St. Madeleine Sophie's Center, Inc.

As an organization, our goals are to help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to increase their independence and self-sufficiency, build self confidence and self-esteem, and become part of the greater community.

As we look to an enlightened future, our sights are committed to strengthening our standards of excellence and high quality programs.

SMSC accomplishes our strategies through the development, implementation and sustaining of nationally recognized innovative programs.

Our strategies include:
 Strengthening the Board of Trustees through responsive Committees.
 Building on existing community partnerships and collaborations.
 Building sustainability as a business through effective management, planning and leadership.
 Strengthening and growing the volunteer program.
 Remaining flexible and adjusting our programs and facilities to address the changing needs of our students and the economy

Our programs receive the highest rating for services from the Commission on Accreditation from Rehabilitation Services (CARF). SMSC is recognized for having many strengths, including empowering students, using innovative ideas designed to focus on strengths and abilities of students, maintaining excellent relations with community organizations, and using creativity in designing services and programs.

Specific strengths and capabilities include:

 A wide array of program curriculum and unique activities (e.g. garden, art program, culinary art program, aquatics/fitness, performing arts, computer lab).
 An extended period of program support, over long period of time.
 Transportation is provided for students (Unusual for an adult program).
 Safe, comfortable and welcoming facilities for students: garden, pool, campus environment, with appropriate spaces for specialized activities.
 An exemplary ratio of professional staff to students. Staff is trained, experienced and provides high quality services and thoughtful care of students and families.
 Strong management and leadership degreed, sophisticated, experienced with students and families.
 Recognition and awards in local community and nationally.
 A robust volunteer network at all levels; support from the Kraemer Endowment Foundation, Board of Directors, Auxiliary and SMSC “public" volunteer community.

Celebrating 50 years of service (in 2016), St. Madeleine's needs help in funding the important upgrades and physical plant changes to provide the best possible program environment for our clients and the community. Our buildings and grounds' infrastructure is aging – and our client's interests and needs are very different than they were decades ago.

In addition, we are always faced with cash flow challenges. Our 2015 operating budget is $8,215,300. Of this amount, approximately $2.2 million (27%) must be secured from private sources, such as individual gifts, foundation and corporate grants, special event income, endowment revenue, and earned income (e.g. pool use fees, art and garden retail sales). The balance is supported by contracts with the San Diego Regional Center for the Developmentally Disabled whose daily reimbursement rate of $55 a day (73% in today's dollars) has not increased for over a decade. This represents an annual funding gap of approximately $2,000 per student.

During the same time, certain costs have increased significantly due to inflation and the cost for repair and maintenance of buildings and vehicles has increased over the years as items age. This has led to an increase in the amount that must be raised to meet basic program requirements.