Letters from the Executive Director and Incoming Board President
Gree ngs to all,
2013 proved to be a most challenging year. Changes in community efforts, funding
focus, financial landscape and collabora ve efforts created an interes ng turn of
events for most nonprofits. Many smaller nonprofits, including The Light of Truth
Center, Inc. (LTC) experienced an unexpected gap in funding. Larger agencies and even
out of town nonprofits competed for the same pools of grant funding. Many funders
turned their a en on from recovery and treatment services to interven on and youth
ini a ves. Addic on services have always been a hard sell and services for women in
recovery an even harder sell. We have realized that we have been telling only one side
of the equa on. Instead of the story of hardship and suffering, we must begin to tell
the story of courage and the commitment it takes to change.
The affordable healthcare act made some very insigh ul changes to services and made
significant steps to elimina ng duplicate services. Change however can be very
uncomfortable even when it is for the greater good. Some addic on and mental
health services have been combined. All of the changes have made a significant
difference in the way LTC is doing business and certainly has made LTC take a good,
long, hard look at what will bring about excellence, sustainability and longevity.
In 2013 LTC has con nued to strive for excellence in all we do. We submi ed the
recer fica on applica on for the Maryland Nonprofits Seal of Excellence, received
cer fica on as a level III.I halfway house, was approved as a na onal workforce tes ng
center, will pilot a quality of life assessment, and implement our new workforce
development component.
From the very beginning LTC made a commitment to approach recovery from an
innova ve, holis c approach. We have successfully developed and implemented an
innova ve con nuum of services model. Each piece of the model can stand alone as
well as a part of the collec ve. The organiza on is growing and LTC women are
growing and achieving great things. We are upward bound! It is our inten on to create
a holis c, transforma ve, evidenced‐based therapeu c community that propels
the women we serve toward their best selves.
Dear Friends,
The year 2013 offered challenges and opportuni es for the Light of
Truth Center (LTC). We were challenged with con nued ght
funding yet presented with opportuni es for expanded
partnerships and collabora ons. Our outgoing Board President,
Ginny Robertson was masterful in con nuing to focus the Board on
the priories of fundraising, fiscal responsibility, and policy se ng.
Following in her footsteps is a tall order I am humbled to accept.
Throughout the year, we have been reminded of the magnitude of
what we have built with the Founder and Execu ve Director, Vaile
Leonard. LTC started with one home and now has grown to two
homes and a Training Resource Center. This has been
accomplished by Ms. Leonard’s visionary leadership, supported by
the Board and numerous friends and partners. We con nue to
expand our presence in Bal more through partnerships with
organiza ons such as the Johns Hopkins University Student
Outreach Resource Center, Na onal Women’s Prison Project,
Business Volunteers Unlimited and Bal more City Community
College.
As we pause and take a look at our accomplishments, we see that
we have created that which we have believed to be possible.
Through LTC we have done great things. We can do even greater
things with the right energy and enthusiasm. Through a focus on
service and excellence, we will con nue to be a “beacon of light”
for women seeking support to recover, transi on and restore
themselves to the magnificent women they were meant to be.
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