Our patient service numbers continue to increase due to the efficient and quality manner in which we provide our services and the dental clinic is leading the way. I also committed to the Board that we would build a robust Development Unit. With the arrival of our Director of Development, Denis O’Keefe, many new ideas are moving off the drawing board — all of which will help us meet our budget while securing the long-term future of the organization by building our investment account. I am pleased to report that after the first four months of the fiscal year, we are one third of the way toward our development goal of raising $1.5 million.

Examples of the work in Development are our first-ever Challenge Grant made possible through the generosity of Ted Wolff, an Advisory Board member. Our goal is to match his commitment of $30,000 by raising an equal amount of new dollars between November 1st and the end of the year. With the leadership of our Auxiliary president, Marge Tresley, a new Development newsletter went out to an updated list of individual donors, our Board, and Auxiliary members. And at noon on December 4, you will see some of our Honorary and Advisory Board members, former Board members, as well as past presidents of the Auxiliary visiting Infant Welfare for lunch in the community room followed by a tour of the facility. This event is being co-chaired by former Board presidents Tim Johnson and Linda Celesia.

The Board of Directors is beginning to plan for the long-term future of the Infant Welfare Society. Board member, Mayur Patel, is leading the strategic planning committee of the Board through a process that is identifying our future vision and goals and moving them toward objectives and actions. By the beginning of the new year, some of the ideas will be presented to staff both for their information and input.