Annual Report

The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own. 
- Benjamin Disraeli

 

Fiscal Year 2009

The Bartko Foundation, a private non-profit organization, was founded in 2003 with the mission to invest in the self-sufficiency of single minority mothers. Our purpose is to assist these women in achieving goals they have set for themselves and to help them to continue positive progress in their life’s journey.
The Foundation was founded on the lives and legacies of the Bartko family and inspired by an ancestry of faith, commitment, hard work and a sense of fair play.

The Bartko Foundation financially supports women whose needs may “fall through the cracks,” side-tracking them from becoming self-sufficient.  We generally focus our support on goals related to education, transportation, housing and employment. We believe these areas have the most profound impact in the lives of our recipients and, therefore, our investments. We seek to support these women with their self-sufficiency goals and to re-enforce their own sense of accomplishment.

In many ways, through many individuals and organizations, the Bartko Foundation had a bountiful year.  Working with our referral agencies, grant distributions exceeded the budgeted allocation by 5% permitting the Foundation to assist 42 women and impacting 74 children. This would not have been possible without the dedication of our donors, the kindness of our supporters and the success of our fundraising events.

In 2009, Bartko Foundation revenue was almost equally generated between fundraising efforts and donor contributions.

Assistance with transportation costs was 57% of funding distribution in 2009, followed by 23% for housing, 15% for education, and 5% for assistance with employment.

Although education assistance was only 15% of funds distributed in 2009 (please refer to the previous chart), the number of women and children impacted by this type of funding was equal to the number of individuals positively affected by assistance with transportation.

FUND RAISING EVENTS:

Women Celebrating Women Brunch

The Women Supporting Women Brunch was held to broaden outreach and to engage more women in the vision of the Foundation.  This fundraising event was held on Saturday, May 9, 2009 at the Radisson Hotel Green Tree, raising over $6,000.00 to support the mission.

Melanie Gefert, President of the Board of Directors, provided a brief history of the Bartko family and spoke of how the founding members were inspired to support and advance self-sufficiency in other women.  Over ninety women joined together to experience a splendid brunch, learning about the advances made in the quality of life by some of the women, and their children, who benefited from grants for education, employment, housing, and transportation. 

One of the highlights of this annual event is the presentation of the Irene O. Bartko (IOB) award.  The IOB was created to recognize women who have provided substantial support to the Foundation or who have been a grant recipient and have made substantial strides in reaching their dream of self-sufficiency. The 2009 IOB awardees were Barbara Johns who, through her own family foundation, the Roy F. Johns Jr. Foundation, has generously supported the Bartko Foundation through annual financial contributions, and, Robin Hall because of the positive progress she made on her self-sufficiency journey by receiving her GED and then enrolling as a full time student in the medical field while working part time.

Golf Classic 2009

The Sixth Annual Bartko Foundation Golf Classic was held on Friday, September 18, 2009 at Quicksilver Golf Course. The weather was much improved for this year’s Golf Classic, with sunny skies and perfect temperatures for which the golfers were grateful.  The largest number of golfers to participate since the outing’s inception began the day with practice on the driving range, a hearty lunch and a putting contest.  After 18-holes of exciting and stimulating golf, participants and volunteers returned to the clubhouse for cocktails, chance and silent auctions, dinner and door prizes. 

The 2009 Golf Classic was the inauguration of the Theodore J. Bartko Award (TJB) to a man who has provided substantial support to the Foundation and its mission.  Gary Adams of Vance Wright Adams and Associates was presented the first TJB award for his gracious gift of his and his firm’s time in the development of the Foundation’s new web site and promotional materials.

This year’s sponsors and golfers once again demonstrated their generous and continued support of our mission, by generating over $71,000 in revenue.  We sincerely thank Azur Enterprises for being this year’s Dream Maker sponsor. We are also grateful to all of the event sponsors, golfers, volunteers, and donors for contributing to the outstanding success of this year’s event.

Golf Outing sponsors were:

Dreamaker Azur Enterprises Platinum Ray Pronto Servicelink, LLC Gold National Real Estate Services Lime Investments, LLC                       Silver David and Cheryl Currier Heineken MAJIC Henk and Michele Bossers Vincent Deluzio LJ Aviation Thorp Reed & Armstrong, LLP Bronze Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC Sam and Pat Cerverizzo Classic Limousine Dollar Bank Roy F. Johns Jr. Foundation Dave and Beth Ann Palone Questeq Tucker, Johnston & Smelzer Weaver Bruscemi, LLC Schneider Downs & Co. Inc. Mark Battaglia

THEIR STORIES:

Meet the 2009 Irene O. Bartko (IOB) Award Recipient…
“Robyn began attending GED classes in March 2008 and was an exemplary student.  She attended classes three nights a week while working full-full time and caring for her young son. Robyn improved her skills and served as a role model for other students. Her success with GED studies encouraged other students to strive for the same success.

While pursuing her GED, Robyn researched trade school programs that would help her move toward her ultimate goal of securing a stable, well-paying job that would allow her to provide for her son.  Robyn received her GED in August 2008 and immediately enrolled at Sanford-Brown Institute to pursue her degree as a Medical Assistant Specialist.   The generous support of the Bartko Foundation helped cover the cost of the $21,000 tuition and allowed Robyn to focus her attention on her studies instead of financial concerns.

Since enrolling at Sanford-Brown, Robyn has received a High Honors certificate for her school work and a perfect attendance award.  She made the Dean’s list for her first semester with a 4.0 grade point average.  She is currently completing her second semester (and still earning all A’s), focusing on creating a professional portfolio to secure an externship.

Robyn’s achievements have helped expand her view of the professional world; she says she can now see herself as a vital part of this world.  Her current goal is to secure a job in a private medical practice and eventually work towards a career in medical billing.  Robyn’s experiences at Sanford-Brown have also given her many intangible successes.  Her confidence has grown greatly, and this has helped her to be less shy.  Robyn now believes it’s important to speak up for herself and demonstrate her knowledge.  Also, Robyn has begun to think more globally about what it takes to succeed.  She recently explained how she believes procrastination is one reason people remain stuck in lifestyles they don’t want, and how her persistence keeps her from procrastinating.

Robyn’s successes have also had a great effect on her young son.  When he sees her going to school in her scrubs or studying at home, Robyn knows she is providing him with an important role model. 
Robyn’s continued success and determination prove that she is well on her way towards her goal of becoming a self-sufficient single mother.”

Submitted by Nancy Krygowski, GED Instructor, Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council

A survivor catching a dream….
“I have worked on myself to be the woman I am today, I graduated from Westinghouse High School as a under achiever, a “C” student, a youth with no plans for the future. However, I had a great imagination of prosperity and luxury. I had my son at a young age and through it all I transformed my lifestyle and began to consider my future. I didn’t have a role model at that time therefore, I decided to look up to the woman I envisioned to become and I worked hard to change the girl I saw in the mirror.

After high school I attended Chatham College full time as a psychology major. In my third year of school I gave birth to my second child. I could no longer attend school; it was too expensive to continue. I had to make a choice to either cut back from work or school. I researched a lot of programs and scholarships that could help me in my situation.  Unfortunately I didn’t find anything so I made the choice to drop school and pick up a good job.

I worked for Pittsburgh Public Schools for three years as a Teacher’s Aide.  I enjoyed it at times; however, I felt deep in the pit of my stomach that I was not fulfilling my dream.  I yearned for satisfaction in a career that I could put my heart into.  I began to excavate a dream that has been buried deep in my heart.  I dreamed of walking across the stage as a college graduate with a bright future with many opportunities ahead.

I enrolled in the Fashion and Retail Management Program at the Art Institute.  I am now in my second year with high hopes to graduate in 2010.  It has not been an easy road to stay in school.  I had to make a hard choice to either drop school or work. This time I took a leap of faith and chose to continue with school.  I am proud of my decision because I have met so many people, I have been presented with once in a lifetime opportunities, and I have earned a 3.0 GPA for the first time in my life.

I wrote this letter with intentions to share my story and give some insight into the person I am. These trials and tribulations are a piece of my identity. I am a survivor catching a dream. I would be grateful to receive a scholarship from the Bartko Foundation. I am happy that I found a Foundation that helps single mother’s accomplish their goals.”

With the assistance of the Foundation, Monica will be graduating in September 2010 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Fashion and Retail Management.

List of Donors and Contributors

List of Donors and Contributors Continued:

 

Look around the habitable world: how few know their own good, or knowing it, pursue.
Juvenal Satires