Dear Friends,

2015 was a year of getting back to the basics for Neighbors Building Neighborhoods. As a board, we focused on reviewing best practices and making sure all our procedures are a model of best practices for the organizations we assist through the Nonprofit Resource Center. This focus resulted in an updated employee handbook and updated bylaws. For staff, the priority of strengthening relationships and building collaborations fostered growth through new and existing programs.Development Director Julie Ledbetter joined our staff in January 2015. The fundraising roadmap program she created helped organizations implement best practices and begin new initiatives to secure needed resources for programs. Her focus on building relationships among Muskogee area nonprofits has laid the foundation for new collaborative initiatives to help organizations succeed in fundraising, governance, and volunteer recruitment.The Neighbors Building Neighborhoods grant staff was instrumental in guiding a multidisciplinary team from the City of Muskogee, Port of Muskogee, Eastern Oklahoma Development District, and other leaders in the nonprofit and business community to complete and submit an application to the US Department of Transportation TIGER program. The six month process cemented collaborations that are being leveraged in other projects for city departments. New foundation and corporate relationships have helped direct funding to the community’s nonprofits.NBN also launched new programming in 2015. Strong collaborations with the City of Muskogee Foundation, Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Muskogee County Transit, and other city departments and community organizations made the Community Treasures Youth Summer Camp an outstanding success in helping children and youth learn about the community and what it means to be a good citizen. The new Summer Food Service Program provided 16,083 meals and snacks to children. Other programs like the Halloween Carnival grew to include numerous nonprofit and business partners. In closing, reflecting upon the team spirit and achievement of 2015 brings to mind a quote by Henry David Thoreau when he said “Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.”

Mike RubyNeighbors Building Neighborhoods Chair

Muskogee & Eastern Oklahoma’s greater good – Passion for promoting the greater good through strong nonprofits. Empowerment – Strengthen the nonprofit sector with information, tools, and fresh perspectives.Collaboration – Promote collaboration within the nonprofit community.Innovation – Bring innovative thinking and big picture vision to creatively tackle the community’s myriad needs.Accountability – Maintain the highest standards of accountability and help other groups to do the same.Service – Provide excellent, reliable service, and recognize and honor the service of others.Optimism – See opportunities rather than obstacles, hope rather than doubt, and pride in the community and the contribution of all citizens.

M i s s i o n Neighbors Building Neighborhoods improves the quality of life in Eastern Oklahoma through education, organizational support, and coalition building.

In 2015, NRC staff guided Alice Robertson Junior High teachers and administrators through an eight month process of convening an advisory committee, creating a program plan, and developing a grant proposal for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program. As a result of completing this rigorous process, Alice Robertson staff increased their knowledge and ability to apply for grants, and the school received $683,984 for the five-year after school and summer program.

Nonprofit Resource Center provides services, training and resources to help nonprofits meet community needs. 161 organizations in Eastern Oklahoma were trained in various topics including proposal writing, development and fundraising, technical support and customized one on one consultations.

Prevention Regional Prevention Coordinators (RPC) work to reduce substance abuse among youth and adults by addressing factors in the community that may increase the risk of substance abuse. They equip communities, organizations, law enforcement, and schools to solve local problems and set local norms.

Project Safer, a collaborative activity of RPC/SPF-SIG and

Muskogee CAN, aims to educate people and prevent prescription

drugs from reaching the hands of children and the non-prescribed.

The partnership succeeded in providing 32 daycare owners

with training and installed medication lock boxes in local

foster homes. Over 200 lockboxes were distributed and installed for community members, daycares,

and DHS clients.

Building Bridges promotes community awareness of poverty and is working to change state policies surrounding generational poverty. Since 2012, 164 people have graduated from the program. 62% of the graduates increased their income, 57% decreased their debt, 60% increased their education, and 19% opened a bank account.

Stephen (right) enrolled in the program while incarcerated with a felony conviction and attended the 20-week Getting Ahead classes. He stayed sober, reduced his financial debt, and satisfied court requirements and is now thriving. He owns his own business, bought his family a home, and appreciates the importance of reading to his son.

Building Bridges for the Future of Muskogee empowers low income families to radically change their lives by discovering and overcoming barriers to success.

Smart Start Cherokee County has the mission to advance a high quality, comprehensive, accountable system of care and education for every child beginning with a healthy birth. Smart Start connects parents to local resources and helps children be school-ready. This year, expanded funding has come from the Inasmuch Foundation and numerous community donors. A new 18-member coalition was formed to strengthen the early childhood education system in Cherokee County.

Smart Start participated in Read Across America on March 2, Dr. Seuss’s birthday. Ryan Dirteater, a local professional bull rider, visited the Hulbert elementary schools and read to over 200 children. Ten

area local businesses donated funds so that all the children received their own books.

Community Treasures Summer Camp

Community Treasures teaches children about community involvement, teamwork, and good citizenship through fun, educational activities. 131 children attended the 8-week camp which partnered with

numerous local agencies to provide learning and physcial activities. One activity recreated the Food Network’s show Chopped where children worked in teams to prepare their own snacks while practicing

food safety, making healthy choices, and exploring diverse and new foods. 86% of the children feel more comfortable in a swimming pool as a result of swim lessons and 86% learned new things.

Dream Team Youth Programs

Dream Team youth programs include Night Hoops, providing a safe, fun environment for the community to enjoy during summer evenings; summer learning program providing educational activities and nutrition to prevent summer learning loss; and the after school program, providing homework assistance and learning

activities each day. Jalisa Wright, a struggling 3rd grader, attended the after school program. Tutoring, homework assistance, and communication among after school staff, teachers, and parents helped her make the Principal’s Honor Roll two semesters in a row, and increased her self esteem. She continues to attend the

after school program and participates in the summer learning program.

2015 Financial Overview

Expenses (Total: $2,050,634)Income (Total: $2,072,101.38)

These figures are unaudited. Income includes accounts receivable outstanding as of 12/31/2015.

Expenses (Total: $2,050,634)

Funders, Donors, and MembersAna JimenezAdam ColbertAdvance Auto PartsAmazon SmileAmy GarnerAna JimenezAnimal Medical CenterAntioch Missionary ChurchApplebee’sArmstrong BankArvest BankAzalea Powwow CommitteeBaker FurnitureBancFirstBank of Cherokee CountyBank of OklahomaBarbara ClinkenbeardBedouin Shrine TempleBella Mia’s Beverly KnightBilly Sims BBQBlack Indian History PreservationBoulevard Christian Church

Brad WilliamsBrandi EnglishBrent ColbertBrinker International CHILISBroadway LiquorsBrown’s Shoes Bruce PhillipsBuffalo Wild WingsCamp Grey Squirrel, Inc.CASA for ChildrenCentral Baptist ChurchChandler Road DonutsCharlie’s ChickenChecotah Pharmacy/Native FrontierCherokee NationChildFund InternationalChili’sCity of MuskogeeCity of Muskogee FoundationCoins 4 CrittersCorporation for National & Community

ServiceCozy Cup

Crossfit MuskogeeCrossroads Hospice Charitable FoundationCuztom GraphicsDaniel MillerDelores MetzgerDiana WhiteDiego Humphrey, MDDivine Love Christian FellowshipDonahue Commercial ServiceDowntown Muskogee Inc.Drs. Odom, Coburn, & RichardsonEastern Oklahoma Library SystemEducation Foundation of MuskogeeElite HairEric JonesErly Rush CoffeeEufaula Pharmacy/PippengerExcel TherapyFamous FootwearFirst State BankFirstar BankFive Civilized Tribes MuseumFounders Place Historical District, Inc.

Funders, Donors, and MembersFountain Head ResortFriends of Catoosa Public Library

FoundationFriends of the Murrell HomeGaddy’s DrugGeorgia BanksGilford Good Samaritan FoundationGNCGolden Rules IndustriesGospel Rescue Mission, Inc.Grace Episcopal ChurchGreen Country Behavioral Health ServicesGriffin Holdings, Inc.Haley & Loyd JewelryHayes Law OfficeHilldale Education FoundationHogle EyecareHomelandJenny JamisonJim & Em’s CoffeeJimmy’s EggJohn AllenJon Kolb

JS Rutherford, MDJulie Watson-LedbetterJunior Achievement of OK, Inc.Karen AllenKatherine FarmerKathy HewittKelly B. ToddKenneth GibsonKids’ SpaceKimberly LynchKristin GrossLake Area United WayLake Eufaula PlayhouseLas FuentesLaura WickizerLindsey RobertsLocke Law OfficeLynette PerkinsMabrey BankMahylon’s BBQMark BonneyMartha AlfordMartha & Jon Stoodley

Max’s GarageMcIntosh County Youth & Family ServicesMike Leonard & Ginger BatsonMike RubyMike’s OutdoorsMiriam FreedmanMONARCH, Inc.Murrow Indian HomeMuskogee Alumni/Community Band

Assoc.Muskogee CANMuskogee Catholic CharitiesMuskogee Chamber of CommerceMuskogee Christian Ministers UnionMuskogee City-County Port AuthorityMuskogee Civitan ClubMuskogee Cooperative Ministries, Inc.Muskogee County Community Action

FoundationMuskogee County Council of Youth

ServicesMuskogee County EMSMuskogee County Public Transit Authority

Funders, Donors, and MembersMuskogee Creek Nation CasinoMuskogee Day NurseryMuskogee Habitat for HumanityMuskogee Public SchoolsMuskogee Swim & Fitness CenterMuskogee War Memorial ParkNew VisionNEO HealthNichols Dollar SaverNorma TisherNortheastern OK Community Health CentersNSU FoundationOG&E Electric ServicesOkie Guns & GearOklahoma Department of EducationOklahoma Department of Mental Health &

Substance Abuse ServicesOklahoma Farmers & RanchersOklahoma Music Hall of FameOxford ProductionsPaige Lane FrixPaul Henry Carr Memorial FoundationPromoting Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)

Pecan Creek WineryPorter 4H FFA Booster ClubPregnancy Resource CenterProject A AssociationQuality 1 Lube & Repair, LLCQuick TripRandi BeutelschiesReaching Our Hulbert CommunityReasor’sRebecca WalkupReitha PittsRev. Rodger L.B. CutlerRib CribRon Meredith AgencyRun for PrideRyan HaightSarkey’s FoundationShelley GraySmart Start OklahomaSophisticutsSprocket WirelessSteven HillStifel Nicolaus

Strictly FitnessStuteville FordSusan ClarkSusannah CooksonTahlequah Area Habitat for HumanityTahlequah Chamber of CommerceTahlequah RunnerTahlequah SkatehouseTara StandridgeTender Touch Auto WashThe Griffin PromiseThree Rivers MuseumTish CallahanUSA LiquorsVeva JilesVolunteers of AmericaWheeler MetalsWhitetail Trophy Hunters AssociationWomen in Safe HomeWorld Class, Inc.Wright, Stout & WilburnZomac Music

Pat AceboShymekia AdamsBrittany BeasleyAdam ColbertSharica ColeBrittney CunninghamRev. Rodger L.B. CutlerMicah DanielsBrenda DerrickJessica DouthittPaige FrixGary Hall, Jr.Evantis HillCharlotte HoweHelen Ingram

Breanna JuengstKathleen KennedyBeverly KnightDana KominskyJulie Watson-LedbetterJeremy LittlePaulette LorsbachKim LynchTom MartindaleShenia McNacJametra NewtonStephanie PetersKatelyn QuattlebaumDerrick ReedPortia Reed

Lindsey RobertsEileen RowleyAmber SparksTimothy TaylorRebecca WalkupKaty Wallace Wanda WarriorDiana WhiteLaura Wickizer

Staff Board of Directors

VISTAsRandi BeutelschiesJack CallisonRebecca ClarkDaniel HardinEmmanuel Johnson

Karen SynarCynthia ToliverDalante Walker

ConsultantsDenise CaudillJulie MossEdwina Walker

Mike Ruby, ChairRev. Marlon Coleman, Vice ChairDarryl Maggard, SecretaryDaniel Miller, TreasurerKathy Hewitt, Ex-officio Immediate

Past PresidentGinger BatsonDebi BuschLiliana CarboneJim DavidsonShelley GrayRyan HardawayLinda HattawayStephen HighersTonya JamesLori JeffersonDelsie LewisCarla LoveladyBruce PhillipsSarah SteeleRev. Larry SmithRob Wallace

Foundation Funders & Business Members

Th e K i r s c h n e r Tr u s t s | R u by Fa m i l y C h a r i t a b l e Fu n d

K at hy H e w i t t , C PA | S o o n e r R e a l t y Pro p e r t i e s , L LC

CONTACT uSinfo@nbn-nrc.org | www.nbn-nrc.org

918.683.4600 P | 918.683.3355 F207 North 2nd St., Muskogee, OK 74401