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Message Annual Report2023-2024Serving the community by providing nutrition, education, and a sense ofbelonging.W W W . D O N B O S C O . O R G

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George has been coming to the Don Bosco Senior Center for over20 years. He attends the Senior Center for the comradery, thesense of community, and to give a helping hand. According toGeorge, “Don Bosco is real clean, calm, and a great excuse to getout of the house.” George was raised by his Southern Baptistmom, who taught him to value kindness, hard work, andappreciation. After serving in the Army, he worked for UnionPacific for 33 years. George is from Arkansas and visits homethroughout the year to tend to the family cemetery which has 7generations in one place. While visiting in the summer, he chopswood to sell for the winter. At 85 years old, George may be retired,but he won’t stop working! SENIOR CENTERThe Don Bosco Senior Center is the largest, mostcomprehensive provider of senior services in the regionaccording to the Mid America Regional Council Area Agencyon Aging. The Don Bosco Senior Center helps vulnerable olderadults and adults with disabilities live healthfully,independently, and with dignity in their homes for as long aspossible. We achieve that goal in three ways. For the 85+clients who visit onsite daily, the Senior Center provides elderlyand adults with disabilities with transportation to and from ourfacility, daily activities, access to emergency assistance, basichealth screenings, and a hot nutritious lunch. MEET GEORGE Father & Grandfather US Army Veteran Don Bosco reaches another 170 homebound seniors eachday with the delivery of a hot meal through our Meals onWheels program. For many of our homebound seniors, thedeliveries are the only interpersonal interaction they have ona daily basis. Our drivers are able to observe livingconditions, assess basic mental/cognitive communication,and identify emergency needs. Don Bosco Client Advocatesare referred to intervene-if necessary-to provide emergencyassistance. Don Bosco supports an additional 300 seniorsdaily through catering contracts with ten senior centersacross five counties in Missouri.

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2023 - 2024 HighlightsServed 1,063 unduplicated seniors and adults with disabilities Distributed 131,778 hot mealsDistributed 23,800 frozen mealsCatered to 10 additional senior centers across 5 countiesProvided 7,553 rides to and from the Senior CenterFulfilled 4,701 emergency assistance needs Tony and Mama Pena married in Sicily in 1969. Five months later theyventured to America in search of better economic opportunities. After landing inKansas City, they settled in the Historic Northeast. Tony quickly found a job andeventually, they bought a house closer to St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, wherethey became active parishioners. There they raised their only son, Giovani.Tony and Mama Pena described the area, as Little Italy. “We had Sicilians allover, and the priests were Italian,” Tony stated. They shared the language, hadsupport network, celebrated similar cultural experiences. It provided them alittle slice of home, and more importantly, a sense of belonging. MEET TONY AND MAMA PENAFast-forward to present day, Tony and Pena have been married 56 years.They are still in the Historic Northeast, but it is no longer “Little Italy”. “It isnow a home for everyone,” says Tony, “regardless from where you comefrom.” Tony has since retired and spends his days gardening, cooking, andtaking care of his beautiful bride, Pena, who was diagnosed withParkinson’s disease. Up until recently, Mama Pena would attend theSenior Center several days a week. Often times she could be found in oneof our exercise classes, meeting with a Senior Client Advocate to navigatethe health system, doctors’ appointments. and bills, or enjoying a hot,nutritious lunch. At 91, Tony is loving and attentive to his best friend. As Mama Pena’sParkinson’s has progressed, she is unable to attend the Senior Center inperson. She still remains an active client and receives Meals on Wheelsdaily and fresh produce biweekly. With Don Bosco’s help, Tony has time toenjoy his hobbies and take care of the house. Mama Pena brags aboutTony’s beautiful garden that he tends to daily. “He grows everything there,”she says, “a pear tree, peach tree, fig tree, plums, lettuce, and more.” SENIOR CENTER

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Enrollment over 500 students per semesterOver 20 classes taught weeklyOver 13,000 instructional hoursParaprofessional Certification ClassOver 17 languages represented50 new students enrolled monthlyMEET ISABELSCHOOL OF ENGLISHThe Don Bosco School of English and the Kansas CityPublic School Adult Education and Literacy program workwith adult refugees and immigrant students, 17 and older.The English as a Second Language School offers 3 levels,beginning, intermediate, and advanced. They are taught byMissouri State Certified instructors. In addition to teachingEnglish, they offer classes for the High School Equivalencytest, GED or HiSET. In the summer, they launched aParaprofessional Program as their inaugural workforcedevelopment class. 2023 - 2024 HighlightsThe Kansas City Public School District has been a great partnership for theDon Bosco School of English. They have been able to reach more students,offer more classes, access health care resources, and gain opportunities forprofessional advancement.Isabel, a single mom, has embraced the American dream ofeducation. Arriving from Colombia in 2006, she immediately got a joband enrolled in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. Sherose to become an ESL instructor at Don Bosco. Since then, she hasobtained her Business Administration Degree at UMKC. She iscurrently taking classes for her Masters in Public Administration. Sheis an inspiring role model for her sons and students. Her favoriteteaching phrase is “No English, No Problem. Practice, Practice,Practice!”

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COMMUNITY CENTERCOMMUNITY BUILDING, BUILDING COMMUNITY.Built in 1940, the Community Center was the centerof educational, recreational, and social activities forthe Columbus Park Neighborhood. In 2019, theCommunity Center was renovated and revitalized.Today, the Community Center is bustling withactivity. There is a gymnasium with a multi-sportcourt that can accommodate basketball, volleyball,pickleball, futsal, and more. There are twoclassrooms for small meeting spaces. Thecommercial kitchen is available to local chefs,caterers, and food trucks. Lastly, a nonprofit hasleased the first floor since 2020. The center is a place to celebrate and cometogether as a community. The gymnasium doublesas an event space, featuring a stage, audio/visualequipment, and stage curtains. Don Bosco hoststwo events, Mouse Races and the Bosco BlockParty, at the Community Center annually.INQUIRE ABOUT THE SPACE:jnigro@donbosco.org2023 - 2024 Highlights17 events hosted 5 teams rented the gym regularly3 blood drives with the Red Cross6 kitchen tenantsOver $125,000 in facility rental income

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12Vehicles4,071Emergency AssistanceRequests155,578Meals7,553Rides 1,066 Commodity Boxes226VolunteersFINANCESHIGHLIGHTSExpensesIncomeWe are committed to building a community of neighbors who live independently, in betterhealth, and with greater joy. We provide services for all genders and backgrounds.

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A SPECIAL THANKSCORPORATIONSFOUNDATIONSINDIVIDUALSRESTAURANTSAllied RefreshmentsBarbosa Holding, LLCBelfonte DairyBishop Miege High SchoolBukaty Companies Prop & CasualtyC & C ProduceCentral Bank of Kansas CityCountry Club BankCurtis & AssociatesCustom Truck One Source Danny's PlumbingDesign MechanicalFCI AdvisorsGraves GarrettIllicit GardensIndustrial Salvage & WreckingJ.E. Dunn ConstructionJackson CountyKansas City Life Insurance Co. Kansas City Public SchoolsKnuckleheadsMCCPDMidwest Terminal Warehouse Co.Neenan Company, Inc. NTDFPerformance Foodservice PolsinelliR.E. Pedrotti Co. ReBuild KCReardon Pallet Company, Inc. Service Printing GraphicsShook Hardy & BaconSioux Chief Manufacturing CompanySisters of Charity of LeavenworthSisters of St. Joseph CarondeletSt. Mark's ChurchSt. Vincent de Paul ChurchStifel, Nicolaus, & Co., Inc. SyscoTrozzolo Communications GroupUnited Way of Greater Kansas CityUrban Prairie Architectural CollaborativeVMLY&RWhitco Business ServicesBlue Scope Foundation North AmericaCarrie J. Loose Foundation Constance Cooper FoundationCyr Family FoundationFahey Family FoundationFeist Family FoundationFrank & Margaret McGee Charitable FundBay Boy Specialty SandwichesBeer KitchenBlue MooseBlue Sushi Sake GrillBLVD TavernChar BarCliff's TaphouseElvira’s Original CakesGarozzo's Golden BrownHigh Hopes Ice CreamJ. RiegerMinsky's Pierpont'sProvidence PizzaRed Door GrillScratch KCStreetcar GrilleSugar Skull GrillTaco NacoThird Street Social George H. Nettleton FoundationGeorgine M. Graham TrustH.E. Anderson Family Foundation Health Forward FoundationJohn J. Sullivan FoundationJonathan B. Bredin FoundationMack Tilton Charity FundMcCullough Family FoundationMcGee Family FoundationMenorah Heritage FoundationMichael & Marlys Haverty FamilyFoundation Midway Auto PartsMidwest FordMid-West Terminal WarehouseCompanyMidwest Trust-FCIMorgan Family FoundationNavrat Family TrustO'Keefe Family FoundationOpes Charitable FoundationRoderick & JoAnne CyrFoundationSchwab CharitableSexton Family FoundationSwirnberg Charitable TrustFrank & Kathy BednarKim BelfieldJohn A, BlackChuck CacioppoSarah CaliniStacy CoensWilliam & Paula ColeJoe & Patty CaliBeth Gaughan & Devida ChaconGene & Kim ClaxtonWilliam & Paula ColeTim CongroveSteve & Erica CoppingerSarah & John CousineauSuzanne CrandallDavid DaleKeely DalyLucy DombrowskiKevin DunnBob & Amy DunnSteve & Anne DunnAlice Ellison Ray EvansJoe & Sue FaheyErika Feingold-VelasquezSemra FetahovicRobert & Traci FickenAmber FickenCraig FischerAnn & Allen GassmanLarry & Jean GatesJerry & Maureen GaughanMichael GaughanNikki & Patrick GaughanBrock & Anita GuernseyDoris GurneyWalter & Judi GuthAmy & Shane HamCathy & Joe HerndonFrank & Mary HicksJoe & Linda HuberLisa JimenezLindsay JarquioMary Jane & Mike JudyHolly & Kenton KaufmanMike & Robbie KernJim & Tonja KernellPatty & Don KincaidRobert KuhnleinTerry & Katie MaherEric & Mary Jo MartincichJoe & Lauren McGroderLori & Mike McGroderSusan & Steve MillerLeAnn Kridelbaugh & Dr. Leslie MooreBrian & Karen MooreJeremy & Kate MorrisGary & Nancy MorrisonPatrick MuldoonJoe & Pam NeenanJohn & Lisa NeyensTorre & Lisa NigroCathy & Lorie NigroCharles NigroChris & Wendy NigroGary Ashley & Karen NylanderWilliam & Cheryl PadekChris & Ellen PantaeniusRalph ParkKris & Steve PattonGregory & Jennifer PayneDick & Maureen PedrottiMarc & Angie PedrottiGerald & Kim RappoldDaniel & Gail ReardonTerry & Susie ReardonLucinda Rice-PetrieSuman ReddyMonty & Angie RogersLori RossNate RubyMark & Carol SabecJessie & Jordan SchieleKimberly SchlichterLori SchultzAnne Kim & Burton SextonMary Ann ShannonTim McQuaid & Mary ShelledyJohn & Marny ShermanChristine ShivelyMichael & Jennifer ShortRoyce & Mel SmithMark & Karen SneedTom & Victoria SorrentinoJessica SpottswoodJason & Aimee StudnaLeonard & Julie ToccoBob & Kim Van MarenJerry & Megan VivianoBill & Moira VogtTom & Teresa WalshSpencer & Laura Beth WalshHoda Tavalali & Craig WardMyles WassenbergGreg & Danielle WilcoxAmber & Eric WilliamsBrian WilliamsGreg Shondell & Sis Woods*Individual donors listed gave $1,000or moreDON BOSCO BOARD MEMBERSBrian Moore, ChairWalter H. Guth, Ph.D., SecretaryGreg Payne, TreasurerSarah CousineauTodd KenneyLeAnn Kridelbaugh, M.D.Lori McGroderGary MorrisonJohn M. NeyensChris NigroBill PadekKris PattonShane PenderJessie SchieleThomas SorrentinoGET INVOLVEDwww.donbosco.org@thedonboscocentersThe Don Bosco Centers580 Campbell StreetKansas City, MO 64106development@donbosco.org(816) 691-2807Scan for more info!Rey & Scarlet BarbosaNeil & Tara BarnettFrank & Joan Bartkoski

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Facebook“Do not put off until tomorrow, the good you can do today.”-Saint John BoscoSTAY CONNECTED WITH US:Your generous impact and commitment to supporting the mission ischerished. The Don Bosco Centers are providing nutrition, education, anda sense of belonging because of your help.2025 Upcoming EventsMouse Races: February 7Bosco Block Party: May 2Knuckleheads Dance Party: June TBDSavor the Flavors: September TBD