A Message from the Executive Director

Halfway 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

Executive Director SkagitPublishingisproud tosupportUnitedWay. Thankyou for58yearsof positivechange inearlyeducationin ourcommunity.

CompleteMarketing Solutionsfor Digital&PrintMedia

Fromdesignconceptto nishedproduct, we’rehereforyouevery stepoftheway! Print&Digital Advertising TargetedDigital Marketing Brandingpackages Commercialprinting DirectMail Emailcampaigns Graphicdesign Socialmedia

1215AndersonRoad MountVernon,WA98274 Phone:360.424.3251 Fax:360.424.5300 Email:ads@skagitads.com Website:goskagit.com