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3840 W Hillsboro Blvd #166 5933 W. Hillsboro Blvd33443 Deerfield Beach, FL #224 Parkland, FL 33067 Ph: 877.803.8395 info@renproject.org Ph: 877.803.8395 www.renproject.org info@renproject.org Executive Summary: The Renaissance Project is a grassroots effort to help rectify poverty and corruption in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union. We recruit elementary age children from Russian and other second world nations (defined as Eastern European nations that were once a part of the Soviet Union) and provide them educational opportunities that are available in the United States. Working with top notch private schools, we provide untold opportunity to these students in order to create citizens that are able to understand the values of a market economy, democratic government, and empowerment of the everyday citizen in nations where generations have not had such experience. We also want to help instill unwavering ethical standards and an understanding they shall return all that life has given them to their communities and fellow countrymen. Currently, our program consist of five Russian boys whom have been in the United States for two years. The school where the boys are presently studying has chosen to discontinue this endeavor, therefore The Renaissance Project has been established as a separate entity. We have since established a new partnership with Academy at the Lakes school, in Land oʼ Lakes, Florida. Academy at the Lakes is a private-independent non-profit school governed by a Board of Trustees. Academy at the Lakes was founded in 1992 as a nondenominational, co-ed, Junior Kindergarten – 12th grade college preparatory school. The goals for this year are to secure funding to cover the cost of the five current students, and continue to seek funds to cover future years and additional students. We currently face a number of obstacles including a weak economy as well as increased political tensions with Russia, but should we weather the storm we, like others struggling to make it in tough money times, will come out stronger on the other side. We, the Board of The Renaissance Project, Inc., do approve of this business plan as written. It has been approved on January 29, 2009 by all current members, signatures below. ______________________________________ Eric Wilson, President ______________________________________ Janet Diamond, Vice President ______________________________________ Julie Skokan, Treasurer ______________________________________ Michelle McKeown, Correspondence Secretary ______________________________________ Mark Heller ______________________________________ Chad Wilson (Secretary) Organization Description History: Started in the Fall of 2006 at North Broward Prepatory School (NBPS) (a part of the Meritas family of schools),The Renaissance Project was established as a philanthropic entity within NBPS. It was established to provide quality educational opportunities to gifted children from second world (specifically, the former Soviet Union and some eastern European nations) and third world countries, free of charge. During the first year, much time was spent establishing connections within Russia, our first project country, while creating the boarding structure required to house the program. Finding families willing to send their children abroad for a better life was a surprisingly easy task in Russia. Their backgrounds were varied, but all of the families made the decision based on the knowledge this was the best option their child had at life. After assessing financial need, lengthy interviews, examining schools grades and administering the Wexler IQ test we accepted seven student ages nine to twelve1 . Under the guidance of Head Master David Hicks, Director of Residential Life Nathan Wright, and House Master Eric Wilson an inaugural group of five students made a successful transition into NBPS. Sadly, despite great effort by all of the adults involved, two of the seven were unable to maintain the high standards of the program and had to return to their homes in Russia. It was soon realized that for the program to reach its full potential, it would be necessary to sever the close program and financial ties between NBPS and The Renaissance Project. Those involved in the boarding program of the school had envisioned a setting for paying high school students, while those involved in the Renaissance Project understood to have the largest impact their target audience would have to be pre-high school aged children from lower-income families. In June of 2008, the decision was made to end the schoolʼs involvement effective, June 2009. Putting his administrative experience into action, Eric quickly formed a Board of Directors and submitted all of the appropriate paperwork to establish the Renaissance Project as an independent not-for-profit. Services: The Renaissance Project, Inc. provides complete living and academic arrangements, to intelligent students1 from low socioeconomic status families, free of charge. The children live in a traditional home, not dorm, setting. The goal behind this setting is to provide the emotional support necessary for continued development for younger students while they are away from their families. In the house, meals are prepared and eaten together, chores are completed, and friends are invited over to play. The boys even have dogs2 they help care for. The boys have come to feel like this is home. Academically we secure relationships with private schools for students to attend free or at discounted rates. Our goal is to have students performing at an academic level that will qualify them for scholarships both in high school and in college. We also cover all the other expenses that come with raising a child including medical, clothing, entertainment and transportation. Working with local vendors and national companies we work to defer some of these cost through discounted or donated services and supplies. All of the children are very aware of such donations and appreciate the generosity of those who give, further enhancing their understanding of what they must return to the world. 1 2 See Appendix A for complete Admissions Details. See “Accomplishments” Page 4 for more information All of the students are provided with computers that allow for frequent communication with home (through VOIP chatting), homework help and ESL (English as a Second Language) assistance as necessary. Each student is encouraged to participate in extra-curricular activities. This year the boys have participated in football, violin, soccer, lacrosse, and soccer. The cost of registration and equipment quickly adds up and these cost are also covered by the Renaissance Project. The families we serve do not have the means to afford such luxuries as a private school education. Many living in simple Soviet, revolution-era apartments, do not have the means to afford any more than basic living necessities. Some of our childrenʼs families lack running water, heat, or even a proper roof on their home. The schools of these children vary in quality from moderate (akin to what one may see in a U.S. city) to poverty level (broken windows, lack of supplies, etc.). All of the schools, though providing an acceptable level of basic education, lack the same vital quality: opportunity. The children leave these schools with some academic ability, but without further guidance, they are likely to find themselves without a means of reliable employment or higher education. These are the children, schools, and communities we hope to change through our long term investments. Accomplishments: In only our second year, our success can be measured by the success of our students. Each of the five students currently enrolled are on honor roll and have achieved this while only having no more than one ESOL study period a day. Their classes include honors courses, and classes that are completely new to them such as U.S. History. On a business side we have successfully founded ourselves as an independent entity, a goal established at the end of the school year in June of 2007. This autonomy will allow us to secure the future of the current students, and the program independent of school budget fluctuations and boarding program constraints. It will also allow for future growth to additional schools without a conflict of interest. The boys are currently working on two charity projects that they have helped create. 1) Cold Wet Noses - Currently, the group consist of boys in the house and some from the neighborhood. This is a kid friendly group that helps bring awareness about dogs that are in need of fostering or adoption. We have fostered a number of dogs in the house and have spent numerous hours at adoption sites holding puppies for passerbys to see. Boys care for the dogs and puppies and promote awareness about each one in the hopes of helping rescue the dogʼs life. All of the dogs we foster are rescued through A Second Chance Puppy and Kitten Rescue and have been chosen to be euthanized if not removed from the shelter. 2) Books Beyond Borders - This is a new project being spearheaded by Max and Gleb for Maxʼs old school. The purpose of this project is to provide english language literature for children in Russian schools. The children in Maxʼs school do have exposure to the english language, but are limited in their ability to access materials. The books will be accompanied by an audio CD of the book created by the boys currently enrolled in the Renaissance Project. Mission Statement To provide a first rate educational opportunities to gifted children from 2nd and 3rd world countries so that they can better not only their lives, but the lives of their native community and nation. The need for this program is evident in the current events of the world. From poverty to political corruptness there are issues in this world that must be addressed using a ground up, grassroots fashion. While money is necessary to fund such a solution, money should never be mistaken as the solution itself. Through long term commitments with schools and families, high educational expectations, and a world of opportunity we hope to serve as a catalyst of change on a level that goes beyond fund once and you are done, but one where the goodwill we create with the children in our program will help them to create and foster more goodwill. A real life example of the pay it forward concept. In Russia the need for such a program is profound. While most of us do not associate need with Russia, it clearly does exist, especially with the current turmoil in the world. Russia is a proud nation that is slowly dying. It is saddled with inflation, poverty, and corruption. The ties between the economy and society, unlike many western nations, has had a negative affect. As the Russian economy goes from a command economy to free market it has done so in a fashion that has not aided the citizens. The gap between the have and have nots has grown and this leads to its own set of social problems including high unemployment, alcoholism, and crime. For Russian men the picture is particularly bleak as they look at a life expectancy of 57 years, or roughly 10 years lower than current “retirement” age in the United States and almost 30 years lower than U.S. life expectancy rates. These numbers are influenced by a high death rate for young adult males through crimes, high risk behaviors (drugs and alcoholism), and a suicide rate that is up to twenty times that of many western nations. For women, who are left to shoulder the burden of working and parenting, the equation is equally grim. Many women fear getting pregnant because it is closely associated with an entrance into poverty. Some, to avoid the suffering for themselves or children, will resort to abortions and international adoptions. There were nearly 300,000 more abortions than live births in 2004 (the most recent year available) alone. Russia is third in adoptions to the United States behind China and Guatemala. Even with the abortions and adoptions over 600,000 children live in state custody. As many as 1,000,000 children are homeless in Russia and fall victim to the elements, exploitation, or other equally frightening fates. Political and religious agendas aside, these are social trends that need a strong and outside effort to work with the proud people of Russia so that they can learn from the years of experience we have at constantly improving a free market economy and democratic society. Our second, but equally important goal, is to provide cultural exposure to children in our partner schools in the U.S. By recruiting students from various regions of the world we can not only better the lives of the students who we sponsor, but also the lives of their American counterparts who get to share in this wonderful experience. Understanding different cultures, nations, and political perspectives helps to form stronger citizens for all countries involved. Vision Statement Our vision is to create partnerships with private schools through out the United States to provide free or discounted tuition rates to compliment our living arrangements for the students in our care. We currently have only five students, but would like to grow to 10 students in the next three years. We want to form relationships with major Universities to create opportunities for continued education in the United States. We will serve as a support base to all of our students until they have graduated from University, or have returned to Russia. In the future we would like to expand beyond Russia to help serve additional countries as identified by our board. Each nation presents its own set of challenges and should be approached as such. A thorough study must first be completed and a strategy created to ensure that we are best prepared to transition the children and prepare them for the changes we want them to carry out at the completion of the program. Value Statement The core values of The Renaissance Project, Inc. include: Integrity - As an educational company specializing in the raising and educating of children it is paramount that we exercise unwavering integrity in all that we do. Our intentions and expectations should always be clear, our meeting and reports honest, and our promises should never be more than we can fulfill. Acceptance - We will model and expect behaviors that are accepting of all individuals regardless of color, creed, national origin, or any other features. Compassion - In order to meet the mission statement of the project, we must always model compassion to the children and community. We must function in a fashion that reminds the children that it was compassion that helped them and that they must return that compassion to others in the world. Tenacity - A relentless drive to succeed in all that we do, while maintaining top notch levels of integrity and compassion. To climb the tallest mountains and meet the toughest challenges head on, and to not lose faith in the mission, the vision, and potential of the program and the lives of those who comprise it. Strategic Analysis Strengths: The corner stone of the Renaissance Project is the strong, dynamic board of directors assembled at the outset. Consisting of individuals with varied backgrounds including education, administration, business, technological and law. Each board member brings a unique skill set and perspective to the myriad of issues that must be addressed when creating and managing such a socially important project. In addition to a strong board, we have had strong performances with our current charges. We have taken a group of boys who, prior to this experience, had limited English skills, little to no international experience, and were complete strangers to one another and created a cohesive unit of strong academic performers who are capable of discussing current events both in the United States and Russia. All of the boys are students and athletes who have received accolades from their teacher and coaches and are also on the honor roll. On the program side we have a successful history of establishing systems for budgeting, communication with both staff and parents, and house management (cleaning, feeding, homework, transportation, etc.) The organizational structure continues to solidify itself as we review our previous recruiting process to better hone our search for the right matches to our program and meeting the goals set forth by the program. Weakness: Currently, our weakness is that we are in the adolescence of our existence. As we establish ourselves as an independent entity we must be able to secure financial backing for this year in relatively short order. The amount of money required to fund such an effort is not a small amount and some contributers may frown at our relatively short, though strong, history. Threats: The single biggest threat to our program outside of our control is international politics. The relationship between Russia and the west is sometimes strained by the saber rattling dialogue that occurs on both sides. Though nothing of the caliber that was experienced during the Cold War Era, it still reminds us that we are not too distant from that time. Other considerations include the gloomy economic conditions that have settled over the U.S. and much of the rest of the world. Conditions like these can make small donors more conservative with their giving and also can influence charitable giving by corporations who feel a sudden change of fortune in their near and/or long term futures. Strategies and Tactics In order to attain the goal set forth in our vision statement we must set forth some smaller steps and strategies that will lead to the ultimate vision. Our immediate goals that must be met within the first year secure the immediate future of the current children and the program and allow for us to continue planning for the future. Our goals include: • Generate Revenue of $250,000 in 2008 - 2009 fiscal year by writing letters, making phone calls, interacting with the media and working connections in the school and South Florida communities ✓ Secure a favorable tuition rate for 2008-2009. • Assure Quality and Consistency of our programs by developing and adopting a sound and practical handbook, volunteer and staff training programs, student and staff evaluation techniques, and communication systems. ✓ Use internet/technology to promote our business, interact with prospective donors and families. • Partner with local businesses to secure affordable transportation, medical care, and other life services. Including, but not limited to orthodontist, pediatrics, vaccines, eyes, and regular dental visits. • In 2009 increase the number served from 5 to 8. • Create relationships with top rating boarding schools for our children to enter with academic assistance (our students must also meet all the requirements of any said school). Long Term • • • • • • Create endowment base of 10% of total revenue. Generate repeat donations/grants by sharing progress reports of the children as well as annual reports on the program including budget and fundraising results. Improve fund development by securing staff who specialize in fundraising, grant applications, and alumni foundations. Attract key employees by offering competitive salaries for a unique and life changing job. Improve volunteer effectiveness by creating an environment where volunteers are welcomed and encouraged and invited to be a part of this great undertaking. Build client base by working with contacts in local jurisdictions from which the kids are recruited. Action Plan • • • • Complete identity (including web and print media) to promote the mission and fundraising efforts of the program by 11/08 Locate no fewer that 10 grant applications by 1/09 Establish clear requirements for future students by 1/09 Secure relationship with a school for the upcoming school year by 3/09 Bibliography: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. “Rich-Poor Gap in Russia Still Yawning” Kommersant. 1 January 2007. http://www.tapestrybooks.com/International_Adoption/Russian.asp “Life Expectancy of Russian Men Falls to 58” BMJ. 21 November 1999. http://www.bmj.com/cgi/reprint/319/7208/468/a “Russian Teens Dying at an Alarming Rate: Central Asia-Caucasus Institute http://www.cacianalyst.org/?q=node/2672 “Historic Abortion Statistics, Russia” Johnstonʼs Archive. 25 October 2008 http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/policy/abortion/ab-russia.html “Russian Adoption” Tapestry Books. 2008. http://www.tapestrybooks.com/International_Adoption/Russian.asp Street Children - Community Children: Russia” 10 March 2008 http://pangaea.org/street_children/russia/russia.htmAppendix A Admissions Policy The Renaissance Project, Inc. is a wonderful opportunity for a child. In order to achieve the highest rate of success the program has very strict admission standards. The goal is to educate each child through college. Before such a huge investment is made it needs to be clear what is expected of the children, parents, and The Renaissance Project, Inc. By formulating clear expectations, qualifications, and boundaries The Renaissance Project, Inc. protects the quality and integrity of the program, and helps parents make an informed decision for their child. To Qualify: In order to qualify a child must meet standards in each of the following areas: intelligence, and economic need. social/emotional, Economic Need: If a childʼs family is able to afford such an education on their own means, they do not qualify for the Renaissance Project, Inc. The Renaissance Project seeks to benefit children from lower income families. The definition of lower income is relative to board definition. Intelligence: Each child will be tested using a Wexler exam, have referral forms completed by teachers and school administrators, and will complete an interview with a Renaissance Project representative. Social/Emotional: This component is one of the most crucial in this type of program. Each child must be able to adapt to living in a different culture, in a group setting, and far from home. A child who has weak social skills or is emotionally immature will not be accepted. The screening process for this will include interviews, observations and meetings with currently enrolled students/families. To Stay: Children who qualify must adhere to the highest level of behavioral and academic success. Ethically questionable behaviors (including plagiarism, cheating), legally questionable behaviors (drugs, vandalism), behaviorally inappropriate behaviors, all have the potential to destroy the integrity of the program and will be grounds for immediate dismissal from the program based upon board approval. Should such a decision need to be made on a short term notice an emergency meeting will be held and a vote taken. Academically children are allowed a grace period to adjust to a different educational system and language. Grades and other assessment tools will be used to gauge the success of each child. A child who does not perform, or show effort to perform will be prepared for return to Russia.