SYF 2016-17 Impact Report

Investing In SYF Support Comes in Many Forms

national sponsors working in multiple markets, these activity- based events raised over $1.2million last fall, and events introduce SYF to local business leaders and influencers that we would not otherwise access. Originally started as a single Bowling for Education event for the Northeast region, these events now include Karting for Education, Tees for Education, and even Havana Nights—a themed night with a domino tournament.

Year after year, SYF donors and supporters provide generous amounts of their time, talent, treasure and ties to amplify and expand the success of our programs, resources and activities. Our 2016 fiscal year end report notes a record-breaking $4.2 million raised through all sources. The impressive total is made even more significant when underscored by donors’ stories of engagement. A robust calendar of annual fundraising events provides multiple opportunities for a variety of stakeholders and supporters to find the perfect way to be involved with the life of SYF. Masquerade, our signature Indianapolis event, hosted to benefit Simon Youth Foundation and The Pacers Foundation, is legendary, and brings together key business and community influencers in celebration of our joint missions. Over the past 15 years, and with PNC Bank as the presenting sponsor, this event has raised over $11 million.

Teresa James Robinson, Principal, Simon Youth Academy at Circle Centre Mall (IN) accepts the Beyond Monumental Contribution to SYF.

Donors also support us through their personal and professional networks. Introductions and invitations to present about the work of SYF often lead to a variety of new opportunities and resources for our students and teachers. The SYF Board-led campaign, “Turning More Tassels,” created a highly successful matching program to increase new and encourage the return of former donors. The Circle of Hope campaign, a giving circle for our Academy teachers and school districts, experienced growth and introduced a peer-to-peer fundraising opportunity.

For a full list of SYF donors, visit syf.org/who-we-are

One of the newer events on our annual calendar is Founders Celebration. Started in 2012 by a group of SYF Founders as a summer cocktail house party connecting Simon executives and business supporters, the event has grown into a night of fellowship and fun among a wide range of national corporate supporters and spouses converging on Indianapolis for a special dose of Hoosier hospitality in truly unique, Indy-only venues. To date, this event has raised over $1.4 million dollars. At this event, Academy students and teachers share their personal stories, and the transformational impact of our donors’ support. Founders Celebration is an intimate evening where all in attendance can share the impact and connection to SYF. Tees for Education celebrated its 10th anniversary in June 2017, raising an annual record amount of nearly $65,000, and bringing total contributions since the event’s inception in 2007 to $250,000. Simon Tenant Coordination started Tees for Education by leveraging their suppliers and contracting relationships to seek support for SYF. The reputation and quality of the event, now perennially sold out, engages individuals and businesses who work with Simon in myriad ways throughout the country. A variety of regional events, hosted by Simon Malls, Premium Outlets, and The Mills regional and field teams, allows SYF to reach an increasingly larger and more diversified group of donors. Leveraging key community connections coupled with Cindy Simon Skjodt and Deborah Simon, hosts of Masquerade, celebrate the success of the 2016 event!

Through the annual Simon Employee Contribution Campaign, our colleagues at the corporate offices and centers across the country demonstrate their commitment to SYF. The 2016 campaign broke all previous records with donations and pledges above $715,000. The photo on the cover of this report shows employees at Simon Tower in Indianapolis celebrating The Power of Orange Day last October. For all of us at SYF, this commitment speaks to how central the mission of SYF is to Simon’s corporate DNA, and reminds us just how big the Simon in Simon Youth Foundation truly is. Support for SYF comes in many forms. Developing relationships with retailers and other organizations provides unique opportunities for our students and teachers. Retailer LIDS reached out to SYF through their senior talent acquisition team to begin a program preferential to interviewing SYF Academy students, graduates and scholarship recipients for seasonal and full-time employment. Learning from that model, SYF has reached out to a variety of other retailers to consider similar programs to help our students find economic stability, build skills, and understand the world of work. CVS continues to be a long-term supporter of SYF and to find new ways to leverage their resources to benefit our students. Initiatives include offering training curricula for students seeking employment in the retail and pharmaceutical fields, and providing scholarship support to qualified students.

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