PRODUCED BY ST CONTENT STUDIO GIVING GUIDE How to make a difference in your community
Sunday, April 24, 2022 | Special Advertising Section 1 R 2 GIVING GUIDE By Al Kemp / Special to the Giving Guide When Nykeesha Griffin was about 10, she began to notice that the world is populated with two kinds of people: the haves and the have-nots. “I started to grasp the concept, and I didn’t understand why anyone would ever go without when there are so many resources available,” Griffin says. Today, the Seattle native does what she can to help remedy that imbalance by giving volunteer hours and financial support to what she calls “causes that speak to my heart.” By example, she hopes to also instill a giving spirit in her teenage daughters, 16-year-old Tyra and 15-year-old Nyshae. The value of giving When Erica Wiley talks about those who “live their values,” she’s talking about people like Griffin. In Wiley’s view, charitable giving is more a lifelong journey than a one-time event, with different age groups demonstrating unique habits and behaviors. Wiley ought to know: She’s vice president of development at United Way of King County, which raised more than $81 million in public support in 2020, using it to improve the quality of life for millions of local residents. Wiley says one’s “philanthropic journey” often begins in youth, when many parents use what she terms “the three-jar method” to instill in their children the value of giving — one jar of money is for spending, one for saving and one for giving. “We talk to parents about ‘How do I instill my values in my kids?’ That can be some of the early conversation. Sometimes it can be through volunteering,” she says. That’s where Griffin’s children began their philanthropic journey. “They have come along with me to volunteer many times, and in some cases, have initiated things, such as my eldest daughter asking me if we could feed the homeless for Christmas,” Griffin says. GIVING GUIDE This section was produced by ST Content Studio. Contact us at 206-464-2400 or advertising@seattletimes.com. Art on cover and page 2 designed by Freepix. The girls also learn by example. Their mother, who is employed by a local tech firm, is a former board member at Communities in Schools of Seattle, and supports a variety of nonprofit organizations, including Nurturing Roots, Acts on Stage and AfricaTown Community Land Trust. The importance of legacy Later in life, donors are likely to pivot from grassroots causes to support larger organizations with far-reaching programs, Wiley says. Griffin’s journey backs that up. “As you grow older and wiser, you discover the reality that we are not meant to live life without companionship and community,” she says. “Financial resources become less significant, and your legacy takes priority. “I think that grassroots efforts are easier for a younger generation who are more closely connected to their community and less likely to home in on making a bigger impact by aligning with a large organization, as people seem to gravitate to in Where are you on your ‘philanthropic journey?’ their later years in life.” Wiley says the fastest-growing source of funding in the nonprofit world is in donor-advised funds (DAFs), which are charitable investment accounts that allow FREEPIX See Journey, page 4
1 R Special Advertising Section | Sunday, April 24, 2022 3 tion, etc.) • Choose organizations affiliated with BIPOC communities, LGBTQ+, veterans, seniors, immigrants and refugees, and more • Find organizations that have matching funds so your dollars can go further. When you explore the website, you will discover nonprofits such as Pioneer Human Services, which assists 10,000 people every year who are re-entering the workforce, many after incarceration. Learn about the work of TransFamilies, an organization serving transgender children, families and the professional community that supports them. Admire the resilience of the Skagit Habitat for Humanity, which has been helping people transform sweat equity into home equity for 27 years. Marvel at the unique habitat the chimps GIVING GUIDE By Nancy Long Executive director, 501 Commons When you visit WAGives.org, you will meet talented, dedicated people who stayed strong during uncertain times. Inside the hearts of these employees and volunteers is the steadfast belief that we can improve our communities and uplift the lives of others. The causes that drive us may differ, but we all aspire to positively impact the world around us. We hope to provide a sustainable environment for wildlife, access to parks and recreational opportunities, quality child care and enriching before/after school programs. We want to lay our heads down at night knowing that no child went to bed hungry and no parent slept restlessly because of the fear of violence in their home. We cherish the experience of music, art, film, dance and theatre transporting us to new cultures, experiences and perspectives. We want others to have what we want for ourselves: health, happiness and opportunity. Each year, 36% of us volunteer and 56% donate $25 or more to charity. In your own way, you are likely doing something to improve your community or help a neighbor. You donate to the local food drive. You express gratitude to the health care workers who have risked their lives to care for you. By listening to someone describe their challenges, you show respect and a willingness to expand your point of view. GiveBIG provides you with an easy way to give, volunteer, show gratitude and learn. Visit WAGives.org to find causes that speak to your aspirations for your community. You can: • Search for organizations by location, city or county • Filter by cause (such as education, animals, social acWe need to cultivate a culture of kindness enjoy at the Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest in Cle Elum. The last two years have taught us many lessons. One is that nonprofits are amazingly wellmanaged, agile and resilient. GiveBIG organizations have had to spin gold from the straw of rapidly changing circumstances. COURTESY OF TRANSFAMILIES GiveBIG is a statewide fundraising campaign that culminates in a 48-hour giving event on May 3-4. Individuals and organizations come together across Washington to invest in our communities. During last year’s GiveBIG, nearly 72,000 donations were made to 1,684 nonprofits. Those donations — combined with donoradvised funds and IRA contributions, matching donations from individuals and companies, sponsors, and in-kind contributions from local media companies — totaled $17.4 million. What is GiveBIG? In many cases, the community needed them to do different things, and do what they did differently. Many organizations saw demand for their services explode beyond their available funds. Others saw their revenue streams vanish as performance venues and schools shut their doors. Like for-profit businesses, they have had to deal with higher costs, staff turnover, wage inflation and increased stress. We estimate that 90% of Washington’s nonprofits navigated these rough economic times without receiving any government money. While governments were willing to provide financial relief to most for-profit small businesses, little support was available to nonprofit small businesses. And despite this, only a handful of nonprofits went out of business. Another lesson we learned is that we cannot take for granted that a culture of kindness will sustain itself in our communities and workplaces. We each need to cultivate and strengthen that culture. This is not a responsibility we can leave to others. We have to conduct ourselves with more humility, treat neighbors and co-workers with more consideration, and make fewer assumptions about people we only know as floating images in Zoom boxes. We have to want to have a conversation, to listen, especially if we do not see eye to eye. It is easy to shun or dismiss people. It is more comfortable to fall silent rather than confront behavior that pigeonholes people and shuts them out. Instead, let’s choose kindness. You can start by giving generously — and urging others to join you — during GiveBIG on May 3-4. COURTESY OF PAWS
Sunday, April 24, 2022 | Special Advertising Section 1 R 4 donors to support specific IRS-qualified causes over time while taking an immediate tax deduction. Wiley says a typical donor who’d use a DAF is a professional who is eyeing their long-term earnings as well as their tax liabilities. “Say you’re a mid-level Amazon [executive] with a salary of $150,000 and 500 shares over five years,” she says. “As that stock vests, it will often result in significant cash events, along with notinsignificant capital gains.” The challenge for nonprofits Nationally, fewer people are giving to nonprofit organizations, a trend that Wiley attributes to decreasing membership in religious organizations, a shrinking middle class and the decline of workplace fund-drive campaigns. Despite the national trend, the Puget Sound region is particularly fertile soil for nonprofits, Wiley says, because of its high concentration of affluent professionals and its progressive social climate. GIVING GUIDE Seattle Foundation, a local network that works with philanthropists to maximize the impact of their donations, offers this primer on donor-advised funds. Specific policies vary from provider to provider. • Donors may choose to remain anonymous, either entirely or on a grant-bygrant basis. • Family philanthropy can be accomplished throughout the donor’s lifetime, as well as by naming children and grandchildren as successor advisors to continue the family’s legacy of giving. • In addition to cash and publicly traded securities, gifts of complex assets — such as real property, closely held business interests or cybercurrency — receive beneficial tax treatment, as DAFs are component funds of public charities. • DAFs can participate in impact investments, which generate investment returns while also creating a positive social or environmental impact. Community foundations specialize in place-based impact investing. 5 things to know about DAFs For Griffin’s part, she sees challenges as well as hope. “Living through a pandemic has opened many people’s eyes to the nuances of inequitable resourcing in our country,” she says. “If we raise children to have empathy for others, they will not wait until they are in need to understand why helping is essential.” Journey Continued from page 2 COURTESY OF NYKEESHA GRIFFIN Nykeesha Griffin says she instills a giving spirit in her two teenage daughters by giving volunteer hours and financial support to her favorite nonprofits. “I’m BLIND & am President & CEO of an organization that employs over 250 people who are blind.” - George Abbott Learn more about how to engage & support ■ LHBlind.org
1 R Special Advertising Section | Sunday, April 24, 2022 5 Join Seahawks legend Cliff Avril and CHAMPION A CAUSE Discover and donate to causes that matter to you. WAGives.org
Sunday, April 24, 2022 | Special Advertising Section 1 R 6 SPONSORED CONTENT Community solutions take aim at ending hunger with targeted action Hunger doesn’t have to happen, and yet no amount of food charity seems to end hunger. This contradiction and complication are impossible not to notice in a land of plenty. Despite decades of efforts, hunger and food insecurity haven’t disappeared. “It is a well-known theme in hunger relief organizations that states, ‘we can’t food bank our way out of hunger,’“ says Mark Coleman, senior media and marketing officer at Food Lifeline. In other words, we can’t solve the problem by providing food alone. Instead, to solve hunger we need to address both the daily needs of people facing hunger as well as hunger’s root causes. “Rather than evaluating success on the volume of food distributed, Food Lifeline focuses on creating long-term impact by partnering with local leaders and co-creating programs in neighborhoods and communities most impacted by hunger. We focus on reducing barriers to accessing nutritious, fresh produce, proteins, dairy, and pantry staples in ways that meet community needs,”Coleman says. Food-secure households are defined as those with access, at all times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Food-insecure households aren’t confident they’ll have or be able to get enough food for family members’ needs due to lack of money or other resources. This often leads to skipping or cutting back on meals. Some food-insecure homes might dampen the effects through less-varied diets, government food assistance, or groceries from community pantries. In 2020, there were over 38 million people living in food-insecure households, including 6.1 million children. InWesternWashington, last year Food Lifeline helped more than 1.37 millionWashington residents, more than twice previous years. And while many areas are rebounding from the pandemic, some counties experience far higher or disproportionate rates of food insecurity. For example, Black and Latino households are twice as likely to experience food insecurity, according to Seattle and King County Public Health. Through grant-funded research, Food Lifeline found that seven counties within their 17-county service area are severely impacted by COVID-19 and experiencing the highest racial disparity levels and disproportionate food insecurity. Some counties such as Skagit, Mason and Snohomish experience the highest racial disparities. Others, such as King, Pacific and Lewis Counties, experience the greatest proportional need. The results help prioritize investments for future partnerships, programming and resources. For example, a new network of local Food Access Specialists in these counties will work alongside existing and emerging programs to create community-led food assistance programs. Community solutions Hunger is a povertydriven phenomenon, exacerbated by inequity and systemic racism. To end hunger, we need to help people out of poverty,” Coleman says. Listening to and empowering communities’ needs helps remove barriers and restore power where food is concerned. So, delivering food isn’t enough — getting the right foods into the right hands is the goal. One of the organization’s biggest challenges is moving food to where it’s needed most. Within Skagit County, those living on Swinomish Tribal Community lands only have a gas station as a nearby food source. “Food deserts” such as this don’t offer access to stores selling healthy, affordable food. According to the USDA’s original definition, food deserts are low-income areas where at least 33% of the population lives more than a mile from a supermarket or large grocery store in urban areas and 10 miles from a grocery store in rural areas. Larger stores tend to carry a wider variety of nutritious fresh produce, along with dairy, dry packaged foods, frozen foods and fresh meat.Without access to supermarkets, communities may depend on convenience stores and gas stations, which tend to carry limited or inconsistent access to fresh foods. Under the Community Food Sovereignty Fund, Food Lifeline supplies fresh produce that the tribe distributes at several stands across the tribal lands. But the fund is also helping to build a “hoop house,” or covered garden, able to produce food year-round. Currently, the ComFood Lifeline provides nutritious food to 1.37 million people by sourcing from a variety of food industry partners. We distribute through 350 food banks, shelters, and meal programs, enabling us to provide the equivalent of more than 282,000 meals daily. Learn more at foodlifeline.org. munity Food Sovereignty Fund supports eight programs in Skagit,Whatcom, Snohomish and King Counties. The program’s funding for organizations includes Catholic Housing Services of Washington’s community gardens and edible permaculture for six farmworker housing communities and Mutual Aid of Skagit County’s grocery gift cards for traditional and culturally relevant foods fromminorityowned local stores. In Skagit County, the Tri-Parish Food Bank serves a large Latino population of seasonal farmworkers. Foods such as tomatillos, jalapeños and corn were in high demand, but Food Lifeline’s bulk food donations can’t guarantee availability. So Food Lifeline helped Tri-Parish create contracts with local growers for a steady flow of these foods. Mobile food pantries also serve nutrition to food desert locations across the nation. These pantries on wheels bring free food to a convenient community location such as a school, church or community center. “The idea of meeting people where they are is critical to this work, and I feel it makes people feel supported, cared for and important,” Coleman says. PROVIDED BY FOOD LIFELINE Read story online Food Lifeline staff and volunteers sort and re-pack donated foods for more than 350 food banks, shelters and meal programs across Western Washington. (Food Lifeline)
1 R Special Advertising Section | Sunday, April 24, 2022 7 Join Western Washington's largest hunger-relief organization in our belief that nourishing food is a human right. Help us end hunger by donating today.
Sunday, April 24, 2022 | Special Advertising Section 1 R 8 SPONSORED CONTENT Local reporting: A two-way avenue for change In 2020, an in-depth KUOW investigation discovered that Seattle Public Schools allowed teachers who harmed students to remain in the classroom. After reporter Ann Dornfeld’s story published, SPS removed three teachers from classrooms. Another KUOW investigation on the lack of tailored remote instruction for students with disabilities during COVID-19 led to a January 2021 federal probe into SPS. Public media stations such as KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio, Seattle’s nonprofit NPR news station, are even more critical today as “news deserts” spread across the nation — 200 counties don’t have a local newspaper, and half of all counties only have one newspaper, according to research from the Hussman School of Journalism and Media. EvenWashington state’s newspapers have decreased from 22 to 19 between 2004 and 2019. Why local reporting matters Local reporting provides actionable information saving lives, from deadly heat waves to pandemics. “During the early days of the pandemic, our team of journalists and reporters adjusted resources to increase the output of lifesaving COVID-19 related information and resources,” says KUOW spokeswoman Michaela Gianotti. A pandemic-focused blog reported daily updates on vaccine developments and deadlines, school closures, case rates and emerging scientific consensus. During the summer 2021 heat wave that sent thousands toWashington emergency rooms, local reporters provided essential information, including road updates, cooling center locations, and at-home DIY cooling tips on a fastpaced blog. It was critical, actionable information during one of the deadliest weather-related events in Washington state history. Temperatures soared over 100 degrees, buckled roads, withered crops and killed off shellfish. After the heat passed, local reporters shared community members’ personal stories and learned lessons from emergency-response agencies. “The biggest threat to a vibrant democratic society is the absence of local news,” says Zaki Hamid, KUOW’s director of community engagement. “Without it, there is no one to question the people in power, misinformation and disinformation can thrive, and the public would have a harder time finding the information they need to stay safe and healthy.” Amplifying lesser-heard voices from communities around the region creates new opportunities to bridge newsrooms and communities. (KUOW Photo / Juan Pablo Chiquiza) KUOW is Seattle’s NPR news station, serving the Puget Sound community for 70 years. Our independent, nonprofit newsroom produces award-winning stories, podcasts, events and more. Learn more at www.kuow.org. Many communities, many voices Reflecting and understanding diverse local landscapes requires local reporting grounded in this deep sense of community. “Something we talk about a lot is the concept of ‘active invitation.’We must be an active player in engaging the community at every stage of the reporting process, rather than waiting for folks to weigh in,”Hamid says. KUOW staff reach out beyond the station walls to discover questions and uncover topics. In 2020, the station ran an“If I Were Mayor” series based on voters’ questions for mayoral candidates. Newsroom staff uses the messaging tool Groundsource to text questions and requests for comments to a group of opt-in listeners. In response to numerous questions about recycling, reporter Anna Boiko-Weyrauch took 12 listeners on aWoodinville recycling center tour to sort out answers. KUOW’s Community Engagement team amplifies lesser-heard voices from communities around the region, gathers feedback and ideas, and creates new opportunities to bridge the newsroom and communities. For example, the station hosted meetings with their journalists at King County libraries and invited community members to join staff for informal dinner conversations and discussions on news topics in past years. Even COVID-19 didn’t dampen the two-way conversations — the dinner parties and journalist conversations just moved online. “From these efforts, we get not just ideas for new stories, but new sources, new angles, new voices, and even new colleagues,” Hamid says, noting that a recent hire was introduced at a KUOW journalist happy hour. Training the next generation of journalists creates a pipeline of diverse voices from Puget Sound communities to the airwaves. KUOW’s youth media programRadioActive works with teens aged 15-18. Alongside KUOWprofessionals, teens learn about journalism, audio recording and editing, scriptwriting, and on-air speaking. Almost 600 young people take youth journalism and radio storytelling workshops at more than 25 schools and community organizations each year. Recent RadioActive stories have included a son sharing his father’s use of a guitar to overcome challenges as a teen immigrant fromGuatemala and a teen’s experience within the foster care system. Young workshop grads have used newfound talents to launch careers in journalism. After all, it’s never too early to create the infrastructure for upcoming reporters and listeners. “An informed public makes our community stronger. Local reporting is essential to building a better future here in our community,”Hamid says. “It holds power to account, protects our democracy, and ensures our community is empowered with the information they need to make the best decisions possible.” PROVIDED BY KUOW Read story online KUOW reporter Anna Boiko-Weyrauch records as Karissa Jones, education and outreach coordinator, gives a tour to KUOW listeners on Friday, October 26, 2018, at Cascade Recycling Center in Woodinville. (KUOW Photo / Megan Farmer)
1 R Special Advertising Section | Sunday, April 24, 2022 9 Because an informed public makes our community stronger. Listen up for local journalism. 70 years of KUOW. Support access to local journalism at KUOW.org/donate. Paid for by KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio (KUOW.ORG)
Sunday, April 24, 2022 | Special Advertising Section 1 R 10 SPONSORED CONTENT The lifesaving power of paramedic training At home after his bike ride along Bainbridge Island, Tim grimaced in pain. Heartburn, maybe. But the pain increased and began radiating down his left arm. “Lorna, I might be having a heart attack,” he said to his wife. He called 911 and laid down on the sofa. Upon arrival, Bainbridge Island Fire Department paramedic Jeff Milsten saw Tim’s ashen face; he was in obvious distress. Aware that Tim’s condition was severe and that time was of the essence, Milsten started an IV and hooked Tim up to the defibrillator, a device that can both analyze the heart and deliver an electrical current to restore a normal rhythm. Time was critical, so an Airlift Northwest helicopter was dispatched to transport Tim from Bainbridge Island to a Seattle hospital. On the way to the helipad, Tim lost consciousness. Milsten and his crew started CPR and, for the next 45 minutes, tried to get a pulse back, shocking Tim 10 times with the defibrillator. “There was life. Tim was not ready to leave,” Milsten says. The monitor showed electrical activity in Tim’s heart. “The heart was trying as hard as it could, and we couldn’t give up. That was one of the signs that told us we still had the tools to make a difference and turn it around.” Annually, over 850,000 people die from cardiovascular disease in the United States, which includes various cardiac emergencies, such as heart attack and cardiac arrest. Heart attacks happen when a clot stops the heart’s blood flow, while a cardiac arrest occurs when there is an electrical malfunction in the heart, causing the heart to stop beating effectively. Both can lead to death if not treated properly and quickly. Lifesaving lessons When emergencies happen, highly trained paramedics save lives. Paramedics provide advanced lifesaving measures, treating individuals suffering from severe medical and traumatic emergencies, such as heart attacks, strokes, and more. Left: Under the guidance of senior paramedics, a paramedic student performs an endotracheal intubation on a mock patient during trauma drills. Right: During the annual Mega Code training drill, students must assess and treat patients suffering from various cardiac emergencies, such as heart attacks and cardiac arrests. (Medic One Foundation) Medic One Foundation saves lives by improving pre-hospital emergency care. Since 1974, we have invested $30 million in paramedic training, research to improve patient outcomes, equipment to help fire departments save lives, and CPR/ First Aid training for citizen responders. Learn more at www. mediconefoundation. org. Last year, King County paramedics responded to over 42,000 calls for lifethreatening emergencies. Through the Medic One Paramedic Training Program, our region’s paramedics receive some of the best and most comprehensive training in the world. Milsten is a recipient of this incredible training, using the knowledge and tools he acquired during the long and intensive program to serve people who live in the Bainbridge Island community. At graduation, Medic One paramedic students have logged more than 2,100 hours of clinical, classroom and field experience, almost double the national recommendation of 1,100 hours. Each student will also care for over 650 patients — three times the national average — suffering from cardiac arrests, trauma or other life-threatening illnesses. The King County Medic One tax levy provides the basic infrastructure, including paramedic salaries, vehicles, equipment and supplies. In other words, the county levy puts the men and women in the trucks, and the trucks on the streets. But it’s the Medic One Foundation, founded in 1974, that funds the Medic One Paramedic Training Program, which teaches paramedics to act and think like a well-trained doctor would on the scene of an emergency, saving lives through improved pre-hospital emergency care. But EMS agencies around our region are facing a current and future staffing shortage of paramedics. “There is an overwhelming need right now to train more paramedics,” says Dr. AndrewM. McCoy, ProgramDirector of the EMS Fellowship at the University of Washington’s Emergency Medicine Department and Medical Director of American Medical Response. “Our goal is to ensure that King County and surrounding communities have the optimal number of Medic One paramedics needed to respond to medical emergencies like trauma, cardiac arrest and stroke that threaten the lives of thousands each year,”McCoy says. A new day After flying to the Seattle hospital, Tim underwent surgery for a blocked artery. Due to the care received that day, Tim can share his story. “I’m very appreciative to the folks that worked on me, people that came to my house, took me to the helipad and performed CPR on me. How do they do that for 45 minutes? I’m really appreciative that they didn’t give up,” says Tim. “I’m just really, really grateful that we have Medic One. It’s really important because they have that training, all those medications, and the ability to not give up,” says his grateful wife, Lorna. “If you want the very best care, the training has to be there.” PROVIDED BY MEDIC ONE FOUNDATION Read story online Each year, Medic One paramedic students participate in the annual Pediatric Drill at the Redmond Fire Department. Students are tasked with assessing, treating, and transporting young children experiencing various medical emergencies, including seizures, allergic reactions, and more. (Medic One Foundation)
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Sunday, April 24, 2022 | Special Advertising Section 1 R 12 SPONSORED CONTENT Creative care is a powerful prescription for healing When Ollie was born, he wasn’t expected to live. He was abandoned as a newborn at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma with several heart complications. He spent two months in the pediatric intensive care unit, much of that time hooked up to a heart-lung bypass machine to keep him alive. Finding ways to help children, like Ollie who has spent a lot of time at Mary Bridge Children’s during the past seven years, takes dedication, expertise and a huge dose of creativity. Keeping a child’s spirits up while they are injured or sick is an important part of the healing process. A recent study conducted by the National Institute of Health reports that emotional well-being significantly promotes recovery. “The dedication and longevity of our caregivers —physicians, nurses, child life specialists, social workers, physical therapists and so many others — is at the heart of what makes our hospital special,” says Alicia Chapman, executive director of Mary Bridge Children’s Foundation. “They all have a real passion for working with children, as well as a commitment to quality health care and compassionate care. I’ve seen them go above and beyond their job descriptions many times to meet kids where they are and boost their spirits.” Let a four-legged friend help Many studies show that animals, especially dogs and cats, can reduce stress, depression and loneliness. One of the members of the Mary Bridge Children’s Child Life Services team, Olaf, is proof of that. This five-year-old lab accompanies young patients to medical appointments, plays fetch in the hallways and demonstrates by lapping water in a syringe, that taking medicine isn’t a big deal. “The use and inclusion of Olaf provides motivation, encouragement, support and comfort to our patients,” says certified child life specialist, Kristen Bishop, Olaf ’s handler. “He knows more than 40 commands that we use in our daily interactions with the kids we serve.” Get crafty When Hanna finished treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2016, the 15-year-old from Edgewood had a string of beads that stretched over 35 feet and contained more than 1,000 beads. She was Mary Bridge Children’s facility dog, Olaf, poses with his handler and a Mary Bridge Children’s patient. (Lisa Blackmore / Mary Bridge Children’s Foundation) Your donation to Mary Bridge Children’s Foundation helps provide lifesaving services, the latest equipment, clinical research and compassionate care for Northwest families. Please consider donating, so the kids we help can get back to just being kids. Learn more at supportmarybridge.org. in treatment for more than two years, so she’d had a lot of time to collect them. Through the Beads of Courage program at Mary Bridge Children’s, children dealing with chronic illnesses receive a special bead for every procedure or milestone in their treatment — from blood draws to chemo to surgical procedures. The beads serve as a reminder of their bravery and courage in every step of their journey. Some children turn the beads into necklaces; others maintain one long string. The program is supported by donors who pay for the cost of the beads. Hospital staff and volunteers help enroll children who are newly diagnosed. Hanna has spent many hours stringing and restringing her necklaces to make sure they’re in the right order, based on her cancer treatment. “It tells my story,” she says. “It helped me look forward to something. Even if a poke hurt, I thought, ‘I’ll get a bead for this.’” Think and play like a kid Understanding how a child thinks and what makes them feel comfortable and safe in a hospital setting is crucial. “As we look to the future and expand Mary Bridge’s main campus, we will always keep the importance of play and accessibility at the center of what we do Chapman says, giving the example of a young boy who was extremely nervous about coming into the hospital building. “We had a little red wagon waiting for him at the front door. He’d take a seat and thought it was great fun to be chauffeured in style to his doctor’s office, or the blood lab, wherever he needed to go.” As for Ollie, today he’s an active and fun-loving eight-year-old who comes back to Mary Bridge Children’s for treatment periodically. During one stay, he looked out the window to see snow and his entire face lit up. That was all his doctor and nurse needed to see to run outside with a cup and collect some snow for him to make a snowball. PROVIDED BY MARY BRIDGE CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION Read story online Thanks to the lifesaving care Ollie received at Mary Bridge Children’s, he can get back to being a kid again. Here he’s seen riding a bike as part of his physical therapy. (Lisa Blackmore / Mary Bridge Children’s Foundation)
1 R Special Advertising Section | Sunday, April 24, 2022 13 Thanks to your donations, James isn’t just a kid with MS. He’s just a kid, in spite of MS. Your donation to Mary Bridge Children’s Foundation helps provide lifesaving services, the latest equipment, clinical research and compassionate care for Northwest families. In the case of James, it helps him manage his symptoms so he can keep doing what he loves. Please consider donating so kids like James can get back to just being kids. Visit MaryBridge.org/donate
Sunday, April 24, 2022 | Special Advertising Section 1 R 14 SPONSORED CONTENT Assistive tech puts new solutions within reach Maranatha, a 6-year-old girl with speech disabilities, was slowly learning to express words and short phrases with the help of an iPad-based device called an AbleNet Quicktalker Freestyle. Working with her mother and coached by a speech pathologist, Maranatha was able to select from an array of large speech buttons, divided into situational categories such as “home” and “social.” Progress was slow but steady, week by week, she had mastered about 10 buttons she could use to reliably express words or ideas. But one day, while her mother was talking to a speech-language pathologist named Adam, something remarkable happened. Exploring the buttons of social phrases on her device, Maranatha found the phrase “I love you.” She paused, then hit the button again. And again. Then she verbalized “Mommy.” “Mom looked at me and said, ‘She’s never said that before’ with a shocked look on her face,”Adam recalled. “We were both pretty stunned. It was a short but very sweet moment for everyone in the room.” That moment was made possible thanks to the assistive technology of her speech generating device, one of many tools employed by PROVAIL. The organization started in 1942 as a cerebral palsy group and flowered into a comprehensive provider of assistance for people with disabilities throughout King and Snohomish counties, with services including community based residential services for adults with developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injuries; community-based employment supports and a clinical program that includes speech and occupational therapy along with assistive technology services. Assistive technology is integral to PROVAIL’s vision of lowering barriers and providing new opportunities for people living with disabilities to pursue their life choices, according to Mike Hatzenbeler, the organization’s president and CEO. Microprocessing devices such as iPads or Todd is a resident in one of PROVAIL’s community living homes. (PROVAIL) Building a pathway to inclusion, PROVAIL’s work strives to ensure that people with disabilities experience a life of inclusion, choice and equity in their school, work and housing — no matter how complex their support. Learn more at provail.org. other tablets play a key role in providing PROVAIL’s clients with opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach. “For some people, the tablet can help them communicate, while for others it can help them organize tasks, in the workplace for example,”Hatzenbeler says. “Tablets and other devices can also be used to control various items in a person’s environment such as the room lights, television and Alexa devices.” Another piece of technology that puts a higher quality of life within reach for mobility-challenged clients is powered wheelchairs. “For people who use both powered wheelchairs and speech-generating devices, there is often a need for different types of switches to help them operate both devices,” Hatzenbeler says. “The chair, the device and the switches all need to be integrated together into a coordinated system that is customized for each individual. They might have one set of switches mounted near their head, which are used to drive the wheelchair. Another switch could be mounted near their leg or foot to activate their speech-generating device, and the device itself might be operated with what’s called ‘eye-gaze,’ meaning it tracks the items on the screen their eyes are focused on.” Another assistive technology that people without disabilities might take for granted is telehealth. “Our clinic staff has embraced telehealth as a way to continue to see clients throughout the pandemic, and that has been an unexpected silver lining, with many students making great strides within the supportive environment of their home,”Hatzenbeler says. Assistive technology can also help PROVAIL staff provide solutions using their own creativity. “One of our job coaches, Chloe, was working with her client Riley on teaching job skills. Due to the pandemic, they were primarily working remotely, making some aspects of the job difficult,”Hatzenbeler says. “Chloe used her creativity to overcome these challenges by making video tutorials demonstrating the job tasks Riley was working on learning.” PROVAIL is one of the largest disability-service providers in the state, with clients ranging in age from preschool to senior citizens. The supported employment program serves about 600 clients, with 75% of them employed in community businesses in King and Snohomish counties. The supported-living program supports 90 adults with developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injury to live in the community. And the therapeutic and assistive technology clinic supports 250 children and adults with mobility and communication challenges. PROVIDED BY PROVAIL Read story online Jojo, a therapeutic and assistive technology clinic client at PROVAIL, seen here with his communication device. (Michael Sladek)
1 R Special Advertising Section | Sunday, April 24, 2022 15 We believe everyone has the right to pursue the life they choose. Join us in building pathways to inclusion for people with disabilities. PROVAIL has 80 years of experience providing uniquely comprehensive and personalized services as a lifelong resource to individuals with disabilities and their families. From children to senior adults, we provide systems of support with residential, employment and clinical services including innovative assistive technology solutions. We support people at home, in the workplace, in school and wherever they want to be in the community. www.provail.org | 206.363.7303
Sunday, April 24, 2022 | Special Advertising Section 1 R 16 SPONSORED CONTENT Access, opportunity and support are the keys to building a more equitable society Education is a gateway to opportunity. Long-term investments in academic enrichment, holistic support, and leadership and career development can lead to college graduation and career success for underrepresented students of color. Rafael del Castillo, executive director of Rainier Scholars, a nonprofit that offers a pathway to college and careers for underrepresented students, says it’s crucial to prioritize early intervention, high expectations and comprehensive long-term support so students can succeed. At Rainier Scholars, this means being in it for the long haul. The organization’s 12-year holistic program supports students from 5th grade through college graduation and beyond. del Castillo describes it as a “forever journey,” as evidenced by their growing alumni network. Several Rainier Scholars alumni are participating in a new mentorship program in which they’re paired with a student who is interested in pursuing a similar career path. del Castillo also emphasizes the importance of academic rigor and access to opportunities. “There’s huge support, but with that comes high expectations,” he says. And there are plenty of examples that prove these students are ready and eager to take on challenges. For example, Rainier Scholars recently held an event, geared towards high school students, with local and national BIPOC elected officials about how to run for political office. “The high school kids were definitely interested, but the middle school kids in the room, who we thought would mostly be observers, were also incredibly energized,” del Castillo says. Ensuring these students continue to receive support once they reach college is also key. College graduation rates lag for students of color for reasons ranging from financial challenges to a lack of resources and support on campus. The academic counselors at Rainier Scholars remain in touch with their students to provide guidance and support as they make the adjustment. When students graduate and begin their job search, del Castillo says it’s important to offer continued Rainier Scholars is a 12-year college access and leadership and career development program beginning in 5th grade. (Rainier Scholars) Rainier Scholars cultivates the academic potential and leadership skills of hard-working, underrepresented students of color. By creating access to transformative educational and career opportunities and providing comprehensive support to scholars and families, we increase college graduation rates and empower new generations of leaders. Learn more at www. rainierscholars.org. support when it comes to things like writing a résumé or learning how to successfully negotiate a salary. Addressing inequity also requires awareness of barriers that may not be visible. Two of the biggest hurdles faced by underrepresented students are lack of cultural capital and fundamental financial resources. “Not every underrepresented group has that capital and if historically they’re not brought to those tables, they don’t have the knowledge or know the pathways,” del Castillo explains. “Your child may be an incredibly talented student, but if you don’t know there’s a path out there for them, that’s a problem.” When it comes to finances, it’s not just about tuition money — it’s about being able to fund the things that come with education and extracurricular activities such as playing a musical instrument, paying field trip fees and preparing college applications. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, schools and educators across the country and world were abruptly forced to pivot from in-person classrooms to virtual learning. It was a challenge for all teachers and students, but underrepresented students faced additional barriers. “Due to the challenges of online learning, equitable access to quality education became more important than ever, as did providing strong support,” says del Castillo. As school moved online, Rainier Scholars’ first priority was to make sure that students had access to the fundamentals such as laptops andWi-Fi hot spots. Educators also checked in with students about their families and expanded their mental health team. Working to achieve a more equitable society requires a range of supports and skill sets and strong community relationships. del Castillo stresses the importance of approaching new partners with questions rather than answers. Rainier Scholars recently launched a new partnership with the Tacoma Public Schools. After speaking with members of the Tacoma community and school leaders, Rainier Scholars adjusted their model to fit the needs of that community. “Our model has been successful for 20 years, but it can be refined to meet the needs of any community we’re serving,” del Castillo says. He also emphasizes the importance of working alongside other community-based organizations, to tap into their expertise. “I don’t think anyone organization has all the answers and we believe in the exponential power of partnerships,” he says. Working hand in hand with community-based organizations maximizes the impact of support for students and families. PROVIDED BY RAINIER SCHOLARS Read story online Over 275 Rainier Scholars alumni are working or attending graduate school in a variety of fields, bringing diverse perspectives, voices and talent forward, while redefining leadership. (Rainier Scholars)
1 R Special Advertising Section | Sunday, April 24, 2022 17 Equitable access to a high-quality education and boundless opportunities can change the life trajectory for underrepresented students of color. But the power of this impact goes beyond the individual. Our scholars themselves are catalysts for change, as they transform communities, schools and workplaces— creating greater possibilities for future generations. Join us virtually on April 27 from Noon–1:00 pm Witness the transformative power of opportunity Through your support, you can also be a catalyst for change. Spark Inspire Transform Catalyst for Change Rainier Scholars | 206.407.2111 | www.rainierscholars.org | We believe cultivating academic potential and nurturing leadership skills is a—
Sunday, April 24, 2022 | Special Advertising Section 1 R 18 SPONSORED CONTENT When a child is sick, support for parents is a valuable tool for healing Amna was overjoyed when she became pregnant in 2019. She had moved to the United States from Sudan the year before and was eager to start a family with her husband. Jude was born in Omaha, Nebraska, later that year. Shortly after, a newborn screening test revealed Jude had sickle cell disease, a genetic disorder in which red blood cells can block oxygen to any part of the body. Patients with sickle cell disease can experience severe pain, are vulnerable to infections and can develop many life-threatening conditions. Amna was devastated. “It was so hard for me to accept Jude’s diagnosis, but I knew I had to take care of her the best I could.” Amna did everything possible to help her daughter, including researching sickle cell disease care centers around the country. She learned Seattle Children’s has more experience caring for children with sickle cell disease than any other program in the Pacific Northwest. Meanwhile, in Omaha, Jude’s health was deteriorating. At four months, she caught a cold from a playmate and developed a high fever. She had to be hospitalized for a week and had her first blood transfusion. Two months later, Jude had to be hospitalized again due to problems with her spleen. “I started crying,”Amna remembers. “I could see what this disease was costing my daughter. I felt like she was dying in front of my eyes.” That’s when Amna decided to move across the country so Jude could receive care at Seattle Children’s Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic and the hospital’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. It wasn’t easy. Amna was still learning to speak English, their family and community was in Omaha and it was March 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic was becoming Amna did everything possible to help her daughter, Jude, including researching sickle cell disease care centers around the country. When you support Seattle Children’s, you bring hope, care and cures to families right here in our community, including Jude’s. Every gift counts when she’s counting on you. Learn more at give. seattlechildrens.org. more serious. Amna’s husband initially got a job working with a trucking company, but a few months into the pandemic he was laid off. Thankfully, a social worker at OBCC stepped in to share community resources that could help. Jude’s family received food, diapers and four months of rent. Seattle Children’s Uncompensated Care Fund covered the cost of their medical care. At the same time, sickle cell disease specialists at OBCC found a medication that changed Jude’s life. She grew significantly, had less pain and swelling and was energetic enough to run and play. Jude has not been hospitalized since starting the treatment nearly two years ago. “When we first came to Seattle, I had no one,”Amna says. “If I cried, there weren’t any shoulders to cry on. But Children’s cared about my situation. Now, all the people who work in the Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic, they are my family.” As Jude’s health improved, Amna was able to go back to school and is working towards a bachelor’s degree in epidemiology. She uses her education to help other Arabicspeaking families who have children with sickle cell disease. “When the doctor told me Jude had sickle cell I thought ‘My life is going to stop here,’”Amna says. “Now, I see how strong we are. Jude is growing and I am growing with her.We wouldn’t be where we are without Seattle Children’s.” PROVIDED BY SEATTLE CHILDREN’S Read story online “All the people who work in the Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic, they are my family,” Amna says.
1 R Special Advertising Section | Sunday, April 24, 2022 19 Jude, living with sickle cell disease Hope. Care. Cure. ™ Some said sickle cell disease would steal Jude’s joy. Tell that to this glowing girl. YOUR DONATION MAKES THESE MOMENTS POSSIBLE. Jude’s pain started at just four days old. Her family was scared and heartbroken, so they went looking for answers — and found Seattle Children’s. Today, thanks to generous gifts from people like you, Jude is growing into who she wants to be. Every gift counts when she’s counting on you. SeattleChildrens.org
Sunday, April 24, 2022 | Special Advertising Section 1 R 20 SPONSORED CONTENT Closing the economic recovery gap for Black women The U.S. economy is bouncing back from the pandemic recession, yet this recovery has largely left behind Black and African American women. According to the National Women’s Law Center, unemployment for Black women was significantly higher during the pandemic than the rate for Latinas, Asian women and white women — and still is. “Black women, particularly African American immigrants, have always had a disproportionate share of entry-level, low-paying jobs,” says Mina Amin, Employment Services program director, YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish. “This wage gap was making it difficult for these women and their families to make ends meet way before the pandemic event started.” According to NWLC, this wage gap has been a driver of increased hardship during the pandemic, robbing many Black women and families of adequate savings to successfully weather the COVID-19 recession and its aftermath. Economic gains in recent months are not being experienced evenly across groups by race and gender, with Black women still suffering from the pandemic crisis. YWCA’s mission is to enable Black and African American women and girls to move from survival mode to thriving, post-pandemic and into the future. “Our vision is a healthy and joy-filled community transformed by racial and gender equity, where women and girls of color have equal access to opportunity and resources to pursue their full potential, which elevates the entire community,” says Amin, who runs the job-readiness training programs. “We give our program participants not just skills, but also the confidence and resilience needed for a successful job search.” Employment readiness: Beyond job skills The women who come to YWCA for assistance are often frustrated with their job-search experiences, citing discrimination even in the interview process. “Many of our participants are immigrants, so language proficiency is a problem,”Amin says. “And some don’t know how they Considered an essential service, YWCA remained open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women and break down barriers to equity in housing, employment, health and safety. We operate a network of communitybased programs, serving 7,000 people across the region, from Everett to Auburn. Learn more at www. ywcaworks.org. are expected to dress or act during a job interview in an unfamiliar culture.” According to Amin, employment readiness is three-fold: One-on-one coaching. This personalized attention may include: setting personal career goals in a current or new industry, tips to conduct online job searches for desirable employers, help with career networking, resume and cover letter editing, and mock job interviews for coaching. YWCA employs Career Navigators who speak the language of many of their immigrant participants and often come from the same background as them. Navigators also provide a supportive space to discuss challenges and how to address them, including race or gender-based discrimination, biases, and micro-aggressions. Profession and life skills training. Amin says that strong customer service skills are a must-have for nearly any job. That’s why YWCA is offering a new customer service training program in partnership with Starbucks. Other programs offered include Microsoft Office instruction, basic digital literacy, job readiness and job skills instruction, CPR/first aid certification, early childhood education, professional financial services training, pharmacy technician training (through a partnership with CVS), financial literacy, and one-on-one financial coaching. These trainings and workshops not only help give women the confidence to succeed, they also position them to take leadership roles in the workplace, which is key to building more equitable opportunities for all. Assistance finding additional services. This may include: higher education and vocational training programs, scholarships and other financial aid options, ABE/GED and ESL programs, apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship training, on-the-job training, and youth-focused internships. Resilience opens doors “We always tell women, don’t be hard on yourself if you don’t get a job,”Amin says. “It can be a tough process, one that takes resilience.” Flexibility, persistence and patience are all pieces of bouncing back after the multiple rejections that come with most any job search. Here are Amin’s tips for staying resilient. • Create a job search routine. • Get creative in assessing your employment skills. • Look at industries that are hiring, and put in the time to train for available jobs. • Keep a positive attitude. • Practice your interview skills, and keep honing them. PROVIDED BY YWCA SEATTLE | KING | SNOHOMISH Read story online Ninety-three percent of graduates report leaving YWCA employment programs with increased job readiness.
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