United Way of King County Blog » Michael Beneke

No more pre-packed bags of food at a Brooklyn food bank

Michael Beneke — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 23:35:50 +0000

Instead, users of the service can pick the items they and their families want and need, using touch-screen computers. The result: less unwanted and ultimately wasted food. And more accomodation of special dietary and health needs. The food bank is also experimenting with a community supported agriculture (CSA) operation on site one day a week, serving everyone in the neighborhood — regardless of class — who wants fresh, local food fare. Prices are on a sliding scale, down to free. NYT account here.

Microsoft auction raises $450,000 for the community!

Michael Beneke — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 00:38:21 +0000

This year, Microsoft employees raised $450,000 for the community through their online auction benefiting United Way. A number of senior executives offered unique items and experiences, including dinner on Senior Vice President and General Counsel Brad Smith’s yacht, and a vuvuzela signed by CIO and GIVE Campaign co-chair, Tony Scott. Some of the top bid generating items included vacations to places like Mexico and France, and parking spaces at various Microsoft building locations from the Real Estate & Facilities group.

Special thanks goes to the Microsoft Auction team including: Deb Rakow, James Sukhabut, Jorge Berlanga, Pankaj Arora, Armando Valenzula, Innocent Ndimubanzi, Chris Sinco, Louis Farris, Bruce E. Johnson, Paulina Bustos Arellano, Tom Moran and Melinda Anderson. Great job everyone!

Charities can’t bear budget cut burden [KIRO Radio]

Michael Beneke — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 00:09:16 +0000

On KIRO Radio, United Way CEO Jon Fine and Seattle Foundation chief Norm Rice react to Governor Gregoire’s breathtaking budget proposal.

“Clearly, the non-profit sector cannot be the replacement for the loss of state or federal dollars going on.”

Los Angeles casts an envious look at Seattle…

Michael Beneke — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 04:20:12 +0000

…and the success we and other cities have had in putting a significant dent in homelessness. With 48,000 people without a secure roof overhead, Los Angeles ranks as the country’s homelessness capital. And it’s time for that to change, say city leaders, who have an ambitious new plan to build 12,000 units of permanent supportive housing. The Los Angeles United Way is among those taking the lead, as described in today’s front page account in The New York Times. Also read the views of the head of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, who sees that ending homelessness is the right thing for everybody in the community, including those wanting to foster businesses and new jobs.

EITC Eyed for Reduction

Michael Beneke — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 20:51:28 +0000

A potential casualty of the Simpson/Bowles presidential commission on debt reduction: The Earned Income Tax Credit and the millions of kids it lifts from poverty each year.

Today in Crosscut, Mark Trahant digs into why the EITC matters, and quotes a report from the Brookings Institution looking at three decades of the tax credit: “The EITC has proved remarkably successful in reducing poverty. In 2003, the EITC lifted 4.4 million people in low-income, working families out of poverty, more than one-half of them children. Today, the EITC lifts more children out of poverty than any other social program or category of programs. Without it, the poverty rate among children would be 25 percent higher.”

Each year, United Way of King County’s Free Tax Prep Program helps thousands of low-income families tap the EITC. We’re actively looking for volunteers now.

Sharp Tick Upward in NYC Homeless Count

Michael Beneke — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 19:40:20 +0000

The New York Times reports this morning that the number of people who were found homeless and outside during NYC’s One Night Count in January rose by 34% over 2009. Officials blame the harsh and tenacious recession.

Other cities around the country are yet to report their One Night Count results — excepting Seattle/King County, which saw a reduction this year of about 75 people. Locally, there’s been a lot of effort to create short- and long-term housing so people can escape homelessness, which probably explains the divergence between the cities. For example, here more than 1,000 units of permanent housing have come on-line in recent years, or will soon.

What do you think: is that a sufficient explanation for the positive trend in the Seattle area? Or are other things at work?

Seattle Times: Two Experiences from Hunger Action Week

Michael Beneke — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 08:24:31 +0000

The Times profiles two families and their encounters with scarce food and limited budgets during United Way’s Hunger Action Week. The piece does a great job conveying what it’s like for a family for whom a food stamps-budget is a constant reality.

Eric Rivera during United Way of King County's Hunger Action Week

Color me happier…

Michael Beneke — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:04:52 +0000

…on this gray day after reading in the Times how community volunteers are cheering up the supportive house sites run by DESC, a United Way grantee. With the help of the volunteers and a local artist, once-drab walls are now sporting bright hues, making the atmosphere less institutional and more welcoming for the once-homeless people now living at the Union Hotel.

A moving remembrance…

Michael Beneke — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 18:54:55 +0000

…of Dolores Gancher, a homeless woman taken under the wing of Seattle Times staff members. It’s a good reminder that in solving homelessness, both individual kindness and systemic efforts play their part. By Nicole Brodeur.

Poverty comes to the suburbs…

Michael Beneke — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 18:38:27 +0000

…and soars overall. Here’s a sobering piece from Bob Herbert, the NY Times columnist, describing how 5.2 million Americans have joined the ranks of the poor (200% or less of the poverty line) in the last 8 years. Half of these newly poor are in the suburbs, not — as might be supposed — the inner cities or struggling rural areas. Altogether, more than 90 million Americans live in poverty now — a third of the country’s population. Wow.