One year ago, everyone at United Way of King County breathed a big sigh of relief–and then erupted into cheers when we heard that our Climb for the Community team had successfully made it to the summit of Mount Rainier.

In July 2009, a group of community leaders went on the inaugural “Climb for the Community” to the top of Mount Rainier. The group included United Way of King County CEO Jon Fine, United Way Board Chair Molly Nordstrom, Seattle Seahawks CEO Tod Leiweke and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Their guides were mountain climbing legends Ed Viesturs and Peter Whittaker.

The climbers’ purpose: raise awareness and money for United Way of King County’s Response for Basic Needs, which provides help for families, disabled people and seniors being hard hit by the economic downturn.

The 2009 Climb for the Community raised over $350,000. Thank you once again to everyone who made a donation! Whether you gave $5 or $500, your gift has made a difference and means so much to our community.

• Your support means 6 million more pounds of food for the emergency food system, and more groceries, baby formula and fresh produce for people in need.
• It means more refrigerators and freezers to store food, and trucks to move it, for 42 food banks that are on the front lines of ending hunger.
• And it means wonderful, creative solutions on the horizon, such as our new cannery project, which will enable surplus fruits and vegetables to be canned. It’s the first project of its kind in the Puget Sound region. When the cannery is fully operation, it will have the potential to produce 10,000 cans of food a week for local food banks. That’s more than half a million cans over a year. Wow!

These are impressive results that are going to make a lasting difference in the community and in people’s lives. We are so thankful to everyone who supported the Climb for the Community and to the community and business leaders who made it up the mountain.

We’re looking forward to another successful Climb in 2011. Stay tuned for details.