The Orange Duffel Bag Initiative Inc

ODBI SERVES ACADEMICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY AT-RISK HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS, PROVIDING PARTICIPANTS EVIDENCE AND TRAUMA-INFORMED PROGRAMS AND PROVEN METHODOLOGY OF CERTIFIED EXECUTIVE-LEVEL COACHING TO EMPOWER EACH INDIVIDUAL TOWARD SELF-ADVOCACY, SELF-RELIANCE, IMPROVED EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES. ODBI'S SERVICES ARE A HUMAN INVESTMENT IN THE LIVES OF THESE STUDENTS, OFFERING THEM A PATHWAY OUT OF POVERTY THROUGH SELF-EXPLORATION, IMPROVED CRITICAL THINKING, ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY AND A FOCUS ON EDUCATION RETENTION AND COMPLETION. ODBI'S HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE COACHING PROGRAMS ARE DATA-INFORMED AND INDIVIDUALLY EVALUATED, WITH KEY STUDENT OUTCOMES ACHIEVED BEING: 1) IMPROVED CRITICAL THINKING 2) IMPROVED ATTENDANCE AND GPA 3) IMPROVED SELF-ESTEEM 4) REDUCED ANGER 5) IMPROVED RETENTION AND ACADEMIC PROGRESS 6) GRADUATION ACHIEVEMENT 7) ACCELERATED CAREER EXPLORATION AND POSTSECONDARY PLANNING.

FROM 2010 THROUGH 2021, ODBI SERVED 1,575 AT-RISK HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS, WHO WERE HOMELESS, IN FOSTER CARE OR EXPERIENCING HIGH POVERTY, DELIVERING 97 12-SESSION COACHING PROGRAMS LED BY EXECUTIVE-LEVEL LIFE COACHES: 73 PROGRAMS DELIVERED TO 1146 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS; 24 COACHING FOR COLLEGE COMPLETION (CCC) PROGRAMS DELIVERED TO 429 POSTSECONDARY STUDENTS.IN 2021, ODBI SUCCESSFULLY DELIVERED PROGRAMMING VIRTUALLY TO ACCOMMODATE AND CONTINUE SERVING AT-RISK HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH THE LINGERING EFFECTS OF COVID. ODBI CONTINUED ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NSORO EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION TO DELIVER THE ODBI COACHING FOR COLLEGE COMPLETION (CCC) PROGRAM TO NSORO COLLEGE STUDENTS IN FOSTER CARE ACROSS THE NATION. IN ADDITION TO RENEWED CONTRACTING WITH DHS AND SCHOOL DISTRICT HOMELESS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, ODBI CONTINUED ITS COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PLACE OF FORSYTH TO SERVE STUDENTS IN NEED. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CLAYTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND CLAYTON STATE UNIVERSITY, ODBI SUCCESSFULLY DELIVERED A PILOT COACHING CERTIFICATION PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TO SCALE AND SERVE MORE STUDENTS, RESULTING IN 10 NEWLY CERTIFIED COACHES. ODBI PRESENTED AT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH. ODBI CELEBRATED ITS 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH AN EVENT AT GEORGIA TECH CONFERENCE CENTER SPONSORED BY THE DR. H. ALLEN ECKER FAMILY, THE LISLE FAMILY, JE DUNN CONSTRUCTION, JP MORGAN, AND BNY MELLON.ODBI CONTINUED TO BROADEN CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION SPONSORSHIP AND AWARENESS IN SUPPORT OF OUR PROGRAMMING SERVICES. ODBI PARTNERED WITH TWO NEW RESOURCES - LULUMA FOUNDATION AND STARBUCKS. ODBI CONTINUED TO RECEIVE GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM JE DUNN CONSTRUCTION THROUGH FUNDRAISING EVENT SPONSORSHIPS AND SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS. THE NOBLIN FOUNDATION, THE PRIMERICA FOUNDATION, SKY RANCH FOUNDATION, LOCUM TENENS AS WELL AS THE ECKER FAMILY AND THE LISLE FAMILY CONTINUED THEIR SUPPORT. ODBI OFFICERS CONTINUED STRATEGIC MEMBERSHIP IN THE FOLLOWING IN 2021: GEORGIA YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES INITIATIVE (GYOI) DHS CELEBRATION OF EXCELLENCE LEARNING EMPLOYMENT AND ACADEMIC POSSIBILITIES (LEAP) TOGETHER GEORGIA ODBI HAS ITS FINANCIALS INDEPENDENTLY AUDITED EACH YEAR. IN 2021, ODBI EXCEEDED ITS GOAL OF 85% IN THAT 86% OF ITS REVENUE FROM CONTRIBUTIONS WENT DIRECTLY TO STUDENT/PROGRAM SERVICES.