2021 United Way

Be Part of the Change!

Every child deserves to be set on a path to success.

LIVE UNITED

UnitedWaySkagit.org

April 2021 A supplement of the Skagit Valley Herald and Anacortes American

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Table of Contents A Message from the Executive Director 3

Vroom™

COVID-19: One Year Later

Financial PEOPLE Project

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Integrity

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4-5

CHOW… Cutting Hunger on Weekends

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Board of Directors, Officers & Staff

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Skagit Legacy

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SKAGIT PUBLISHING

ou

Thank Y

1215 Anderson Road Mount Vernon, WA 98274 ads@skagitads.com

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Supporting Organizations

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Invest in Skagit Kids

P: 360.424.3251 F: 360.424.5300 Restocking: 360.424.3251

UNITED WAY

for your ur partnership and commitment to kindergarten readiness in Skagit County

Skagit Valley College is creating a space that will serve as a childcare and family resource center, as well as a learning lab for Early Childhood Education students. The Sue Krienen Early Learning and Childcare Center will support United Way’s goal to ensure every child in Skagit County is ready for kindergarten.

Thanks to the United Way of Skagit ur vision and leadership!

County for your rship!

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©2021 Skagit Publishing All rights reserved.

Congratulation on your s th anniv5e8rsary!

COMING SOON! Equity in Access, Achievement, and Community.

SKAGIT VALLEY COLLEGE

Foundation

skagit.edu 2

skagitfoundation.org April 2021

UnitedWaySkagit.org

A message from the Executive Director

H

alfway through 2020 all our lives changed, maybe forever, by a pandemic that impacted the way in which we traverse our world.

At United Way of Skagit County, COVID-19 impacted our programs, opportunities to engage with our community, and the way in which we work together as an organization. It saw us responding to community needs by helping deliver relief to people and families through a COVID-19 relief fund. It also found us partnering with others to ensure kids still had access to childcare, means to be successful with distance learning, and providing meals to combat an ever-growing crisis with food insecurity.

Even with all the change some things have remained the same in our organization. Our Welcome Baby program is still engaging with as many families as possible that have newborn babies. We have taken our Financial People’s Program virtual and have seen growth with participants in our financial literacy program. CHOW has met a crucial need by serving four times more meals than before. Varsity in Volunteerism adapted even though students were not in school, but still had many students letter by meeting the required volunteering hours for the year.

In an unprecedented time, the issues we face have only been amplified and multiplied, but we haven’t lost sight of our purpose in fighting for education, health, and financial stability of all families in Skagit County.

Skagit County ranks last on the I-5 corridor when looking at kindergarten preparedness, with over 60% of our children not being ready enough for kindergarten. This has a long-term impact on our youth’s future, leading to increased high school dropout rates, prison rates, and drug addiction. That is why United Way of Skagit County’s bold goal is that by 2025, every child entering kindergarten in Skagit County is ready to learn.

United we fight. United we win.

Live United.

Craig Chambers

Complete Marketing Solutions for Digital & Print Media From design concept to finished product, we’re here for you every step of the way!

Print & Digital Advertising Targeted Digital Marketing Branding packages Commercial printing Direct Mail Email campaigns Graphic design Social media

1215 Anderson Road Mount Vernon, WA 98274 Phone: 360.424.3251 Fax: 360.424.5300 Email: ads@skagitads.com Website: goskagit.com 2046883

Executive Director

Skagit Publishing is proud to support United Way. Thank you for 58 years of positive change in early education in our community.

UnitedWaySkagit.org

April 2021

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COVID-19:

One year later…

BY JEN LINDBECK, WELCOME BABY COORDINATOR

I

t has been over a year since the first “two week” lockdown and here we are, a world completely changed by a global pandemic. Remember those first two weeks of schedules, home projects, sourdough starters, and Tiger King? Our dear, sweet selves were going to make the very best of such a weird situation.

Today, after adaptations to our norms and then pivots in our new norms and then more adjustments to those new norms, for better or worse we have learned some things. Parents with young kiddos, have had a particularly challenging time of it and yet here is what I see:

demands of work and other obligations – it’s not easy and yet somehow parents have figured it out. They have reached out and received help. They have learned new technologies, how to do common core math, and how to let some things go in the face of unparalleled challenges.

A child may be understandably behind a bit in school, but they have gained insight into grit, determination,

Resiliency With each curve ball, I see parents adapting and overcoming. The circumstances are not ideal.

Homeschooling your child while balancing the 4

April 2021

UnitedWaySkagit.org

and overcoming obstacles by the example of their parents during this difficult season.

Boundaries With so much taxing parents time and mental bandwidth, establishing boundaries has become critical.

Knowing when to take a break and practice selfcare while little ones are crying or creating disasters in shared living space is not easy. Parents are doing whatever it takes to give themselves a little breather – even if it means the kids watch an extra hour of television. Setting boundaries with friends, families, and the community to keep one another safe has become a matter of life and death. It’s hard and it has come at a cost. Again, boundary setting is teaching kids important lessons about their own agency, that it is okay to not be okay, to rest when needed, and to create a safe space.

encouragement and hope when someone is struggling.

We may be socially distanced, but I see parents creating community in important and tangible ways and this is teaching kids to look outside of themselves and see. See the world, see the hurt, see the need and take action.

Nothing about the last year has been easy, but when you look back can you see the good? When you reflect on the darkest days do you see the gimmer of light – maybe it is your child’s laughter or the simple recognition that you made it through another day. It’s been a year like no other, but maybe…just maybe…we have discovered what really matters most.

Together…6 feet apart I see collaboration and community building happening all over Skagit County. Organizations coming together to support families, parents rallying other parents to provide the basics to families in need, words of UnitedWaySkagit.org

April 2021

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Cutting Hunger on Weekends CHOW

Serving with pride The Skagit County Board of Commissioners Ron Wesen Peter Browning and Lisa Janicki

Ron Wesen District 1

Peter Browning District 2

Lisa Janicki District 3

Congratulates United Way of Skagit County on its 58th anniversary and all its work to make sure every child thrives!

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www.skagitcounty.net/CountyCommissioners

UnitedWaySkagit.org

I

f you have children – you know how much they eat! Seems like you are always filling the refrigerator! That can be hard for the MANY working Skagit families who struggle to cover all their costs. By the time they pay for rent, utilities, childcare, transportation, insurance – the money left for food gets pretty low. That’s why schools offer free & reduced breakfasts & lunches. Yet, that still leaves children hungry on weekends and over school breaks.

That’s where CHOW comes in! A bag of food – with good stuff for a couple of breakfasts, lunches and a snack – can make the difference for a child on the weekend. Delivering the bag of food right to the child’s door prevents the stigma of visibly having to carry home food on the bus. And – we’re helping newspaper delivery drivers at the same time!

I talked with the primary CHOW delivery driver in Sedro-Woolley – Colleen Lundstrom. Colleen told me: “There is definitely a need out here. On weekends or school breaks – the food is so appreciated.” After delivering for almost two years, Colleen gets to know the children. She shared: “The kids are so excited when they see me coming! They always say Thank You.” She knows that – because of this extra food – the family is able to pay other bills to stay warm and dry.

STAGES & S E G A FOR ALL

HI RNING C A E L Y L EAR

LDCARE

CARE E CHILD G A L O SC H O

CHOW works – because of YOU!!!

Thank you!

SPORT CAMPS, CHOW is a partnership between Helping Hands Solution Center, Skagit Publishing, and United Way of Skagit County UnitedWaySkagit.org

April 2021

E! S & MOR

SKAGIT VALLEY FAMILY YMCA 360.336.9622 skagitymca.org 7

2020-2021 Board of Directors, Officers & Staff Board

Staff

Bill Aslett

Marie Erbstoeszer

Retired Healthcare/Burlington City Council Member

Retired Health Care Planning

Phil Brockman

Skagit County

Sedro-Woolley School District

Jeff Brown

Lisa Janicki

Craig Chambers Executive Director

Ken Johnson Banner Bank

Burlington-Edison School District

Ann Caldwell

Leif Johnson City of Burlington

US Bank

Sue Krienen

Connie Davis

Life Coach

Skagit Regional Health

Maureen Lama

Deb Davis Bundy

PROforma Creative Printing Solutions

Tulalip Resort Casino

Andrew Entrikin

Jennifer Larson Mount Vernon School District

Port of Skagit

Sonia Garza

Yadira Rosales

Sea Mar Community Health Centers

Kim Walley

Skagit Valley College

Lynne Blandford Financial Director

Jen Lindbeck Early Childhood Program Director

People’s Bank

George Welch Shell Puget Sound Refinery

John White Shell Puget Sound Refinery

15,400 square feet Hands-on Exhibits

Kaleidoscope Play & Learn Parties & Field Trips

Art Studio

School Break Camps

Reading Room

Family Resource Center

Preschool Program Memberships Special Events

Community Event Space

www.SkagitChildrensMuseum.net Visit our website for current information on hours, days, ticketing, special events and more!

Reopening June 2, 2021 Congratulations to United Way of Skagit County on 58 years of excellent work!

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Tel: 360.757.8888 Located at

Officers

Ana Rivas Early Childhood Program Coordinator

Sue Krienen President

Jeff Brown Vice President/Early Learning Impact Chair

Andrew Entrikin Past President

Ricardo Gomez Resource Development Director

Ken Johnson Treasurer/Finance Chair

Maureen Lama Governance Chair

Bill Aslett

Keegan McAdams Marketing Coordinator

Resource Development Chair

April 2021

UnitedWaySkagit.org

Skagit Legacy

Leave the Legacy of a Brighter Future If you like what United Way of Skagit County is doing:

Please join us by making a gift today.

“If you want real peace in the world, start with the children”

- Mahatma Gandhi

If you want to support this work after you’re gone…

Designate United Way of Skagit County a beneficiary of your retirement investments.

Retirement Account Beneficiary Designations Qualified charities like United Way of Skagit County are tax exempt, and pay no income tax, estate tax or inheritance tax on distributions from qualified retirement assets. You can name United Way of Skagit County as the sole or one of many beneficiaries of a distribution of any size from a variety of retirement assets, including: • 401 (k)

OR Make a Bequest to United Way of Skagit County Bequests are the transfers of wealth that occur upon an individual’s death. A charitable bequest to United Way of Skagit County requires you to update your existing will or trust.

United Way of Skagit County can accept gifts of Stocks or Bonds and may provide a tax deduction in the year you make your gift.

Please contact philip@unitedwayskagit.org or 360755-9521, ext. 2 to discuss the options.

• Qualified Pension Plan • 403 (b) • Profit Sharing Plan

Did you know?

• SEP

Required Minimum Distributions from your retirement account directed to registered 501(c)(3) non-profit are not taxed.

• Stock Option Plan • Keogh • IRA UnitedWaySkagit.org

Starting at age 70 ½, you must take a required minimum distribution (RMD) from your IRA. Charitable distributions made directly from your IRA to a qualified charity like United Way of Skagit County counts toward your minimum annual distribution. It’s easy.

April 2021

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Vroom™

T

he Children’s Council of Skagit County and United General District 304 are excited to introduce Vroom to the Skagit community. We know that parents are the first and most important teachers in a child’s life. We also know how busy life is as a parent. Vroom help turn regular daily moments into brain building moments!

You have what it takes to be a brain-builder!

A child’s first five years are when they develop the foundation for all future learning.

Life gets busy, Vroom Tips™ stay simple. With fun activities, backed by science, you can turn everyday moments into Brain Building Moments™.

See for yourself how Vroom tips are fast and fun!

vroom.org

© 2020 Vroom, a program of the Bezos Family Foundation. Message and data rates may apply. See vroom.org/terms for terms and privacy policy. Text STOP to cancel.

También disponible en español

Get weekly Vroom Brain Building Tips by texting VROOM to 48258

Over 1,000+ easy activities designed to help your child’s brain gow strong

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Life gets busy, Vroom Tips™ stay simple. With fun activities, backed by science, you can turn everyday moments into Brain Building Moments™.

Tips inspire fun and learning whenever you have time.

Tips are personalized for children 0-5.

Every day, we deliver a fun Vroom Tip for you right to your phone.

Celebrate your progress and keep track of your favorite tips.

Pick tips by category or setting to find tips that work for you.

Choose your tip delivery time or set a reminder.

Learn the science behind how each activity build’s your child’s brain.

Add photos to make a scrapbook of all your Brain Building Moments.

April 2021

UnitedWaySkagit.org

Brain Building Basics ™

Look

We’ve made the science of early learning simple! Remember these 5 easy ways to help build your child’s brain anytime.

Children use their eyes to learn.

See what catches your child’s attention and talk about it. Or connect eye-to-eye, then smile, chat, hug, or make funny faces!

Brainy Background powered by Mind in the Making

Stretch Children’s brains grow strong when you help them stretch their learning further.

Keep a moment going: ask your child a question that starts with what, when, where, how, or why!

Face-to-Face Make eye contact with your child, quickly look away, and then look back and smile. Do they smile back? Next, look at them, close your eyes and open them again, making a big surprised face. Change the speed of what you do and have fun connecting.

Making eye contact is an important part of learning to pay attention to and interact with others. If your child responds when you make a face, you can build on their response. As you do this, you’re helping them learn the back and forth of communication and relationships.

Ages 0-1

For more activities like these, check out the free Vroom app!

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Brainy Background powered by Mind in the Making

Hand to Hand

Follow Young children learn best when you follow their lead.

Tune into your child’s words, sounds, movements, and ideas! Then respond with your own words and actions.

While washing dishes, give your child a spoon to hold. Say, “You have a spoon!” Then hold your hand open and say, “My turn!” See if they will hand the spoon back to you. If they do, say, “Thank you!” If they don’t, give them another utensil and see if you can trade them back and forth.

Ages 1-2

When you and your child play this game of give and take, you’re helping them understand the back and forth of communication. They’re using their skills of focus and self-control as they listen, watch, and follow your directions.

For more activities like these, check out the free Vroom app!

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Brainy Background powered by Mind in the Making

Can You Find It?

Chat Children’s brains light up when you talk, sing, or make sounds back and forth with them. Chat about your day, food, and what’s around you, or string sounds together for a fun conversation!

Use your cell phone to take pictures of things in your room like a chair, a table, or the refrigerator. Ask your child to look at your cell phone picture and say, “Can you find it in the room?” As they get good at this, you can make it a little harder.

Ages 2-3

This game helps your child make connections between pictures (symbols) and real objects.

This skill is a basic for reading (where written marks stand for words) and math (where numbers stand for quantities of things), and is essential in learning.

For more activities like these, check out the free Vroom app!

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Brainy Background powered by Mind in the Making

Take Turns Children learn from taking turns when you play, talk, or explore. After they go, take your turn. Then repeat: they go, you go, they go, you go!

Spice Rack Smells While working in the kitchen, open up different spices. Smell the differences and even touch them with your child. You can describe these smells (using dramatic words) and talk back and forth with them about some of the foods that you eat with them.

Ages 3-4

Your child learns from their senses—from looking, listening, touching, and smelling.

Spice Rack Smells pulls together all of these ways of learning and turns fixing a meal into a memorable way for them to have fun and to learn.

For more activities like these, check out the free Vroom app!

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Brainy Background powered by Mind in the Making

Face O˜ © 2019 Vroom, a program of the Bezos Family Foundation

Learn more at vroom.org

Make a face that expresses a feeling and ask your child to make a face that expresses the opposite feeling. If you make a happy face, they should make a sad face. Talk about when they remember people making these faces. Then take a selfie together with your goofiest faces!

Ages 4-5

UnitedWaySkagit.org

April 2021

This game helps your child learn empathy, by practicing to understand the emotions of others, and express their own feelings. It’s an important skill that we use every day as adults!

For more activities like these, check out the free Vroom app!

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Financial PEOPLE Project

Improving your Financial Stability

F

inancial stability is something we all need and want. Here’s one definition: Financial Stability means knowing that we have a plan to cope successfully should life throw us a financial curve ball from time to time.

Financial Stability means that our basic needs are being acceptably met with what we have and/or earn.

Well – a curveball just came our way – by the name of COVID-19.

The health effects have been dramatic for some. The financial impact has been felt by ALL of us.

United Way doesn’t have cash to send to every family in Skagit County. What we can offer is a series of workshops on how to cope successfully with the funds you have. Financial PEOPLE Project has helped scores of people learn how to access checking accounts, plan for retirement or education, and figure out the best way to get a loan.

Here is what was most useful about FPP for a few recent participants: • Honestly, everything. I entered the classroom with almost no knowledge.

• All of the information helped me improve my financial life.

• Being acknowledged as a person worthy of having as a customer The Financial PEOPLE Project program name is important – PEOPLE stands for Peers Empowering Others by Providing Leadership and Education.

The vision is to identify and train peer volunteers to deliver financial education to groups in the community.

Want to improve YOUR financial stability? Email us at info@unitedwayskagit.org and put FPP info in the subject line.

• Information on how to manage my money also on how to check my credit score • I’ve learned so much. FPP definitely has me thinking about the future!

• Realizing what my budget is/ establishing budget.

And how to reduce my Debt • For me, the investing info was the most useful - how to start a 401K • I learned about saving accounts and retirement accounts – and now I have a financial certification to show to the bank when I show up in the lobby • It was all really good information to learn since we are not taught this in high school.

• Bank services, checking and savings, how to properly use accounts, credits, loans. It was fun!

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UnitedWaySkagit.org

INTEGRITY

U

nited Way of Skagit County is committed to demonstrating the highest ethical and transparent standards.

To see our complete financials please go to www.unitedwayskagit.org.

ACCOUNTABILITY CHECKLIST • Does the United Way of Skagit County have an active Board of Directors comprised of citizen leaders that meets regularly? YES • Does the Board of Directors review and approve the annual budget and quarterly financial statements?

• Do we have a Finance Committee?

YES YES

• Does the Board of Directors review the annual independent audit report, as well as the auditor’s management YES letter comments?

• Do we have ethics and conflict YES of interest policies?

• Do we have a diversity policy?

YES

• Do we have a “whistleblower” policy?

YES

• Is the CEO’s performance and compensation reviewed and approved?

YES

• Do we prohibit providing donor information to third parties?

YES

TRANSPARENCY

All supporters, partners, and community leaders have access to United Way of Skagit County documents on our website at

unitedwayskagit.org, including: • Annual audited financials • IRS tax return • Annual Report • Board of Directors roster • Staff roster

Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Specialized care for your: Forearm & Elbow Hand Shoulder Hip Knee

To learn more, visit: SkagitRegionalHealth.org/ Orthopedics

CHRISTOPHER THOMAS, DO Orthopedics & Sports Medicine UnitedWaySkagit.org

April 2021

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Supporting Organizations

U

nited Way exists because of the contributions and other support from individuals and businesses.

We are unique in that many local businesses allow employees to contribute to United Way through payroll deduction benefits. Some also match employee donations, sponsor events, fund specific programs, provide grants and/or deliver in-kind gifts! Thank you to all the businesses, schools, hospitals, banks, local governments, and non-profits for partnering with United Way of Skagit County to create positive lasting change throughout Skagit County.

ELITE: $35,000+

PLATINUM: $15,000 - $34,999

EVENT

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April 2021

UnitedWaySkagit.org

Supporting Organizations Gifts can include matching payroll deductions, in-kind donations, sponsorship of events, and grants for specific projects.

ELITE: $35,000+

SILVER: $2,500-$7,499

BRONZE: $500–$2,499

Paccar Foundation

Amerigroup

Bank of the Pacific

Shell Foundation

Banner Bank

Barrett Financial

Burlington Rotary

BNSF Railroad

Costco

Columbia Bank

Growing Tree Foundation

Central Welding Supply

Norcliff Foundation

Frontier Building Supply

North Coast Credit Union

JM Smith Foundation

Peoples Bank

Kaiser Permanente Foundation

Shell Puget Sound Refinery

Mountain Pacific Bank

Skagit Regional Health

Quil Ceda Village

United Way Worldwide

Regence BlueShield

Washington Federal Co. and Foundation

Simms/Mann Institute

PLATINUM: $15,000–$34,999 BECU Puget Sound Energy Foundation The Boeing Company US Bank Foundation

GOLD: $7,500–$14,999 MarathonNorth Coast Credit Union Skagit Community Foundation Transmedia Vision United General District 304

Skagit Farmers Supply Soroptimist International of Burlington

Williams Gas Pipeline

Sound Financial Planning United Parcel Service US Bank Whatcom Sound Wood Solutions

UnitedWaySkagit.org

April 2021

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Thursday, May 6th, 2021 6:00-6:30 pm

Join us virtually on Thursday, May 6th at 6:00 pm for our virtual fundraising event focused on investing in our Skagit kids!

If you'd like to learn more please visit, unitedwayskagit.org/invest.

We hope to see you there.

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April 2021

UnitedWaySkagit.org