"It's very important to Michael that the Foundation's funds are well invested, and that we impact the quality of life," explains Jacqueline Smaga, Executive Director of The Michael Bolton Foundation. "Because we're a small organization with only three board members, we have the luxury to closely monitor how our programs are doing and how our funds are working."

"We feel it's vital to work with an agency for a long period before any decisions are made, to determine what our grant money can best be used for."

They target their funding primarily to fill gaps in services. "It's not the approach of a United Way, which awards grants covering a lot of territory. Instead, after finding out where the gaps are, we invest in the specific services that are needed.

"We feel reviewing the progress that results from our funding is extremely important, and it fuels the decision to continue funding these agencies."

They are in contact with the agencies on a monthly basis, and often get quarterly progress reports, but where they create an initiative, as they have with Safe Space, they have meetings once a month.

"Those are such complex programs that without those monthly meetings, I wouldn't have a clue what was going on and how many families were being impacted. It's a lot of give and take, a lot of conversations. A lot of material goes back and forth."

The Foundation focuses on assisting at risk children and women. "The problems we find most often afflicting women are abuse and homelessness," explains Jacqueline. "A lot of mental illness comes into play in this population. We found that homelessness, for example, is really a symptom of many other issues, mental illness being one of them.

"Sometimes these women are never diagnosed. It's incredible how large a percentage of the population suffers."

Dealing with such problems requires working with these women one-to-one for an extended period. "The family support worker is involved with them from the day they're referred by the state or by the shelter."

Jackie shakes her head, her concerns all too visible. "But they are only allowed to be in a shelter for a limited time. In Connecticut, for example, the law limits it to 60 days. That's clearly not enough time to assist women with a multitude of problems.

"And these women have many obstacles to overcome, plus they've also got children to care for, so it's a very long process of intervention."

The youngest woman they work with is 17 years old. "There's really no upper limit, though most are late teens and early 20's."

Safe Space, their unique program in New Haven, caters to teenagers. "When we opened Safe Space, our intent was to serve youngsters 12 to 25, and to provide them with a 'safe place' to learn different things, including how to get along with people from different backgrounds and walks of life.

"We didn't anticipate the number of young people who would come to that space with a lot of other issues they were dealing with, very similar to the work we're doing at the shelter." To address those issues, they've since added a therapist to the staff. 

"These children witness violence at home, they have young pregnant teenage mothers, and often their fathers are absent. It's no wonder they fall through the cracks."

The issues they're dealing with are not addressed in their families, nor in school. "So our program provides this space where they do feel safe, and eventually they can open up, and talk to someone who can help them.

"When we first opened, we had no idea how great a need that was."

Their partner in Safe Space is the CityKids Foundation, based in New York. "We did a long term feasibility study to determine the needs of the city's young people, and CityKids is our subcontractor.

"We fund the program, and basically they run it. That's our largest undertaking." The Foundation also supports other agencies which primarily assist victims of domestic abuse.

"We work with the Domestic Violence Center in Norwalk, for example. They have a confidential shelter for women who are in the process of finding new places to live. Our support for that project focuses again on finding family advocate support workers, to work with those families and assist them in the transitions they're making."

They also work closely with the Kids in Crisis Youth Shelter in Greenwich. The program provides beds for children who are victims of abuse, and who are taken away from their families until the state decides they should be returned.

"We provide funding to keep beds available for children who do not come through the state system but still are deemed at risk of abuse." Those children are referred by family members, friends, and neighbors.

In New York City the Foundation supports Harlem School of the Arts and The Boys Choir of Harlem. "We also work with an incredible agency in Spanish Harlem called Little Sisters of the Assumption Family Health Services. They provide everything from soup kitchens to clothing to helping people learn English."

Perhaps most innovative, Jacqueline explains, they also have a grandparent support group, "Because in many of the families, the grandparents are taking care of the children."

Most social issues the Foundation confronts weren't as prevalent 10, 20 years ago. "Many young people served by the agencies are alone a lot. The come to school without having breakfast. They go home to empty households. They have a lot of free unsupervised time, a lot of time without somebody who can play an important part in their lives, which is why Safe Space, for instance, is so important."

The Foundation raises funds through a variety of approaches, including Michael's contributions. "And when he's on tour, fifty cents of every concert ticket goes to the foundation. Also, at his charity softball games, proceeds are split between the foundation and a local charity."

Among the Foundation's regular events are its annual celebrity softball game, followed by its annual black tie gala auction. "It's sold out every year before the invitations hit the mail. The ballroom is small, but we have a huge stage because Michael performs with his band. Joan Lunden has been our Mistress of Ceremonies since our first year, and the performers have included Shania Twain, Michael McDonald, Little Anthony & the Imperials, and Phoebe Snow."

They're also holding their first celebrity golf tournament this August in Westhampton. "The dinner the night before will be on the private grounds, and we're already sold out, for both tickets and golf sponsorships."

The event is being coordinated by Gale Sitomer. "We've been talking about doing an event together, using her management expertise, and now we're thrilled she's coordinating the golf event. She is amazing. It's going so well. All it takes is one phone call, and she gets it done!"

Jacqueline came to the Foundation after serving as director of a small private charity for cancer research, called This Close, based in New Haven. "A childhood friend of Michael's named Joel Brander, founded the charity in 1990 when he was diagnosed with leukemia, and Michael performed at their first benefit.

"I saw it announced on the news, and I went to the benefit." She was very impressed. "At that point I had left the non-profit world for the corporate world, and wanted to do some volunteering again."

She had fund raising experience and realized this was something she could help with. "So I went up to Joel that night and said I would love to get involved."

She started as a volunteer, did some grant writing on the side, and then was elected to their board. "Joel asked if I would consider becoming their director on a paid basis, and right after that I asked Michael if he would lend his name and be our Honorary Chairperson." He began doing Public Service Announcements, attending their benefits, and letting them use his photograph. "He was wonderful."

They worked together for about two and a half years in that capacity.

"He helped us raise a lot of money, and then Joel passed away, a month later our co-founder passed away, and eight months later, their physician passed away." They were the heart and soul of the organization. "They were my extended family, and I was devastated. I realized I couldn't do it anymore."

She was planning to move on. "But I was fortunate to be offered a position with Michael, who planned to start his own foundation, to assist children and women at risk, and to provide education for underprivileged children."

It was truly an offer she couldn't refuse.

The Michael Bolton Foundation
203.483.6463

© Copyright 2007 The Michael Bolton Charities, Inc.