by Nicole Milbradt, Sr. Marketing Associate & Events Manager
United Way of Pierce County and the Children’s Museum of Tacoma entered into a potential 25-year partnership today with the signing of a ten-year lease, with options for three five-year extensions. As of March 26, 2010, the Museum will lease approximately 8,700 square feet on the first floor of United Way’s historic Betye Martin Baker Human Service Center at 1501 Pacific Avenue in downtown Tacoma. Museum administrative offices will take up part of the second floor.
The Museum is outgrowing its current storefront location and has, under the leadership of John Folsom, been looking for a new home for over two years. Folsom was chairman of the Museum’s Site Selection Committee. The Committee reviewed several opportunities for the Museum, guided by criteria influenced largely by community input. The United Way location met the majority of the Children’s Museum of Tacoma’s search criteria, including a favorable long-term lease, increased space, potential access to outdoor play space, adjacent parking, easy access and safety in a downtown location near cultural districts and amenities.
“We are thrilled about this partnership,” said Tanya Andrews, Executive Director of the Children’s Museum of Tacoma. “Given the current challenges that all of us are facing, this is really an affordable solution for the Museum, for funders and for families. This allows us to focus our resources on playing with families, be it in our new, enhanced space or in their own neighborhood through our expanding Play to Learn program. It means our supporters are funding more direct services rather than just bricks and mortar.”
The new location will further enhance United Way and the Children’s Museum’s partnership in education. The pair have been working with other local partners to increase the number of Pierce County children who are ready to learn upon entering kindergarten. The Children’s Museum’s Play to Learn program has been a key component in the community’s efforts. Play to Learn offers free opportunities for children birth to six years old and their adult caregivers. In its first 18 months, the program spread to eight sites throughout Pierce County and now serves over 400 individuals each week. Play to Learn is projected to serve 10,000 people this year: a growth of over 68 percent since its inception.
“We are excited to have them on board,” said Rick Allen, President of United Way of Pierce County. “Not only are our interests closely aligned, but their move here now makes them a part of the Museum District, a nice enhancement to an economic driver in the city. We think the fit is right in many ways.”
The Museum expects to open the doors at 1501 Pacific Avenue in late 2011. The building, built in 1889, was dedicated as the Betye Martin Baker Human Service Center in 1995. United Way purchased the property in 1992 with the intent of providing affordable space to local nonprofits and organizations with closely related interests. The building is home to several organizations including the Boys and Girls Club administrative offices, Safe Streets, The Nonprofit Center, Cares of Washington and United Way of Pierce County.
The Children’s Museum is interested in continuing its conversations with the community about services and museum amenities; a survey is available at www.ChildrensMuseumofTacoma.org/capital-campaign. Community members can also sign up for email updates about the new space and the Museum’s Capital Campaign at www.ChildrensMuseumofTacoma.org/newsletter-sign-up.php.
The Museum’s Capital Campaign for a new home will be reactivated in the upcoming month. Campaign co-chairs are Jacquie Boyd and Joanne Bamford will meet with their leadership team in early May to determine project needs and campaign goals.
UPDATE: The Children's Museum announced they will open at the new Pacific Avenue location January 14, 2012.
by Nicole Milbradt, Sr. Marketing Associate & Events Manager
The highest honor bestowed by United Way of Pierce County is the Spirit of Pierce County Award. This award is given to the local company that demonstrates consistently strong performance in the conduct of their United Way workplace campaigns, diversity and depth in their community service and energetic and bold leadership in addressing community issues and needs. Recipients exemplify the highest standards of civic engagement and community-based philanthropy. And the nominees are…
Columbia Bank – This amazing organization is very committed to this community. Its employees not only support United Way’s community campaign but donate financial and technical support and volunteer time at more than 150 nonprofits throughout the county. Their fundraising efforts are lead by their management staff and recorded their best campaign ever as a result.
Comcast – This organization gives generously of both their time and treasure. This year, they helped the entire Puget Sound area, working with local United Ways to run the Give $10, Tell 10 Friends social media campaign. They also saw significant increases in their campaign and ran another success Comcast Cares volunteer event.
Lindquist Dental Clinic for Children – This partner has worked alongside United Way of Pierce County for years, working to provide vital dental care to children. This year, their campaign grew from 20% participation to 100% and as a result, their donations increased as well.
Moss Adams, LLP – This company knows what it means to volunteer. They support a number of local nonprofits with their time and through generous sponsorships. In addition, they consistently support the community with financial donations.
MultiCare/Good Samaritan Hospital – This committed organization runs a model campaign. Numerous events, leadership involvement, appreciation events and a hard-working coordinator team have helped MultiCare/Good Samaritan become one of the most successful campaign in the county.
Parametrix – This small company is fueled by an energetic and enthusiastic team of people. Their campaign is known for its fun events but this group understands the importance of supporting the community as well. This year they not only ran a campaign, but provided turkeys for local food banks that were hurting during the holidays.
Pierce Transit – The commitment to community runs year-round for Pierce Transit. They run a stellar campaign but also volunteer close to 2,400 hours of service. They have great leadership support, even putting their CEO to work washing cars.
The winner will be announced April 27th at United Way of Pierce County’s Community Celebration. Congratulations to all of our nominees!
by Nicole Milbradt, Sr. Marketing Associate & Events Manager
It's time to meet another group of award nominees. The third category of nominees is the Campaign of the Year for Companies in the Public Sector. Campaign awards recognize outstanding companies who demonstrate excellence in the conduct of their workplace campaigns. And the nominees are...
City of Sumner – This organization of caring and giving employees saw their most successful campaign in five years in 2009. Participation continues to grow annually as well.
Eatonville School District – A community-minded organization, the School District has been working to increase participation in their campaign for the past few years. They are succeeded, multiplying their participation rate every year.
Sumner School District – One of the most giving school districts in the community, Sumner continued to generously support the campaign this year. Despite staff cuts, they increased their participation and maintained giving.
Tacoma Public Utilities – Just when they think they’ve maximized giving, TPU employees raise the bar. Volunteering, food drives and fundraising events are just part of what made their campaign a success as they exceeded donation and participation goals once again.
The winner will be announced April 27th at United Way of Pierce County’s Community Celebration. Congratulations to all of our nominees!
Coming Next week…The Spirit of Pierce County Award Nominees!
by Nicole Milbradt, Sr. Marketing Associate & Events Manager
The second category of nominees is the Campaign of the Year for Companies with more than 100 employees. Campaign awards recognize outstanding companies who demonstrate excellence in the conduct of their workplace campaigns. And the nominees are…
Concrete Technology Corporation – This company rose to the occasion despite the economic conditions, running one of their best campaigns ever. They raised more this year than in 2008 even though they lost one third of their staff.
Costco Wholesale – Puyallup – Costco ran an outstanding campaign in 2009, incorporating agency tours and presentations that helped employees truly understand the needs of our community. The result, the most significant increase in giving the organization has seen.
Mutual of Enumclaw – Another organization that saw big increase was Mutual of Enumclaw. A very active company in the Enumclaw community, they gave generously this year, increasing their campaign 148 percent.
Umqua Bank (formerly Rainer Pacific Bank) – A dedicated group of coordinators made this year’s campaign an active one. Fundraisers from breakfasts, raffles, doughnut sales, restaurant take-overs and auctions helped this company achieve success.
Toray Composites America – After laying off a quarter of their staff, Toray had their work cut out for them. Yet, their fundraising remained steady and they gave an additional donation to the Gifts in Kind program.
The winner will be announced April 27th at United Way of Pierce County’s Community Celebration. Congratulations to all of our nominees!
by Nicole Milbradt, Sr. Marketing Associate & Events Manager
Each spring, United Way of Pierce County acknowledges the outstanding work of companies and individuals in our community. These partners are critical to the advances being made in Pierce County through their financial support, volunteerism and advocacy.
The first category of nominees is the Campaign of the Year for Companies with less than 100 employees. Campaign awards recognize outstanding companies who demonstrate excellence in the conduct of their workplace campaigns. And the nominees are…
Altrom America Group – a leading distributor of import car parts and alternatives, Altrom chooses to give to United Way of Pierce County despite their location in King County. They support the community where they live through their campaign and by donating to the Gifts In Kind program.
APA – The Engineered Wood Association – APA was one of the many organizations that saw a reduction in its workforce but that didn’t stop this company from supporting the community. In addition to running a strong campaign, APA also supports the community year-round through food drives, back to school support, holiday giving and volunteering.
Baxter-Hobart Manufacturing Systems – This company‘s leadership sets the tone for their campaign, giving a remarkable corporate match to encourage employee giving. In addition to their outstanding campaign, Baxter-Hobart gives their time at an equally generous rate, supporting several organizations in their Orting neighborhood.
NuStar Energy – This company proudly boasts a 100% participation rate in their campaign. They also give through Gifts in Kind, volunteer their time and support families through seasonal giving.
Pilkey Hopping & Ekberg – Another company with 100% participation, this organization decided to focus on increasing their giving. They did just that by tripling their donations for 2009.
Salvation Army – Tacoma Corps – Over the last several years, this organization has increased its giving substantially, going from 12% participation a few years ago to 100% in 2009.
Ted Brown Music Company – This company took a fun approach to their campaign this year and it paid off. Exciting events combined with education to make this year’s campaign a success.
The winner will be announced April 27th at United Way of Pierce County’s Community Celebration. Congratulations to all of our nominees!
by Nicole Milbradt, Sr. Marketing Associate & Events Manager
