The Giraffe Heroes Project’s
Annual Report for 2005

The Giraffe Heroes Project is a national nonprofit that honors people who stick their necks out for the common good, inspires others to do the same, and gives them tools to succeed.

    Since 1984 we’ve been finding people acting with courage and caring in their communities or farther afield, then telling the stories of these “Giraffe Heroes” in print, in schools on television and radio, and on the web. Others see or hear these stories and are moved to go into action themselves, on issues important to them.

2005—MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Voices of Hope

This unique program builds reading skills in middle and high schoolers while encouraging and guiding them in being active citizens in their communities. Launched in 2004, Voices of Hope programs by the end of 2005 were reaching almost 10,000 kids in programs in Atlanta, Aspen, Oakland, San Francisco, Boston, Washington State and the Roaring Fork Valley of rural Colorado. Voices of Hope programs are supported by grants from foundations and companies totalling over $165,000.

Three results stand out from initial testing done as part of the program:

a) There is a dramatic shift in student perceptions of “heroes.” Pre-use, students’ lists focused on athletes, music stars and parents. Post-use, there are many more community members on those lists, as well as historical figures such as Dr. King and Rosa Parks.

b) Asked to describe situations in which they might “stick their own necks out” to help some other person, or a cause they believed in—pre-use, students listed 93 persons or causes they would help. Post-use, that number climbed to 149.

c) Reminded that pollution, hunger, poverty and drug abuse were community problems—pre-use, 62% of students agreed or strongly agreed that they could make a difference on such problems. Post-use, that number increased to 90%. Click here for more .

Giraffe speeches and workshops

Giraffe speeches and workshops bring inspiration and street-smart strategies to communities, conferences, universities, companies, service organizations and government agencies. Giraffe presentations convey a message of purpose, courage and service, then show people how to put that message into action in their communities, at work, or further afield. As high points in 2005, Project President John Graham keynoted the National Conference of the Character Education Partnership, spoke to the Sierra Club National Conference and got rousing standing ovations from the cadets and midshipmen at the US Air Force and Naval Academies. Click here.

Overseas initiative

Executive Director Mary Ella Keblusek and her husband, Joel Bisina, working with the global peace-building group Global Citizens’ Journey, led a group of forty people to the conflicted Delta region of Nigeria in November. The group built a library in an underserved village, helped bring previously warring tribes together, and focused media attention on the poverty and injustices of the area.

 

 

A new book launched

The Giraffe Heroes Project finished its latest book: Stick Your Neck Out—a Street-Smart Guide to Creating Change in Your Community and Beyond, published in May by Berrett-Koehler publishers in San Francisco. Click here.

OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS as of December 31, 2005

Jeffrey G. Frank, Robert Gilman, Debora Valis, Sue Keblusek, Natalie Martin and Ann Medlock.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Click here to see the Project’s most recent IRS Form 990 on GuideStar.

PRIVACY POLICY
The Giraffe Project follows a privacy policy approved by the Better Business Bureau. It maintains contact information and giving histories of its members and funders at its home office at 197 Second Street 2nd floor, Langley WA 98260. Email address: <office@giraffe.org>. None of this information is ever shared outside the organization and it is protected by appropriate software and workplace security measures. The Giraffe Heroes Project will share information it has collected on a member/funder with that member/funder upon request and presentation of appropriate identification. Names are removed from the Project’s print or email mailing lists upon request.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Giraffe Heroes Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization registered in New York and Washington States. Contributions are deductible to the full extent of the law. For more information, contact the Giraffe Heroes Project, P.O. Box 759, Langley WA 98260 — <office@giraffe.org>.
   
   
    

All materials ©1991-2008 Giraffe Heroes Project