Finalist Site Visits: Part 1

By: Jackie Kajos

Last week the Investment Committee made site visits to our four finalists. The site visits are a wonderful way to get a real feel for an organization, meet the staff and get acquainted with the work that these four nonprofits are doing in the community. They are also a lot of fun!

The Loft Cinema

The Committee’s first site visit was at The Loft Cinema. The Loft Cinema is a nonprofit, community-supported cinema that honors the vision of filmmakers, celebrates ideas and promotes the appreciation and understanding of the art of film. It showcases independent, foreign, alternative and classic narrative films and documentaries. The Loft is a place for members of the Tucson community to go to hear the voices of people all over the world. Each year, The Loft hosts two free film series: the Tucson International Children’s Film Festival in July, and Essential Cinema, a series of classic art films on the big screen in new 35mm prints. It also offers 3 programs to support local filmmakers. In 2010, The Loft Cinema sold 145,000 tickets, an increase of 30,000 tickets from 2009.

For our site visit, Executive Director Peggy Johnson gave the Committee a tour of the theater. We saw the offices, two screens and the projection room. Following the tour, Debi Mabie the Director of Education presented a demonstration of The Loft’s education program that is currently being developed. This particular example pertained to modern film adaptations of Shakespeare, including a poem and excepts from films “10 Things I Hate About You” and “Romeo + Juliet”. The Loft’s education program will be a collaborative effort between the cinema and literacy programs in the community, and aims to give students the tools to interpret what they see on screen and develop critical thinking skills. The Committee greatly enjoyed the tour and the opportunity to participate in the film education presentation.

[Check out more photos from the site visit here on Facebook]

Youth On Their Own

The Committee also made a site visit to Youth On Their Own. Youth On Their Own is a nonprofit organization that supports the high school graduation and continued success of homeless youth in greater Tucson (ages 13 through 21) by providing financial assistance, basic human needs and guidance. The Committee toured the YOTO offices and saw the “Mini-Mall” which is a place where students can access basic needs items such as food, clothing, hygiene items, and household and school supplies. Additionally, students enrolled in the YOTO program can receive a monthly stipend of up to $125 based on their school performance. The YOTO program also offers housing referrals, personal counseling and one-on-one success coaching, medical, dental and vision care, a refurbished computer and employment opportunities and community involvement activities.

Committee members also had the opportunity to meet with Executive Director Teresa Baker and Development Director Matt Yotter to ask questions about the YOTO program and the youth that it serves.  YOTO boasts impressive statistics; they serve over 550 students with a 92% graduation rate, as compared to the average graduation rate of 78% in Tucson. Members were especially interested in hearing about students experience’s within the program. Teresa Baker was able to tell the group about a number of current students and recent graduates of the YOTO program and the success that they have achieved despite the hardship they have had to endure. Discussions also included where Partners could offer there assistance to YOTO, including strategic planning and board development. The visit was powerful and moving, in addition to informative and thought-provoking.

Thank you to both The Loft Cinema and Youth On Their Own for taking the time to show us their organizations and answer our questions!

[Check out more photos from the site visit here on Facebook]