Message from Leigh Derby - President & CEO
Four years ago LifeSpan supported about 1600 individuals with a
development disability and a budget of about $23 million. Today, we
support over 2,200 with a budget of about $23 million. That's 38% more
people with the same budget. While we are proud of our ability to
support more people with the same money, it has been challenging.
In LifeSpan's first thirty-five years, the primary source of operating revenues has been our grants, contracts, and allocations from government agencies. These dollars have steadily decreased over the past decade, yet the requirements to receive them have increased. LifeSpan is overregulated and underfunded to do the work we do. Despite dwindling tax dollar support, we faired very well last year.
Financially, our programs did a little better than break even. Not an easy feat considering our investment in major advances in quality and nationally recognized best practices. Our adult center-based programs are transforming from the old sheltered workshop models to individual community-based employment, volunteer, and enrichment opportunities. Among the many other achievements are expanded services to include Case Management and community-based supports for young children.
LifeSpan also created three new Business Enterprises in 2008 and is now self-financing eight businesses in the first two years of start-up. These businesses are selected to provide employment and employment training for persons with developmental disabilities, but their primary purpose is to create earned income to fund LifeSpan's programs and services.
LifeSpan's businesses are diverse and include LifeSpan Custom Sewing in North Wilkesboro, LifeSpan Education, the nation's first one-stop shop for special needs products, and Just Plain Country, making primitive reproduction furniture in Troutman. LifeSpan is now in partnership with MARC, a coalition of similar organizations in Western North Carolina, which is now the largest manufacturer of surgical drapery products in the USA.
Anticipating a future with continued reductions in government funding, increased operating costs, and greater competition for donor support than ever before, LifeSpan's businesses are our strategy to adequately fund our programs, grow our organization, and fulfill our mission of transforming lives.
For thirty-five years we have been building a solid base, not dependent year-to-year on tax dollars and donor gifts on which to transform many more lives. We are making a difference and in the next thirty-five years, will make a difference to tens of thousands more children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families.
