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 2023, ODBI COACHED MORE THAN 1,800 AT-RISK HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS, WHO WERE HOMELESS, IN FOSTER CARE OR EXPERIENCING HIGH POVERTY, DELIVERING 115 12-SESSION COACHING PROGRAMS LED BY EXECUTIVE-LEVEL LIFE COACHES: 89 PROGRAMS DELIVERED TO 1,338 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS; 26 COACHING FOR COLLEGE COMPLETION (CCC) PROGRAMS DELIVERED TO 465 POSTSECONDARY STUDENTS.IN 2023, FOLLOWING COVID, ODBI SUCCESSFULLY RETURNED TO OUR TRADITIONAL COLLEGE CAMPUS PROGRAM DELIVERY FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR FOSTER CARE IN TWO SCHOOL DISTRICTS. FOR STUDENTS IN FOSTER CARE UNABLE TO ATTEND SESSIONS IN-PERSON, ODBI DELIVERED COACHING VIRTUALLY. 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 DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES (DHS) AND GEORGIA'S 5TH LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT'S HOMELESS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, ODBI CONTINUED ITS COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PLACE OF FORSYTH TO SERVE STUDENTS IN NEED. ODBI CONDUCTED A SECOND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ODBI COACHING CERTIFICATION WITH EDUCATORS IN CLAYTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS (CCPS). CCPS CERTIFIED COACHES SUCCESSFULLY DELIVERED PROGRAMMING TO STUDENTS IN NEED UNDERSCORING THE IMPACT AND POSITIVE OUTCOMES OF THE COACHING MODEL AND CURRICULUM. GEORGIA ENACTED THE FOSTERING SUCCESS ACT TAX CREDIT IN 2023, AND ODBI BECAME A QUALIFIED FOSTER CHILD ORGANIZATION, ALLOWING DONORS TO CLAIM A DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLAR TAX CREDIT FOR PRE-APPROVED DONATIONS MADE TO ODBI. ODBI WAS AGAIN INVITED TO PRESENT AT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH CONFERENCE IN NEW ORLEANS AND THE GEORGIA CONFERENCE ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN AUGUSTA, GA. ODBI CONTINUED TO BROADEN CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION SPONSORSHIP AND AWARENESS IN SUPPORT OF OUR PROGRAMMING SERVICES. ODBI PARTNERED WITH TWO NEW RESOURCES - NORTH RIVER CHURCH AND AMERIGROUP. 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 2023: GEORGIA YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES INITIATIVE (GYOI) DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES CELEBRATION OF EXCELLENCE LEARNING EMPLOYMENT AND ACADEMIC POSSIBILITIES (LEAP) TOGETHER GEORGIA NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF HOMELESS CHILDREN & YOUTH ODBI HAS ITS FINANCIALS INDEPENDENTLY AUDITED EACH YEAR. IN 2023, ODBI EXCEEDED ITS GOAL OF 85% IN THAT 86% OF ITS REVENUE FROM CONTRIBUTIONS WENT DIRECTLY TO STUDENT/PROGRAM SERVICES.