Waypoint

This non-profit is the oldest non profit in the corridor and does such great work. They serve to help people in domestic crisis, housing crisis and provide excellent full pay and assisted pay child care. 98% of their children are kindergarten ready with the pre-school that Waypoint provides. They are excellent stewards of their funds and serve such a huge need in the communities they serve.

The staff and volunteers at Waypoint are one of a kind. They are steadfast in their mission of moving people forward and handle each individual with kindness and compassion. The organization is vital to women, children and families in Cedar Rapids and surrounding counties. I believe in Waypoint.

I have been involved with Waypoint for the past three years as a volunteer and board member. This organization does more good for our community than we could ever give them credit for. The people at Waypoint spend countless hours helping others in need, saving lives, and building a safe place for those who need one. They care children in their day care centers at a level anyone would be proud to be a part of. Join me in congratulating everyone who is a part of this great organization! Great Job Waypoint!

Waypoint is an incredible organization and provides great services within the communities they serve. I'm honored to serve as a Board Member and look forward to working with them on their mission.

I could not be more proud to serve on the Waypoint Board of Directors. Waypoint has 125 years of moving people forward. They impact lives in such a positive way everyday! Their preschool program for full pay and subsidized pay has over 95% of children kindergarten ready. They help with rapid re-housing to those in need of a home and help with domestic violence awareness as well as mentoring those that have been impacted. 125 of moving people forward...WAY TO GO WAYPOINT!

Teri G. - 2019 Board of Directors President

I am actually a former client and current board member of Waypoint Services. Without the services and support I received from Waypoint, I'm not sure what direction my life would have taken. The staff truly cares about the well being of each individual they serve. Their mission - to help individuals move forward in their lives - is evident in everything they do. I am grateful for the support I was given, and honored to pay it forward with my role on the board of directors.

Cannot say enough great things about Waypoint! When I was asked to be on the board, it was a no brainer. My time with Waypoint has been amazing. They are dedicated to the community and the people they work with. The staff are top notch. We are so lucky to have Waypoint in our Cedar Rapids community!

Waypoint is an embodiment of their mission; helping to move people forward in their life. They are highly needed in our community. I choose to volunteer with Waypoint as my journey in this life has not been the easiest. Waypoint helped me to move forward in my personal life. I was once a recipient of their services. What many did not know as I hid it; was I was married to an alcoholic. We met in high school at a young age. I always wanted it to be better, for him to be better and for me to be better. It was very turbulent. One evening, I had to call 911. I feared for my life. I had feared times previously; but this time I knew in my heart I had to call. I was able to escape to a nearby home. He was arrested and the state pressed charges. I met multiple times with the assistant county attorney and the victim advocate. I received information that Waypoint put together that was helpful to me. I am forever grateful to the state and to Waypoint for the kindness they extended to help me move forward in my personal life. I was able to get to a point where there was more of an assurance of safety. I then was able to focus on getting the help I needed. It has been a journey of healing and moving forward and as mentioned, I am forever grateful. When it indicates below to choose your role, I am thankful to be a volunteer now.

Such an amazing organization. Can't say enough great things about the staff and what they do for our community.

I start working at Waypoint as a college intern. After completing my internship, I continued my career at Waypoint as a volunteer. I was very impressed with the housing, and food, services Waypoint provided. No is never a word used with someone is requesting resources or services. If Waypoint cannot assist the person other resources, references, or a referral are provided. This is very important working with a person in crisis. The daily positive interaction between staff and clients is another reason I decided to volunteer.

As an employee of another non-profit organization that provides crucial services to the most vulnerable population in our community, I applaud Waypoint's DV program and its advocates for the wonderful work they do. Their advocacy helps to improve the lives and safety of families. We are fortunate to be able to collaborate with their program and help serve survivors.

Waypoint was my sunshine on my darkest days. I am a domestic violence survivor and was put in contact with them after my last attack. My advocate drove out to my home numerous times to meet with me, they helped me pay my bills, they helped get my locks changed on my house, they gave me tools I never would of thought of to make sure I and my daughter stayed safe. They made sure my daughter had a Christmas by giving gifts!!! My advocate took thousands of phone calls for me and attended all the countless court hearings, she sat next to me and held my hand as the judge handed out my abusers sentence. Most important she taught me how to believe in myself, she reminded me this storm will pass, she helped me find my voice again. I ended up getting to know most of the waypoint team. They all reminded me everytime how strong, and beautiful I was. That is a gift I'll never be able to repay. They all were my cheerleaders during the darkest part of my life. They helped me rise above and gave me more than one opportunity to share my story in hopes it would help atleast one person. Waypoints rating exceeds 5 stars. They gave me mine and my daughters life back. I've said my army is bigger than my abusers. With waypoint behind me I've got the strongest army ever! I will end my review with this. People have lives outside of work and even if there is a rough day out side of work you never would know it. They handled every call, face to face, court appearance and so on as I was the most important person in the world. Thank you Waypoint!

Waypoint does so much for families in and around the area; from women and children's services to Christmas gift giveaways to the community food bank, Waypoint's contributions to our community are appreciated. We use their school age services, and I feel that Jaina, the instructor at our site, genuinely cares about my children.

My aunt was in a domestic abuse situation in Minnesota. Her and her 3 children, 2 of which have special needs, came to Waypoint (as she is from the eastern Iowa area). Waypoint helped her get settled into a safe place to "start over" and get out of harm's way. It is a blessing to have such a resource in the community to help people like this.

I have been volunteering at Waypoint for the last six years and have found everyone we work with at Waypoint to be outgoing and positive role models for everyone that uses their services. We read to the pre-schoolers five times a year and interact with the teachers and children on our visits. The classes are always well-structured and the children have fun learning many skills and also are prepared to enter the school system.

I am a fairly new volunteer with Waypoint, but I think they do an excellent job! They are very respectful of the clients they serve and are friendly and helpful to the volunteers. I enjoy volunteering there very much and hope to for many years to come!

I have volunteered for Waypoint for more than 25 years as a donor and member of the Board of Director's and Board of Trustees. I have seen changes in volunteers, leadership and staff but the thing that has always remained the same is Waypoints' passion to fulfill the mission of serving women and their families during times of crisis. 25 years ago we were focused mostly on fitness. We now provide quality day care with a sliding fee scale, a homeless shelter for women and their children and advocate for victims of domestic violence as well as many ancillary services. I am proud and honored to be associated with such a wonderful organization for over a quarter of a century.

Excellent and committed staff who have the interests of survivors at the fore-front of their work. Thank you Waypoint.

I have served on the Board of Directors at Waypoint for 5 years and have been a volunteer with the organization since 2004. I have heard many stories from the women and families helped by Waypoint. The staff is dedicated, professional and innovative. I am proud to be associated with this nonprofit!

I served on this board for 6 years and have remained a huge advocate and supporter because of my experience as a board member. This organization genuinely engages it's board members to understand the impact that this organization has on the community as well as the women and children that it serves. We met the women in crisis and heard their stories. We hung out with the children in the shelters while assisting them at making hand made Mothers day cards. We were also invited/encouraged to go through the Advocacy training for the Assault Shelter. This is a 40 hour training experience that lead to one of the most eye-opening experiences of my life. I will never forget my first day of volunteering in the shelter and hearing the desperate cry of a mother on the phone as she learned about losing care of her children. As hard as it was to hear this, I knew that she had a support system around her within Waypoint that would lend her guidance and keep her safe. I often think of that woman and wonder what would she have done if Waypoint was not there for her...........

As a former board member and current volunteer, I can think of no other not-for-profit that does so much for the women, children and families in need in our community. Waypoint stretches its limited resources to help those impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, homelessness or near homelessness AND subsidized child care. Most of all, the organization does this with unbound passion and professionalism.

As a board member for Waypoint, i want to share what a difference this organization has made in our community . Waypoint provides a safe, confidential, non-judgmental place for women, children and families. They provide free and confidential services for those most vulnerable that includes individuals and families of all ages, socio-economic levels, cultures and genders who are:

Homeless
Living in Poverty
Victims of Domestic Violence
Victims of Sexual Assault
Friends and Families of Victims
There is no greater understanding demonstrated by the staff of this organization. They are the ultimate professionals and offer compassion and care for all they touch. I wish to express my appreciation and support for this team and the work that they do without any need for recognition, only a desire to provide support and love. Thank you

Waypoint has been a huge life- changer for me. They have helped me with the most difficult times in my life. They have convinced me that I do deserve better in life. Me and my children do not have to hurt or be hurt anymore. There staff are some of the most supportive, empowering women I have ever met in my life. Thank you so much to all who help support them and us. They have given me a new look on life and possibly life itself.

Waypoint has a great positive impact on our community. They have consistently used their resource to bring the most impact to the people they help and the rest of our community. The leadership of this organization is well respected and deserving of our thanks.

The work this organization does is unbelievable. I ALWAYS support them through their May Day Basket program and the holiday toy drive for the kids. They support my business and therefore I do the same.

I was on the board for 8+ years, served as President, and was always impressed with the dedication of the staff. I often thought that the Board may be the "head", but the staff is the heart. Waypoint serves families by strengthening them.

I was on the board for 6 years, served as board president for one year. The staff consistently showed the highest level of service, dedication, compassion and love for all of the clients they served. They touched, and enhanced, the lives of so many. During an open house tour of the transitional residential facility a little girl proudly showed me "her home" and "her bed", undoubtedly the nicest and safest place she had lived in quite awhile. The staff continually looks for ways to leverage resources to provide the maximum amount of service possible within their financial constraints and realities. Kudos to Liz and all of her staff!

I served on the board for 5 years before moving away from Iowa. I was amazed at the great work they did for the community. The testimonies from those served brought to light that no one is exempt from needing help from time to time. They provided shelter for abused women and families, and a helping hand to get women back on their feet. I left before the flood that devastated the area but once again, hard work and commitment enabled this organization to rally and resume helping those still reeling from the floods. They are truly a treasure to the community.

I started my career in business and education at Waypoint as an intern in their marketing department. I was impressed then and I remain impressed now, after 6 years working in a few different companies, how well this organization is ran. From the top down it always seems to me that Waypoint has a clear focus and utilizes an outstandingly successful "umbrella" business model that uses their for-profit daycare centers to operate their non-profit women and children centers. I am proud to say that I was a daycare kid in their summer program as a youth and that I was able to help them while also starting my career there. I am now a high school teacher in downtown Houston, TX with 85% of the population being "at risk" in one way or another, Houston needs an organization like Waypoint in a bad way! Cedar Rapids is lucky to have them. -Wylie Hachey

As both a board member and parent of two young children in Waypoint's daycare program, I am impressed every day with the level of commitment and dedication that Waypoint's staff--top to bottom--has. We know our children are in great hands every day and are continuously impressed with the childcare staff's loyalty and genuine concern for our children's wellbeing. As a board member, I had many opportunities to observe the senior executive team in action. It is clear that Waypoint's staff is constantly focused on providing excellent service to its clients and our community. We are lucky to have this organization providing critical services in our community.

I always think of Waypoint first when I have useful items to donate such as diapers, backpacks, school supplies or toys. Several groups I belong to support Waypoint as well...it's such a crucial service to our community.

Waypoint was a god-send for me 4 years ago when I was in need of childcare for my youngest daughter. I really didn't want to pay a lot of money to send my child to an in- home daycare that I wasn't sure of. Someone suggested Waypoint Uptown Kids. Oh. My. Gosh. From the minute I walked in there with her, I knew this is where I wanted my daughter to be. Chris, her lead teacher in the Blue Room along with Ginny and Carla (who would become her lead teacher in Purple) were wonderful. When Carla moved to Purple Room to be a lead teacher, she took me aside and explained that she was moving and wanted me to know for Katy's sake. They comforted her when she went through the separtion that first week, got down on the floor and played, did crafts, and were so helpful with any concerns I had. Each room that my daughter transitioned to was the same. Helpful, caring and incredibly knowledgeable staff. Even though she is now in 1st grade, my daughter always wants to go visit and see Miss Kim, or see Diane at the front desk. Whenever anyone asks me where to go for child care, Waypoint Uptown Kids is the first answer out of my mouth. No hesitations.

My first experience with Waypoint was as a volunteer for the "Waypoint Wonderland Gift Gala" back in 2006. I can still remember how meaningful it was for me as a mid-20 something, with a good job and lots of family support to spend all afternoon wrapping gifts and talking with women who were so grateful that they were going to be able to provide gifts for their children during the holidays. Waypoint Services provides a critical safety net for women and families who have fallen on tough times, been the victims of domestic violence or who just need a little extra support. Now six years later, I'm proud to be volunteering for my fourth year as a Waypoint Wonderland volunteer and just finishing up my first year on the board of directors. When my mom moved to iowa in 2009, she became a program assistant at Waypoint's shelter and through her experiences, I've gotten to know even more about the organization and the key role that it plays in giving women a chance to provide for their families and exit unhealthy relationships. It is truly a life-changing place!

I have had the privilege of serving on the Waypoint board of directors for almost six years. One of the key reasons I wanted to be involved with this organization centered around their Domestic Violence and Sexual Assualt programs. I was born to a victim of date rape so many years ago that the term "date rape" had not yet been coined. Thankfully my birth mother chose to carry me full term and I was adopted three days later. I will never be able to thank her enough for giving me life, nor will I ever be able to fully understand what she went through emotionally and physically in the aftermath of such an ugly event. When I learned about Waypoint's DV/SA efforts and initiatives, I knew I wanted to help in whatever way I could. Waypoint has DV/SA advocates on staff and several trained volunteers who offer support to crime victims by providing 24-hour critical services and ongoing support and guidance to those who are survivors of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, rape, incest and adolescent sexual abuse. Here are some statistics from 2011 that validate the phenomenal work Waypoint Services does in our community:
• Served 1,772 new victims of violence
• Local and toll free crisis lines: 3,399 calls
• Facilitate weekly support groups and children’s support groups to 407 participants
• One-on-one counseling by appointment or walk-in: 727 participants
• Legal advocacy - 101 participants
• Criminal justice advocacy - 58 participants
• Medical advocacy with victims at area hospitals – 124 served
Waypoint truly gives women in our community hope when they feel there is none ... a place to stay and be safe when they don't know where else to turn ... and the tools they need to begin a fresh start.

As a volunteer and board member of Waypoint, I can assure you that I've consistently witnessed the positive impact this organization has on the community. The mission of helping women, children and families is acted out every day by associates that genuinely care about the clients they serve. The child care program is the largest in the community and provides child care services on a sliding scale when affordabiity is an issue. Throughout the county and now, the state, Waypoint has taken a lead role in homelessness and housing services through administering grants, using case management vs. sheltering, and partnering with other homeless shelters to share our best practicies. The domestic violence and sexual assault services, also using a case management approach, continue to lead the state's initiatives despite state program cuts. The ingenuity of the directors of each of these programs is demonstrated every time the programs face any fiscal challenges. My famiy and I will always be devoted to Waypoint's mission.

Waypoint Services provides a critical service to our community. The critical services that Waypoint provides- Domestic Violence, homelessness and childcare assistance are critical to ensuring that our community has the necessary resources to help people out. The staff at Waypoint are great and they always are mission driven.