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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