Executive Director's Statement

The last three months have been a whirlwind as we have taken extraordinary measures to open three new sites in three months.  We have moved from serving 54 students to 140 students.  We have grown from a staff of eight to a staff of twenty.  We have created three new partnerships with three new schools and two new school districts, and through it all, one thing has remained constant, that everyone involved has committed to ensuring that we provide the same quality of programming, engage in the same relationships, and provide the same opportunities for all families we serve.  We have made a commitment that every staff member, even those who do not work directly with the students, will know each student of Open Doors, as we are all members of one community and family.  

At the end of October, we held our first joint field trip - Halloween rollerskating!  For the first time, all four sites were together and the staff stood back, overjoyed with the realization that we had done it, we had opened our doors to a new beginning!

In the past week, we had our first family event, A Night at the Movies, with 300 people in attendance; we had an alumni dinner with 23 students in attendance, ranging in age from high school freshmen to college freshmen; and we hosted parent education classes at three sites with an average of 15 parents in attendance at each site.  All in addition to our daily programming!  It is clear that our sites are alive and active, our alumni are strong, and our families are invested!  As a staff and board, we are committed to continuing to provide the highest quality programming for each youth we serve. 

In a struggling economy with limited resources, we are incredibly grateful for the continuing support of our donors and sponsors.  We believe that every gift received is an investment, of which we seek to provide a strong return.  As we move forward with Open Doors, we continue to keep our eye on the future. 

Over the next three years Open Doors will address the following needs to ensure our long-term success:

  • Establish a business plan for future expansions
  • Develop a long term strategic plan for the future of the organization
  • Create and implement a financial sustainability plan, so that we may ensure the opportunity to continue to impact the lives of the youth we serve.

Thank you for your continued support of Open Doors Academy, for believing in the future of our youth, and for realizing that every child has the opportunity to be successful.  You are a critical piece to our community.  Without you, we would not be able to do what we do! 

Sincerest Regards,

Annemarie M. Grassi, M.S.Ed.

Executive Director