Mission
The mission of the All Star Children's Foundation is to create a safe place to heal the trauma of child abuse.
Leadership
CEO/Executive Director
Lucia Branton
Board Chair
Graci McGillicuddy
Board Chair Affiliation
Community Volunteer
General Info
Tax Exempt Status
Public Supported Charity
Incorporation Year
2006
State Charitable Solicitations Permit
Yes June 2018
State Registration
Yes May 2018
IRS Letter of Determination
Impact Statement
2016 was a very important year for the foundation. After much thought, discussion, and research, a strategic direction for the organization was solidified. This would not only guide how the All Star Children's Foundation would move forward, but it also defined the unique value it would bring to the foster care community and concluded that the laser focus of its service would be trauma treatment and the reversal of the impact of adverse childhood experiences has on the brain. The foundation formally accepted and adopted this method of clinical treatment for children in the child welfare system. The foundation recognized this was the innovative piece that was missing and that would allow us to change the trajectory for these children.
In 2017, the All Star Children's Foundation continued to grow its infrastructure and partnerships:
- Solidify collaboration with Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital - Completed and formal agreement signed.
- Hire a Director of Programs and a Vice President of Philanthropy - Completed
- Conduct groundbreaking for new ASCF campus in Sarasota - Site identified, land purchased, closing occurred in November and a groundbreaking was held on November 15.
Goals for 2018 include:
- Construction of 12,000 sf treatment center to deliver trauma-informed therapy and care to children in the foster care system from throughout the region
- Development of research outcome measurements to prove efficacy of trauma-informed care for children who have suffered from childhood trauma
- Develop a community-wide, trauma-informed education campaign
Needs Statement
- Capital Campaign - A capital campaign is underway. The cost for the clinical building, community center, and residences totals $13 million. $7 million has been raised.
- Trauma-Informed Training - Paid and volunteer staff will be trained in the competency of trauma-informed care. The cost is $25,000. With additional funds, the organization will launch a community wide trauma-informed initiative geared toward all individuals, groups, and organizations who care for children.
- Technology - Technology needs include clinical, financial development, legacy gift program, matching gifts, and digital donor recognition systems; there will also be screens and presentation equipment needed throughout the campus. The cost is $100,000.
- Volunteer Management - A comprehensive volunteer program will support all aspects of operations and programs. This includes recruitment, onboarding, retention, evaluation, and recognition. This budget is $10,000.
- Youth Programs - It is important for the youth staying on the ASCF campus to be immersed in the community, sports programs, and other activities. These children will need soccer uniforms, bicycles, tutoring, transportation, and other support. Onsite clinical enhancements such as art and pet therapies and holistic health services will be offered. Costs range from $10 to $1000 per child.
Background Statement
Founders Dennis and Graci McGillicuddy contributed the funds to launch a foundation that would transform the foster care system. In March of 2016, the hiring process began and a team was gathered to strategically build an organization dedicated to identifying gaps in the child welfare system and creating a safe haven where children could receive nurturing and critical services. Later that year, additional funds came from an anonymous donor.
Shortly thereafter, regular meetings began with Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital to discuss the creation of a clinical program that would treat trauma in children in the child welfare system. These are children who have suffered from many forms of abuse and neglect. Throughout the remainder of 2016, the staff networked, created other partnerships, and learned as much as possible about trauma-informed care. Staff reviewed literature and research, became certified in several trauma courses through the University of Buffalo's Institute on Trauma, and visited other organizations that had implemented components of trauma-informed care. With the field research, education and knowledge obtained, the team then created the model which is representative of what is going to be operational in 2018 - a fully embedded trauma-informed culture among all aspects of the organization's programs and services.
In 2017, Lucia Branton was promoted to Executive Director. The McGillicuddy's then hired Lindsey Mullett as the Director of Programs and Beth Bush as Vice President of Philanthropy. The team is currently housed in an office at 1221 S Tamiami Trail in Sarasota as they await the building of the new campus. A groundbreaking was held on November 15, 2017. Construction will begin in early 2018.
Areas Served
Areas Served Comments
The All-Star Children's Foundation campus will be located in Sarasota, but will serve children from Sarasota, Manatee, and Desoto Counties. As resources allow, the Foundation will also serve children and families from other areas who would benefit from trauma-informed therapy.
Service Categories
Primary Org Type
Human Services
Secondary Org Type
Mental Health & Crisis Intervention
Tertiary Org Type
Youth Development
Statement from the Board Chair/Board President
It should never hurt to be a child. In 1986, I read the story of Shannon Nicole, an 18 month-old toddler tortured and murdered by her mother and step-father. This ignited a passion within me that has continued to grow and strengthen. For the last 30 + years, I have committed myself and my resources to advocating for children who have been abused and neglected. I knew some day, I would create a place where children could come, heal from their pain, and feel loved and valued.
We are now building that place! In collaboration with Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, our foundation is utilizing trauma-informed care and the latest research in brain science and neuroplasticity to heal children from trauma and change their trajectory in this world. We are creating a unique campus with a dynamic environment that enables children, parents, therapists, and researchers to learn from each other. We will teach foster parents, families, community organizations, and other partners in the child welfare system to utilize trauma-informed care. We will develop best practices and impact care and legislative policy.
This is where children can come to be protected. This is where children will heal from the situations they have had to endure through no fault of their own. This is where children will become empowered and will learn the skills they need to excel, be happy, and be successful in life. This is their place.
Graci McGillicuddy
Board Chair
Statement from the CEO/Executive Director
Based on 20 years of experience with at risk and abused children, the ability to work on the root cause of a child's issues is a critical missing piece. Often, a band aid is applied that temporarily addresses the behavior exhibited by a child. There is no deeper, meaningful work done to find the true root cause of their behavior - usually caused by some form of trauma. By treating the trauma and teaching the brain how to think differently, you then get different results with how children cope with external stressors and how they react to those stressors. This is the piece our foundation has chosen to tackle. We are not only implementing a system of trauma-informed care, we are collaborating with the best experts in the field to transform children's lives and offer them the best possible outcomes.
Lucia Branton
Executive Director
CEO/Executive Director
CEO/Executive Director
Lucia Branton
CEO Term Start
Jan 2016
CEO/Executive Director Email
Lucia@ascf.care
Experience
Lucia Branton is a child welfare expert with 18 years' experience working in this field. She served as spokesperson and lead child advocate for the Safe Children's Coalition and is well known and respected within the local child welfare community. Lucia is a trauma informed systems specialist and is leading our organization in its efforts to impact children and youth in Sarasota, Manatee, and Desoto Counties.
Former CEOs/Executive Directors
Staff & Volunteer Statistics
Full Time Staff
3
Part Time Staff
0
Staff Retention Rate %
100
Professional Development
Yes
Contractors
0
Volunteers
25
Management Reports to Board
Yes
CEO/Executive Director Formal Evaluation
Yes
Senior Management Formal Evaluation
Yes
Non-Management Formal Evaluation
Yes
Collaborations
The All Star Children's Foundation has established the following collaborations:
Researchers from Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital will be housed on our campus. They will design the clinical trauma treatment program, conduct research, collect and interpret data, measure outcomes on the effectives and efficacy of trauma treatment on children who have been abused and neglected.
The Sarasota YMCA/Safe Children Coalition is the lead child welfare agency in the tri-county district where our foundation delivers service.
The Department of Children and Families will conduct child protective investigations and we will work with the Circuit 12 Judicial Dependency System.
In addition, we are forming partnerships with the Boys and Girls Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Girls Inc and other nonprofit organizations who can supplement our programs and services.
External Assessments and Accreditations
Risk Management Provisions
Government Licenses
Organization Licensed by the Government
No
Plans
Fundraising Plan
Yes
Communication Plan
No
Strategic Plan
No
Strategic Plan Years
Strategic Plan Adopted
0
Management Succession Plan
No
Continuity of Operations Plan
No
Policies
Nondiscrimination Policy
Yes
Whistle Blower Policy
Yes
Document Destruction Policy
Yes
Directors and Officers Insurance Policy
Yes
Policies and Procedures
No
Board Chair
Board Chair
Graci McGillicuddy
Company Affiliation
Community Volunteer
Board Term
June 2016 to June 2019
Board Chair Email
gmcgillicuddy41@hotmail.com
Board Members
Constituency Includes Client Representation
Yes
Board Ethnicity
African American/Black
0
Asian American/Pacific Islander
0
Caucasian
8
Hispanic/Latino
0
Native American/American Indian
0
Other
0 0
Board Gender
Male
4
Female
4
Unspecified
Governance
Board Term Lengths
3
Board Term Limits
3
Board Orientation
No
Number of Full Board Meetings Annually
4
Board Meeting Attendance %
93
Board Self-Evaluation
No
Written Board Selection Criteria
No
Board Conflict of Interest Policy
Yes
% of Board Making Monetary Contributions
100
% of Board Making In-Kind Contributions
80
Fiscal Year Projections
Fiscal Year Start Month
Jan
Fiscal Year Start Day
01
Fiscal Year Begins
2018
Fiscal Year End Month
Dec
Fiscal Year End Day
31
Fiscal Year Ends
2018
Projected Revenue
$12,900,000.00
Projected Expenses
$10,815,000.00
Total Projected Revenue includes "in-kind" contributions/ donations
No
Organization has Endowment
No
Endowment Spending Policy
N/A
Capital Campaign
Currently In a Capital Campaign
Yes
Anticipate Campaign within 5 years?
Yes
Campaign Purpose
5-acre campus for trauma therapy clinic, community clubhouse and foster homes
Campaign Goal
$13,000,000.00
Campaign Dates
Jan 2017 to Dec 2018
Amount Raised To Date
7000000 as of Jan 2018
Audit/Financial Documents
Historical Financial Review
CEO/Executive Director Compensation
Tax Credits
No
Solvency
Short Term Solvency