New Operation Cooper Street, Inc
Community Learning & Recreation Center
Question 1: What is the Mission Statement of New Operation Cooper Street, Inc.?
MISSION STATEMENT: New Operation Cooper Street, Inc. is a community-based Center whose function is primarily threefold: (1) Educational support; (2) Cultural stimulation; and (3) Recreational challenge. Our mission is to assist in the development of our youth, in particular, with valuable and lasting assets to include pride, motivation, and the desire to succeed. We demonstrate our concern by the programs offered and the continued efforts to meet the needs of our youth and the community as a whole.
Question 2: How is New Operation Cooper Street, Inc. governed?
New Operation Cooper Street, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, is governed by an 18-member Board of Directors comprised of community leaders.
Question 3: What programs does New Operation Cooper Street, Inc. currently provide to the community?
The programs consist of:
Program Name
Goal(s) & Present Enrollment Status
Computer Class To teach basic computer skills to students.
Better-U-Girls Club To instill appropriate attitudes and habits leading to good grooming (cleanliness first); good health; good manners; and to develop social graces. This program also provides basic guidance counsel.
Boyz Club To instill appropriate attitudes and habits leading to good grooming (cleanliness first); good health; good manners; and to develop social graces to become young productive gentlemen. This program also provides basic guidance counsel.
Martial Arts The martial arts program, teach students a means of self-defense, discipline, structure, and to develop physical abilities.
Dance Students are encouraged to participate in one or more physical activity and dance (zumba) exercise is offered to students of all ages.
Recreation To provide a drug-free, alcohol-free, smoke-free place for Charlotte County youths to congregate and play. To provide alternate, appropriate activities to the “streets”.
Study Partners To oversee the completion of homework (mentor/protégée relationship); teach good study habits; and improve reading and math skills.
Teens-N-Action To assist teens in the transition from childhood to adulthood; instill life skills that will help teens become productive, acceptable citizens; to develop appropriate social skills; and motivate teens to reach for higher education levels to enable productive citizenship.
Tennis To teach the skills of the game; to teach good sportsmanship; and to develop physical abilities.
Drill Team To teach students the art of stepping and marching in formation; and to develop proper timing and dance routines.
Question 4: What is the objective of New Operation Cooper Street, Inc. and how does the community benefit from the programs offered?
The objective of New Operation Cooper Street, Inc. is to offer educational and recreational enrichment programs thereby enhancing the life skills of those in the community who utilize the services offered.
The community benefit as a whole because a potential threat of social problems is significantly reduced and the overall image of our city and the County as a whole is enhanced.
Question 5: Discuss the effect on the community if these programs were not provided.
New Operation Cooper Street, Inc. believe that its educational and recreational programs are instrumental in the improvement of basic school skills, promotion of good study habits, increasing school test scores, and that its overall programs prevent school drop-out, promote spiritual and family values, enhances social graces and interactive behavioral skills and reduces crime and drug dealing. We also teach the value of earning based on what you do; for example, we create incentives that encourage the kids to learn and achieve better grades. All of our services are primarily utilized by a very high-risk group.
Question 6: Provide statistics for the past 3 years that identify the number of Punta Gorda residents (who live within the City boundaries, not who use a Punta Gorda zip code) who have participated in your program or who directly benefit from your program.
Reside in P.G. 2006 2007 2008
Students 50% 45% 40%
Volunteers 95% 85% 95%
More and more organizations within Charlotte County have been supporting us in the way of referring their employees and/or members, to volunteer in the Study Partners Program; thus, the percentage of volunteers who reside in Punta Gorda is changing accordingly. The same holds true that more and more parents in the County are becoming more aware of our after-school programs and the grade improvements seen by our enrollees and are seeking enrollment of their kids, particularly in the Study Partners Program.
Question 7: Study Partners Program is your main program. Provide any information you feel is important to consider in evaluating the effect of this one-on-one
tutorial program.
New Operation Cooper Street, Inc. has received numerous compliments and support from various schools, volunteers and organizations within the community, County, Florida Department of Education, and the Department of Federal Department of Children & Families. We feel the excerpts below best describe how the community feels as to the benefit received by the residents of Punta Gorda and Charlotte County as a whole.
“Sallie Jones Elementary School is proud to endorse the efforts of New Operation Cooper Street, Inc., a lasting partner, and its Study Partners Program. We recognize the profound difference this program is making in the lives of poor and at risk youngsters. It provides the nurturing role models for these children by monitoring their homework and encouraging the development of reading and math skills. We applaud their efforts to work with our staff on remediation of specific skills.”
“I was very impressed by the close collaboration between New Operation Cooper Street, Inc. and Sallie Jones Elementary School. The ongoing connection between teachers and volunteers has been most helpful for our students.”
Board/Volunteer liaison
“One of the most rewarding experiences that we, as volunteers, can enjoy is the opportunity of participating in the Cooper Street Study Partners Program. The Program has achieved measurable success, as shown by the scholastic improvement attained by these children as reported by their respective school teachers. This extremely worthwhile Program has two basic ongoing needs that are critical to its continued progress. They are continued and generous funding by our elected leaders and increased participation and .dedication by unpaid citizen volunteers. This is a local governmentally provided program for which there is a demonstrable need. It is successful and a source of community pride.”
Question 8: Address the value of your Study Partners Program.
The Study Partners Program is an on-going, highly successful and rapidly expanding effort that exhibits immediate scientific results and promises ever increasing benefits to the community and schools serviced. We at New Operation Cooper Street are absolute believers in the fact that the only way to improve an individual’s quality of life is through education.
Question 1: What are the funding resources utilized by New Operation Cooper Street, Inc. and what percentage of your budget does these funds represent?
Funding for last fiscal year (2007-2008) came from: Charlotte County (26%); City of Punta Gorda (12%); United Way (6%); FDOE (50%) Other Sources (6%).
Question 2: How are your contributions allocated?
The majorities of the funds we receive are earmarked for particular programs or projects and are applied accordingly. The field trips, incentives for the kids, etc., are donated and this allows us to keep our operating cost down. We are truly blessed to have volunteers to assist with the tutoring/mentoring of our after-school programs thus also helping to keep our operating cost down. We do have twenty-one paid staff members, not enough to supervise the over one hundred and fifty kids we see on a daily basis yet somehow, as a team, we make it through the day.
Question 3: Are all of the contributions you receive used within our community?
The majority of the time, yes. Our services are provided to individuals in the community whose ages range from pre-K through senior citizens. Some of the instances when funds may be used for functions not located within the community may include taking students on a “College Tour” from Tallahassee to Tampa, trips to Mote Aquarium, Cayo Costa, MOSI, and Busch Gardens. These experiences were sponsored by local organizations, individual donations, and other in-kind contributions.
Educating our kids is a task we should never stop enhancing. Former President Bill Clinton sums it up well when he applauded Congress in fall 1998 for increasing funding for after-school programs by stating “This has the potential to have a bigger impact on more children’s lives, more families and more communities’ futures, than virtually anything else we’re doing around here because it empowers people.”
So, we encourage you to support New Operation Cooper Street, Inc.! Become a part of the community center that provides a viable and long-term solution for the youth of our community. Because after-school programs:
ü Keep children safe. Students in after-school programs are twice as likely to stay away from smoking, drinking and drugs, and three times less likely to become teen parents.
ü Improve academic performance. Program practitioners report that kids in after-school get better grades, show more enthusiasm for school and improve attendance.
ü Help them develop better social skills. Parents and teachers report that students in after-school programs often improve their behavior. These programs offer opportunities to develop positive relationships with other students and adults.
Together we can help the children of our community thrive by providing programs that teaches them, by example, the importance of student involvement, responsibility for homework, community service, care of the environment and working together to make their lives ¾ and the lives of others ¾ better.