Dear Breakthrough Community,
Here at the close of 2023, I sit back and reflect on a year that has been monumental for
Breakthrough. I am so excited to see the engagement from the entire Breakthrough community. We are connecting in person again and breathing life back into the foundation of our community. Which is to be together in a space where everyone is welcome, where everyone is appreciated and where everyone receives acceptance and love.
Some highlights of this were a communications workshop in the spring on the Sympatico Method by Lee Garland and Arnie Buss. Our summer retreat where Fred Jealous came as our keynote speaker and for the first time in many years addressed our community of men. Our annual barbecue in Carmel Valley where we shared in sunshine, great food, and camaraderie. And, just on the first day of this month, we held our Dinner Dance Fundraiser for the first time since 2019. Nearly 120 people attended and helped Breakthrough move the needle on our fall fundraising drive through MCGives!
In addition, our workshops continued to refine using in-person day-long sessons in combination with virtual zoom sessions to deliver a workshop that reaches more men and provides the loving in-person connection so vital to what we do. And all our online workshops are now delivered through our digital application of InTouch allowing the men to connect virtually in ways that we couldn't imagine two years ago. Yes, 2023 has seen some real successes for Breakthrough!
Yet, there have also been challenges. The changes that came upon us in 2020 have persisted as we adapted to the pandemic, to the post-pandemic; and, now to the new economic reality of the world. Like many nonprofits, Breakthrough has seen costs go up while income has gone down. We've taken a few hits—yet, we are resilient. Now we look ahead to new growth, new invigoration and new horizons for our Breakthrough community.
We are planting this new Breakthrough garden for you, our beloved community. In 2024 you can look for more in-person events and more opportunities to connect together. Some examples of this will be live in-person, drop-in sessions. New in-person team trainings for men who want to be on leadership teams or just refresh their skills. And, we're looking forward to offering new short courses to men in our community as refreshers and as advanced courses. Yes, Breakthrough is reimagining the future. In order to bring that future into reality we need support.
In the year ahead, we ask that when Breakthrough makes a call out for support you answer in a generous way that also makes sense for you. A gift of your time, a gift of your talent, or gift of your donation will make a world of difference. You can start right now by making a year-end donation to Breakthrough. Let your support be the wind that lifts us up as Breakthrough rises.
My warmest and sincerest wishes to all of you at the close of 2023 for love, happiness, well-being and connection. You matter, you are safe, and you belong. We are Breakthrough.