United Way of Skagit County 2020

Be Part of the Change!

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

WE’RE READY A supplement of the Skagit Valley Herald and Anacortes American

Table of Contents A Note from our Director

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Skagit Legacy

How to keep your kids entertained… and learning… during COVID-19 quarantine 4-5 CHOW… Cutting Hunger on Weekends

Vroom™

6-7

SKAGIT PUBLISHING

10-11

Financial PEOPLE Project

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Integrity

13

Supporting Organizations

Board of Directors, Officers & Staff 8

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

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TEAM Up

P: 360.424.3251 F: 360.424.5300 Restocking: 360.424.3251

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©2020 Skagit Publishing All rights reserved.

We're working behind the scenes to bring art back into community life (when the time comes)

AnacortesArtsFestival.com 2

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UnitedWaySkagit.org

A Note from our Director

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ello from my home office! We are in a strange new time of working from home – if we are lucky enough to still have work and get paid. Children are studying from home for the rest of the school year. AND IT’S WORKING!!! I am so very impressed with the people of Skagit and Washington State! It appears that – because of our bold (and painful) steps of staying at home – we will miss the devasting level of illness and deaths experienced in other states and nations. Congratulations and thank you!

We can feel so proud – and yet, I know… we’re still home! We are looking for useful and entertaining things to do!

That’s why we’re sending you this insert in the Skagit Valley Herald this week!

Thumb through to find stories of neighbors helping neighbors as well as some GREAT tips of how to keep kids (and maybe adults!) entertained – and keep us all learning at the same time. Check on Pages 10 & 11… find out how VROOM can bring you fun ideas you can try at home! Pages 4 & 5 will have you WANTING to make a mess with your kids It’s all here… take a look.

You probably know by now – United Way’s goal is that ALL Skagit children entering kindergarten will be ready to learn. In today’s world, that means more than tying their own shoes (which probably have Velcro fasteners, anyway). It means they have had opportunities to be creative, be curious, and be happy. As a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle… or all those who really want a bright future for our community – you have the amazing opportunity to help children be ready to learn – so they can succeed in school and in life! Thank you for stepping up! It will take all of us together – and We’re Ready!

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

Print & Online 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 2006579

Debra Lancaster

Skagit Publishing is proud to support United Way. Thank you for 57 years of positive change in early education in our community.

UnitedWaySkagit.org

April 2020

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How to keep your kids entertained… and learning… during COVID-19 quarantine

Dress up

by Jen L ind beck, Wel c ome Baby C oor dinat or

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any families are finding themselves not only parenting their very young kids during a very unusual time, but also trying to educate them, feed them ALL the meals and snacks, and prevent mayhem. In my house, the phrase on repeat is… “an extra measure of grace.” We are all cooped up together and it is a lot. Some things we just have to let go – like endless dishes and socks everywhere. Let’s pledge to not just survive COVID-19 Quarantine but come out on the other side still liking each other.

Here are some ideas to occupy your pre-school kids time and encourage learning. WARNING: things will get messy.

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Grab that dress or suit jacket that has been in the back of your closet for years, helmets, hats, scarves, necklaces, even old t-shirts and put them in a cardboard box and watch your kids’ imaginations explode.

If you add a clipboard, a notebook, and a pencil – your kids will be occupied for hours (or at least several minutes). With a little encouragement, your kids will act out elaborate scenarios, use silly voices, interact with each other, take turns, fight and make up, and use other props in unique ways.

Dramatic play has the potential to touch every one of the areas of development used to determine kindergarten readiness – social, emotional, physical, language, cognitive, literacy, and math. Then - observe

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UnitedWaySkagit.org

their play for a few minutes, a few small interactions could take the learning to the next level, building on skills. For example, you can expand or reinforce mathematic skills, by introducing number concepts and operations by asking: How many buttons have you buttoned so far? How many do you have left o button? How many buttons are there all together?

Make messes Slime is easy to make. Mud pies are even easier to make. Let the kids get messy. They are washable. It’s horribly inconvenient, time consuming, and exhausting, but mess making matters. It matters because: • Children learn best through hands on experiences.

• Sensory play is critical for a child’s development. Sensory play builds nerve connections in the brain’s pathways, which lead to the child’s ability to complete more difficult learning tasks. A simple tub of slime has the potential for many learning outcomes: language development, math and science exploration, fine motor skills, problem solving, and social interaction.

• Some kids need sensory stimulation.

Sensory stimulation can calm an anxious child and soothe an “overloaded system.” It helps kids feel more organized in their own bodies and in space.

Check out

SkagitBrightBeginnings.com for more resources to help support parents during COVID-19 quarantine.

UnitedWaySkagit.org

April 2020

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Cutting Hunger on Weekends CHOW

Serving with pride The Skagit County Board of Commissioners

Ron Wesen Kenneth A. Dahlstedt and Lisa Janicki

Congratulates United Way of Skagit County on its 57th anniversary and all its work to make sure every child thrives!

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April 2020

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www.skagitcounty.net/CountyCommissioners

UnitedWaySkagit.org

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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 or 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.

CHOW works – because of YOU!!! Thank you!

CHOW is a partnership between Helping Hands Solution Center, Skagit Publishing, and United Way of Skagit County

WOMEN ’S HEALTH SkagitRegionalHealth.org /womens-health

“Dr. Halvorsen was more like a friend than a doctor.”

KINDRA O’NEILL , Sedro-Woolley

(360) 435-0242 Arlington (360) 428-2575 Mount Vernon SkagitRegionalHealth.org

UnitedWaySkagit.org

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2019-2020 Board of Directors Bill Aslett

Lisa Janicki

Kari Ranten

Retired Healthcare/Burlington City Council

Skagit County

Skagit Regional Health

Phil Brockman

Jennifer Johnson

Will Reichardt

Skagit County

Skagit County

Ken Johnson

Yadira Rosales

Skagit Bank

Skagit Valley College

Leif Johnson

Kim Walley

City of Burlington

Peoples Bank

Sue Krienen

George Welch

Life Coach

United Steel Workers - Local 12-591

Maureen Lama

John White

PROforma Creative Printing Solutions

Shell Puget Sound Refinery

Sedro Woolley School District

Jeff Brown Burlington-Edison School District

Ann Caldwell US Bank

Connie Davis Skagit Regional Health

Deb Davis Bundy Tulalip Casino Resort

Annie Di Meo

Jennifer Larson Mount Vernon School District

KAPS/KBRC Radio

Marie Erbstoeszer Retired Health Care Planning

Andrew Entrikin Port of Skagit

Sonia Garza Sea Mar Health Clinics - Skagit

Staff Debra Lancaster Executive Director

Lynne Blanford Finance Manager

Jen Lindbeck

Officers

Early Childhood Program Manager

Andrew Entrikin

Jeff Brown

President

Early Learning Impact Chair

Susan Krienen

Maureen Lama

Resource Development Manager

Vice President

Governance Chair

Diana Peregrina

Deb Davis Bundy

Bill Aslett

Past President

Campaign Cabinet Chair

Welcome Baby Assistant Coordinator

Philip Prud’homme

Ann Caldwell Treasurer/Finance Chair 8

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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 gi˜ 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.

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Vroom™

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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

© 2019 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.

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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 di°erent spices. Smell the di°ere nces 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

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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. ˜ e health e° ects have been dramatic for some. ˜ e 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:

properly use accounts, credits, loans. It was fun!

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

• Being acknowledged as a person worthy of having as a customer Want to improve YOUR financial stability? Email us at info@unitedwayskagit.org and put FPP info in the subject line.

• Honestly, everything. I entered the classroom with almost no knowledge.

• 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

Financial PEOPLE Project: PEOPLE = Peers Empowering Others by Providing Leadership and Education.

• 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 12

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INTEGRITY United 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 YES meets regularly?

• Does the Board of Directors review and approve the annual budget and quarterly financial statements? YES

YES

• Do we have a Finance Committee?

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

• • •

YES Do we have ethics and conflict of interest policies? YES Do we have a diversity policy?

YES Do we have a “whistleblower” policy?

YES

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

• Do we prohibit providing donor information to third parties?

YES

Skagit Valley College

TRANSPARENCY All supporters, partners, and community leaders have access to United Way of Skagit County documents on our website at unitedwayskagit.org, including:

We proudly support early childhood education and educational opportunities for students of all ages.

• Annual audited financials • IRS tax return • Annual Report • Board of Directors roster • Staff roster

www.skagit.edu UnitedWaySkagit.org

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Supporting Organizations

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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.

Bolded organizations are Pacesetter organizations – they lead community-wide efforts and commit early to fundraising goals.

PLATINUM: $15,000 - $34,999

Ev

ELITE: $35,000+

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TRANSMEDIA VISION

We’re here for FAMILIES, building healthier communities during COVID-19 and beyond.

HEALTHY EATING

ACTIVE LIVING United Fitness Center Yoga for Every Body Skagit Trail Builders Trek for Treasure

Basic Food assistsance WIC (Women, Infants & Children) Farm to School Fruit and Veggie Prescription Program

ENGAGED YOUTH & COMMUNITES Youth volunteerism Substance use reduction Suicide prevention Community coalitions

THRIVING CHILDREN & FAMILIES Parenting programs Kindergarten Readiness Breastfeeding support Children’s Council

COMMUNITY & PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION Early Learning Educator trainings Youth Summit Trainings for professionals Parenting classes os ¡Hablam tenos Contác Español!

Please tencia. a para sis

STEWARDING ASSETS & OPPORTUNITIES Hospital stewardship The Landing - children’s bereavement program Hospice of the Northwest Grant funding for community programs

contact us for information on our programs! www.UnitedGeneral.org | 360-856-2549 | chop@UnitedGeneral.org

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Supporting Organizations

Gold: $7,500 - $14,999 Anacortes School District employees Burlington-Edison School District North Coast Credit Union / Foundation Northwest Clean Air Agency Northwest Educational Service District 189 Peoples Bank United General District #304

Skagit Public Utility District #1 Soroptimist International of Burlington Target United Parcel Service United Steelworkers Local 12-951 Walmart Wilkinson Family Fund

˜ e gi° s above may be one or more of the following: Employee contributions, Employer Matching donations, Grants, Sponsorships, and or In-Kind Donations

Silver: $2,500 - $7,499 Burlington Rotary Cascade Natural Gas Corp.

Heritage Bank Humble Bundle McEachern Charitable Trust Norcliffe Foundation Opus Bank Foundation PeaceHealth United General Medical Center Port of Skagit County Regence BlueShield Skagit Farmers Supply Skagit Publishing The Argus Christmas Fund The Growing Tree Foundation United Parcel Service Washington Federal / Foundation Williams Gas Pipeline

THANK YOU to UNITED WAY

Bronze: $500- $2,499 Bank of the Pacific Barrett Financial, Ltd. BNSF Railway Company Brigid Collins Chinook Enterprises Columbia Bank Community Action of Skagit County FedEx Frontier Building Supply IBM Corporation JM Smith Foundation Mills Electric PROforma Creative Printing Solutions RW Baird Sea Mar Community Health Centers

UnitedWaySkagit.org

for 57 years of creating sustainable positive changes in our community! northcoastcu.com 800-696-8830 Bellingham: 1100 Dupont St. & 3250 Northwest Ave. Ferndale: 5657 Riverside Dr. Mount Vernon: 1410 Riverside Dr. Sedro-Woolley: 108 N. Township St.

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