2008-2009
December 2008 Barnstable High School student murdered
August 2009 Two Barnstable High School graduates die by suicide.
Cape Cod community in crisis. What if...?
2009-2010
$5,000 100% fundraising
- Creation of the Inner Resilience Project Raising $$ for one stress reduction program at BHS in the Alternative Learning Porgram
- 1st 5K DeStress Express raises $5000. Many local businesses and community members willing to sponsor
- CC Times article about the Inner Resilience Project creates public demand
- 1st programs at Barnstable and Mashpee High School
- Creation of non-profit started. Shift name from the Inner Resilience Porject to CALMER Choice (Cultivating Awareness, Living Mindfully, Enhancing Resilience)
- 1st official board meeting. Executive Director sits as board chair, 501c3 status approved
Pictures: Patty, Bob, Katie, Fiona, David, Betsy
2010-2011
$15,000 raised
- Founding instructor goes to Mindful Schools training over the summer
- Grant writer hired. Demands for programs continues to grow. Word of mouth referrals
- Volunteer driven. Passionate, hands on board
- Five people sent to NYC for training in January of this year
- 1st NPR interview and initial website and marketing materials created
- Limited financial resources. Few if any operational routines exist
- CALMER Choice logo changes to Calmer Choice after feedback from Suffolk University Marketing Program consult
2011-2012
$60,000 first grants received
- Jon Kabat Zinn and others in the world of mindfulness offer support, goodwill towards organization following further NPR interviews
- Calmer Choice Curriculum creation started, working group meeting monthly
- 1st SWOT and Strategic Plan – rtecommneding staying within 5 districts, and focus on elementary school students
- ED now paid 1 day a week. Instructors hourly. All other back office needs volunteer
- Demand for programming greater than capacity
- Relationship with Tufts University begun
Picture: Caroline
2012-2013
$130,000
- Tufts University begins research with Mashpee, DY and Chatham schools
- Barnstable District Issues emerge. Told to put all programs on-hold until Calmer Choice Programs evidence based
- Calmer Choice trademarked
- 1st major presentation at Umass Center for Mindfulness
- Mindful Magazine features Calmer Choice and founding story creating national
- Jon Kabat Zinn speaks at CCCC launching the Calmer Choice Speaker Series, sold out
- New relationship with Yale researchers begun
2013-2014
$174,000 budgeted
$224,299 raised
16% schools, 33% donations,26% fundraisers, 25% grants
- Part time administrative assistant hired along with first shared office space
- 1st Calmer Choice Instructor Training initiated
- Support of foundations and funders continue to grow with increased public recognition
- ED hired fulltime and steps down as board chair
- Courage of Conscience award presented at Quaker Meeting House
- Tufts University presents outcomes/research Calmer Choice board with positive results
- Yale Research project begins in Cape Cod Light House Charter, Mattacheese Middle and St Francis , grade 6
2014-2015
$345,000 budgeted, $394,437 raised
12% schools, 28% donations, 26% fundriasers, 34% grants
- Three year Tower Tech grant awarded allowing for organization to begin purchasing its own equipment including computers and copy machine
- Creation fo the beginnings of the Calmer Choice Partner School model
- Moved to larger office space in South Yamouth
- 1st NATIONAL Calmer Choice Presentation in California
- 1st Part Time resource development staff funded by the CC Foundation
- Yale presents research at CCCC. Cape Cod Times covers event creating further interest across the country
- Full Time Program Director and School and Cmmunity Based Program Director now in place creating significant financial changes from previous years
Pictures: Stephanie, Sasa, Forest, Paula
2015-2016
$500,000 budgeted, $617,220 raised
13%schools, 28% donations, 21% fundraisers, 38% grants
- Record budget passsed by the board
- Concerned parent steps forward in DY following Calmer Choice Brings Satan to Cape Cod Schools letter to the editior leading to first hire of a PR firm and much research into the First Amendment/Establishment Clause
- MIT Research begun in Dorechester at Boston Collegiate Charter School
- Calmer Choice becomes thought leaders in how to bring Secular Mindfulness into public schools
- Board turnover with roles shifting
- Calmer Choice invited to create anOMEGA conference with 24 other national thought leaders concerning the Secular issue of schools and mindfulness
Pictures: Karen H, Michaela, John Fulone
2016-2017
$615,000 budgeted, $648,398 raised
18% schools, 28% donations, 16% fundraisers, 38% grants
- Initating of new website begun. Professionalizing operations happening in house
- Establish and improved relationships with key funders and donors noted
- Invited to do a State House presentation to legislative delegation.
- Invited to Bridging Hearts and Minds Conference as Keynote Speakers- Secular Mindfulness in Schools
- Calmer Choice ominted for the Non-Profit Excellence in Innovation Award at State House
Pictures: Sue Curran, Mary Acunzo, Sherry Santini
2017-2018
$679,000 budgeted, $659,276 raised
13% schools, 32% donations, 19% fundraisers, 33 % grants
- Instructor training hosted by Falmouth District with 5 school districts involved.
- First full time off Cape hire with expertise in the area of development
- Part time Community Based Program Director
- Increased in house marketing and communication procedures
- Transitioning of Founding Staff
- 50K in State Budget for CC prevention programming
Pictures: Peggy, Chris Brenner, Liam, Emily, Patience
2018-2019
$712,000
- Full-time School-Based and Community based Director positions filled with the restructuring of the programming department
- First Off Cape school program initiated in Marion
- Adding professionals to the board with expertise in various needed areas
- More invitations happening to speak about teaching secular mindfulness in schools
- Multi-Year Strategic Planning Process underway.
Picture: Laura Newstead