Successful Kids: Faith's Story

Faith was struggling in school. She had a hard time reading and was falling behind. All she needed was a little help. Her teacher recommended her for extra tutoring and referred her to the Communities in Schools of Lakewood after school program at Tillicum Elementary. 

Thanks to funding provided by United Way of Pierce County, Communities in Schools of Lakewood was able to extend their program to serve students during the summer. 

“They need that extra support that we’re able to provide at the school.”  -Leah, Communities In Schools of Lakewood. 

Watch Faith's Story

While Faith was participating in the program, she also got books through the summer meal site nearby, thanks to a partnership with St.Leo’s Food Connection. Through summer meal partnerships like these, 

United Way distributed more than 2,000 books this summer. Many children don’t have books of their own at home and can lose up to two months of what they’ve learned over the summer. But that wouldn’t be the case for Faith. She worked hard with the teachers at the summer program and continued to get caught up. 

Now Faith will start the school year at grade level and is ready to succeed. Communities in Schools of Lakewood is just one of the many programs receiving funding from United Way of Pierce County. By focusing on programs that help young children and their families, we can remove the barriers preventing them from breaking the cycle of poverty.

Hunger Initiative: accessible healthy food with vouchers

By: Cristiana Ventura, Resource Development and Marketing Intern

Hunger-Free Pierce County Collaborative update: investing $20,000 worth of Farmer's Market vouchers in Tacoma.

The Tacoma Farmer's Market remains a favorite summer pastime for some, a vital resource for many, and a potential burden for others. Healthy and accessible food is hard to come by for those struggling to make ends meet. And food at the food banks isn't always abundant with fresh and nutritious produce.

Another successful initiative of the Collaborative includes a large investment in Tacoma Farmer's Market vouchers.Though Tacoma Farmer’s Market has been accepting EBT since 1999, “farm to table” fresh produce is still financially out of reach for many low-income families.

During the fall of 2014, Tacoma Farmer’s Market launched the Double your Dollars Matching Program, which began providing a one-to-one match of up to $10 for EBT shoppers (formerly Food Stamps), per market, per week for fresh fruits and vegetables that low-income shoppers could use to have more purchasing power. The 2014 program also piloted a WIC and Senior Nutrition Voucher matching fund that provided $10 in extra spending per market for those who qualified. 

UWPC's support helped at least 423 different shoppers double the value of over 2,070 shopping trips. 

This year, TFM wanted to continue and expand services to low-income shoppers enrolled in the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program. Families and individuals qualifying for these programs can attend any of the Tacoma Farmers Market Locations and receive $10 worth of vouchers per individual, per market, per day. 

"Thank you for the “double bucks” program. We love this Farmer’s Market at Salishan. We carpool from North Tacoma to shop here and to see our friends. This summer I purchased almost all of my fruits and vegetables at the Farmer’s Market. It reminds me of my country where we could buy fruits and vegetables only at Farmer’s Markets. Thank you very much!" –Lidiya Khinotskaya (Originally from Russia)

Not only does this provide low-income families with more purchasing power, but it also encourages people to come together and break down barriers while supporting local agriculture. Many shoppers enrolled in the program have communicated to us that they would not have ever come to the market had they not learned about the vouchers. 

“Before, I didn’t eat too many vegetables and fruits, and now I have lost 10 pounds since they offered the program. I am eating better now, and the vouchers help me buy more because I am very low-income. It’s a blessing.” –Gloria Morales

TrueBlue as a Premier Partner

TrueBlue is one of our outstanding Premier Partners. Their campaign finished at $197,000 compared to $166,000 the 2013 year.

The TrueBlue Campaign Committee, led by Nick LaShomb, was well organized and determined for a successful campaign.  

They set a high goal, to increase by 10% over last year – then they beat it!  

TrueBlue matched every employee donation, dollar for dollar, and had a very impressive 81% participation rate.  A truly stellar campaign!   

But last year, wasn’t their only successful year, they have raised over $558,788 in the last 5 years, which is why they too are on our Top 25 in Company Giving list.

On their campaign they have, 17 Leadership Donors. (Leadership donors donate $1,000+)They also have year-round engagement which includes: Day of Caring, Annual Book Drive and Jeans Day Donations.

To award their successful campaign and hard work, they were a 2014 Co-Winner of UWPC Campaign of the Year Award for Large Company. 

"A huge thank you to the United Way committee for inspiring all of us to give back to our community where we are the most vulnerable, our children.

Helping children in early reading programs, ensuring no child goes hungry each day and watching out for their families is the very best thing for us to give back to.

I am honored to work side by side with each of you on this email as we align TrueBlue's values to the needs in our community.

Thank you a thousand times over!" -Steve Cooper, TrueBlue, CEO

Premier Partners support Pierce County

By: Cristiana Ventura, Resource Development and Marketing Intern

United Way of Pierce County collaborates with hundreds of businesses to make Pierce County a better place to live. Those who make extraordinary and wide-ranging contributions to our community are recognized as our Premier Partners. Their quality workplace campaigns, community service, in-kind support and sponsorship help create opportunities for a good life for all. 

Special thanks to our Cornerstone Partner Employees Community Fund of Boeing Puget Sound. As our largest funder, their efforts in the community embody the spirit of LIVE UNITED and they consistently exceed expectations.

United Way of Pierce County Premier Partner campaigns include:

Albers & Company

Cole Graphic Solutions

DaVita

Korum Automotive

Niagara Bottling Company

Pierce County Government

Russell Investments

Tacoma Public Schools

U.S. Bank

Workforce Central

Baxter-Hobart

Columbia Bank

Employees Community Fund of Boeing Puget Sound

McGranahan Architects

Nordstrom

Puyallup School District

Sound Credit Union

Tacoma Public Utilities

U.S. Oil & Refining Company

CAR TOYS

Comcast

Heritage Bank

MultiCare Health System

NuStar Energy

The Rescue Mission

State Farm Insurance Company

Tacoma Rainiers

United Parcel Service

CHI Franciscan Health System

Coordinated Care

Intel

Mutual of Enumclaw

Parametrix, Inc.

RockTenn

Sumner School District

Target

Wells Fargo Bank

City of Tacoma

Costco Wholesale

Jesse Engineering Company

The News Tribune

PCS Structural Solutions

The Russell Family Foundation

Tacoma Pierce County Health Department

TrueBlue, Inc.

Weyerhaeuser

Learn more about Premier Partners and Workplace Campaigns

Collaborative Efforts Fight Against Hunger

Hunger related issues prove vast in our county. Even at our South Sound 2-1-1 call center, food access and services are our top requested need. With this knowledge, the 
Hunger-Free Pierce County Collaborative is working to bring community leaders together to identify the most promising opportunities for increasing food security and food access in Pierce County. This Collaborative seeks to end hunger in Pierce County and will do so by bringing leaders together to meet our neighbor's needs.

United Way of Pierce County's role in this Collaborative is to: facilitate collaborations (10+ community partners), provide technical assistance, and measure collective impact.

As a collaborative, we are now able to have the most organized and broad-reaching effect on getting people the food they need in Pierce County. With around $250,000 of investments that have gone directly into the community, thousands of people have already been impacted by this group.

Hunger-Free Pierce County Collaborative is working to end hunger by focusing on:

• Hunger relief
• Providing basic needs
• Building sustainable food systems

Objectives for these goals include:

• Effective advocacy
• Supporting grassroots solutions
• Involving and educating the community

Check back regularly to see the initiative at work! We will actively post updates on projects, investments, and the impact of HFPCC's work.

7 Ways To Keep Your Kids Learning This Winter Break

by Cristiana Ventura, Resource Development and Marketing Intern

With a busy holiday schedule, making the time for learning is difficult..but your child's school skills can be easily lost over weeks of no school! Here are seven easy ways to keep your child sharp this winter break.

1. Make a library goal list
Switch up your usual library trip and have your child make a goal list of all the things they want to read or learn about during their two weeks off. Maybe it's two mysteries, a book about dinosaurs, one non-fiction, one fiction? It's up to them! This way your child can learn to do research and can become intentional when picking out books to read, instead of only finding ones with a fancy covers.

2. Utilize travel time
Holidays=Traveling. Put the time you'll be sitting in the car or waiting for your flight to good use. Some may go straight to the smart phone or portable DVD player to occupy the children- but situations like this are perfect for learning! Of course keep a book on hand, but there are other ways to learn: challenge your child to count in any situation (how many black suitcases are on the baggage claim carousel, how many out of state license plates can can you find, etc. ) Click here for more subtle thinking games to play as a family.

3. Explain leisure reading
Some kids end up avoiding reading because they may only "read" textbooks in class- no fun! But leisure reading is fun, casual, it is a choice! Explain to your child what book you are currently reading and why you wanted to read it. When you visit the library, ask for a tour, your child will see the variety of books out there, the recommended ones and where to find what he or she is looking for.

4. Bake together
Following a recipe can be a reading lesson- and a math one too! Read the ingredients and the instructions with your child, maybe even make a grocery list. Once you're ready to start, explain measuring for dry ingredients and liquids. Talk to them about measuring cups and the differences between them.

5. Role model your reading
Bring something to read everywhere you go. Back up your reasoning by the material you read. Explain how you learned something, or why something is the way it is and where you learned that information.

6. Visual Motivation
Make a chart showing who is reading what book and how many pages they have completed. It is a great way to stay on track of how many days are left of break and how many pages of reading can be fit in to that time!

7. More than books
Books aren't the only way to keep your child sharp this winter break. More easy ideas include: writing and mailing letters, turning on subtitles during movies (let's be honest, you can't ignore them), counting ornaments on all the trees, following winter craft instructions, etc.!