InnVision ENews - September 2002
InnVision... The Way Home
974 Willow Street, San Jose, CA 95125
Phone: (408) 292-4286   Fax: (408) 271-0826
 
ENews keeps you up-to-date on what is happening at InnVision.

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Inside this issue of InnVision ENews:

Largest Fundraiser of Its Type, Cadence Design Systems Stars & Strikes, Selects InnVision as This Year's Beneficiary
Holiday Magic is Drawing Near and Your Help is Needed
Christine Burroughs Keeps You Up-To-Date on What is Happening at InnVision
It’s the First Anniversary of Stevens House
IBM Chooses Commercial Street Inn for United Way Week of Caring
Client Health Services Get a Boost


As a Non–Profit Organization serving the community during these tough economic times, InnVision gratefully appreciates any small or large donations to ensure our programs meet the needs of our clients year round.

Click here to donate online today.



Cadence Design Systems Selects InnVision

Cadence Design Systems has selected InnVision as the beneficiary of the Tenth Annual Stars & Strikes Fundraiser. Teaming with Cadence Design Systems for the third year in a row will be the Sharks Foundation. The Stars & Strikes Fundraiser, a one-day bowling event, will be held on November 10th. Several San Jose Sharks Hockey players will participate in this year’s event along with many other corporate teams from across the South Bay.

Stars & Strikes, the largest fundraiser of this type in Silicon Valley, sets as a goal for 2002 to raise over $500,000 towards the renovation of the new Georgia Travis Center serving homeless and at-risk women and children. The current center no longer has the capacity to adequately serve our existing clientele.

Companies interested in sponsorships or having a team complete in the tournament should contact Kathy Wheeler at (408) 428-5993.


Holiday Magic Draws Near

“The holiday season is when the homeless and at-risk are the most vulnerable” said Christine Burroughs, InnVision CEO.

One of the goals of InnVision is to bring the magic of the holidays to all of our clients, especially the children and their parents.

This is where the incredible contributions of our volunteers and donors make a real tangible difference to our clients. There are several programs available where you can get involved during this life-changing event. One of the programs is the Adopt-A-Family Project, coordinated by Kay Brown. Kay recently received a Crystal Bowl award from the Junior League recognizing her volunteer work at InnVision. We will need 100 “Santas” to come forward to adopt this year’s families.

We will also be continuing our Santa’s Cupboard at the Georgia Travis Center. Donations of new, unwrapped toys, books and art supplies are sorted by age. Volunteers assist parents as they personally choose gifts for their children and wrap them up for delivery on Christmas morning. Because of the increase in client numbers, we will need over 5,000 new, unwrapped toys and gifts this year. If you would like to help, send us an email.


Message From Our CEO

Summer is behind us and Fall is on the horizon. Our staff, board and volunteers are continually busy with a flurry of activities to assist our clients and build our capacity as a leading public benefit corporation.

Our merger with Urban Ministry of Palo Alto became finalized last March. The integration of services and administrative functions continues to strengthen our ability to more effectively serve homeless individuals and families.

Three individuals (Gerry Sarnat, MD, Ed Lauing & Bill Reller) from the mid-peninsula have joined our Board of Directors. In addition, Urban Ministry of Palo Alto has formed an Advisory Board, comprised of representatives from the former Urban Ministry Board, as well as other key supporters, to ensure that services and support will be sustained in the Palo Alto area.

Another major announcement is the relocation plan for the Georgia Travis Center, serving homeless and at-risk women and children. The lease for the center expires this year; plans are under way to purchase and renovate a larger building that is closer to our existing overnight shelter, the Commercial Street Inn. We will need to raise approximately $1.5 million for the initial purchase and renovations. This is an exciting project that will provide long-term sustainability for this 10 year-program and a more suitable environment in which we address the needs of our clients.

I am very pleased that Cadence Design Systems has selected InnVision as the beneficiary of their annual Stars & Strikes fundraiser to be held in November. The target is to raise $500,000 at this event – this will be the lead gift in our capital campaign. If you or other individuals/businesses are interested in partnering with us on the development of this facility, please contact me as soon as possible. There will be naming opportunities for major contributors, and more importantly, a chance for everyone to make a significant impact in the lives of women and children who need a helping hand.

Lastly, I would like to put in a plug for our upcoming 30th Anniversary. Although the majority of our growth has been of the past decade, we salute the visionary and grass-roots efforts of so many community-minded folks during the 70’s and 80’s that helped build our foundation. 2003 will be a banner year of celebration and challenges – more on this later!

Thank you for your support over the summer months. Unfortunately, donations have been significantly lower than needed, so we encourage you to increase your level of giving if at all possible – and please spread the word about our need. We are always eager to make new friends and partners.

Warm Regards,

Christine Burroughs

InnVision CEO


1st Anniversary of Stevens House

Stevens House celebrated its first anniversary on July 31st with a BBQ prepared by the residents. The strength of Stevens House is its sense of community. The house is named after Roy Stevens, a long-time member and advocate of the homeless community who died in 2001. His spirit is alive and well in this restored Victorian that is home to eight graduates of the InnVision Julian Street Inn.

A two-year transitional housing program, Stevens House is a small supportive community that helps the residents stabilize and return to permanent housing.

Residents work closely with our Occupational Therapist and contribute up to 20 hours of community service each week. Many of them serve as Peer Counselors at Julian Street Inn to mentor and support individuals living at the emergency shelter. In our first year, we have residents return to school, reconnect with family, and move out into housing.

InnVision appreciates the ongoing support of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. Stevens Housing is located on their property and is supported by the congregation.

We congratulate and thank all who helped make the Stevens House a reality and this 1st Anniversary possible.



United Way Week of Caring

The Commercial Street Inn has been chosen by IBM Corporation to be one of the local recipients of the 2002 United Way Week of Caring.

The scope of work involved in this project embraces the wonderful opportunity for volunteers to brighten this facility and make it more of a “home” in every sense of the word. Commercial Street Inn is an emergency shelter for single women and mothers with children. The beds are badly in need of new mattress covers, single sheets, blankets and bedspreads.

During the month of September, The Week of Caring volunteers from IBM will be able to experience the joy of supplying all those items for the Commercial Street Inn and also adding some extra “finishing touches” as well, creating an atmosphere conducive to the rebuilding of self-esteem.

Program Director, Maureen Denney said “We are so excited to have IBM’s support in the Week of Caring. We always need linens, towels and blankets. This gift will really make a difference.”

Take a look at IBM in action.



Holiday Magic Draws Near

The Health Trust, Kaiser Permanente and Gardner Family Health Services truly recognize the importance of providing preventive health care to the homeless – especially since the homeless usually do not see a doctor until they reach the emergency room doors.

At InnVision clinics are held where doctors come on site to the Georgia Travis Center, the Cecil White Center and the Montgomery Street Inn. “The commitment of these health care providers to the homeless creates a direct impact,” said Anne Ehresman, Director of Programs. “People like Dr. David Hammons keep clients out of the emergency room and help catch significant health issues before they become a major diagnosis.”

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