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OUR MISSIONThe Mission of Caroline Center is to enable unemployed and underemployed women in Baltimore City to find employment in a careerwith potential for advancement, thus creating a future of hope forthemselves and their families.

FROM OUR BOARD CHAIR& EXECUTIVE DIRECTORGiving DirectionDear Friends of Caroline Center,There is a poem by the poet Mary Oliver that we read to each classof women on their first day at Caroline Center. It is called TheJourney, and it describes the choice each woman makes when shesets her feet to the Caroline Center path:”It was already lateenough and the road full of fallenbranches and stones.” but,“you strode deeper and deeperinto the world .determined to savethe only life you could save.”We stand in awe of these women whose determination overcomes tremendous odds to complete the 15 week program that weoffer. And we feel their pride when they not only reach their goalbut exceed it. In some ways the past year had a few fallen branches and stones in our path as an organization as well, as we experienced the effects of the economy. But as we stayed the course, a fewother paths opened up to us and we were able to access federalstimulus funding allocated for workforce development. Thisannual report tells both stories –that of the women and that ofCaroline Center – and illumines the blessings that come when wechoose the road that we believe can make all the difference.Thanks to you, our faithful donors, we are able to walk a lesstraveled road with women who are unafraid to walk it with us. Thesuccess of each woman here is in some way your success as well; wethank you for your support this past year.Sincerely,“It’s difficult to overrate theimportance of giving peoplea second chance. It’s so hardfor a person to be somethingthey’ve never seen. Thereare people who need newbeginnings everywhere.” BILL CLINTON“Giving: How Each of UsCan Change the World”Miriam Jansen, SSNDChair, Board of TrusteesPatricia McLaughlin, SSNDExecutive Director

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by,And that has made all the difference.” ROBERT FROSTThe Road Less TraveledCaroline Center Lightsthe Way for Womenassess the methods necessary to change theirlives as they seek employment. These issuesinclude finding competent childcare, reasonable, reliable transportation, and investigationCaroline Center endeavors to create a supportof possible prior, expungeable criminal offensesive environment, where each woman can befrom their record. Counseling on these issuesencouraged to realize her potential, recognizecan be the first initiativeher abilities, build trustingtoward helping them problemrelationships, and set realisticsolve for their personal circumcareer goals. Graduates ofThisYearatstances and move one step closCaroline Center will becomeCaroline Centerer toward finding employment.empowered to create a futurePublic education, healthcare,full of hope for themselves187 Women enrolledincome supports, access toand their children. However,139 Graduatedchildcare, housing and publicwomen beginning their jour113 Placed intransportation all present seriney at Caroline Center haveemploymentous “roadblocks” which hamlived lives fraught with roadwithin 2 monthsper the women we see fromblocks. They desperatelyof graduationaccessing or sustaining trainingneed guidance to choose theand transitioning to employroad less traveled to step81% Placement ratement. The women who comeaway from poverty.to Caroline Center are oftenThe steps toward tearingforced to interact with systemsdown roadblocks encounthat are poor; but we find that the womentered by women living in poverty include leadthemselves have many strengths and gifts thating them through many unfamiliar processes to2

provide additional services post-graduation.The introduction of the concept of achievingpersonal strength, seeking roads to step awayfrom abusive relationships, and availability ofprofessional support in the community fortifythe message that “you can be anyone and anything YOU choose to be in this world ”have enabled them to survive and seek a betterlife for themselves and their children. They justneed help maneuvering the roadblocks andfinding the detours, that light the way out ofpoverty and toward employment.Women entering Caroline Center generallyshow signs of very low self-Caroline Center trainees have never had theesteem.Caroline Center’s counselor conducts weekly group sessions withthe women. Group sessions with participantsemphasize communication skills, self-esteem,self-discipline, and conflict resolution – all skillsnecessary in the workplace.luxury of being ‘schooled’ in the simple stepsto assessing and organizingtheir lives in order to move forward toward employment.All Caroline Center traineesbuild a personal portfolio which includes aresume, birth certificate, voter’s card, librarycard, record of immunizations/shots, criminalbackground check when necessary, and drugscreening results. Students also attend financialliteracy classes which address the establishmentof bank accounts, debt reduction, credit assessment, and energy conservation. CarolineCenter also offers GED training three timeseach week for those women seeking high schoolequivalency certificates as a step toward newcareers.Welfare programs provide a needed means ofsupport to many of the poorestwomen in Baltimore. Withoutadequate redirection and counseling, the welfare cycle cancontinue generationally through families.Caroline Center provides case management andan opportunity for individual personal assessmentby a licensed social worker. Upon completion oftraining women are given job placement assistance and job retention support by a CareerCoach. Alumnae are also encouraged to maintaincontact with Caroline Center through our CareerCoach for retention support when they faceobstacles in the workplace, are looking for a newjob, or considering continuing their educations.Caroline Center continues to maintainrelationships with our alumnae and supportthem as well as gather information about thepaths their lives take post graduation fromCaroline Center. Their success remains our success and we continue to measure those successesthrough the gathering and recording of statistical information relating to their careers, continuing education, housing upgrades, and overallimprovements in their quality of life. We arewith them on the road less traveled until theyreach their destination, and beyond.Many women who come to Caroline Centerhave suffered trauma and orabuse as children and adults.Through professional group andindividual counseling, studentscome to value themselves and their potential formeaningful employment and career advancement. We address the lingering effects of personal trauma and refer women with a history ofabuse or domestic violence to agencies that may3

FINANCIALSCaroline Center is committed to Changing Livesthrough Education, One Woman at a Time. Thismission is sponsored and supported by 177 years ofleadership by the School Sisters of Notre Dame. Allcontributions directly support the career and lifeskills training that prepare women to seek employment that pays a living wage and provide hope fortheir futures.Other1%Annual Fund19%Investments 10%City of Baltimore40%Foundations13%SSND 10%GF&B 7%Revenue and SupportAnnual FundFoundationsSSND ContributionGreen Food & BandsCity of BaltimoreInvestment IcomeOtherTotal Support & Revenue 146,612 100,500 75,000 50,524 301,822 76,375 4,529 755,362Culinary 0%GED 3%Pharm. Tech. 29%Nursing Asst. 46%Admin. 9%Development13%ExpensesNursing Assistant TrainingPharmacy Technician TrainingCulinary Training*GED ClassesAdministrationDevelopmentTotal Expenses 296,924 189,760 1,583 19,618 57,426 85,032 650,343*Culinary program discontinuedGive On-line to Support Caroline CenterOn-line giving is a secure and easy method to makecontributions to the Annual Fund. Visit www.caroline-center.org and click the button, On-line Giving.9

GREEN FOOD AND BANDSDONORSThe 11th Annual Green Foodand Bands was held at NotreDame Prep on March 13,2010. Caroline Center wasagain blessed by loyal friends,sponsors, patrons, and donors.The event raised 47,000 andprovided much needed support for Caroline Center.We are most grateful to the tireless volunteers whounder the leadership of Event Coordinator, SherylPiron, provided a memorable evening. Kudos toPepper’s Catering for again providing delicious fine fareand Rosnareen, for the lively musical entertainmentand Notre Dame Preparatory School for welcoming usagain this year. Caroline Center extends heartfelt gratitude to all who contributed generously to this success!Caroline Center begins the celebration of its 15thAnniversary this year with An Evening with KathrynStockett, author of “The Help” and will continue torecognize this milestone into 2011. There will beother events to be sure, but they will be taking onnew forms. To allow us to focus on this special milestone, Green Food and Bands will be suspended in2011 so that we may bring you new opportunities tocelebrate and support our ongoing mission ofChanging Lives through Education at CarolineCenter One Woman at a Time.Auctions & MoreAmerican VisionaryArts MuseumAndy’s PartiesAnonymousCathy Arata, SSNDAtwater’sMr. & Mrs. LarryBallantineBaltimore RavensBaltimore ShakespeareFestivalBaltimore SymphonyOrchestraBasignani WineryMs. Tricia BatemanBel-loc DinerBeltway Fine WineDr. & Mrs. Robert BergerMr. & Mrs. Al BiancoBoordy VineyardsMs. Dana BoskBrewer’s ArtBrick Bodies Fitness, Inc.Bruno’sMary Beth Buettner,SSNDMs. Regina ButlerCalvert MechanicalSolutions, Inc.CareWell CompanionsCaroline Center IncCharm City Run LLCMs. Margaret ColleluoriMr. & Mrs.Thomas R. CorcoranSPONSORSROSE OFTRALEE 5,000CORPORATESPONSORS 1,500CharlestownRetirementCommunityUPSMr. & Mrs. CharlesF. ZeilerMr. & Mrs. JohnLeahyMs. Ann MarshMary’s FundFoundationTarget Marketing,Inc.CORPORATESPONSOR 1,750Baltimore SubwaySystems10Davey Tree ExpertCompanyMr. Michael Di MayoMs. Jane Elizabeth DoyleMr. Jason FitzsimmonsMarylita Friia, SSNDMr. Stephen E. Fruin &Ms. Susan GriisserGinzaGreene TurtleGreetings and ReadingsCatherine R. Gugerty,SSNDHairportMs. Anne HealyHenderson’s WharfMs. Carolyn HrdlickMiriam Jansen, SSNDKingsdene NurseryKobi’s SalonLadew Topiary GardensMs. Eileen LeahyMr. & Mrs.Monroe Dean LeisterLime Pop PhotographyLinens and LingerieLinganore WinecellarsMs. Maria LinzLoyola UniversityMarylandLuray CavernsMs. Cynthia MacKinnonMagoobysMs. Ann Smyth MarshMaryland Athletic Cluband Wellness Center