helping people
help themselves
honoring our history,
transforming our future
transformative work in our community.
introduction
letter from leadership
what we do
Who we serve
our partnerships
Financials
our team
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Save the Date!
thank you to our donors
introduction
letters from leadership
what we do
Who we serve
our partnerships
Financials
our team
Save the Date!
Thank you
to our donors
honoring our history,
transforming
our future.
a note from our board president
Over 50 years ago, the shared commitment of the Protestant, Jewish and Catholic community leaders formed ProJeCt with a mission that is still relevant today.
Their desire to build a better community guides ProJeCt today as we continue to embrace their mission to help our community by offering educational, work, and life skills that allow people to achieve their goals and improve their lives.
In 2023, more than 5,000 children and adults participated in our programs, learning life skills, earning their GED, building English language skills and building their school learning.
Thank you for supporting ProJeCt of Easton through your donations, your volunteer hours and your presence at our events each year.
Your generosity allows us to serve our communities, offering guidance, care, and skills to provide opportunity for so many. Through you, we continue to be a place where people have hope and opportunity.
Thank you,
a note from our executive director
Shortly after this fiscal year ended, I emerged as the new Executive Director of this wonderful organization. Over the past seven months, I have had the opportunity to meet with constituents; rebuild relationships with community partners; work with other non-profit leaders to discuss issues our communities are facing; and gratefully, learn the rich history of this organization.
Whenever there is a transition in leadership, people naturally wonder what is going to change.
ProJeCt was formed out of a desire to build a better community by helping people help themselves through innovative programs. Education has and will continue to be the cornerstone of this organization. We have seen first-hand the impact education has on breaking the cycle of poverty. This will not change.
The Board of Directors and staff are strategically planning to expand our programs so we can serve more people, more families and more children. The need is growing. Poverty is rising.
One of my passions is studying leadership. In the words of renowned leadership expert, John C. Maxwell, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” Leadership can make or break an organization. It can cause an organization to grow or to stand stagnant. Because of this, we are focusing on bringing in leaders who have a passion for this work and a track record of successful leadership.
We are concentrating on developing our remarkable staff on functioning as a successful team and providing the tools and skills to work collaboratively. We have carefully set our core values and non-negotiables to be the building block for future leaders within this organization.
Aligned with building our leaders and our overarching theme of transformation, we've, for the first time, asked each of our directors to articulate their individual experiences and enthusiasm for the future throughout this report.
The foundation is set, and we are ready to impact more lives by helping people help themselves.
Sincerely,
Our Mission
helping people
help themselves
a note from our DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS
2023 has been an exciting year for me at ProJeCt. After 23 years as an educator with ProJeCt, I eagerly accepted the position of Director of Programs. ProJeCt is my passion, and I cherish its history in our community. We welcomed a new Executive Director to our team and are extremely excited for new beginnings with our programs and fresh perspectives for our future.
Our Adult Education and Family Literacy programs have thrived this year. We had a beautiful graduation ceremony to celebrate many successes with our students. We continue to see our students return to visit and share how they are flourishing and creating better lives for themselves. Our Food Pantry is continuing to support those in need due to truly amazing volunteers and a new food pantry case manager. We have supported more than 600 Easton Area School District students with life skills and personal development training. Our SIZZLE!® 2023 literacy summer camp was a big success, and we are already in the planning stages for 2024!
I truly love every day at ProJeCt. Our staff, board of directors and volunteers are committed to helping people help themselves. ProJeCt has positively impacted so many lives in our community and I am excited to see our new team continue to honor the past and transform the future of ProJeCt.
Sincerely,
our programs
who we served
impact report
transforming our future
our students come from 35 different countries
in our programs:
sizzle! program
My husband worked all day and I only called my mom and my sister to have them explain many things to me. When my husband and I would go to my child’s doctor, he would talk to me and ask me about my child. I would say to myself, “What is he talking about?”. I would not look at him and I would get distracted. After that, I realized that I had to learn English.
In the first years I learned a few words at home, but I needed to study in a classroom. When I moved to Pennsylvania, I found ProJeCt of Easton. It was difficult for me to leave my son at daycare when he was only one year old. At first, I did not understand anything, but I have learned a lot. I have benefited a lot at ProJeCt. Now I can go to the doctor, I can talk to my neighbors, and in the future, I can get a GED. Now I feel our our future in the States is brighter for me and my family.
helping people
help themselves
a note from our director
of development
During my short tenure at ProJeCt of Easton, I have felt blessed to witness the depth and breadth of its prolific programming, helping people help themselves, throughout the Lehigh Valley. This concept, and witnessing its effectiveness, is profoundly simple, and simply profound.
I look to enshrine a sense of stability to the fundraising function at ProJeCt, with my sights set on creating a respectable workplace environment, encouraging creativity and productivity, and creating sustainable funding streams with familiar faces and partners.
Our fundraising success will ensure neither waiting lists for our myriad educational services, nor lines at our food pantry.
Honoring our history, transforming our future will take each of us committing to helping people help themselves.
It is a new day at ProJeCt, as we commit to fulfilling the dream of our founders, through collaboration and respect, with community partners, key stakeholders, donors, and dedicated staff.
Please join me as we confidently move forward towards fulfilling the dream, and thank you for your continuing commitment to ProJeCt of Easton.
Sincerely,
Words from
our volunteers
“It is beyond humbling to know that our students’ future success will impact not only themselves, but their families, and everyone whom they touch through the endeavors they pursue after obtaining their GED, and that because of ProJeCt, I could play some small role in helping to create these ripple effects.”
stronger when we work together
a note from our DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
I started at ProJeCt as the Finance Manager in 2016 as a department of one. In 2020 I became the Director of Finance, and we began planning how to move our Finance and Administration Departments into the future by adding key staffing positions. This seemingly small step has proven to be a launch pad for ProJeCt’s advancement in efficiency, thoroughness, and technology. Over the past seven years, the operating budget for ProJeCt has grown by 12%, full-time staff positions increased by 55%, annual contributions increased by 58%, and total invested funds increased by 75% which has placed ProJeCt in a healthy financial position.
The Finance and Administration departments have been working to implement improvements to our banking, payroll, and HR systems. The Finance department maintains a regular schedule of internal and external deadlines, complies with numerous government contracts, and works closely with program staff and the Finance Committee. Our accounting software has allowed us to improve upon a sophisticated system for managing restricted funding. This was crucial to our ability to apply for and utilize highly restricted funding during the pandemic, and beyond, to assist our clients and further ProJeCt’s mission.
In the most recently completed fiscal year, contributions were higher than in the previous year. We held fewer special events, but the ones we did have were more fruitful than expected. Our United Way and government contracts increased, and ProJeCt’s investments recovered from the pandemic-era downturn.
We have embarked on a mission to bring together ProJeCt’s staff at all levels, across the agency’s programs and its several buildings, and focus on what can make us stronger when we work together.
Sincerely,
a note from our DIRECTOR OF administration
When I’m called to a new position, I usually take time to watch and listen. During this time, I’m pondering two questions: 1) How can I use my talents, skills and abilities best to do the work and help others and 2) What challenges might I face that will have me explore, learn, and grow.
I started the position as Director of Administration with ProJeCt in August 2023. While I was not part of the staff during the fiscal year, I have seen the wonderful work that’s been done to help students, children and families through our elaborate programs over the years. It is great to honor the past roads ProJeCt has traveled. I am proud to have joined this team of so many talented individuals.
Our mission to “Help People Help Themselves” is simple and has been accomplished beautifully in the community.
As the Director of Administration, one of my roles is to provide for, support, and develop the staff. I’m beginning to recognize and fill the skill gaps that are hindering staff members from being all that they can be. We are starting to develop human resource skills to create an environment of collaboration and team focus to support a more stable workforce. We have a vision of how much more ProJeCt can be and can do for the communities, and it will require a team approach. I believe we are positioning ourselves to transform this organization and move our mission into more lives that need our services.
As we look to transform the organization, I’m also focusing on our infrastructure - the technological and facility resources we will need to do the work more efficiently and effectively.
With Expectation,
honoring our history,
transforming our future.
The project team
proudly presents
now available!
Sponsorships for Simply Savory are now open! This presents a wonderful chance to promote your business while supporting our cause. Every contribution from this event directly fuels our programs, breaking down barriers and empowering our clients toward success.
We are immensely grateful to all donors, as each contribution, regardless of size, plays a crucial role in making a significant impact on our community.
$250-$499 Donors
$500-$999 Donors
$1,000-$2,499 donors
$2,500-$4,999 donors
$5,000-$9,999 donors
$10,000-$14,999 donors
$15,000-$24,999 donors
$25,000 and above donors
Project of Easton is
help themselves
work we’re doing in our community,