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FY2022 Annual Report

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New England Center for the Deaf, Inc. originated in 2011 as a result of the tragic loss of a young man in the Deaf community. This loss illuminated the need for comprehensive Deaf –understanding social services and thus NECD, Inc. was formed.  The founding members, Tracy Knight and Joseph Sisk recruited the Board and thus New England Center for the Deaf, Inc. was created. 

 

Since the formation of the board and the Incorporation in March of 2011, we have moved forward in our development.  In 2012 we were granted our 501 C 3, Federal recognition as a non-profit agency.  Our Board currently consists of 3 members, all of whom have been involved since the inception of NECD, Inc.  Our Board members are very committed to our mission and come to us from a variety of backgrounds.  All board members bring specific strengths and benefits to the Board and to the agency. 

 

We are very proud to introduce the current NECD, Inc. Board of Directors. 

 

Tracy Knight:  Tracy has her BSW from the University of Saint Joseph (formerly St. Joseph College) and her MSW from Fordham University. She recently earned her Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credential.  She is a co-founder of NECD, Inc. and is the mother of a Deaf son.  Tracy has been connected with the Deaf communities in Missouri, Kansas and Connecticut for almost 25 years.  During this time, Tracy served on the Region 5 Council of Developmental Disabilities, the Southwest Missouri Task force on Autism and is a former member of the Parent Advisory Committee at the American School for the Deaf.  Tracy is the Board President and the Chief Executive Officer of NECD, Inc.  She is currently working as a Therapist and is an Associate Professor at Missouri Southern State University.

 

Joseph Sisk:  Joe has his BA in Psychology from Bard College and his MA in Psychology from The New School for Social Research.  He has subsequently earned his License as a Professional Counselor and he is a Nationally Certified Counselor and holds his Specialty Certificate in Substance Abuse.  He is also a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional.  Joe is a co-founder of NECD, Inc. and he is the Chairman of the Board and is the Chief Operating Officer for NECD, Inc.   Joe has almost 30 years of experience in the field of human services.  In addition to his responsibilities at NECD, Inc., Joe currently works full time at another social service agency in Connecticut. 

 

Christopher Knight, Jr.:  Chris (Cj) is a Director on the NECD, Inc. board.  He is Deaf and is fluent in American Sign Language.  After growing up in Missouri and being educated in the mainstream through elementary school, his family moved to Kansas where he attended the Kansas State School for the Deaf.  He graduated from middle school at KSD.  Chris came to CT where he attended the American School for the Deaf and graduated with his high school diploma.  Since graduation he has obtained his veterinary assistant certificate from Tunxis Community College.  He currently works at a local farm caring for the animals and maintaining the facility.

 

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ACTIVITIES                            

Due to CoViD-19, our summer event and subsequent events had to be cancelled. We look forward to hosting future events.

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STRATEGIC PLAN

The board of the New England Center for the Deaf, Inc., has entered into the formal process of developing a Strategic Plan. This process was informative and useful for the Board in developing specific goals for the forthcoming years. During this process, we affirmed the accuracy of our mission, we identified and defined a set of agency values and through the creation for a SWOT analysis, we identified specific and focused goals for the agency.  Our goals for the next few years will help us to expand our Board and to assist the hearing individuals, especially first responders, to better understand and interact with those members of the community who are Deaf. 

 

ADVOCACY

This year we had a number of opportunities to connect with the community as advocates and good neighbors.  We received a call from a small non-profit agency in Massachusetts which works with the elderly.  They had inquired about assistance and resources for assistive technologies for an elderly woman who was hard of hearing.  We returned their call and were able to make ourselves available to assist.

 

We also received a nice email from an 8th grade teacher and his student at the Silver Lake Regional Middle School in Kingston, MA.  His students are doing a project related to the Deaf and hard of hearing and they requested some guidance and assistance.  It was a pleasure to be able to assist middle school students in their project and the have the opportunity for education about the Deaf community and the Deaf culture.  Education is where advocacy begins, and we were glad to have had the opportunity to share our knowledge and commitment with a class of enthusiastic young people who are looking to learn more about their community. 

 

 

FUNDRAISING

NECD, Inc. has completed our annual appeal letter writing campaign.  As always, we thank our loyal, generous and supportive private contributors.  We were also highlighted as the non-profit agency of the month at Stop & Shop grocery store in Simsbury, CT.  As a result, we were the recipient of donations raised through their Community Bag programs for which we received $1 for each reusable shopping bag sold during May.

 

New England Center for the Deaf, Inc. continues to be a recipient of a grant from the Town Fair Tire Foundation for $1000. We are now an annual recipient of this grant.

NECD, Inc. also is now an annual recipient of a donation from the Zach’s Family Foundation and continues to receive support from them.

 

e-NCOUNTERS

We are committed to maintaining our web site, twitter account and Facebook page. Our web site is maintained and is current with news and agency activities.   Our Facebook account joined a number of groups focusing on Deaf individuals and through that we are able to further advocate for the needs of that community.

 

 

COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE:

Joseph H. Weingart Memorial Scholarship

This year, the New England Center for the Deaf, Inc. was able to continue the Joseph H. Weingart Memorial Scholarship.  This educational scholarship was created to assist an individual who is Deaf and who is attending a college, trade program or other educational pursuit.  It is open to any individual who is Deaf or hard of hearing in New England in order to provide some financial assistance. 

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Because of the generosity of our donors, we were able this year to continue the scholarship.  After a careful review of the applications we received, we awarded the scholarship to an ASD graduate of the class of 2022.  He is attending Lincoln Technical School to be trained as a CNC machinist.  To note, the namesake for the scholarship also attended Lincoln Tech for their culinary program. 

 

 

New England Center for the Deaf, Inc.

2021-2022 Contributors

 

The Board of Directors and Management of NECD, Inc. wishes to thank all of those people and businesses, large and small, who have helped us with financial contributions allowing us to assist individuals and families.  Without your generosity, we would not have been able to facilitate the building of, and the continued life of NECD, Inc.  Thank you all!

 

 

Friends                 0-$99

            Seymour and Linda Adelman

            Father Liam Casey

            Leanne Dillian

            Father Joseph Looney

            Wallace and Kathleen MacDonald

            Sylvia and Ralph Memolo

            Dominick Fred Reisen

 

Sponsors              $100-$499

            William and Elizabeth Cheney

            Nevin and Julie Christensen – Flamig Farm

            Deacon Phil and Linda Hayes

            Daniel and Kristen King – Woofer Audio/Video Electronics

            Zach’s Family Foundation

            Anonymous sponsor through the Network for Good

             

 

Donors                 $500-$999

          Gerald and Ann Levinson

 

Patrons                $1000-$4999

            Town Fair Tire Foundation

 

Benefactors          $5000-$9999

 

Endowers             $10,000+

 

 

 

Corporate Sponsorship

We would like to thank Stop and Shop of Simsbury, CT for selecting us as the recipient for the Community Bag Program for May.

 

 

Foundations that supported NECD this year:

Town Fair Tire Foundation

Zachs Family Foundation

 

 

 

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Financials

FY 2021-2022

 

 

Beginning balance                                          $3880.61

                                                TOTAL:          $3880.61

 

                                                                                 REVENUE          EXPENSES

 

FY21 Personal Donations                                                $1315

Network for Good                                                         $150   

 

Corporate donations                                                              

            Big Y (Community Bag Project)                          $98.00

            Stop and Shop (Community Bag Project)            $125.00

            Amazon Smile                                                 $10.52

            Town Fair Tire Foundation Grant                       $1000.00

            Zachs Family Foundation                                  $180.00

Events:                                                                       $0                                $0

                                                                                     

Administrative expenses        

Secretary of State (annual filing)                                                                     $50

            Supplies (envelopes, printer ink)                                                       

            Travel                                                                                                               

            Postal costs (PO Box and stampsX2)                                                    $348                           

            Other administrative   (checks)                                                           $43.59

            Grant station   (2 years)                                                                                 

            Web Site expenses (Domain and 2 YRS of web site)                              $15.89            

            Promotional items                                                                                                                  

            Technology    

                               Back up drive,                                                              $63.03

                               Computer                                                                    $149

                               QuickBooks                                                                  $78     

                               keyboard/mouse                                                          $21.25

                                Laptop and connector for monitor                                $212.68

                                       TOTAL Tech purchases                                           $523.96          

Client services:                                                                                                                                              

Joseph H. Weingart Memorial Scholarship                                                       $2000

                       

            TOTALS:                                                        $6759.13                    $2981.44  

            Ending balance:                                             $3777.69