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…

Greetings from the Strengthening Our Community Council!  Over the past six months, the SOC council has gone through some staffing transitions as well as shifting our focus from the application and agency contract process to the research and planning phase of our work.  Currently, our council is hard at work on developing a strategic and investment plan that will help to guide our work in the subject areas that we cover: Employment for adults with developmental and other significant disabilities, Youth development and academic success,…

The New Solutions Council is currently in a very exciting place!  We are working on many different ideas, plans and projects that will help further our impact on the local community.  One of our biggest projects is working on our new Strategy & Investment Plan.  This plan will help guide our work in an even more concise way than we have experienced since the forming of our group in February 2009.  It will help us to assist local communities who have identified and implemented strategies…

In fall of 2009, New Solutions funded several projects and over the next few months the final reports will be coming in. The Brothers and Sisters Project combined the resources of Child Care Resources, American Red Cross and the Community Schools Collaborative to address the high number of youth that aren’t able to participate in after school activities because they are needed at home to care for younger brothers and sisters. The project was implemented in three different schools in South King County: Evergreen Campus…

At our annual Breakfast on June 2, United Way of King County President and CEO Jon Fine opened the event with a report on the progress United Way is making to relieve hunger, end homelessness and to support children and families.

Some highlights of his speech:

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Every year, thousands of low-income families depend on the school-based free and reduced lunch programs to provide nutritious meals for their children.  But what happens when the little munchkins are about to embark on that most wondrous of all nostalgic occasions known as ’summer vacation’?  That’s where the Summer Meals Program comes in.  Sites are located throughout King County at schools, summer camps, and other community and faith-based organizations.  United Way of King County and WithinReach are teaming up to help spread…

Our homelessness and basic needs expert Lauren McGowan takes a look at how Rapid Rehousing is taking shape in King County…

On any given night in King County there are more than one thousand families with children that are without permanent stable housing.  United Way of King County, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, King County and other community partners are working together to address this crisis. Like many communities around the country, Seattle and King County have…

As part of a series on aging, local radio station KUOW recently aired a story about the challenges adult children face when caring for older parents with serious health issues. The poignant piece featured Ron Piland, and his mother Nancy, who was diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer’s disease.

At some point in our lives, most of us will experience a change in roles with an older family member. Often this can be a difficult transition, especially if you aren’t sure when to step in and…

We here at United Way of King County are really proud of the work we do in the community and we love it when we can show off some of the cool projects we’re involved in.

Today’s featured project is Downtown Emergency Service Center’s (DESC) Drop-in Center meal program upgrade.  It was funded through our Response for Basic Needs which focuses on supporting and strengthening the organizations that are helping folks during this recession.

With our funding, DESC was able…

To celebrate National Volunteer Week, we’re hosting a volunteer meet up at Marra Farm (9026 4th Ave. S) on Tuesday, April 20th from 4pm – 6pm!  After volunteering, we’ll all head on over to watch the Mariners game that night — tickets are on us!

Marra Farm is located in Seattle’s South Park neighborhood and makes a big contribution to the community.  The farm grows organic produce and ships them out to local food banks.  Last year alone,…