To enrich our community by enriching the lives of those who live here one at a time.
Doing it right
We’ve all heard the clichés … “practice what you preach” “walk the talk” “do what you say”. And we all know that it doesn’t matter what you call it or how you phrase it – what really matters is that once you’ve set your goals and made your plans, you actually follow-through and accomplish what you set out to do. I am delighted to report that Eastway solidly delivered on our promise in 2006.
And when we do things right at Eastway, all of our stakeholders benefit.
Eastway provided mental health, substance abuse, housing, employment and educational services to over 3,300 people in 2006. The individual instances of support – and hope – came to life in many different ways. Whether it’s a high school sophomore learning coping and social skills at Webster Street Academy; a group therapy session focused on healthy lifestyles; or teaching someone how to find a job in the community and open a checking account; these individual success stories also positively affect the spouses, children, families, friends and neighbors of the people we serve.
While we have some of the most dedicated employees at Eastway that I have ever worked with, we can’t do everything ourselves. Consequently, we continue to strengthen and expand our community ties. Our volunteer board of directors never ceases to amaze me with the high level of interest, caring and energy they demonstrate for providing quality services and hope to people in our community. In addition, our network and level of participation continues to grow for resources coming from grants, capital and endowment contributions.
The numbers on the following pages tell the story. It is a tale of program effectiveness and operating rigor – a not-for-profit agency that has learned to run itself as a successful business. Of particular highlight this year, is the repayment of $1.2 million of debt.
The best news of all is that Eastway’s positive performance in 2006 is not an anomaly. We intend to keep delivering on our promise – “to advance behavioral healthcare, housing and employment effectiveness through the creation of innovative programs and services that positively impact the lives of those we serve…everyday” – for as long as it’s needed.
JOHN F. STRAHM
President and Chief Executive Officer