January 2015
 Issue No. 46

 

 
As the sands of time trickle into a new year, the proverbial hourglass of our days seems to slow ever so briefly. This almost mystical lull affords us the unique opportunity to reflect on the past as well as envision the future. 

The more we consider where we at Second Chance have been and where we're hoping to advance, the faster our hearts beat.  We're humbly delighted about what has been accomplished, and humbly excited about the potential ahead! 

In fact, as we change out calendars we realize that the past and present dance in unison, because whatever we accomplish this upcoming year is decidedly built upon the foundation laid in previous years.  With your partnership, we were able to fortify our foundations in some significant ways this past year, giving us further confidence as the sands of time settle into 2015. 

For some insight into the strength of this foundation, consider the following summary of annual highlights.  In 2014, Second Chance:
  • Created more than 155,000 labor hours, many for previously unemployed persons
  • Hired 72 new employees, yielding a total engaged workforce of 114 people

  • Targeted vocational training for those with barriers to employment, including the 44% of employees overcoming a previous criminal conviction and over half below the poverty level

  • Provided 162 adults and 16 teens with vocational and life-skills training via OJT, mentoring and workshops
  • Expanded corporate and retail management teams to their most robust levels to date
  • Saved consumers some $3,200,000 through our retail operations, while achieving record retail revenues once again
  • Began a "Friday Freebies" program in which the community was provided nearly 1,000 windows, doors, shutters and furnishings free of charge
  • Provided customers at reduced cost for reuse or repurposing approximately 800 appliances; 1,100 tables; 2,100 chairs; 3,000 light fixtures; 9,500 cabinets; 56,000 sq ft of flooring; and 261,000 linear feet of lumber.
  • Deconstructed a record number of homes, barns and other buildings slated for demolition on the East Coast
  • Diverted over 11,000,000 pounds of waste from  landfills through the deconstruction of unwanted structures 
  • Retrieved more than 2,000 tons of furniture and household items that would have otherwise entered the waste stream
  • Improved upon our in-house electronics, unusable material, and ink recycling programs
  • Assimilated 58 large-scale appraised personal property donations valued over $5,000 each, with a total value nearing 2 million
  • Received a record number of furnishings and household items donations, with over 1450 property pick-ups and drop-offs
  • Incorporated into our warehouse and administrative operations nearly 5,000 volunteer hours from individuals, groups and organizations like those listed below  
  • Donated time and materials to over 20 fellow nonprofits, arts groups, and philanthropic organizations in the region

  • Opened our facility for use by community groups, such as the Baltimore Animal Rescue Center, and hosted participants in the first city-wide Doors Open Baltimore event
  • Initiated and deepened a record number and breadth of strategic partners and supporters to extend our missional impact
  • Expanded our online community through doubling our Facebook Likes to over 10,000, engaging LinkedIn, facilitating nearly 20,000 website visits per month, capturing over 400,000 Google Plus visits, and becoming a key "reuse/repurpose" influencer on Pinterest, with over 50,000 impressions per month
  • Featured in several media publications and honored by three awards, including a "Best of Baltimore" for a Building Materials Store category; a 2014 "Top-Rated Nonprofit" designation from Great Nonprofits; and a "Business Award Finalist for Workforce Excellence" from the Baltimore Workforce Investment Board.
Wow! These milestones engender within us at least two responses: one of celebration and one of appreciation.  While we delight in the ground taken this year, we recognize that our efforts to retrain, reclaim and renew would be in vain without your gracious support. So once again, thanks to each of you for shopping, donating, volunteering, embracing deconstruction, and spreading the word about what we do!    

 

Learning from the past and looking to the future, 

HOORAY FOR HELPING HANDS! 
Few things help and encourage us more than the broad smiles and busy hands of our volunteers!  In addition to several individuals who contributed their time and talent, we are grateful for these organizations who sponsored groups of volunteers in 2014: 

 

Baltimore City Community College Refugee Program

Baltimore City Circuit Court  

Bridgeview Community Church

Business Volunteers of Maryland

Itineris Foundation

Loyola University 

Serve the City Baltimore

Towson University

T. Rowe Price

Under Armour

University of Baltimore

There is always plenty for individuals and groups to do around here! For info or to sign up, click here
CHEERS FOR OUR 2014 CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION DONORS
partner
As Second Chance founder & CEO Mark Foster sometimes, says: "It takes money to change the world!"  In addition to the generosity of over 300 individual contributions, the financial gifts of these organizations have helped us change the world a little more in 2014.  And for that, we are especially grateful!  

Financial Donors 

BB&T

Baltimore Beach Volleyball

Baltimore Gas and Electric Company

Mayor's Office of Employment Development

Northrop Grumman

PNC Bank

The Grainger Foundation

Wells Fargo 

 

In Kind Donors  

1000 Friends of Maryland

40 West Discount Liquors

A.A. Remodeling, LLC

Abbey Drum Company

Accessible Resources for Independence

Aeroseal Windows & Storefront

Alazar Holdings, LLC

Albisu Black, LLC

Alex Cooper Auctioneers, Inc.

All Risks, Ltd.

Allan Homes, Inc.

Animal Medical Hospital

Anthony Wilder Design/Build

Artisan Glass Works, Inc.

Atapco

Baltimore City Police Department

Baltimore Marriott Waterfront

Baltimore Orioles
Bay Stoves

Beatty Development Group, LLC

Benchmark Home Improvements, Inc.

BJ Properties

Black and Gold

Black Water Construction

Blakehurst Retirement Community

Bon Secours
Bouquets, Baskets & Things

BOWA Builders, Inc.

Bridget Bohacz & Associates
Bristol Construction

Bruce Dunlap Design

Budget Blinds of Towson

Burning Tree Design Build

Cantwell-Cleary Co., Inc.

Capital City Real Estate

Catholic Charities Action Community Housing

Celadon Event Design

Clarks Ace Hardware

College Manor

Coordinated Store Interiors

COPT Corporate Office Properties

Delbert Adams Construction Group

Deutsch & Gilden, Inc.

Devo, LLC

Devoshin Brothers, LLC

E.D. Houghton, LLC.

Fein & Fein

Fell's Point Preservation Society

First Finish, Inc.

Fishing Creek Clubhouse Association

Hailey Design, LLC

Han Investment Group, Inc.

Harpoon Medical, Inc.

Hawkeye Construction

Health Leeds Mid-Atlantic

Heritage Museum

Home Depot
Horizon Builders

House of Cards

Hunny Do, LLC

Infinity Homes

International Monetary Fund

Isis Magical Makeovers

ITS

Jayuj, LLC

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Juyaj, LLC

K&D Property & Trucking, LLC

KDP Investment Advisors, Inc.

Keller Williams

Keswick Multi-Care Center

Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses

Knight Takes King Productions

KnocKorp LLC

Knott Foundation

Koba Caf�

Lifeline Environmental, LLC

Light Street Presbyterian Church

Loyola Blakefield High School

M S Moeller Cabinetry & Millwork, Inc.

M S Moeller Cabinetry & Millwork, Inc.

Mari Contractors Services

Marriner Marketing Communications

Marvin Memorial United Methodist Church

McDonogh School

Mercer Carpet One Floor & Home

Mercy Medical Center

Mosaic Tile Company of Maryland

Mount Vernon Club of Baltimore

MS Moeller Cabinetry & Millwork, Inc.

National Aquarium, Baltimore

National Reclamation, Inc.

Natural Nails

Nearly New Shop

New Renaissance

Nielson - Postive Space, LLC.

North County Floors

NTC Mazzuca Contracting, Inc.

O'Neill Studios

Oak Crest Village

Osenburg Electric
Pleasure of Your Company

Pratt View, LLC

Quality Construction by Joseph Smor

R.A. Burghauser, Inc.

R2 Integrated

Renaissance Fine Arts

Richard M. Horsey Inc.

RMA Contracting, Inc.

Ryan Homes

Seitz Home Improvement Co.

Severna Park United Methodist Church

Severna Park United Methodist Church

Shepherd Electric Supply

Shofer's Furniture

Smithsonian Enterprises

Southern Management, Inc.

Southway Builders, Inc.

Springwell Senior Living Community

St. Mark's Institutional Baptist Church

St. Michael Lutheran Church

St. Paul Catholic Church

Steve Wilhide Draperies, Inc.

Studio & Company

Symphony Village at Centreville

T.W. Ellis, LLC

Target
Target Marketing
Tembo Group

The Colonial Players of Annapolis

The Federal City Group, Inc.

The George Washington University

The Johns Hopkins Club

The Marion I. & Henry J. Knott Foundation

The Mosaic Tile Co. of Maryland

The Pediatric Group

The Sanders Company

The Shrine of St. Anthony

The Tower Company

The Waldorf School of Baltimore

Thomas Home Improvement

Tom Moran Floors

Tower Co.

Trans Union

Treasure Chest Shop

Union Box Company

Unique Specialties

United Building Services, Inc.

University Orbit, LLC

Uno Pizzeria & Grill

Verde Restaurant

Walters Art Museum

Washington Golf and Country Club

Washington Kitchen Gallery

Weinberg Place

Winchester Construction Company, Inc.

Woda Construction, Inc.

Wolford's Well & Pump Service, Inc.

WR Chance Diamond Jewelers

 
Antique U.S.S. Hartford Model Ship - Item #79228  
Two-Piece Leather & Fabric Sectional - Item #81153  
 
NEW Kohler Drop-in Soaking Tub - Item #80287  

RETAIL WAREHOUSE 

OPEN DAILY!

9am - 5pm, Monday thru Sunday
For Map & Directions click here.

410-385-1700

Remodeling or Demolishing?  
Contact us to learn how deconstruction can add value to your project and our mission!
Call 410-385-1700, fill this out, or email.
 
   
Have furniture, appliances, cabinets, materials, vehicles or other items you can do without?
Call 410-385-1700 x 110, fill this out, or email.
(Donation tax receipt provided!) 
Give a Gift
 To Retrain, Reclaim & Renew

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Click above to give securely via credit card, bank account or PayPal.Use this to contribute cash, stocks, vehicles, etc.
 
Every gift... 
...provides real second chances,   

...is fully tax-deductible, and

...is deeply appreciated by many!     

   

Two-Piece, Blue Tile & Oak Bar - Item #77504  

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"Boot Camp" Begins for Our 10th Deconstruction Training Class!

Upon completing this initial 2-week phase, this group undertakes an intensive 16-week field and classroom job training program, with guaranteed employment upon graduation. This nervous, determined crew - and all of us - appreciate your support!
AS SEEN IN BALTIMORE BRIDE... 

We participated in a photo shoot for the current issue of Baltimore Bride magazine on the pier at the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park. We loaned items to create a ceremony setting that features repurposed materials, the centerpiece being a massive door frame with half-moon transom. Vintage and repurposed items are hot in the wedding world right now, so keep us in mind when you're customizing your ceremony!  
APPLAUSE FOR OUR 2014 PARTNERS!

The following organizations deserve special recognition for partnering with Second Chance in the sharing of resources, encouragement and wisdom this past year.  Without them, we would not be where we are today!

 

Recruiting

Baltimore Center for Green Careers

Baltimore Outreach Services

Center for Urban Families

City of Baltimore, Mayor's Office of Employment Development

City of Baltimore, YouthWorks

Helping Up Mission

Jericho Re-Entry Program of Episcopal Community Services of Maryland

Job Opportunities Task Force

KRA Corporation

Living Classrooms

Maryland New Directions

New Pathways

 

Training

BB&T

Community College of Baltimore County
Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH)

Red Cross

St. Vincent DePaul of Baltimore

US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

 

Other

Abilities Network

America Works

Baltimore City Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation

Baltimore Community ToolBank

Baltimore Green Jobs Coalition

Baltimore Station

Baltimore Workforce Investment Board

Civic Works

Goodwill Industries

Let's Move

Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development

Maryland Historical Society

Maryland Historical Trust

Parks and People Foundation

Salvation Army

COOL CUSTOMER CREATION
Pretty groovy how a customer used old restaurant tabletops from Second Chance as the floor in his cabin! And thanks goes to the owners of Ketchup at National Harbor for donating rather than dumping these gems. (Lots more DIY reuse/repurposing ideas here!) 
Although we can't meet every request for our support, we sure do try!  It's an honor for us to give of our resources and facility to fellow nonprofits, schools, Arts centers, government entities and more.  Those we contributed time, talent or resources to in 2014 include:
 

American Heart Association

Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS)

Baltimore Bride Magazine 

Baltimore Free Market

Baltimore Outreach Services

Baltimore Police Department's Casino Satellite Office

Baltimore Station

Brooklyn Park Middle School

Christian Temple Baptist Church

Citizens Association of Georgetown

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

First Monday Empowerment Group 

First Unitarian Church of Baltimore

For Rent Shoes 

Girl Scouts

H.P. Rawlings Conservatory & Botanic Gardens of Baltimore

ICY Signs

INNterim Housing Corp.

Laurel Mill Playhouse

Living Classrooms

Montessori International Children's House, Annapolis

Nehemiah Worship Center

Pigtown Fire Station

Southern District Police Station

The L'Enfant Trust

The Maryland Zoo

Through the Fourth Wall Theater


Click the pic for more info!  
Rustic Antique Ice Box - Item #80370 
1-of-a-kind, 5-Unit Olive Wood Library - Item #80066 
Schonbek-Romanoff Chandelier - Item #76212  
Antique Pump Organ - Item #79983  
9-Drawer Chest-Style Coffee Table - Item #79665  
19th Century Mahogany Wardrobe - Item #78554  
Charming Antique Dollhouse Furniture! 
180 Capacity Wine Rack - Item #80947  
 
Gorgeous Gemstone Floor Globe - Item #70638  
If you have feedback or questions regarding our newsletters, website, social media, events, scheduling a Second Chance speaker or using our facility for your next group meeting, feel free to email Pete Theodore.