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lotus house letters 06.08 news Second Birthday Celebration. On March 30th, friends and family of the Lotus House Women’s Shelter gathered for a heartwarming celebration of the second birthday of the shelter, the grand opening of its long awaited new resource center, and most importantly, over 200 women served! Dressed in pink to match the color of the new resource center, the Lotus House family welcomed party-goers, assisted in giving tours, and applauded the successes of those who had completed the program in the prior year. Thanks to our celebrated, 16-year old, artisanal baker, Shelby Hinds, everyone enjoyed our amazing birthday cake, featuring the colorful wall mural that greets newcomers to the Lotus House. Guests and visitors alike mingled throughout the afternoon and shared the relaxed shade of the Lotus House gardens listening to the soft sounds of harp music. For all, it was a time to be joyous and grateful at how far we have come. A Bit of History. Some of you have shared this wonderous journey with us from the very beginning. Lotus House opened its doors in March 2006 to provide shelter and support and serve as a resource center for women who are homeless, whether due to domestic violence, untreated medical or mental health issues, disabilities, loss of employment or other economic reasons. Just a year later, we opened guests enjoying a meal our “maternity wing” to serve homeless women who are pregnant and their infants. Now on our second birthday, we have received the best birthday present we could have hoped for - a long awaited community resource center that will enable us to not only expand our programming and financial issues facing women who are desperately seeking a better way of life for themselves and their children. Who We Serve. Over half of the women we serve were chronically homeless before coming to Lotus House; over 55% report suffering domestic abuse, child abuse or violent crimes; nearly 70% suffer from mental health issues, medical issues or both, and 35% have histories of substance abuse. Approximately 10% of the women we serve are in their 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, and 6% are under 21, in some cases aging out of foster care. Often, Lotus House is the shelter of “last resort” for our guests, having used up their time at temporary shelters, safe houses and rehab centers, and many come to us lotus house gardens and new resource center from the streets. In the face of so and services at the shelter but reach out to women many challenges, we are proud to say that and children in need in our neighborhood as over 65% of the women at Lotus House now well. New programs at the Lotus House include have successful outcomes, including securing basic cooking and nutrition, healthy lifestyles, placement in permanent supportive and and job training for the restaurant industry, and outreach initiatives to improve access to health care for women in the Overtown community are in the planning stages. Over 200 Served And Counting! Lotus House has served over 200 women since its establishment. We have been proud mothers to over fifteen newborns and another eight infants since opening the doors of our maternity wing, with more on the way! Our combination of free transitional housing facilities and wrap-around support services focused on the gender specific needs of homeless women, including women who are pregnant and their infants, are unique in Miami-Dade County. We provide much needed support and access to a wide range of resources and benefits to address the many mental health, medical, legal, educational, employment, housing food handlers certification graduate lunch independent housing, assisted living facilities, and sometimes reconciliation and reunification with family. Though Lotus House seeks to provide essential resources and support, each woman’s path and success is her own and the Lotus House is about empowering these special women to become whole again. Your support makes their dreams of hope, success and fulfillment come true. You are truly making a difference in the lives of women and children in need with your donations and we thank you! programming highlights Our Programming is Designed to Empower Women to Succeed! With multi-faceted, comprehensive and coordinated programming, Lotus House seeks to support, connect, uplift, and empower women to succeed. Each woman accepted into the Lotus House has an individual action plan for improving her quality of life on every level, achieving greater self-sufficiency, and transitioning to alternate permanent housing. She shares in the responsibilities for the daily operation and up-keep of the Lotus House in a community environment, with daily chores including meal preparation, laundry, cleaning, and grounds maintenance as part of basic life skills building. In addition to shelter, food and clothing, Lotus House provides access to a wide range of support services and resources such as medical and mental health treatment, educational workshops, tutoring, employment assistance, social services advocacy, and legal referrals, as a well as a host of enrichment activities such as creative writing, dance, music, art classes, and so much more. Pre-natal care, birthing and parenting classes and early infant development are arranged for pregnant women and their infants through free community resources. Lotus House counselors and resource coordinators meet with each woman weekly for life coaching, individual and group counseling, social services support, and referrals to a wide range of resources to assist her in fulfilling her action plan. Though Lotus House seeks to provide the resources and support essential to achieving individual action plans, each woman’s success is her own and the Lotus House is about empowering these special women to become truly who they were meant to be. first graduates of the food handlers certification course employment placement specialist, our office serves as a real-world classroom, providing guests with access to computers, basic office equipment (such as copiers, fax machines, postage, etc.), office and paper supplies everything needed to get and keep their new jobs! Thanks to recent grants from the Dade Community Foundation and Junior League of Miami, we are able to provide access to much needed interim and reduced cost day care for our new mothers re-entering the work world. We also provide tokens to and from job interviews and work, as well as help with the first pair of work shoes or uniform for a new job. This very important programming is critical to the success of each and every woman at the Lotus House. Computer Classes and Job Training and Placement Lotus House provides individual and group instruction in computer basics, as well as individual assistance with resume preparation, interview skills, dressing for success with our donated clothing, job searches and placement. Managed by Maria James, our Basic Cooking Skills and Food Prep Job Training Program Thanks to this year’s grant from the Miami Women’s Fund, Lotus House has two new offerings. All guests are invited to participate in our Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyles Classes combining information on low cost, low fat, nutritional cooking with a weekly exercise program, offered by volunteer nutritionist and personal trainer Anette Weber with the assistance of our famous (and only 16 years old) artisonal baker Shelby Hinds and her mom, art class projects daily programming board Katherine Hinds. For those seeking to enter the food industry, Lotus House offers an intensive week long basic food prep, kitchen safety, and food handling course taught by guest chef Pamela Manresa, complete with state certification for successful graduates. Calling all restaurants and caterers - join us in providing job opportunities for our dedicated graduates! Contact Maria James at 305.438.0556 or [email protected]. Just For Love and Fun Lotus House provides a host of enrichment activities to heal, educate, connect, uplift and just plain have fun! Khrys Kelly, our program director, coordinates our talented volunteer instructors and staff to ensure we have something for everyone. Most days begin with an inspirational meditation for those gathering in the community room followed by anything from art classes to beadworking, yoga to hiphop dance, body talk, celebrating sobriety groups, creative writing and poetry, the occassional musical concert, gardening, frequent birthday celebrations, movie nights, game nights (and the competition is usually spirited with Khrys’ two daughters in the game), beach trips and barbeques, Sunday teas, and the list goes on! Many thanks to: Florida International University, Peggy Nolan and Isabel Moros Rigau for teaching us through art to touch our creative source and rejoice in our interconnectedness; Pam Freer for beadworking and our crystal connections; Christelle Chopard for reminding us life is a dance; Pam Jones for yoga to unify mind, body and soul; Belkis Galainena for listening to our bodies talk; and Brian Peterson and the many FIU tutors and other volunteers who so generously give their time and talents each day so that others may heal and grow! about us Formed in 2004, the Sundari Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit, non-denominational, public charity organized for charitable and educational purposes, including specifically providing relief to homeless, poor, distressed and disadvantaged women and children. Sundari Foundation founded and operates the Lotus House Women’s Shelter, a free, non-denominational, holistic residential facility and resource center providing shelter, sanctuary and comprehensive support services for homeless women and children. Lotus House is situated in the heart of the historic African American district of Overtown in Miami, Florida, an area suffering from extreme poverty and urban blight in one of the poorest large cities in the United States. Lotus House provides free housing for up to a year, three meals a day, clothing, and comprehensive support services, such as individual and group counseling, computer classes, job placement, access to medical and mental health services and a wide range of community resources, along with educational workshops and a host of enrichment activities such as art, creative writing, field trips, and much more. The shelter also includes a special wing for women who are homeless and pregnant and their infants, arranging pre-natal care, birthing and parenting the lotus house main building classes and early infant medical care and screening, to ensure these fragile families can look forward to a better way of life. Lotus House is not a typical shelter but a place where the minds, bodies and spirits of women and children most in need are afforded an opportunity to learn and grow on every level. For more information on the Sundari Foundation and Lotus House Women’s Shelter, please see the Foundation’s brochure and website at www.lotushouseshelter.org. of the donor and/or his or her loved ones. Lotus Endowment Fund In December 2007, the Lotus Endowment For donations of $1, $3, $5 Millon or more, Fund, Inc. was formed to the Endowment Fund will name the community secure the financial stability center, maternity wing, and main house, and long term viability of respectively, at the shelter in honor of the the Sundari Foundation, so donor and/or his or her loved ones. There are also naming opportunities that the Lotus House Women’s associated with the many Shelter will serve as a resource gardens, lotus pond, and for women and children in need sitting areas at the shelter to for generations to come. A honor our donors to this very benefactor of the Fund gifted the important fund. Let us help land and buildings comprising you select an appropriate the original Lotus House facilities possible naming opportunity in our memorial or legacy that to the endowment fund, which tranquil gardens achieves your goals, through has in turn leased them to the Foundation under a fifty year lease, for a dollar structured gifts and/or estate planning, and a year, which renews in perpetuity so long as provides appropriate recognition for your the property is used as a shelter for homeless generosity. women and children. This was an important first step toward achieving our goal of ensuring the Art portfolio By and About Women long term financial stability of the Foundation to Benefit the Endowment Fund and Lotus House. The Lotus Endowment The Lotus Endowment Fund will offer an Fund is organized and operated exclusively exclusive, limited edition of 100, signed, as a supporting foundation for the Sundari Foundation and its initiatives, including the Lotus House Women’s Shelter. The Endowment Fund is also a 501c3 non-profit corporation affording donors the same tax benefits for their donations as donors to the Sundari Foundation receive. The immediate goal of the Endowment Fund is to raise a minimum of $5 Million over five years, with a longer term goal of building a larger fund sufficient to ensure that the operating and capital needs of the Foundation are adequately provided for in perpetuity. At this time, the minimum donation which the Endowment Fund is accepting is $10,000. For donations of $50,000, the Endowment Fund will install a bench in the garden of the Lotus House in honor of the donor and/ or his or her loved ones. For donations of $100,000, the Endowment Fund will install a plaque in a room of the Lotus House, in honor portfolios of photographic prints, entitled By and About Women, featuring the work of 10 leading contemporary women artists, on the subject of women. In addition to the artwork of our featured artists, the portfolios will also selected writings and poetry of some of the women who have called the Lotus House their home. Each portfolio will be “housed” in a beautifully designed box of jet-black fabric, adorned with an exquisite silver lotus flower, the universal symbol of enlightened compassion. The portfolio will be priced to increase as editions sell, but will be offered for a limited time only for the price of $10,000, with all proceeds benefiting the endowment fund. The portfolios will be offered through a series of private VIP receptions and exhibitions around the country at a select group of participating galleries, private art exhibition spaces, and our lead underwriter, Sotheby’s. This special project is intended to both raise awareness of the Lotus House, as a prototype women’s resource center and shelter addressing the special needs of homeless women and infants with a unique mind, body and spirit paradigm, and build the endowment fund needed to ensure the financial viability of the shelter as a resource for generations of women and infants to come. For more information, please contact: Constance Collins Margulies, President Lotus Endowment Fund, Inc, 445 Grand Bay Drive, PH1B Key Biscayne, FL 33149 (305) 613-1573 or [email protected]. many thanks to our funding sources and supporters Foundations and grants for 2007-8: Bank Atlantic Foundation 2007 ($2,500) Braman Family Foundation 2008 ($5000) City of Miami - Public Services and Emergency Shelter Grants Dade Community Foundation 2008 ($10,000) Health Foundation of South Florida 2008-9 ($97,000) David and Francie Horvitz Family Foundation, Inc. 2007 ($5000) Junior League of Miami Project Lift 2007-8 and 2008-9 ($10,000) Ethel and George Kennedy Family Foundation 2007-8 ($50,000) Lannan Foundation 2007-8 ($15,000) Dr. John T. MacDonald Foundation 2006-7 ($50,000) and 2007-8 ($55,000) Margulies Family Foundation 2006-7 (Over $1 Million) Miami Dade County Homeless Trust Miami Dade Transit Oprah’s Angels Network 2008-9 ($25,000) P.L. Dodge Foundation 2007-8 ($15,000) Sol Taplin Charitable Foundation 2005-06 ($25,000) and 2007-08 ($25,000) Women’s Fund of Miami-Dade County, Inc., 2006 ($15,000), 2007 ($10,000) and 2008 ($18,000) Individual and corporate donors in 2007-8: $25,000 and up Christie’s Jay and Elizabeth Lotspeich Constance Collins Margulies Martin Margulies $10,000 and up AXA Art Insurance Corporation Jorge and Yvette Arevalo Lin Arison (AFO, LLC.) Donald and B. Carlin Francie Horvitz Podhurst Orseck, P.A. Axel Stein (Sotheby’s) Christine and Marty Taplin Rosie Gordon Wallace and Friends Faith Xenos $5,000 to $9,999 Total Bank and Adrienne Arsht Jerry and Brenda Bengis Elaine Berkowitz Ramona Boucher Gary and Niety Gerson Evelyn and Bruce Greer and Greer Family Fund Julie Grimes and Camillus House Dorothy Lichenstein David and Renee Lieberman and Friends John Lang Looby Marvin and Elayne Mordes and Friends Chris and Julie Petricone Janelle Reiring Larry and Pat Stewart Kathryn and David Villano Diane Walder, M.D. Angela W. Whitman Louis Wolfson III $1,000 to $4,999 Dar and Lalita Airan (Airan Associates) Gayle Bainbridge Robertson Bennett Richard and Shelly Bermont Braman Family Foundation Sydney Cohen Vincent Damian Rosa and Carlos De la Cruz Barry Fellman (Center for Visual Communication) Aaron Fleishman Orlando Gelpi and Key Bank Constantine Grimaldis Richard and Arlene Haft Janet Harrison Fred Hochberg and Tom Healy (Hey Day Foundation) William Allen and Janis Horn Manuel Gonzalez and Jose Iraola Ron Kriss and Akerman Senterfitt Dianne and Mark LaRoe Catherine Lee Ira and Carol Licht Margaux’s Miracle Foundation Medicis Global Services Corporation Shelly Levan Margolis Maria Millares Stephen and Sandra Muss Yvette Perez (Y.P., Inc.) Francien Ruwitch Judy Orin Barbara Schiff (Schiff Family Philanthropic Fund) Ronald and Hermina Seiden Dahlia Morgan and Leslie Schreiber Gordon Sokoloff Amayra Robles and Deborah Shure St. Stephens Episcopal Parish Rosa Sugranes John Sumberg and Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP Diane Walder, MD $250 to $900 Patricia and Frank Carter The Arts Connection James C. Cosmides Berta C. Gallagher Boca Museum Collectors Forum High Ridge Country Club Richard Franklin Friedman and Friedman Law offices Brad and Susana Houser Jay and Joan Jacobson Jacob and Charlotte Lehrman Susan Lerner and Junior League of Miami Seaboard Marine, Inc. Gordon Miller Sybil Pulver Deborah and Dennis Scholl Wilma Burkin- Siegel In-kind donors for the new Lotus House resource and community center: All Interior Supply, Inc. ASI Modulex Bill Cody Plumbing Designing Restaurants Burton Hersh and HVC Architects Shelby Hinds Cake Designs Leon Johnson Jorda Enterprises, Inc Martin Z. Margulies George McElhaney and Family Kevin Schwarte Southern Coast Enterprises Volunteers for special recognition in 2007-2008: Shelby Hinds Ilona Agency Kimberely Marreno Dr. Gordon Miller Sonic Art House John Sumberg and Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price and Axelrod LLP Art Donors for our 2007 Art Auction: Artina Abraham Miroslav Tichy and Arndt & Partners Pipilotti Rist and Luhring Augustine David Rosenbloom and Betty Bellman MD, Jacob Karpio Galeria Sabine Hornig and Tanya Bonakdar Gallery Charles Long and Tonya Bonakdar Gallery Neil Winokur and Janet Borden, Inc. George Sanchez-Calderon Clara Poupel and Cancio Contemporary Art Tom Zimberhoff and Cancio Contemporary Clamp Art Alison Elizabeth Taylor and James Cohan Gallery Andres Serrano and Paula Cooper Gallery Su-en Wong and Danese Gallery Dinaburg Arts Natasha Duwin Howard Greenburg Gallery C. Grimaldis Gallery Joao Louro and Gallery Christina Guerra Contemporary Art Liselot van der Heijden and LMAK Projects Galerie Ernest Hilger Lalla Essaydi and Edwynn Houk Gallery Ron Haviv and Hasted Hunt Anthony McCall and Sean Kelly Gallery Marla Hamburg Kennedy Gotz Diergarten and Kicken Angelika Rinnhofer and Paul Kopeikin Gallery Cathy Leff Alfredo Jarr and Galerie Lelong Rob Fisher and Cohan and Leslie Estate of Roy Lichtenstein Sang-Ah Choi and Gering and Lopez Galley Jules Lusson Davide Cantoni and Daneyal Mahmood Gallery Justine Cooper and Daneyal Mahmood Gallery Hector Maldonado Joel and Sheri Mallin Robert Mann Gallery Constance Collins Margulies Martin Z. Margulies Will Ryman and Marlborough Gallery Do-Ho Suh and Lehmann Maupin Gallery Megan McLarney Luisa Maria Mesa Lawrence Miller Gallery Venessa Monokian Hugo Moro Justine Kurland and Mitchell-Innes and Nash Ivan Navarro Abner Nolan Peggy Levinson Nolan Suzanne Opton Patrick Painter Inc. Joel Perlman Micheal Cloud and Max Protetch Gallery Tim Hyde and Max Protetch Gallery James Rosenquist Ralph Senzamici Jackie Nickerson and Jack Shainman Gallery Malick Sidibe and Jack Shainman Gallery The Estate of Hannelore Baron and Manny Silverman Gallery Allison Smith Courtney Smith Matthew Weinstein and Sonnabend Gallery Donna Steffens Bernice Steinbaum Noah Sheldon and D’ Amelio Terras Sara VanDerBeek and D’ Amelio Terras Spencer Tunick and I-20 Gallery Giselle de Vera Alec Soth and Weinstein Gallery Zak Gallery, Berlin James Welling and David Zwirner Neil Winokur and Janet Borden, Inc. Su-en Wong and Danese Gallery Tom Zimberhoff and Cancio Contemporary And again, many thanks to our donors, large and small and too numerous to list, who provided much needed support for the work of the Foundation thru their purchase of tickets and art work at our 2007 annual art auction and dinner, the proceeds of which make everything we do at the Lotus House Women’s Shelter possible. become a sponsor! reserve your tables early! the sundari foundation, inc. & martin z. margulies family foundation host the fourth annual contemporary art auction and dinner on 11.08.08 limited sponsorship opportunities available at the following levels: presenting $50,000, benefactor $25,000 and patron $10,000. tickets are offered at the following levels: supporter $250, silver $500 and gold $1,000. silver and gold level purchasers are invited to a private champagne preview at 6:30pm the evening of the event. Call 305.365.2478 for more information or email [email protected] to make reservations and learn about our Sponsorship Opportunities! events calendar For more information call Ciara Jones at 305.365.2478 or email [email protected] Monthly Lotus House hosts Breakfast in the Garden, followed by a Tour of the shelter, twice monthly. This is a wonderful and very personal way to learn more about the shelter, see our programming and daily activities firsthand, and meet some of our guests. Join us and invite a friend. 06.13.08 Mid-Summer’s Eve - Annual Gathering of Honorary Board and Friends at the home of Martin and Constance Margulies for an update on the activities of the Lotus House and other initiatives of the Foundation. Learn more about how you can help. If you are interested in joining the Honorary Board, call Ciara Jones at 305.365.2478 or email [email protected]. 07.04.08 Lotus House celebrates the 4th of July with a Barbeque and Ice Cream Social, noon to 3pm. Everyone is welcome! donate You can make a difference! Special Items Needed Vehicle (New or Gently Used) Warehouse/Storage Space Playground Equipment Baby Items Baby bottles Pacifiers Baby blankets and clothing Baby socks and shoes Diapers (sizes 1-5) Baby wipes Baby shampoo, lotion, powder, diaper rash cream Nursing pads Breast pumps Baby food (stages 1-3) Baby formula (milk and soy based) Crib sets Baby furniture Women’s Items Feminine products Toiletries Underwear and bras (all sizes) Socks Women’s clothing all sizes Shoes (dress and casual) Interview clothes (suit) Bed sets (sheet and comforter) Household items Dishes Silverware Cups Laundry detergent Cleaning supplies Towels Appliances Mop, broom and dust pan First aid kits Your support is essential to our work to empower women most in need to become whole again and truly who they were meant to be. On behalf of the homeless women and infants we shelter, thank you for your compassion and commitment to the Lotus House and the mission of the Foundation. We accept both monetary and in-kind donations. Dropoffs at the shelter can be made any time between 8am and 7pm, seven days a week. Please ask for Rosanna, Irma or Maria and remember to request a receipt. Donations to The Sundari Foundation, Inc. are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Federal Tax ID of the Foundation is 810652266. To make a monetary donation, please go to our website lotushouseshelter.org or make checks payable to: The Sundari Foundation, Inc. and send to :The Sundari Foundation, Inc. at the Lotus House 445 Grand Bay Drive, PH1B, Key Biscayne, FL 33149, Attn: Constance Collins Margulies. Honorary Board Directors 2007-2008 Yvette & Jorge Arevalo Brenda Bengis, Esq., & Jerry Bengis Elaine Berkowitz Ramona Boucher Belkis Galainena Niety & Gary Gerson Terri & Michael Josephs, Esq. Sharron Lannan Korybut Catherine Lee Renee & David Lieberman Beth P. Lotspeich Martin Z. Margulies Ilona Oppenheim Alina Perez Stable Yvette Perez Aaron Podhurst, Esq. John Sumberg, Esq. Christine J. Taplin Faith Xenos Operational Board Directors/ Officers 2008 Constance Collins, President Natasha Duwin Burton Hersh, Vice President Claudia Kitchens Marti Mang, Treasurer Isabel Moros-Rigau Peggy Nolan Brian Peterson Maggie Rossi Kathryn Villano Sydney Cohen, Secretary 217 NW 15th Street, Miami, Florida 33136