Inclusion. Tough Times During the Pandemic Helped OBI Reevaluate and Expand their Reach. - 2022 CFAAC Annual Report - Other - Page 37
Inclusion. Tough Times During the Pandemic Helped OBI Reevaluate and Expand their Reach.
INCLUSION. TOUGH TIMES DURING THE PANDEMIC HELPED
OBI REEVALUATE AND EXPAND THEIR REACH.
When Marsha Legg became Chief Executive Officer of
Opportunity Builders, Inc. (OBI), it was in the middle of
the pandemic.
Tasked with not only keeping the doors open at the
nonprofit that is dedicated to engaging individuals with
disabilities in new opportunities, she also needed to make
sure programming for OBI’s clients remained on track so
they could get back to work when the time came.
“It was a tough time,” said Marsha. “We had to cross train
people and transform practically every aspect of our
operations. And, after Covid, we had to rely heavily on
grants and generous donations to reopen the doors of our
41,000 square foot building.”
OBI survived and even thrived after the pandemic. In
fact, in 2021, the organization decided to revise their
mission to expand their reach in the community, “to
support youth and adults with disabilities to experience
full inclusion in their communities as they learn, work,
and pursue their paths to personal success.”
Marsha explained, “We updated our mission as we
recovered from Covid to serve youth—specifically high
school students —as well as adults. We also expanded it
to include all disabilities, not only developmental and
intellectual, but also behavioral health, mental health,
and physical disabilities.”
Being new to the organization and to Anne Arundel
County, Marsha relied on the Community Foundation’s
Community Needs Assessment: Poverty Amongst Plenty, VII,
to inform her and the organization’s leaders about the
needs in the community.
“One of the most useful things for us is the Community
Needs Assessment report,” said Marsha. “It’s a powerful
document. The data has helped us to understand what
people need in different neighborhoods. I can’t tell you
how nice it is to have something consolidated in that
format.”
HOWEVER, CFAAC’S RELATIONSHIP WITH OBI GOES
BEYOND THE USEFULNESS OF THE DATA-PACKED
COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT REPORT.
The nonprofit had opened an Agency Endowment Fund
with the Community Foundation in 2019 to ensure the
organization’s sustainability and broaden OBI’s awareness
in the community.
OBI Board President Bill Kuethe recalled, “Many of us on
OBI’s board were aware of the Community Foundation
since its inception. So, when Vicki Callahan [OBI’s CEO at
the time] approached us about opening an endowment
fund at the Community Foundation, we liked the idea and
thought that it was an opportunity for more exposure in
the community.
“And of course, the Community Foundation is such
a well-respected organization, we like having the
partnership,” he added. “We knew the fund would be
well-managed by a professional organization with a great
reputation in the community. We thought it would deliver
additional exposure for us as well as provide us assistance
in managing an endowment fund.”
Photo courtesy of OBI
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