Since 2010, ODBI, our donors and partners together have empowered over 700 students toward their education success! Thank you for being part of Team Orange and making a powerful positive difference in so many lives.
And thank you, Sam Bracken and Echo Garrett, for the genesis of this work with your life-changing book, "My Orange Duffel Bag."
Sincerely, Michael Daly, President, ODBI
_____________________________________________________________ ODBI Class 25 -- Rome, GA!
WinShape Wilderness Course, Berry College
Rome, Cedartown and Floyd County teens take to WinShape's Wilderness Course on Berry College's campus for opening day, daring themselves to greatness through team building, climbing to new heights and challenging themselves to begin a new journey with Team Orange. ODBI alum from Classes 1 & 2 returned to share their own personal growth using ODBI's 7 Rules for the Road. Class 25 will graduate in June. This class is in collaboration with Georgia Department of Human Services Independent Living Program, GA Northwestern Technical College and Action Ministries.
ODBI Coaching for College Completion
Pictured: CGTC CCC6 graduation May 2015
Central Georgia Technical College hosts its second ODBI Coaching for College Completion program! 26 students from CGTC's Warner Robins campus are midway through their course, creating and achieving SMART goals toward their education success and preparing for their CCC9 graduation. "Investing in ODBI for our students was the best decision I made all year! ODBI provided the missing link to enhance our students' success." Brenda Brown, VP, CGTC
Fund Created to Support ODBI Students' Educational Success
Pictured at ODBI 2015 Appreciation Event hosted by JE Dunn (L to R): Bill Wallace (Former Vice Chair GA Board of Community Health), Marj Economopoulos (ODBI Advocate), Dr. Lana Wachniak (professor emeritus criminal justice and sociology Kennesaw State University), and Audrey Taylor (ODBI Coach)
Dr. Lana Wachniak and William (Bill) Wallace care deeply that every young person has access to education. Together they created an emergency fund to support ODBI students' academic achievement. ODBI alum, many of whom are the first in their families to have graduated high school and/or attended college, often hit unexpected financial barriers during their postsecondary experience. Emergencies such as a flat tire, a late rent notice, or an overdue book fee can derail a student's education success. The Lana Wachniak and William (Bill) H. Wallace, Jr. Orange Duffel Bag Charitable Fund make it possible for ODBI grads to overcome unforeseen roadblocks so they can continue completing a technical certification program, achieving stackable credentials and/or a college degree. Anyone wishing to donate to the fund may contact Diana Black, VP ODBI, at DBlack@theodbi.org.
Online Celebrity Auction Benefits ODBI Programs Ed McMahon had a joy for life and an exuberance for helping others achieve their dreams. Inspired by Ed's passion, his wife, Pamela McMahon, and family selected memorabilia from his personal archives for the Everything But The House online auction event held April 7-13. A percentage of the proceeds benefit the Ed McMahon Family Endowment Fund for the Orange Duffel Bag Initiative.
Play golf and help Georgia's most vulnerable students stay on track for education success! ODBI Charity Golf Event, Monday August 22 at Indian Hills Country Club, Marietta, GA, will again bring together golfers from across GA in support of our work with students who are homeless, aging out of foster care or experiencing high poverty. Proceeds directly benefit our students. Register to Play: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2016-orange-duffel-bag-initiative-annual-golf-classic-with-coach-bill-curry-tickets-20480117583
Pictured at 2015 Golf Classic (L to R): Sam Bracken (ODBI Co-Founder), Diana Black (ODBI VP), Charles Allender (Civil Site, Golf Event Sponsor), Michael Daly (ODBI President), Reggie Pope (JE Dunn, ODBI Treasurer and Golf Event Chair)
_____________________________________________________________ ODBI: "At the end of the day, it's all about student success."
Katrina Oglesby, ODBI Class 10 and Coaching for College Completion Class 1
Katrina Oglesby lights up a room. Her smile captured our hearts back in 2013 when she enrolled in ODBI Class 10. Her determination and enthusiasm inspired her fellow ODBI classmates to stretch beyond their comfort zone and embrace all Team Orange had to offer. In 2014, as an Atlanta Metropolitan College student, she continued her journey with ODBI and her path toward education success by enrolling in our Georgia State University Coaching for College Completion pilot program in partnership with United Way and Carrie Steele Pitts Home. Katrina continues to shine, having now transferred to Kennesaw State University! Congratulations, Katrina, and thank you for bringing joy into our lives and showing us that an optimistic attitude leads to a bright future.
ODBI is honored to add Action Ministries Inc. (AIM) to its collaboration for collective impact model. AMI is a nonprofit leading people out of poverty in GA since 1963. Its mission is to mobilize communities to address the challenges of poverty by focusing on hunger relief, housing and education.
_____________________________________________________________ ODBI Board Retreat
Pictured (L to R) : Front row Michael Daly (ODBI President), Chris Chan (Board Member), Echo Garrett (ODBI Co-Founder), Elizabeth Lester (Board Member), Robin Crawford (ODBI Coach), Diana Black (ODBI VP) Middle row: Bill Wallace (Donor), Lana Wachniak (Donor), Nicole Hill (Board Member), Liz Schoen (Board Member), Joe Bushey (Board Chair) Back row: Kelley Henderson (Action Ministries), Mark Johnson (Strategic Credit Solutions) and Sarah Watts (Board Member)
Inspiring, informative and incredibly productive ODBI Board of Director's Retreat! Mark Johnson, founder of Strategic Credit Solutions, was keynote speaker offering his advice and guidance on ways ODBI can increase its impact on GA's amazing high school and college students. Kelley Henderson, Action Ministries' Chief Operating Officer, shared with the board the goodwill work AMI is doing and how ODBI's new partnership will further benefit our GA neighbors in need. ODBI's board is committed to the education success of underserved students.
Augusta Bound: We are excited to deliver on our mission this summer, and work with community partners to bring our after school program to Augusta GA! Interested in more information or becoming a volunteer? Please contact Diana Black at DBlack@theodbi.org Thank you for your caring spirit and continued support of Georgia's most vulnerable teens and young adults!
The Orange Duffel Bag Initiative (ODBI) is a 501c3 public charity that improves the outcomes and education success of high school and college students who are homeless, in foster care or experiencing high poverty. ODBI is independently audited each year, and its programs are evidence-informed and approved by Georgia's Department of Public Health Institutional Review Board. ODBIs coaching programs are data-informed and individually evaluated, with key student outcomes achieved being: 1) improved critical thinking 2) improved attendance and GPA 3) improved self-esteem 4) reduced anger 5) improved retention and academic progress 6) graduation achievement 7) accelerated career exploration and postsecondary planning.
