Business Plan- 2015
PHASE 1
WHEELS UP YOUTH CENTER, INC
PO Box 354
Brownsburg, In 46112
317-370-9872
Beth Crawford, Director
101 S. Grant Street
Brownsburg, IN 46112
Email: wheelsupyouthcenter@gmail.com
Website: www.wheelsupyouthcenter.com
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
317-370-9872
Table of Contents
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
Executive Summary ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3
Vision Statement ...……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4
Mission Statement...…………….……………………………………………………………………………………….. 4
Management and Organizational Team ………………………………………………………………………… 5
Organizational Structure ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 6
Asset to the Community ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 6
a) Need for youth center
b) Community outreach (Alateen and ICYPAA)
7) Services …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7
a) Supervision
b) Activities
c) Hours of operation
8) Competitive Edge …………………………………………………………………………………………….………….... 8
9) Marketing plan ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..………..9
a) Web site and social media
b) Grassroots
c) Major fundraising events
10) Financial Plan ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 10
a) Sponsorship
b) Initial operating expenses
c) Grants
d) Additional Funding
e) Financial Summary
11) Operational Plan ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 11
a) Interior amenities
b) Daily/Weekly activities
c) Staff
d) Miscellaneous
12) Vision For The Future..…………………………………………………………………………………………………. 12
13) Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 12
2
1.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Wheels Up Youth Center, Inc. (WUYC) is a private, non-profit 501c3 corporation whose mission
is to provide a full-service teen supercenter that will bring all the youth nonprofit services in the
area together under one roof. The youth center will be a safe, supervised place for teens in
Brownsburg to spend their free time after school, on weekends and school breaks. This facility
will be a hub of support for teens by combining the missions of other nonprofits in the
community that support teens with specialized services. WUYC will provide opportunities for
mentoring and allow teens to pursue and develop their passions and interests with the support
of adults in the community as they grow toward becoming adults themselves. We will fill the
gap in services between what the educational system can offer and the support teens receive at
home. In order to fulfill this mission, we need 1-3 major funders to invest in our plan.
WUYC has partnered with other youth-oriented nonprofit organizations in the area to use their
resources to help the Wheels Up youth who need mentors, assistance with family issues,
addiction, abuse, and education support. We intend to positively impact all areas of the lives of
the youth our facility will serve and be a positive force in the community. These teens are the
next generation coming up in the world and we need them to make an impact on the serious
issues facing our communities, our country and the planet. Our success depends on them.
In addition to offering support for all areas of a teen’s life, during the later phases of our
project, there will also be the opportunity to learn and practice the commitment, positive
attitude and athleticism fostered by BMX riding and skateboarding. There will also be other
recreational sports and activities that will be available at the facility we will build. With no
youth facilities of this kind in Indiana, and few in the country, we intend to be the first to
incorporate a year-round bike/skate facility with a youth center to provide teens with an
exciting and unique recreational attraction.
We will ask for community support organized by the Wheels Up Youth Center, Inc. board and
volunteers to help build a facility that will meet the needs of the teens who want a safe place to
spend their time and pursue their interests. This goal will be accomplished in multiple phases.
In our first phase, we will continue to raise public awareness of our cause as we have since the
beginning in February 2014. We will use social media and awareness rallies to raise funds to
help with the initial funding of our operations. Using multiple outlets such as our website, social
media, and grassroots marketing, we will begin to develop connections with the community,
including local youth nonprofit businesses as well as the Parks Department and school system
to launch a sports club for these athletes.
Currently, WUYC serves 35-40 teens ages 12-20 with activities and events as well as individual
support. Many of our event posts receive 1000+ views on Facebook where we share all
pertinent information with the public.
Part of the first phase is to secure funding for the first year of operating expenses for a business
space in town. We will open a store-front business space and begin supporting teens through
3
various activities and services. During this phase we will begin working with teens and
organizing mentorship for those interested. Our partnership with Impact Youth Mentoring will
facilitate the mentoring process using their established programs in Hendricks County. Along
with other community organizations, we will be able to offer a place for teens to spend time
and activities that will interest them. We will continue to engage the community in fundraising
activities to raise the capital funds for the final facility build that will include a bike/skate park
for the BMX and skateboard riders in the area.
2. VISION STATEMENT
To create a teen-focused support supercenter at the Wheels Up Youth Center for our teens
who need a place of their own to hang out every day, pursue their passions, develop positive
coping skills, and be taken seriously as a valuable part of our community.
3. MISSION STATEMENT
To empower teens to be able to face life’s challenges through sports and other recreational
activities that demonstrate their talents, build their confidence and give them a place they can
call their own. With the support of the community and mentors, we will impact the teens that
are served by the youth center by supporting them through the obstacles they face in life while
encouraging their interests and talents.
While substance abuse and other negative behaviors may start out as a peer pressure situation,
for some, not having the coping skills to deal with their negative feelings is often what leads to
drug and alcohol abuse. Abusing substances or engaging in bad behavior does not have a social
or economic boundary. Any teen can be affected. At Wheels Up Youth Center, adult mentors
will support our teens by listening to them and partnering with them to learn how to confront
these issues and deal with them instead of dulling their feelings. Learning to deal with their
emotions in a healthy way is the key to making positive choices throughout their lives. This is
a skill that can best to be taught in a unique environment that we can and will provide with
Wheels Up Youth Center. A positive, supportive environment has been proven to alleviate
addiction issues.
We are going to create a new way of supporting the teens in our communities through our
youth center focused only on the teens and their specific issues. Resources and services can be
more readily available when a problem begins, rather than down the line when it is much more
difficult to resolve. The positive life coping skills they will learn at the youth center over time
during their teen years will serve them throughout their lives.
We can collaborate with school guidance counselors, parents, the police department, other
youth programs and organizations like United Way that are trying to find new ways to reach
teens. We can provide that ongoing hub of community support.
4
4. MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL TEAM
Founder and Director
Beth Crawford is a Brownsburg resident of 19 years with three published fiction novels who has
run several successful small businesses in the past. She is the mother of 3, and has 18 years of
leadership and management experience to bring to the organization of Wheels Up Youth
Center, Inc. She is currently a corrections officer at a nonprofit women’s work release facility as
well as a substitute teacher in the Brownsburg school system. When she began pursuing a
career change, she was unable to find a nonprofit to specifically help teens with a place to
spend time and develop life coping skills. She decided to develop this unique youth center plan
to bring the services of different nonprofits together in one place to serve teens. One group she
was particularly concerned with is the BMX and skateboard riders who have no place to
practice their sport. They are also more likely to be unsupervised and ‘on the street’ than most.
The final plan for the Wheels Up Youth Center facility is to have an indoor and outdoor
bike/skatepark for these athletes in addition to the youth center.
Original board members
Paula Rieghns is a lawyer practicing in Illinois, and a business owner. She is committed to the
vision of Wheels Up Youth Center, and willing to devote time and her knowledge of business
development and charity requirements.
Justin Covarrubias is a member of the 2013 Championship John Force Race car team with a
passion for helping the youth in the area through the Wheels Up Youth Center.
Board members/volunteers include:
Board member Chelsea Terrell (assistant director), BSW from IUPUI will be a case manager for
teens to make sure they are receiving the services they need.
Board member Alix Channell, MSW from IUPUI will assist with programming at the youth center
Board member David Bauer is an engineer and facilities manager for a distribution center in
Brownsburg
Board members William Steedman (retired Army) and James Cherry (retired Marines) have
teenagers themselves and want to devote time to mentoring other teens in the area. They are
committed to consulting on the facility construction with their previous work/life experience.
Board member Nick Summerlot is also a local BMX pro rider who will support the creation of an
indoor/outdoor bike/skate facility and is eager to help with the design. He is passionate about
the sport of BMX and wants to share his knowledge with the next generation.
5
Board members Ian Patterson and Dustin Wilson are business owners in Brownsburg who grew
up in the area as skateboarders. They are committed to bringing a skatepark and youth center
to the area to support teens as they would like to have been supported.
Edward Terrell is a CPA with a master’s degree in accounting working with startups and
charities for a larger parent company who understands how to financially structure and operate
a successful business. He will oversee the general accounting for Wheels Up Youth Center.
BMX pro biker Karl Poynter has two successful businesses in addition to being a paid BMX rider.
Along with his brother, he operates Karlpoynterphotography.com and hardcoresportz.com. As
part of our team he will provide action photos of our local riders. He is also a web site and
logo/ branding designer who will be contributing to our own logo and branding activities.
Melinda Lawrie is a teacher at Brownsburg High School who is sponsoring the Riders Club.
The list of volunteers to mentor kids at the youth center is growing daily and includes local
parents of BMX and skateboarders and community members who want to fill the need for a
youth center in the area.
5. ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE
Wheels Up Youth Center, Inc. will be directed by the governing board who will decide how
financial resources will be spent to build and expand the facility to meet the needs of the youth
in the community. As funding allows, the director position will be a full-time paid position to
organize the facility business, finances, fundraising efforts and volunteer schedule. Additional
paid staff will be added as needed to be present on site for check-in and monitoring for safety.
A steering committee of volunteers and teens who are involved in the facility will work together
to add areas of interest to the youth center as funds become available and present ideas to the
board.
6. ASSET TO THE COMMUNITY
a. Need for a youth center in Brownsburg. There has been a need for a community
center in the Brownsburg area since the major local recreation center closed in 2009.
Wheels Up Youth Center will provide a place for the community youth to spend time
instead of in the parking lots and businesses that have difficulty supervising them.
At WUYC they can explore their interests and receive any services they may need for
issues in their lives.
A membership facility- Teens who use the youth center will be signed up as members so
staff has contact information for parents. This will not be a ‘drop off’ center. We will
know who is in the building, which includes adults.
b. Community Outreach. Being part of Wheels Up Youth Center will give teens the
opportunity to get involved and volunteer their time for various community projects.
6
Being part of the community will give our youth a sense of value as an individual as well
as a group.
c. Facility Use. Meetings for any youth related nonprofits or training can be held in the
WUYC meeting rooms.
In addition, outreach programs dealing with addiction such as Alateen (for teens with
family members in addiction) and YPAA (Young People in AA) will benefit the community
by bringing awareness and assistance to the young people in need. Teens who might
otherwise not seek assistance or know where to go for help can get help at WUYC.
7. SERVICES
a. Supervision. As kids get too old for traditional babysitters, they still need supervision
besides the police who patrol the areas where these groups of teens hang out. Often
the police officers are the only guardians the kids have when they are not at home.
Most businesses do not want groups of kids on their property even if they buy their
products or services. There is no place for the teens to go besides business parking lots
and areas where they can get into trouble. The Wheels Up Youth Center will be a safe
place parents can trust their teens are being supervised. Adult volunteers working with
the kids will have background checks as well as being trained in first-aid.
b. Youth Services available in one place.
Impact Youth Mentoring of Hendricks County- 1-on-1 mentoring for teens
Get Real Indy- weekly discussion group for teens to talk about real issues affecting them
Sheltering Wings- teen council on preventing teen dating violence and sexual assault
The Willow Recovery Center- addiction issues with teens or their family members
Family Promise of Hendricks County- provide information to teens on how to avoid
homelessness or assist teens whose families may be in danger of being homeless.
The Villages- Healthy Families program, Dads Inc, Foster Family Support, etc.
Steered Straight- a program to help teens make good decisions
YAA/NA- youth in AA and NA for those struggling with addiction
Tobacco-Free Hendricks County- education on the dangers of tobacco use
Carel Education Foundation- assistance for underprivileged, high achieving students
preparing for college
7
b. Cost. During the first phase of the youth center, there will not be a cost for members.
An application will be filled out by parents and signed either at the facility or in front of
a notary so we have all contact information on file. Essentially, free teen babysitting.
c. Activities. As funds become available, we will fund or take donations to provide games
(ping-pong, pool, video games), snack area, stage for teen musicians/bands to practice
and perform, big screen for movies, meeting rooms for teen-related discussions and
other youth-related groups (such as youth nonprofits, 4H, scouts, etc.) who need a place
to meet.
WUYC will host holiday events (Halloween costume contests, New Year’s Eve party,
Superbowl party, etc.) birthday parties and benefits for people in the community who
want a fun environment for their events promoting youth activities.
d. Security. Staff/volunteers/mentors will be watching for any illegal activity on the
property. Our reputation will demonstrate zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol. We will
work closely with the Brownsburg Police Department to ensure the safety of all teens in
the youth center. Teens will not be allowed to congregate in front of the facility or in the
parking lot.
e. Proposed Hours of Operation (when fully functioning)**
Facility will be open from 4pm-9pm Mon-Thursday. Open Friday night until midnight
(after 10pm over 18 yrs old only)
School breaks and holidays (excluding Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Years) 12pm-10pm
Saturday 12pm-midnight (over 18 yrs old only after 10pm)
Sunday 12pm-9pm
**(For kids 12yrs old and up. Under 12yrs old will be allowed at the discretion of facility
staff and must be accompanied by an adult remaining on property)
8. COMPETITIVE EDGE
There is no youth center in Indiana to provide the services WUYC has to offer. Not only will
teens now have a fun, supervised place to hang out and be themselves, this will be a facility
ONLY for teens that will also be guided by a teen board to ensure we are meeting their needs
and interests.
Acting as a hub for services, our teens will have access to assistance from more than a dozen
community organizations with various specialties to address their needs. We will also bring the
National Safe Place Program to Hendricks county where it currently does not exist. The youth
center will be the ‘home base’ for Hendricks County as ‘safe places’ are created in businesses
around the community to serve teens in an emergency situation.
8
9. MARKETING PLAN
The focus of the Wheels Up Youth Center is to attract kids ages 12-20yrs old to hang out with
their friends in the lounge, participate in activities and have fun. There will be games, movies
and various activities to draw teens in on a daily basis. While participating in these activities,
the teens will have access to the services provided by nonprofits in the area for issues they may
be dealing with. And along the way, they will gain the positive life coping skills they need to be
successful in all areas of their lives.
a. Website and social media. WUYC has an active web site that will announce weekly
activities and other daily/weekly areas of interest to keep kids going to the site and
coming to the youth center. WUYC also has Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts
for advertising current information and events. With social media and distributing
information through local schools, the youth center will constantly spread the
information to the kids who need a place to hang out. Parents will also know where to
go if they need support in dealing with their teen as well.
b. Grassroots. Parents and family members of the teens our center will serve can be an
active part in the growth of the facility by participating in the fund raising events. They
can also spread the word through their own social networking, distributing flyers and
product giveaways with WUYC and sponsors’ logos.
c. Major Public Marketing EventsDine-to-Donate events at local restaurants
Participating in community events that affect teens and their families such as the
Into The Light 5k Run to raise awareness of addiction and the Relay For Life
campaign to support cancer survivors
d. School Corporation Participation
A WUYC riders club started with the 2014-2015 school year at BHS to get
students involved in fundraising and community service projects. All students are
welcome who want to be part of the youth center project.
d. Ongoing marketing. Our ongoing marketing strategies for funding will be to hold or
participate in an event once every month either as part of another partner event or a
9
fundraiser event for WUYC. The WUYC board will organize and carry out the events to
promote current sponsorship and encourage new sponsors who will support the youth
center in the following years.
10. FINANCIAL PLAN
a. Fiscal Supporter(s) to fund the cost of operating the first phase of the youth center in
a retail space in Brownsburg. This will allow us to apply for grants and funding through
sources that ask for major funding information and require a certain amount of time in a
physical location.
b. Community support. To be able to apply for and qualify to receive major funding and
grants, we have to show substantial and consistent community financial support. Efforts
will continue year-round to engage businesses in our mission to help support the
operational costs of the facility.
c. Grants will also be a focus of the fundraising strategy. While grants take time for
approval and distribution of funds, they will be a backup to the main fundraising
strategies. Initial grants proposals will be sent to appropriate funding sources. Working
with the Indiana Youth Institute, we will determine other avenues for funding grants.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
START UP BUSINESS EXPENSES
$7,000 (PAID)
Incorporation, 501c3, Marketing
ADD-ONS (potentially donated)
Office equipment-computer/software
$1,000
Chairs, misc furniture, supplies
$1,000
Security system
$1,000
Signs- street and building
$1,000
ADD-ON TOTAL
$4,000
d
10
MONTHLY EXPENSES
Insurance/month
$300
Rent/month
$2,000
Utilities
$400
Supplies
$200
Miscellaneous
$100
Salary
$1,000
TOTAL MONTHLY EXPENSES
$4000
TOTAL YEARLY EXPENSES-PHASE 1
INCOME AVENUES- PHASE 1
Startup capital- Fiscal Sponsor
Fundraising (dine-to-donate, etc)
Estimated Director salary/pd staff
$48,000
Start-up- yearly
$50,000
$5000
Private individual donations
$10,000
Grants/funding
$10,000
TOTAL (including ongoing funding)
$75,000
11. OPERATIONAL PLAN
The first phase of Wheels Up Youth Center will be located in a retail strip in the center of
Brownsburg to be accessible to teens. Approximately 2,000 sq ft will allow the following:
a. Interior Amenities
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
Vending machines- Pepsi and Coke provide machines and stock
Additional food/beverages- snack vending machines from outside contractor.
Lounge area- couches, tables, chairs.
Pool tables, ping-pong table, video games, large screen tv
Members will be allowed to bring in their own food and beverages.
11
b. Staffing. The Director will oversee day-to-day operations, coordinate the volunteer schedule to
cover the front desk, and youth center supervision.
c. Daily/Weekly activities: Each of our nonprofit partners can come in on a designated week to have
awareness events and activities at the youth center showcasing their services for teens and parents.
Video game contests and other activities will also be planned to give the teens something to do.
Holidays, birthdays and other celebrations can also be held.
d. Bulletin Boards/info areas- our partner organizations will each have a bulletin board with their
contact information and upcoming events. Pamphlets and other materials can also be displayed.
Miscellaneous. Computers and other equipment donated by the community will be used by teens
12. VISION FOR THE FUTURE
Our final vision is to have an ongoing capital fundraising campaign to raise money to buy land and
build a facility for the youth center that will include an indoor/outdoor bike and skatepark. The
mission to bring youth-related organizations and services would continue to grow to include inhouse counseling and case management. Entertainment for teens as well as more recreational
activities such as a rock climbing wall would be added along with the skatepark for BMX and
skateboard athletes.
13. CONCLUSION
There is a gap in services specifically for teens in our area that can be addressed with a fullfunctioning youth center. They need a place to go on a daily basis with adult interaction to help
them navigate the difficult years leading to adulthood. Designing a place for youth-oriented
nonprofits in the community to access teens and their families that need support will change
the dynamic for young people in our community. We will instill confidence and passion in the
young people who are the next generation in our society. In the future phases of the project,
Wheels Up Youth Center will address the deficit of non-traditional recreational services such as
a bike/skatepark for the youth of Hendricks County and particularly in the Brownsburg area.
The Wheels Up Youth Center, Inc. team has recognized this need and created this plan to
address it. Area non-profits are also on board to help with services for the kids who are part of
the youth center. Not only is this youth center needed in the community, it will put Brownsburg
on the map as having a unique youth sports and recreation center unlike any in the state.
With community involvement and the determination of the founder, board members,
volunteers and the teens it will serve, we intend to create a youth center that will positively
impact the community and enrich the lives of all who participate.
12