Mission
Vision
Value Statement
Sources of Funds
Uses of Funds
Board of Commissioners
History
Agency Background

2004 Annual Report (13.4Mb)
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Fresno County Econimic Opportunies Commission


Our Mission
“To humanely focus all available resources to empower low-income families and individuals working toward the skills, knowledge, and motivation for self-sufficiency.”


Despair is an equal opportunity visitor. So is hope.
We hear it in the voices that call. We see it in the eyes that search. We touch it in the hands that reach out for help. The stories we hear confirm that most Americans are but steps away from needing the safety net that we provide. Many of us have been in the shoes of those we now serve. We understand, we care, and we know that change requires action.
Today's EOC. We change lives.

Vision
At EOC, “Helping People. Changing Lives.” is more than just a catchy phrase. The words challenge us to treat all people with equality and dignity as we pursue our goal of overcoming the barriers brought about by social disadvantage and poverty. They call us to meet the challenge of helping those we serve with empathy and remind us that we are not immune to the forces of crisis that impact the lives of individuals and families. The vision behind “Helping People. Changing Lives.” compels us to consider social issues and barriers, rather than personalities. It eliminates the temptation to judge individuals in their state of immediate need, and instead focus on uncovering potential and worth. As a philosophy of living, “Helping People. Changing Lives.” penetrates beyond the workplace. These few words define a commitment to the betterment of our families, neighborhoods, and communities. They present opportunities for all of us. These simple words – “Helping People. Changing Lives.” – have captured the essence, history and purpose of EOC over the past 36 years. They continue to propel us forward in our mission to serve.

 
Value Statement
We Value:

…our clients, who are treated with respect, dignity, and compassionate understanding.

…our employees, who are appreciated and treated with fairness.

…excellence in leadership, with high ethical standards to guide social change and innovation.

…diversity in our community that empowers low-income persons to be dynamic, thriving, and self-sufficient.

…partnerships and collaborative relationships with those who share our vision.

…advocacy for public policies that benefit our clients and community.


Sources of Funds
FEDERAL

$56,643,485

HHS Administration of Children & Families
$29,281,305
Department of Agriculture $20,846,478
Housing & Urban Development
$2,596,834
HHS Office of Community Services
$1,189,339
HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement

$1,578,948

Coperation for National Service
$353,046


STATE


$22,860,833

Department of Health Services
$11,474,194
Community Services and Development
$3,592,341
Department of Education
$2,207,389
Caltrans/Local Transportation Funds
$1,792,295
Department of Parks & Recreation
$1,572,000
Department of Conservation
$1,386,258
Department of Social Services
$453,714
Governor's Office on Service & Volunteerism $332,642
Department of Housing $50,000


REGIONAL/PRIVATE


$21,014,704


Central Valley Regional Center
$10,976,468
PG&E
$3,102,804
First 5 - Children & Families Commission
$2,000,000
Food Service Sales
$1,631,606
Contract Service - Transit
$1,422,888
Fee For Service - LCC
$838,323
Fresno Madera Area Agency on Aging
$662,165
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation $125,000
Fansler Foundation
$83,251
San Joaquin Valley Health Consortium
$71,242
Parent Fees - School Age Childcare $56,000
Other $44,957


LOCAL


$7,291,707

County of Fresno Workforce Investment Board
$4,420,174
County of Fresno $1,565,750
Fresno County Rural Transit Agency $1,153,944
City of Fresno $138,546
United Way $13,293

In-Kind Contributions


$5,109,056

TOTAL $114,882,617
 

Uses of Funds
By Program Category
Education
$40,208,916
Health Services
$33,315,959
Transit Systems
$12,349,88
Energy
$6,892,957
Employment & Training
$6,463,296
Youth Services
$6,318,544
Administration
$4,595,305
Food Services
$3,159,272
Refugees
$1,578,487

TOTAL


$114,882,487


By Expense Category
Salaries & Benefits
$56,441,310
Contracts & Professional
$8,614,763
Administrative Services
$3,446,479
Facility Costs
$4,590,250
Fuel & Maintenance
$1,548,260
Travel & Mileage
$665,278
Equipment & Leases
$413,655
Repairs & Maintenance
$2,053,005
Office Expenses
$1,657,526
Telephone & Utilities
$1,300,590
Insurance
$1,247,562
Program Activities
$6,201,661
WIC Vouchers
$21,433,741
Energy Vouchers
$2,596,135
Depreciation & Amortization
$1,033,846
In-Kind - Space & Supplies
$1,638,556

TOTAL


$114,882,617


 

Board of Commissioners

 

Elected Representatives
.
Homer J. Leija
Target Area C
.
Juanita Veliz
Target Area B
.
Pastor Rufus Fruge
Target Area E
.
David Randy Kevorkian
Target Area H
.
Jose Antonio Ramirez
Target Area A
.
Daniel Renteria
Target Area F
.
Eugene Rico
Target Area G
.

Jess Saldana
Target Area D

 

Community Sector Representatives
.
Charles Garabedian, Jr.
Malaga County Water District
.
Theresa Hernandez
Foster Grandparents
.
Tito A. Lucero
Head Start Couty-Wide Policy Council
.
Rev. Paul McCoy
NAACP
.
Vongsavanh Mouanoutoua
Lao Evangelical Church of Fresno
.
Esther Padilla
CA Transplant Donor Network
.
Jimi Rodgers
Association of Black Social Workers
.

John Paul Youel
Fresno County Housing Authority

 

Representatives of Public Officials
.
Tim Bakman
14th Senatorial District
.
Dr. Lee Farley
Community Colleges
.
Kathleen Fernandez
Juvenile Court
.
George A. Finley, Sr.
Board of Supervisors
.
Marina Magdaleno
Board of Supervisors
.
Moses Stites
31st Assembly District
.
Rev. E. Swillis
Mayor’s Appointment
.
Peter Vang
30th Assembly District
.
Senior Staff

Executive Director

Roger Palomino


Assistant Executive Directors
George Egawa
.
Alma Kowalski
.
Naomi Quiring-Mizumoto
.


History
Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission, known as EOC, is widely recognized and is one of the largest nonprofit community action agencies in the United States. Founded in 1965, following the passage of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, EOC has spent the past three decades investing in people to help them become self-sufficient. 

The broad scope of EOC’s services provides links in the human service system in Fresno County, and throughout the Central San Joaquin Valley. Because over one-third of the county’s population is disadvantaged, EOC is vital to the Community’s well-being. By providing employment and training, health care, child care, life skills training, senior and youth related services, EOC serves over 150,000  Fresno County residents each year. 

The philosophy behind all of EOC’s programs reflects a commitment to providing quality essential services to those in need. For more than 30 years, EOC has built a strong foundation of services that offer support to people in all phases of life. Programs designed to meet the needs of youth are a major focus part of EOC’s services.  



Agency Background
When Congress passed the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, the goal was to obtain equality of opportunity in education, employment, health and living conditions for every American in our country.  To realize this goal, nearly 900 locally-based Community Action Agencies were established throughout the nation.  The Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission (FCEOC) is one of these agencies.  The functions of the Commission as stated in its bylaws include the provision of encouragement, stimulation and assistance in the development of anti poverty action projects by public agencies, non-profit organization or indigent groups.  Listening to the community and responding with action is a policy of the Commission.  The mission of the agency is to assist disadvantaged person in developing their own capabilities to become more self-sufficient, independent members of the community.

The Commission is a non-profit (501(c)3) private corporation governed by a twenty-four (24) member tripartite Board of Commissioners under the auspices of the EOA of 1964.  Eight members are public elected officials or their designee; eight members are from the business sector, public agencies, and community groups; the remaining eight members are elected low-income target area representatives from throughout Fresno County.

The scope of service provided by the agency consists of almost all facets of human services and economic development.  They range from pre-school education to vocational training; from juvenile and drug abuse counseling to treatment for serious juvenile offenders; from youth recreation to senior citizen hot meal services; from energy conservation education to crisis intervention; from preventive health care to prenatal nutrition education; and from vocational counseling to job placement services.

FCEOC is operating on an annual budget of approximately $80 million and employs over 1,300 full and part-time staff members.  Sources of revenues consist of all levels of government, donations, businesses and user fees.  Due to the wide variety of services provided by the Commission, staff is extremely experienced in management, operations and financial aspects of all levels of human services and economic development.  The agency’s success can be measured by the various dimensions of services and its demonstrated ability in reaching and servicing the target population.  In the past year, for example, the agency provided preschool education and supportive services to more than 2,250 children, senior citizens received more than 900 meals daily, more than 3,500  economically disadvantaged youth received summer work experience, more than 25,250 women and children received nutrition education and supplemental food vouchers, health services provided services to 4,592 patients, and more than 1,200 homes were weatherized to conserve energy and reduce fuel bills.