From Executive Director Lisa Guyon
I want to take a few moments as 2021 comes to a close to thank our participants, volunteers, supporters, and cheerleaders for making 2021 a successful year at WE CAN. It was certainly not an ordinary year in any sense of the word but we worked hard, stayed focused, took advantage of every opportunity, and faced the challenges head on. We are graced by the generosity and uniqueness of everyone who believes in our mission and the work that bonds us together. What we do here matters to the women we serve, their families, and the community where we live.
In 2021, we served more than 2,150 women through one-to-one consultations, workshops, our GROW Program, and support groups. We offered brand new workshop topics, such as Caregivers and Relationship Stress, Mind Over Money, and The Job Search A-Z. Of particular note was our Family Law Overview conducted in person and in Portuguese, furthering our ability to provide access to our services to even more women across Cape Cod. For the first time, we held workshops in the summertime, with positive results.
This year, we welcomed three new staff members in three newly created positions: Kimberly Reynolds as Participant Engagement Coordinator, Máiréad O'Callaghan as Program Coordinator of Workshops and Groups, and Sue Lonergan as Director of Donor Relations and Advancement. All have been wonderful additions to the team. In addition, twenty-five new volunteers joined our team across programs and operations.
2021 found us considering the same question that all businesses and organizations have to grapple with these days: how to balance safety with ongoing operations. Our response was to design a new multi-access program delivery model. This means we are offering programs in-person, virtually, or as hybrid options - for both participants and volunteers. This means that our programs are more accessible than ever. Our newly launched technology committee is helping us adopt new uses of technology to support this multi-access delivery model.
We've launched a brand new website this year, which is easier to navigate and supports remote program delivery, including online forms for participants. We've also revamped our marketing materials with a clean, bright design. A radio campaign with Cape Cod Broadcasting promoted WE CAN services to women in the 19-55 year old demographic. And WE CAN was featured in articles in Cape Cod Life, Cape Cod Times, Cape & Plymouth Business Magazine, Cape Cod Chronicle, Falmouth Enterprise and on WXTK, WMVY and Q99.
2021 was our 20th Anniversary year and, as part of the celebration, board members and supporters hosted "WE CAN at Home" events that engaged more than 70 people in person through small gatherings. We launched a special 20th Anniversary Fund initiative led by Fund Co-Chairs David & Gail Oppenheim and Sandy Wycoff & Jeff Lang that raised funds to support strategic initiatives and contributed more than $100,000 to our endowment fund to ensure our work endures into the future. We also held a 20th Anniversary Online Auction in March, with donations from more than 50 local businesses, individuals, and artists. Twenty-two bike riders rode more than 60 miles to raise in funds for WE CAN through The Gasp "Ride Your Way" event, with Andi Genser as team captain. This was the 11th year for Team WE CAN in The Gasp!
Our 20th Anniversary year was a busy year indeed! We are ready for 2022, launching into our third decade of work from a position of strength because of the commitment of the WE CAN community. Thank you!