expectations.

Rockridge Parents

“I have been a client of BANANAS for over ten years. The staff

helped me find a great child care provider that I can afford, which meant that I could attend school and become employed.”

Karen LamarSingle Mom

“For seventeen years, I have

relied on BANANAS for referrals to my family-based child care center. With their

support, my program has always been full and I have a long waiting list.”

Fekirte TadesseFamily Day Care Provider

BANANAS BUDGET BREAKDOWN Data from FY 11-12 Audit & 990

Where the Money Comes From Historically, BANANAS has depended primarily on government support – but with shrinking government resources, we are committed to building a more diversified and sustainable funding base. Over the next few years, we hope this chart looks quite different, with greater proportions of our budget from foundation, corporate and individual supporters.

Government 86% 8,493,917First 5 of Alameda County 6% 596,995Program Support - Parent Fees 2% 233,468 Foundation 1% 57,000 Individual 0% 37,350Corporate 0% 32,370Other 4% 413,738 TOTAL 9,864,838

Where the Money GoesWe are proud of our stewardship of public and private funds and donations. Ninety-nine cents of every dollar in our budget goes directly into programming – a claim few nonprofits can match. Please contact our office for audited financial statements.

Source & Usage of Funds

Program 96% 9,717,208Management and General 4% 410254 Fundraising 0% 797TOTAL 10,128,259

GOVERNMENT

FIRST 5

PROGRAM SUPPORT

FOUNDATION

INDIVIDUAL

CORPORATE

OTHER

PROGRAM

MANAGEMENT & GENERAL

FUNDRAISING

Carmen and David emigrated from Mexico in 2000 in search of a safe place to raise their three daughters. To make ends meet, Carmen cared for an infant in her home while David did construction work. Knowing that Carmen worked in child care in Mexico, a friend referred her to BANANAS.

Carmen and David were thrilled with the warm welcome from our Spanish- speaking staff. They attended BANANAS workshops on child development, CPR, and other topics and within a year were operating a licensed child care program in their Berkeley home.

Fast forward three years. Their program had grown to eight children and with Carmen’s encouragement, David joined her in running the business. They now serve 14 families and have a long waiting list for their Spanish immersion program.

Over the years, Carmen and David have hired and trained many child care workers – six of whom have opened their own facilities with BANANAS’ support, including one of their daughters. They welcome new providers and share with them the lessons that have made their business so successful.

Carmen and David share the philosophy that “It is an honor that parents leave their greatest treasure with us – their children.” BANANAS is proud of the role we have played in supporting Carmen, David and many others like them who provide this important service to our community.

Carmen and David OcampoKid’s Land

Carmen & David Ocampo

Matilde (Maty) was still in the maternity ward following the birth of her daughter when she first learned of BANANAS from information the hospital provided for new parents.

On leave from her job, Maty knew she’d need help finding and paying for child care when it was time to return to work. So she turned to BANANAS, where we helped her enroll on the eligibility list for child care subsidies and encouraged her to attend our classes for new parents.

Those classes were the beginning of a long and personal relationship between Maty and BANANAS. “I was a young mother and I didn’t really know how to be a parent. I didn’t understand how the subsidy system worked. So I took every class I could, and I gained the confidence and knowledge I needed – everything about child care and parenting, from A to Z!”

When Maty qualified for child care support, we helped her find a Spanish-speaking provider. Today, that provider not only cares for both of Maty’s children, but she is also their godmother, honoring the important role she plays in their lives.

Maty also became involved in advocacy through Parent Voices (now an independent nonprofit) and through that commitment, she found her speaking voice. She became part of a larger community that included other parents and the BANANAS staff, all working to making quality child care accessible and affordable to all families.

Today, Maty is a working mom and is enrolled in an Associate of Arts degree in child development. “At BANANAS, I found confidence, power, and a family”, she says. “That first visit to BANANAS turned out to be life-changing.”

Matilde Pinedo

Matilde Pinedo

Tina Fleeton first came to BANANAS in 1994 as a parent in search of child care services for her infant son. With help from BANANAS, she qualified for a child care subsidy, located a provider right in her neighborhood, enrolled her son in the program and was able to continue her education.

After completing an Associate of Arts degree, Tina landed a position at the Child Care Resource and Referral Network. But her dream was to be part of the BANANAS bunch and in 1998, she joined our staff as an Alternative Payment and Resource and Referral Counselor, helping parents qualify for and find affordable child care.

Tina was drawn to the family-focused mission of BANANAS and believes that having walked in their shoes, she can relate on a personal level to the parents she counsels.

In her 14 years of working with BANANAS, Tina has seen lots of changes. We now offer greater depth in our workshops and trainings, and the diversity and language capability of our staff has expanded dramatically to reflect the populations we serve. And of course, we can now communicate seamlessly with parents and providers through email and our website.

But one thing hasn’t changed: our laser focus on serving our community. Tina says it best: “We’ve never lost sight of our goals. We are here to serve parents and to provide a welcoming, strong community for both parents and providers.”

Tina is proud to be a role model for other parents and feels a sense of accomplishment at having come full circle – from a parent in need of our services, to a staff member who provides those services to others.

Tina FleetonBANANAS Counselor

Tina Fleeton

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Ayco Charitable FoundationDanem FoundationTrio FoundationWells Fargo

($1,000+)Ayelet Waldman & Michael ChabonJennifer Vetter

($500-999)Andrew GarlandDon JenCarl & Wilma JordanShelly Kodimer/Kodimer-Lutz FoundationStephanie McKownMichael L. & Ann ParkerRobin PhippsJeanine & Guy SapersteinLaura Stevens

($250-499)The Abeles FoundationTracy E. Amaro Howard & Estelle Bern Jim CadwellCathryn CarsonYung Chih ChenCombined Federal Campaign (CFC)Ellen L. FrankelYuehdan LiangEmily LoebRichard G. MillikanChristoper MurraySteven RamirezDorothy ReesorEmelda Haltom RideauSamuel SaleJune SaleAlison R. SeevakSusan StangelandBruce E. Stangeland

($100-249)Aaronson Gelb Family TrustNeri AlarconHirni AminGregory BaldwinKathryn BaldwinDavid Bayless

Nicolas BossutMargaret & Lawrence BowermanSteffan BrandtDore BrownDanielle BurtonJudith CalderJenna Hua Cathy Hong YangErin Burnet ChalmersKong ChanCheryl ChiStacie D ChunAbby CohenBetty & Murray CohenRose (aka Rory) DarrahThomas & Beatrice DeeringAllison EhlertPacha EisensteinMatthew FongAhmad FotouhiEllen FrankelBarbara FritzGoals For AutismRosa A.E.B GomezBlanca GomezGail GordonGrand Lake Montessori, IncGriffin Nursery SchoolL.C. Hale / Blue Skies Jeanine HarmonJoanna E. HaskinJenna Y HuaPei Ping HuangJenna HuangJewish Community FederationJudith KahnAzam KhadiviNicholas & Annis KukulanPhuong Le Deborah MarchMichael MinasianLibia A. MonaLawrence MorrisMay Sue Ng / May’s Child CareOakland Progressive Daycare CenterOur Family CoalitionJacqueline PersonsDeborah PulidoDonald Erik SaransonEric E. SchweickertWesley & Andrienne Selke

Smiles Day School, Inc.Julianne SpearsMolly SullivanJeff TarnNancy Sara ToderBette TsaiMary TurnipseedMaxine TurretTerri Van HareJoy VillafrancaDixie WardSusan WeinsteinEllen & Irving Zucker

($1-99)1234 Tots Family DaycareYukiko AdamsAileen AlfandryAlma’s Children GardenLisa Alumker Marco A. AlvesNaomi AmayaAnonymousAnonymous on behalf of William & Robert SchroenAquatic Park SchoolMichael AronsonJulio ArroyoStevanne AuerbachMarcie AvalonJacob AvidonJoan N BardezLaurie Bartis-CallaghanSusan E. BerensSwetta BhattPhyllis B. BischofAmanda BloomJoan S. BootyBoulevard Little PeopleRagna BoyntonShirley BrewinMartha J. BrownMarciana J .BurkeKathryn BurroughsLaurence Bartis CallaghanAgnes ChanGenoa CheaversMeichang ChenChevronChild Education CenterMichael John ChinSusan L. Chou-ChanStacie Chun

Congregation Beth IsraelShanna ConnorAmber D CurranMarialuz CurtisXiao Ying DengJulie DewittWayne DiamondGraciela B. DyangkoAlfred & Sandra EasleyDenise EbrightEBSCOSteven M. EdmundsElsie EffmanElizabeth FaulknerAnnie FangAngela S. FengKurt Wesley FleischerJill FussYali FussellCorrie GallagherMarnie G. GanotisGay Austin SchoolEllie GladstoneJeanne GomezAndrea Gordon/ The Berkeley SchoolJudith GottliebJanice GrauCarol HaberbergerLisa HandwerherMartina HankeThelma HarmsDelta J. HarrisFeng Zhen HeZhi HeKaren W. HearneDaniel HessDenise M. HingleCarol HirthKerry HopkinsLana HuangMiao Ling HuangPei Sun HuangYachi Huang Yaci HuangYi Ai HuangCraig IrvingRachel Jenkins-StevensMegan JenningsMartha JimenezDebrah A JohnsonWilliam L. JohnsonChristopher & Krista Johnson

Christine JohnstonChristine KaesFatumata KamakateLisa KaoBenn KarneMary KellyKevin KennyDawn KeplerT.S. KeysJennifer KingLeslie E. KirkwoodAmy Kittiver-KayMagdolna KomaromiCarey KozuszekZhi Xing KuangAshok & Lalita KumarJudith KunitzDezhen LaiJulia Laikuen HomJamie LakeBill & Maria LambertMaria LambertElisabeth LamoureuxReyna LandaverdeYork Yee LauMay Sue LauArvin Ho Chung LeeCatherine LeeGordon & Bettina LeeJulienne LemoineEduardo LeonJodi LevinXiu Hong Li / Happy Little WorldYan Juan LiuRu Qian LiuYan Juan LiuWai-Keung LonLisa A. LongJanis LoughlinDonna LyheAnne MacmillanFlora MadlockJill MalkoJennifer Yuen Hing ManPaul MarkovichThomas Mc MahonKym McCourtShevaun McDonaldDebbie MeeksDeborah MeeksLinda MeldmanCindy Millette

Frances Minervini-ZickG. Robert MorrisGregory MorrisRuth MorrisMy Own Montessori SchoolJudy NakadegawaRobert P. NardilMaggie L. NathanielHelen & John NevilleNew Day Preschool & LearningScott NewmanNam-Thi Hai NgyuenAnthony T. NgyuenAssimo & Dimitrios NtevesPrisna NuengsigkapianKathleen O’BrienTerri O’ConnorPark Day School Inc. Elizabeth PatklkePaul MarkovichBrandon & Susan PeacockLinda Ann PerkinsChistina L. PettersonJohn & Cymbre PotterDean PraterGeraldine B. Price Laura PrzetakRisto & Maria PuhakkaBi Yi QiuNieves RathbunMelissa ReedAngela RegalCynthia ReimannTorfeh RejaliBaoyue RenMargaret E. RodriguezAlma RomeroMaria RomoAndrew RosemblumStacy L. Rout-ThompsonJohn & Cymbre RuizAlba Luz SalcedoL.P. SandersJeorson SantosKathy SaundersMarie A SchirmerGrace C SchlanderKathleen Schneider & Bill SomervilleM. SchweickertVictoriya ScottGreg Seff

Heidi M. ShaleKimberly ShartsisMary J. SheffieldSheffield Preschool ProgramJudy ShimizuJennifer M. SiegelMarie SparkJo-Ellen SpencerCornelia St. JohnJoyce M. StatonCarol S. StevensonPatrick SumnerSwiss Cheese DaycareFekirte TadesseWailin TamSara TanenhausLori K. TeranishiSarah ThayerKatrina Y ThigpenStacy ThompsonAndrew W. ThompsonNhung TiFern TigerTetsu TokunagaTammy TsaoNhung Thanh TuJudith TurleyLindsey TurrentineTwins By The BayTerri Van HareMakiko VazifdarMarta VuckovicKristen WashburnJaime WashingtonMadeline J. WeinsteinFran WicknerRobin Winokur / Kiwi PediatricsJun WuCatherine YapBettina YeeSuhua YuBi Xia ZhenHaiying ZhuShirley Brewin Zouienna

All photos by Arielle Antonio

5232 Claremont Ave.Oakland, CA 94618