THANK YOU! 2013 ENDED IN SUCCESS AND 2014 IS BRIGHT

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(December message from Executive Director, Tony Hudson)

It was made official this year, we achieved independence from what was once our majority income - a large federal special grant that was unfit for our small organization.  We reinvented our business model and with a few close calls in 2013, you helped us through it.  Our mid-year fundraising goal was $50,000 and with 68 individual and corporate donors, we raised $48,545.  We are proud of what we do, and thankful for everyone that helped. 

We are growing stronger.  The following are some updates since our last correspondence.

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS:  SHAPING THE WORKFORCE.

Because of our middle-class philosophy, integrity in service delivery, and success serving the hardest-of-the-hardest-to-employ, many more people are seeking our services.

Meanwhile, the income gap widens!  The numbers of needy are increasing, not shrinking.  Charity by way of shelter, food, clothing and financial aid helps a great deal and relieves horrible situations, but it has a tendency to keep people dependent.  Our training allows a person to regain trust, and honor.  It helps people climb out of society's "learned helplessness" and inherit what it is to "earn success," albeit small or large.

One year ago, Blue Jacket entered into a partnership with Community Action of Northeast Indiana (CANI) to provide our 60-hour Career Academy to their clients.  Soon we will unveil a deeper partnership with CANI and other community, faith, and government-based agencies to better serve disadvantaged populations in the greater Fort Wayne area.  Please email me if interested in helping with the below target clientele.

Target Populations:

Veterans - Homeless - Welfare Recipients - Single Parents - Victims of Domestic Violence - Burmese-speaking - Spanish-speaking - Ex-Offenders - Low Income

STAFFING SERVICES:  THE GAME CHANGER

What makes Blue Jacket attractive to our partners is our self-contained staffing service that is building a reputation better than any grant-funded job development service, or temporary agency.  A market-driven model with a mission. This attracts employers.

Furthermore, one 90-day temp-to-perm placement raises enough money for one (1) Career Academy Scholarship.  Presently, there are 65 People on our waiting list.  More jobs through Opportunity Staffing means more trainees.  Thankfully, we've grown in job placements by 400% in the last 12 months.

Join our mailing list to receive notification of the Top Candidates of Opportunity Staffing - Career Academy Graduates.

BLUE JACKET CLOTHING COMPANY:  WHERE MIRACLES HAPPEN! NOT ONLY DO THE SHOPPERS BENEFIT

To visit the store located in the back of our beautiful campus, you will find the most professional, aesthetic thrift store ever stepped foot in - all by using grants, fundraising, and tons of sweat equity.  Unbeknownst to many that patronize home-grown thrift stores, our niche-market store achieves much more than turning a buck on donated business apparel.  It:

  1. outfits Career Academy students with free suits and clothes,
  2. subsidizes one staff person to run the store who was formally federally grant funded,
  3. trains Career Academy graduates in retail and customer service, and
  4. provides an uplifting and sober community for neighbors, graduates, and volunteers. 

There are too many stories of coincidence, of restored hope and confidence to include into this update.  To see or hear these stories, it will take a visit from you.  Or see how you can help.

PLEASE DONATE

For year-end gifts, please consider Blue Jacket a place to contribute.  We will send a receipt of charitable contribution to our 501c3 exempt organization.  For an easy credit or debit contribution, we have an account via PayPal.  We are also members of the Ameritrade Business Exchange. 

Sincerely,

Tony Hudson
Executive Director

Blue Jacket, Inc.
2826 South Calhoun,
Fort Wayne, IN 46807
260-744-1900 / 260-744-1958 fax
[email protected]