November 2013

Attention: Kent Sunderland (President) The Sunderland Foundation P.O. Box 25900 Overland Park, Kansas 66225

Dear Mr. Sunderland, As an Avila University Communications student I am pleased to present the enclosed proposal to the Sunderland Foundation on behalf of the River of Refuge Dream Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The enclosed proposes a grant of $50,000 to go toward housing improvements and their adult educational programs. My goal is to help this organization maintain it beauty in its lodging and their effective educational services that they provide. As most Americans know that the economy is the worst it had been in decades and the poverty and homeless levels are through the roof and on the rise. Another goal is to raise awareness on this factor and that there is indeed help out there for those individuals and families willing to work their way up in society. I hope for your support in this fundraising project for the organization to conclude renovations by Fall of 2014. If you would like to meet with me soon to discuss this project in further detail please feel free to contact myself at long.kaitlynn@gmail.com. Thank you for your time and consideration in helping this inspirational organization.

Sincerely,

Kaitlynn Long
Kaitlynn Long Avila University

Table of Contents

Executive Summary3 Introduction......4 Problem Statement.5 Grant Renovations/Improvements Project Goals/Objectives Methods....6 Evaluation and Future Funding.7 Survey Example......8 Conclusion and Budget......9

Executive Summary

The River of Refuge in Kansas City, Missouri seeks $50,000 in start-up funding from the Sunderland Foundation to begin renovations to housing projects and its advancement programs for families. The River of Refuge has made a commitment to help the hidden homeless families living for months, even years, at pay by the week motels in Kansas City. There are dozens of these expensive one-room motels in the metro area with families in crisis. They often pay $800-$1200 per month for a one-room living space. Their children ride the bus to school and navigate after school lives in a motel room world. These families are the working poor, who cannot save enough for utility deposits, down payment or rent, and who earn just enough to disqualify them for food stamps or other state or federal aid. In 2009, the River of Refuge non-profit foundation was formed by founder John Wiley with the purchase of the former 150,000 sq. ft. Park Lane Hospital just outside the city limits of Raytown, Missouri. The organization purchased the former hospital with the intention of transforming it into a transitional housing for working families trapped in high rent motels.

Introduction Since America came into its own, poverty and the homeless have always been an issue on a grand scale with rates of unemployment being at 8.3% in the beginning of 2012 and poverty numbers being around 46.2 million in 2010. The sad part is that the government only considers poverty based on the minimal amount of food needed for individuals and families, not housing, clothing, schooling, transportation and so on. In 2006, founder John Wiley watched as half a dozen children got on a school bus from a run down, high rent, local motel. He thought to himself, No child should have to live in such a horrible place. So he and a hand full of friends began reaching out to working families and discovered that most of the families had been stuck in this one room world for years on end. The River of Refuge Dream Center of Kansas City has been helping those in need since 2009, and as effective as it has been, the organization is still in its youth and needs as much fundraising and awareness as possible to help these families and maintain its ability to educate and provide. There are numerous organizations and projects around the nation that are aimed at helping the poor and homeless. The unique quality that the River of Refuge provides is the help of advancement and support to get these families out on their own and thriving, while others may just provide for a place to stay here and there and food. The assistance that families receive in the program allows them to save the money they would have other wise used to pay the high rent motels and to help the families heal financially and ultimately move into more affordable and desirable housing. John Wiley believes that you do not need to go halfway around the world to make a difference. Instead, each person needs only to own their own community; own what has been placed in from of them. The idea behind this project is that by helping those around the city and around you, you are also helping the community. With this motto, society could save thousands of families suffering from poverty and homelessness every day.

Problem Statement In 2009, Kansas City census in both states of Kansas and Missouri, the income rates below the poverty level in Kansas City, Kansas were at 28.4% and 21.7% in Kansas City, Missouri. The rates of children below poverty level were at 32.6% in KCK, and 25.1% in KCMO. In regards to the rate of renting for housing below the poverty level, Kansas City, Missouri was at a whopping 71.1% and Kansas City, Kansas being slightly lower at 66.5%. The improvement of the rates of homeless and impoverished families in not only the Kansas City metropolitan area but America as well should be a main issue and emphasis. Participating in funding programs such as the River of Refuge Dream Center is just one way to help jump-start the revolution of ending poverty and homelessness. By helping this organization more families are able to not only provide more for their household but also advance then in ways that other programs may not. River of Refuge is a non-profit organization providing free and temporary housing to working families. They provide them free room and board allowing them to save their own money while in the program. After graduating from the ROR program, they are able to move into affordable and stable housing having saved their own money. RORKC uses 100% of public donations to directly fund homeless families in need of a new start.

Grant Renovations and Improvements

Goals/Objectives

With a start-up rant of $50,000, the River of Refuge Dream Center will be able to begin renovations and expansion of its buildings such as more furniture, new painting, and additional construction of more housing units for new families entering the program. Not only will the grant go towards renovations for the organization building itself but also the advancement programs that ROR uses to get families on their own. Begin touching up pain in already existing rooms; being painting in additional rooms for new families Purchase additional furniture for new furniture for new family units and existing rooms based on need. Begin renovations of several rooms in sections of the old wings that have not been utilized yet based on need. Fund new educational program materials for incoming and existing families to implement advancement out into the world by teaching financial help and stability.

Methods The methods of this proposed grant are quite self-explanatory; construction projects on renovations by the current staff are already in place but in need of additional support as well. Renovations and improvements are expected to be finalized beginning of fall of 2014. New registration of acquired families will begin shortly after renovations are done and before the cold weather season starts rolling. Program tools and materials will be purchased based on need and the number of families entering the program.

Evaluation The evaluation of the success of this project will be assessed and surveyed by current staff and families implemented once renovations are completed and materials are purchased. Surveys from these families will also be used to evaluate the use of monetary supplies used and its effectiveness. Evaluations will also be based on the following: How many units are completed in the time frame Yearly Rates Before/After Picture

Future Funding The projected improvements shall only last until completion in the fall of 2014; therefore additional funding will not be needed. Most of the funding needed are start-up costs and construction costs so once renovations are through, no future funding will be asked for unless damages or sever situations arise.

Projected Survey Example

Current Staff 1. How well do you think the monetary grant was utilized? 2. Was the project completed in an orderly fashion and on time? 3. Is there anything that the monetary grant could have been used for? 4. What suggestions do you have for future improvements and renovations, not just unit wise but educational program wise as well?

Families 1. How well do you think the monetary grant was utilized? 2. Did the construction and renovations come in between daily life? 3. Was the monetary grant used to efficiently purchase the furniture needed in the family units? How well put together was the furniture? Did it fit your familys needs if needed? 4. Were the program materials purchased helpful in your educational progression in the program?

Conclusion I am asking that the Sunderland Foundation consider a grant of $50,000 to help with improvements and materials for the River of Refuge Dream Center in Kansas City, Missouri. In recognition of such support, we would claim the new units as the Sunderland Wing and a plaque displaying the recognition be positioned in the front office. To offer such support would help out numerous homeless and impoverished families needing lots of help throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area for years to come.

Budget There will be a budget of $50,000 implements for the renovations and improvements needed at the ROR location and various materials needed for the advancement program. Item Paint Construction Supplies Furniture Program Materials Cost $650 $34,500 $14,000 $850