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
• 1^st 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
• 1^st 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)
• 1^st 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
• 1^st 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
• 1^st 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
• 1^st 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
• 1^st 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
• 1^st NATIONAL Calmer Choice Presentation in California
• 1^st 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