Scaling What Worksin Education

THINK Together ANNUAL REPORT

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Celebrating 20 Years of Changing the Destiniesof Kids & Families THINK Together is a nonprofit organization collaborating with schools, communities, parents and

other stakeholders to transform and galvanize the K-12 education system, creating educational

excellence and equity for all kids. We Teach, Help, Inspire and Nurture Kids to reach their full

potential.

THINK Together incorporated in 1997 to replicate and scale a successful academic support

program begun in 1994 in Costa Mesa, California. The Shalimar neighborhood had been rattled

by gang shootings and mothers organized to take the neighborhood back. The result was the

formation of the Shalimar Learning Center and Shalimar Teen Center, which still operate.

THINK Together now serves over 120,000 students in nearly 400 schools and 39 districts in

Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego counties and the Bay Area.

Message from our Board

Chair and Founder/CEO

Navigating “The Gauntlet:”

How We Partner to Scale Success

THINK Together’s Shared

Learning Platform

Exploring our Early

Learning Programs

Exploring our Expanded

Learning Programs

How is THINK Together

Aligning with the Common

Core State Standards?

Engagement Matters!

Students, THINK Together

& the Community

Our Donors and Supporters

Our Volunteer Leadership

Fiscal Year 2013/14

Financials

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CONTENTS

Over the last 20 years, we’ve built one of the larger

organizations serving public schools in the country. We’re

grateful to all who have joined us on this amazing journey. But

there is still much more to do. This year, we asked ourselves,

“What story of the future do we want for kids, and what unique

leadership can we provide?” This prompted us to change our

vision and mission to reflect greater impact:

Our Vision: Educational excellence and equity for all kids.

Our Mission: Create opportunities for all kids to discover

their passions and reach their full potential.

Equality is providing the same thing for every child. Equity is

ensuring that each child gets what they need to be successful.

Our 2014 annual report is titled, “Scaling What Works in

Education.” How do we know what works, and how has

THINK Together scaled up to provide it?

Data from our school partners gives us a unique and

illuminating look into what’s working. We’ve found that four

things are necessary to create opportunities and support

systems for kids to be successful in school:

• Multiple and customized interventions.

• Longevity and consistency in programming.

• Alignment within systems.

• Engagement: student, educator, parent & community.

THINK Together is implementing programs reflecting

what works in these areas across what we call our

“Shared Learning Platform,” including early learning,

expanded learning, and soon, core learning during the

school day. Please join us in the incredible opportunities

ahead to work together, grow together, serve together

and THINK Together!

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“Equality is providing the same thing for every child. Equity is ensuring that each child gets what they need to be successful.”

Message from Eric Boden & Randy Barth

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ANNUALREPORT

Eric BodenBoard Chair

Randy BarthFounder / CEO

Navigating the Gauntlet Through Collaboration

02Scaling what works can be difficult in public education due to structural impediments, as well as political and ideological

perspectives, often at odds with one another. Innovators, whether superintendents, school board members, teachers,

politicians, philanthropists, community-based organizations or parent leaders, must navigate what THINK Together

Founder & CEO Randy Barth, in his upcoming book, “THINK Together: How You Can Play a Part in Improving Education

in America,” calls “The Gauntlet.” Learning to work collaboratively to transcend the challenges presented by “The

Gauntlet” is essential to success.

Parents in poverty often have

the heart for their children to be

successful in school but sometimes

lack the skills, resources or time to

make this a reality.

Low-performing schools can

develop a culture of low

expectations, making it difficult to

generate enthusiasm for making

changes when it seems nothing

has worked.

Voter apathy toward school

board elections gives narrow

interests more power, and political

calculation can sometimes trump

putting students’ interests first.

Innovations are often subject to the

approval of collective bargaining

units which may perceive some

reforms to be in conflict with the

interests of their members. We

must seek win-win solutions.

The 3-year-average tenure of

a large urban school district

superintendent is rarely sufficient

time to implement a strategic

vision. This constant turnover can

result in a lack of buy-in at the

school site level.

Teachers and administrators

often report that their university

education did not prepare them

well for their jobs.

The US and California Departments

of Education, charged with enforcing

massive Education Codes, tend to

be compliance-driven, rather than

outcome-oriented, which is often an

impediment to change.

To close the achievement gaps that

are damaging our kids’ futures, as well

as the future of our state and country,

we must work collaboratively to help

scale what works. THINK Together’s

Shared Learning Platform can be a

place for people to come together to

share what’s working so more kids win.

Parents &Communities

Local School Boards

District Administration

University Systems Preparing Educators

Federal / State Education Policies & Procedures

Employee Unions

School Site Personnel

THE GAUNTLET

Why is success so hard to scale in our public schools?

It’s often said that “success doesn’t travel well in public schools.” THINK Together has built a collaborative delivery system we

are now calling a Shared Learning Platform that can help replicate and scale many things that are working in education.

Shared Learning Platform

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Evidence-based tools to ensure young children have early literacy, vocabulary, and math skills to prepare them for kindergarten.

THINK Together has been building this since 1994, including programs in:

Afterschool and summer programs for all ages, incorporating STEM, arts, fitness, character development, nutrition, English language arts and career pathways.

Scaling innovation by facilitating collaboration across our Shared Learning Platform through peer networks, conferences and forums.

The future of the Shared Learning Platform includes:

Customized solutions for core instruction, using The Principal’s Exchange’s “Response to Systems Intervention” method, a research-validated school and district strengthening model.

Early Learning Expanded LearningLearning

Communities

Core Learning

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ANNUALREPORT

04THINK Together partners with the Children & Families Commission of Orange County on the Early Literacy & Math Program (ELMP), educating

parents and preparing 3- and 4-year-old children to enter kindergarten. The ELMP includes a parent-focused Center-Based Program, Reach Out &

Read, a clinic-based program providing books and readers in waiting rooms, Raising a Reader, which provides book bags to low income parents, and

the Orange County Book Bank, which annually provides over 90,000 donated books to community groups and schools.

Early Learning

3- and 4-year-olds who attended more than one 15-week

ELMP session in the Center-Based Program were “on

track” for kindergarten readiness in the following areas:

A Survey of ELMP Parents Found:

Parents are reading to their kids more often:

“I never realized how important it is to read to your child. I feel like my child is ahead now.”

Children have an increased desire to read

and be read to:

“If you have a child, you should be required to be in a THINK Together program…it should be law.”

Children from bilingual households are

learning to speak English at a higher rate:

“Before the program, my child didn’t know English because I don’t know English. Now, my child learned English and he loves to read.”

Low income kids enter kindergarten having had nearly 30 MILLION FEWER WORDS spoken to them than their middle and higher income peers.

(Hart & Risley)

Aain name writing

87%in upper & lower case letters

70%

in sound awareness

65%in print word awareness

64%

THE“WORD

GAP”

ELMP Results

Expanded Learning

05From our first expanded learning program 20 years ago in Costa

Mesa, we’ve become the largest provider in California. We now serve

K-12 kids in 39 school districts and 365 schools in the Bay Area, Los

Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties.

Celebrating 20 years, THINK Together has sent:

Of the students from the Shalimar Teen Center:

In partnership with KaBOOM!, the City of Costa Mesa, Carmax Foundation and the families of Shalimar:

Shalimar Learning Center& Shalimar Teen Center:20 Years of Changing Lives

Afterschool Program Academic OutcomesStudents who attended THINK Together for at least 150 days per year

over three years experienced a statistically significant higher growth

rate on California Standardized Test (CST) scores in English Language

Arts (ELA) and Math when compared to non-THINK students.

THINK Together delivered an innovative STEM program to over 4,000

middle school students in Santa Ana, Tustin and Orange this year. Results:

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ANNUALREPORTStudents Report That They...

Get excited about learning science.

Like to participate in science projects.

Are interested in learning about science.

Learned something new about science.

Participated in a science project.

Pre/Post Survey

Differences

+7%

+12%

+13%

+12%

+11%

100%have gone to college in the last

6 Years

300 Volunteersjoined THINK Togetherto build Shalimar Park in

1 Day

Nearly 400kids to college from a neighborhood where the high school graduation rate is

Barely 20%

points higher

ELA: 8.9points higher

Math: 15.6

Common Core AlignmentWe’ve heard a lot about the Common Core, but what is it? The Common

Core State Standards, adopted by California, are guidelines for what

students should know in Math and English Language Arts, emphasizing:What’s a myth you hear about the Common Core?

That it’s a curriculum. A curriculum represents

resources used to teach. Standards are goals to be

met. Common Core leaves the curriculum used to

meet goals up to the state, districts and teachers.

What is one of the main challenges in

implementing the Common Core?

Changing the mindset to the individual needs of

the child. We train our staff in instructional best

practices aligned with district initiatives, so that

we are providing a coherent expanded learning

program for all students.

What do you see as the primary benefit to

children in using the Common Core?

Recognizing individual learners instead of

“teaching to a test.” This is educational excellence

and equity in action. Children take on leadership

roles and practice their communication and

collaboration skills. From kindergarten, students

focus on college and career opportunities. Their

minds are opened to new possibilities!

How is THINK Together Aligning with the Common Core?

THINK Together has revised expanded learning and early literacy & math curriculum to align with the Common Core.

THINK Together has initiated a Common Core Guild, using a peer coaching model to educate & guide our staff.

DEPTH OVER BREADTH

Fewer topics ingreater detail

PROOF OVER OPINION

Factual evidence to support claims

NON-FICTION OVER FICTION

Focus more closely on expository text

TABLETS OVER BLACKBOARDS

Technology and digital learning

COLLABORATIVE OVER AUTHORITATIVE

Time and space to discuss content

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY OVER SILOS

Transferring knowledge between subjects

06Q&A with Amy Reede

LEAD STAFF FOR THINK TOGETHER’SCOMMON CORE GUILD

Engagement Matters!

07 Student Engagement Polls

Research indicates that engagement is the

strongest predictor of student performance. A

2014 Gallup survey reveals that nearly half of all

students are not engaged.

Community EngagementStudents and schools thrive when the community engages with

our kids. Volunteers provide an important resource, collecting and

“repairing” books through “Book Doctor” events, tutoring at school

sites, providing skills-based volunteering around STEM and putting

together school supply kits for low-income kids.

THINK Together’s student engagement poll yielded incredible results:

Parents are also positively engaged with THINK Together:

Volunteer Data 2013-2014 FYE

203,148

6,287TOTAL VOLUNTEERS

32.3AVERAGE # HOURS PER VOLUNTEER

TOTAL VOLUNTEER HOURS

(7% increase from last year)

THINK Together helped them

understand that school is important

THINK Together helps my

child do better in school

Someone at THINK Together encourages

them to do their best in school

My child is more confident since

coming to THINK Together

Have opportunities to learn

new things at THINK Together

THINK Together staff cares

about the success of my child

71%

88%

85%

94%

78%

70%

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ANNUALREPORT

$1 Million + The Donald Bren Foundation

$100K–$999KAnnenberg Foundation

Children and Families Commission

of Orange County

The Irvine Company

W.M. Keck Foundation

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation

The Rose Hills Foundation

Ueberroth Family Foundation

Walmart

$50,000–$99,999City of Perris

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

LA84 Foundation

Orange County United Way

The PIMCO Foundation

Silicon Valley Commuity Foundation

Target

United Way of Greater Los Angeles

$25,000–$49,999Charles Abbott Associates, Inc.

Aetna Foundation Inc.

The Bank of America Charitable

Foundation, Inc.

Eric and Connie Boden

Broadcom Foundation

Crevier Family Fund

Dito Devcar Foundation

Draper Family Foundation Fund

eMaxx Partners

Bill Holmes

Kirkorian Family Foundation

Marion Knott

Majestic Realty Foundation

OC STEM

Orange County Women Of Vision

Ralphs/Food 4 Less Foundation

RR Medical Services, Inc.

S.L. Gimbel Foundation

Second Harvest Food Bank

Southern California Edison

US Soccer Foundation

$10,000–$24,999Allergan Foundation

Alliance for a Healthier Generation, Inc.

Doug and Cathy Antone

Chevron

Bill and Mary Lynn Coffee

The Croul Family Foundation

Dwight Stuart Youth Fund

Edwards Lifesciences

Just Keep Livin Foundation

JUSTGIVE

Kaiser Foundation Hospitals,

Southern California Region

08Lincoln Property Company

Jim McAleer

Ray and Toni Mendoza

Orange County Community Foundation

Orange County Young Executives

ORION Property Partners

The Roripaugh Family Foundation

Samueli Foundation

Bart and Deborah Thomsen

Wells Fargo Foundation

Anonymous

$5,000–$9,999Leona Aronoff-Sadacca

Randy and Mary Barth

Church of the Messiah

Corday Kozberg Family Fund

Ryan Faulkner

H&R Block

Intel Corporation

Paul Lankford

Loma Linda University Medical Center

Patricia F. Mersch Gifting Fund

Paula C. Moreno

Donald and Carrie Nikols

Santa Ana Rotary Foundation

Taco Bell Foundation

Julie Vennewitz-Pierce

$1,000–$4,999Jakob and Marlene Ackermann

Kareem Ahmed

Kathryn Allen

Sam and Susan Anderson

David E. and Marseilla A. Barth

Beaver Medical Group

Bergman Family Foundation

BNSF Foundation

Christopher Ross Bourne

Kent Browning

Vaughn and Ann Bryan

California Foundation for Agriculture

in the Classroom

Maynard and Sherri Carkhuff

Nevine Carmelle

The Community Foundation Serving

Riverside and San Bernardino

Counties

Nicholas and Christina Coussoulis

David Davis

Beccie Dawson

Deutsche Bank

Sanjiv Dhawan

Elba and Pablo Diaz

Experian

Chris and Caryn Felipe

Lori Goodrich

Dan and Sue Guggenheim

Dr. Daniel Handysides

Robert and Marti Hardesty

Our Donors & Supporters

Shawn M Hochuli

Glenn A. and Joyce G. Howard

Ingram Micro, Inc.

Intel Volunteer Grant Program

Ivy Funds

Edward Johnson

Robert and Michelle Kargenian

Russell Keenan and Dr. Anne Viricel

Don and Linda Kelly

Steven and Shawn Kenagy

Marleen Kirkorian

Erika S. Lemon

Mike and Kathy Lewis

Timothy and Margaret Leyden

Margolis Family Foundation

Metropolitan Water District

Albert Moreno

National Charity League, Inc.,

Newport Chapter

National Charity League, Orange

Villa Park Chapter

Northwestern Mutual

Northwestern Mutual Financial Network

John and Patricia D. O’Donnell

Pankow Builders

Melanie Pedro

PICOA Inc

QCM Research

Aimee B Richter

Ben Rubin

Andrew C. and Elisabeth C. Schutz

Security Bank of California

Paul and Susan Shimoff

Sills Foundation

Richard M.F. Smith

Gerry and Maclyn Somers

Starbucks Foundation

Ian Swanson

Satoru Tamaribuchi

The Don and Betsy Tarbell Fund

Technos Properties LLC

Thagard Foundation

Trinity Law School

Trinity United Presbyterian Church

Truist

United Way Silicon Valley

Bruce and Nancy Varner

Brad Volkmer

Linda and Tod White Charitable Fund

Candice Stack Whitten

Anonymous

$500–$999Sue K Baaden

Donald Barth

Linda M Beimfohr

Nancy R Birkhauser

Kathleen Blank

Valorie Erin Brinker

Michael Burns

Cal State San Bernardino, University

Enterprises Corporation

Vito and Renee Canuso

Karen Kay Carlson

Antonella A Castro

Rabbi Hillel and Rita Cohn

Dennis Collins

Continuum Consulting Group

Jerry L. and Bobbi R. Dauderman

Brian and Megan Davis

Bud Davis

Kendra Doyel

Stephen Farkas

Stephen Faunce

Richard Flanagan

Matthew Foster

Tony French

Mike Galinakis

Julie Gersten

Fredrick K. and Betty Gleason

Global Impact

Gloria Macias Harrison

Kevin Herbert

The Hite Family Foundation Fund

IBM Employee Service Center

Inland Empire United Way

Fran Inman

Bill Jarvis

Stacey and Leslie Kato

Michael J. and Cristine E. LeBlanc

Michael Lipsey

Erika Hayflick Lowe

Samantha McDermott

Henry and Janet Miedema

Mark Moehlman

James Mosher

Riley and Rebecca Newman

Kevin O’Connell

John and Cynthia A. Olivier

Donna J. Phebus

John Picone

PriceWaterHouseCoopers

Jeff Radzinski

John Mirau and Susan Reische

Steve Robertson

Troy Roe

John Patrick Roth

Kenneth E. and Jennifer T. Salgado

Christian Scheder

Scheppele Family Trust

Tim and Denise Shaw

David Sloan

Diane D Stalder

Kathleen Stauffer

Mark Strauss

Don Suskind

United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, Inc.

Phillip Henry Waller

Westbound Communications, Inc.

Susan Yang

CynDee Zandes

Anonymous

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ANNUALREPORT

Board of DirectorsEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Eric BodenChairman & CEO, HireRight (Ret.)*Board Chair

Mary Lynn CoffeeAttorney at Law, Nossaman, LLP*Vice-Chair

Darrel Anderson President, Knott Anderson Enterprises (Ret.)*Secretary

Glenn HowardAttorney & CPA, Law Offices of Glenn A. Howard*Treasurer

Doug AntonePresident & CEO, Networks in Motion, Inc. (Ret.)*Strategic Growth Committee Chair

Leona Aronoff-Sadacca Aronoff Capital*Inland Empire Leadership Council Chair

Randy Barth Founder & CEO, THINK Together*President

Ryan Faulkner VP of Human Capital, Optum*Compensation Committee Chair

Fran Inman Senior VP, Majestic Realty Co.*Past Chair

Board of AdvisorsSam Anderson Board Member Emeritus

Kathy Braun-LewisPresident (Ret.), Western Digital

Bobbi DaudermanBoard Member Emeritus

Ranney DraperChairman, Spring Creek Investors

Tony FrenchPhilanthropist

Michael KerrCEO, Bluestone Communities

Marion KnottPhilanthropist

Don MoeBoard Member Emeritus

Honorable Frances MunozHarbor Municipal Court (Ret.)

John O’DonnellThe O’Donnell Group, Inc.

Steven PerrymanBoard Member Emeritus

William F. PodlichCo-Founder & CEO, PIMCO Advisors (Ret.)

Sat TamaribuchiVice President (Ret.), Environmental Affairs, The Irvine Company

Paolo Leon McLarand Vasquez Emsiek & Partners

Jayne Muñoz English Instructor, Santa Ana College

Catherine MuzzyPrincipal, St. Edward the ConfessorParish School

Eric Nelson VP of Land Development, Trumark Homes

John Poch Deputy Director of Athletics/External Operations, San Jose State University Athletics

Steven RobertsonSenior Director, Financial Planning & Analysis, Silicon Image

Ken Salgado Assurance Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers

Sat TamaribuchiVP of Environmental Affairs, The Irvine Company (Ret.)

Bill Tamblyn CFO, Space-Time Insight

Julie Vennewitz-Pierce Senior Manager, Philanthropy, eBay Foundation

Paula Moreno Partner, Lankford Crawford Moreno& Ostertag LLP*Bay Area Leadership Council Chair

Jeff Wahba Co-CEO, Farmer Brothers (Ret.)*Audit Committee Chair

BOARD MEMBERS

Steve Bilt President & CEO, Smile Brands Group Inc. (Ret.)

Brigitte BrenAttorney/Education Advocate

Celeste CantúGeneral Manager, Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority

Jerry DaudermanInvestor & Philanthropist

Kendra DoyelGroup VP, Public Relations & Governmental Affairs, Ralphs and Food 4 Less

Kevin Hayes, II Senior VP, Southern California, Lincoln Property Company

Gil Ivey Chief Administrative Officer, Metropolitan Water Districtof Southern California

10Our Volunteer Leadership

Wellness Committee Barbara WachsmanThe Walt Disney Company *Committee Chair

Merlin AalborgHeritage Victor Valley Medical Group

Laura AcostaLoma Linda University Medical Center and Children’s Hospital

Melanie AjanwachukuRegistered Dietician

Gloria BanuelosKaiser Permanente Baldwin Park

Dora BarillaLoma Linda University Medical Center and Children’s Hospital

Marty BaumLoma Linda University Medical Center and Children’s Hospital

Michael BautistaLoma Linda University Medical Center and Children’s Hospital

Josh BoydThe 12

Steve CahnCalifornia Strategies

Richard ChinnockLoma Linda University Medical Center and Children’s Hospital

Bay Area Leadership CouncilPaula MorenoLankford Crawford Moreno& Ostertag LLP*Chair

Julie Vennewitz-PierceeBay Foundation*Vice-Chair

Jen PitzenCommunity Leader*Secretary

Steven RobertsonSilicon Image*Treasurer

Bill TamblynSpace Time Insight*Past Chair

Ben BoyerTenaya Capital

Charles FaasCommunity Leader

Tammy GawOmni Risk Insurance Solutions

Dr. Robert PerezSan Jose Unified School District (Ret.)

John PochSan Jose State University Athletics

Marti RemmelApplied Materials (Ret.)

James ShoreSideman & Bancroft LLP

John SouthwellSan Jose Marriott

Martin UcovichUnited Mechanical, Inc.

Inland Empire Leadership CouncilLeona Aronoff-Sadacca Aronoff Capital*Chair

Mark AbbottCharles Abbott Foundation

Celeste CantúSanta Ana WatershedProject Authority

Rabbi Hillel CohnRabbi Emeritus,Congregation Emanu El

Amy CousineauChildren’s Network ofSan Bernardino (Ret.)

Angela EddinsEducation Consultant

LaRonda Fisher Rogers Union Bank

Carrie Gilbreth Westbound Communications

Steve KenagyCity National Bank

Gloria Macias Harrison San Bernardino County Community College District Board

Michelle Markel Wine Purveyor & Artist

Susan Shimoff Educator

Rebecca CuppRalphs

Jennifer DusenberyRevolution Foods

Patrick EscobarLA84

Jane GatesAetna

Amy HathawayCigna

Fran InmanMajestic Realty

Steve JamesGot Milk?

Karen ScottFirst 5 San Bernardino

Paula SteuerSterling Public Relations, Inc.

LeRoy TouchardHealthcare Consultant

Gabriela “Gabby” TovarLA84

Cheryl VargoKaiser PermanenteOrange County

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ANNUALREPORT

Fiscal Year 2013/2014 Financials

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Revenues

School District Contracts –ASES*

School District Contracts – Other

Early Childhood (0-5)

Philanthropy

Other

Total Revenues

Expenses

Program Services

School District Contracts –ASES*

School District Contracts – Other

Early Childhood (0-5)

Community Sites (K–12)

Fundraising

General & Administrative

Total Expenses

2014REVENUES

$70.1M

2014EXPENSES

$70.7M

92%Program Services

84%School District Contracts – ASES*

2%Fundraising

7%School District Contracts – Other

7%Philanthropy

6%General & Administrative1%

Early Childhood (0-5)

1%Other

2013–2014

$58,715,181

$5,243,093

$1,016,898

$4,659,533

$417,345

$70,052,050

2013–2014

$65,328,758

$59,420,110

$4,021,510

$1,177,318

$709,820

$1,458,266

$3,932,506

$70,719,530

* Includes recognition of In-Kind program services, such as volunteer time, and facility and snack costs contributed by school district partners.

THINK Together Statement of ActivitiesFor Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2014

OPERATING LOSS: $667,480

2013-2014 was a year of transition for THINK Together. Expenses exceeded revenue for just the third

time in 17 years, as we made investments in our platform to deepen future impact.

ENDING NET ASSETS: $1,285,137 $10M

$20M

$30M$40M

$50M

$60M$70M

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07–

08

20

08

–0

92

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9–

102

010

–11

20

11–

122

012

–13

20

13–

14

Historical Revenues & Expenses

REVENUES EXPENSES

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