Thanks to the combined advocacy of our United Way constituents nd partner organizations, United Way of King County was able to achieve many of its legislative asks even in one of the most challenging economic years on record.  Below is a summary of the outcomes of our main advocacy efforts for FY 2011-2013.

 2011-2013 Budget Outcomes

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Recently the legislature made significant changes to Disability Lifeline (HB 2082) for FY 2011-2013.  It eliminated the current Disability Lifeline Program effective October 1, but preserved medical services for eligible clients.  In place of the old program, it created 3 new programs—the aged, blind and disabled program (similar to the current DL-X and is the only program to keep cash assistance grants), pregnant woman assistance program, and the Essential Needs and Housing Support program funded at $64 million and offered to those eligible for…

Viruses and Malware reeking havoc on your nonprofit’s desktop and/or server PCs? Don’t have the staff resources or budget to address computer security issues? Today is your lucky day! A group of senior-level security experts at Microsoft is looking to connect with local nonprofits that are in need of computer security help. Volunteers will look at your nonprofit’s desktop and server PCs to make sure important security updates are installed, preventative anti-virus software is in place, and will help with machines that may already…

How would you like to be part of the largest day of volunteering in Washington State? Whether you’re looking to recruit a group of volunteers to help out at your nonprofit for a day, or you’re interested in organizing a group of colleagues to volunteer, United Way’s Day of Caring is the event for you! On Friday, September 16^th, thousands of volunteers (last year over 10,000 people participated) will spend the day at hundreds of King County nonprofits, schools, city parks, and childcare centers helping with…

When Volunteer Reader Tammie Treibley enters the classroom, she loves hearing the children exclaim “Ms. Tammie is here!”

 Tammie starts with the book “Waddle!,” and asks the kids, “Can you waddle like a penguin? Can you hop like a frog?” Tammie explains that the children “love to act out the actions with the book”.  The book never fails to capture their attention.

 Another crowd pleaser is “I Stink,” a story about a trash collector truck.  Tammie highly recommends the Volunteer Reader experience for anyone who enjoys…

On May 25, 2011, the U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced a competitive $500 million dollar state-level grant to the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge. The Race to the Top challenge focuses on the improvement of early learning and development programs for young disadvantaged children. “For kids, high quality early learning programs mean they will enter school better prepared with a greater chance of finishing high school and college,” said Vice President Joe Biden,…

The New Solutions Impact Council  works to identify community driven solutions that are impacting local communities. Kona Kai Coffee located on 4th and Gowe in downtown Kent is a small business that has passion for good coffee and food and for supporting our young people gain the skills they need to move forward successfully in their lives. Kona Kai recently received the 2011 Restaurant Neighbor Award by the National Restaurant Association. Congratulations…

Volunteer Reader Carol Abrahamson has been reading to the children at the Renton Head Start at Spring Glen Elementary since the Volunteer Reader Program started in 2007. 

I had the pleasure of seeing Carol in action today and learned that she has set up a system that reinforces our program’s expectation of 1:1 reading.  Carol has a master list with all of the children’s names in the classroom—19 in all.  Each week, she marks off the children she has read to so the next week she…

With continued cuts to Disability Lifeline (DL) looming, we decided to ask DL recipients attending United Way’s Community Resource Exchange how they might be affected by upcoming changes to their benefits. It is anticipated that the House and Senate will agree to preserve DL medical coverage. However, the cash assistance benefit will likely see big cuts, if not complete elimination. We asked people why they need this cash benefit and how they will get by if this benefit is no longer available. This is what…

Last Friday United Way of King County held it’s 6th Community Resource Exchange (CRE) at Qwest Field. While we’re still crunching the numbers, it is estimated that about 1,700 people experiencing homelessness accessed services, from foot washing to dental work, at the event. Seattle’s Q13 Fox News was on site covering the event and interviewing guests. Check out their short piece below.