Celebrating 2023
LifeBridge Partnership has much to celebrate as we close out the year 2023. In total we served 213 individuals in 2023, which represents a 72% increase over 2022. We engaged individuals in more than 10,000 hours of recreation, socialization, and enrichment so they could experience social well-being and belonging. And, 93% of individuals indicated that they did indeed experience a sense of belonging as a result of participating in LifeBridge Partnership programs.
LifeBridge Camps, Leaders Club, and Out & About each contributed to our success in 2023. We hosted 100 campers during various day camps throughout the year for a total of nearly 4,000 hours vs only 2,795 hours in 2022. Leaders Club, an after-school enrichment program at Nottingham CAJT High School and Promise Christian Academy, grew 15% over 2022 providing services four days per week throughout the school year.. The Out & About program for adults experienced tremendous growth: 49% increase in the number of participants and 62% increase in the number of hours we spent out and about in the St. Louis community with those participants.
Many individuals, both dedicated staff and volunteers, contributed to this tremendous year of growth. I would like to recognize three individuals in particular:
Jeff Clark
Angel Goldberg
Tom Torretti
These outstanding individuals have been members of our Board of Directors since 2011. In addition to serving on the Board, they volunteered hundreds of hours in our programs, served on numerous committees, and generously supported fundraising efforts. We appreciate their leadership and the positive impact they have had on LifeBridge Partnership. Many thanks to Jeff, Angel, and Tom who embody qualities described in the following quote from Jane Goodall:
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
You can make a positive difference in the lives of children and adults with disabilities. Check it out @ https://www.lifebridgestl.org
We look forward to continuing the mission with you in 2024!
Karen Schuster, CEO