United Way Skagit 2017-18 Annual Report

2017-18 ANNUAL

REPORT

By 2025, All Skagit Children Entering Kindergarten Are Ready To Learn United Way of Skagit County • 2017-18 Annual Report 1

WHY FOCUS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION? Babies Don’t Come With Instructions.

We hear this from every parent. No matter the education level or other experience - the minute a new parent holds their baby, anxiety is right there with amazing love. Parents need to KNOW HOW to be their child’s first and best teacher. Just like learning to ride a bike...it can be done on your own (with lots of falls and scrapes). Or....a parent can be coached by someone who is experienced. That’s why home-visiting, Mother Mentoring, and other coaching techniques are highly recommended. And why United Way is proud to lead the way to bring these programs to Skagit valley.

The Heckman Curve

This graphic shows that the highest rate of economic returns comes from the earliest investments in children, providing an eye-opening understanding that society invests too much money on later development when it is often too late to provide great value. It shows the economic benefits of investing early and building skill upon skill to provide greater success to more children as well as greater productivity and reduced social spending for society.

United Way of Skagit County 2017-18 Annual Report

2

Cover Photo by Janko Ferlič on Unsplash

A message from Board President Phil Brockman & Executive Director Debra Lancaster How do we address the needs of today? And how do we ensure a healthy, resilient, and prosperous community for tomorrow? We recognize our donors are looking to achieve both these outcomes.

we want to make a difference for each child. We are well aware there are different barriers and challenges for each family – treating each family with respect for their differences and inclusion in the work is key to our success.

Start at the beginning. That’s the answer – and that’s the plan.

In April 2018, we announced a Bold Goal. A goal – that when accomplished – will provide the foundation for success for our children and our community.

Nobel-prize-winning economist James Heckman’s research found that a child’s early nurturing, learning experiences, and physical health from birth to age five greatly impacted his or her chance of success or failure throughout life. The graph on page 2 demonstrates that the most economically efficient time to develop skills and social ability is in the very early years of a child’s life. That’s why we, at United Way, directed our focus to early childhood development.

By 2025, all Skagit children entering kindergarten are ready to learn!

Achieving this goal requires many steps. This Annual Report highlights a few of the activities. Success will take all of us. We invite you to read through this Report, check out our website, and give us a call.

We’d love to hear your ideas!

There are almost 1500 babies born in Skagit County every year – WOW! So many bright promises – and

Board Officers President

Vice President

Treasurer

Past President

Early Learning Impact

Resource Development

Sedro-Woolley School District

Tulalip Resort Casino

US Bank

Skagit County Commissioner

Life Coach

Cascade Natural Gas

Phil Brockman

Deb Davis Bundy

Ann Caldwell

Lisa Janicki

Susan Krienen

Tiffany Urland

Board Members Bill Aslett City of Burlington

Ken Johnson Skagit Bank

Kim Walley Peoples Bank

Jeff Brown Burlington-Edison School District

Maureen Lama PROforma Creative Printing Solutions

George Welch United Steel Workers 12-591

Connie Davis Skagit Regional Health

Jennifer Larson Mount Vernon School District

Shirley Yap Shell Puget Sound Refinery

Lynn Murphy Puget Sound Energy

Jillian Guffie Sedro-Woolley High School / Youth United

Annie Di Meo KAPS/KBRC Radio Andrew Entrikin Port of Skagit Marie Erbstoeszer Retired Health Care Planning Cory Ertel Shell Puget Sound Refinery Jennifer Johnson Skagit County

Kari Ranten Skagit Regional Health

United Way Staff Debra Lancaster Executive Director Lynne Blanford Finance Manager Philip Prud’homme Resource Development Manager Echo Arseneau Donor & Volunteer Coordinator

Kyle Reep D. A. Davidson & Company

Contact us at: Email: info@unitedwayskagit.org Phone: 360.755.9521 website: www.unitedwayskagit.org

Will Reichardt Skagit County Yadira Rosales Skagit Valley College

United Way of Skagit County 2017-18 Annual Report

3

Born Learning Trails

A Leadership Skagit team - ”Skagit Reign” partnered with United Way to build two Born Learning Trails in Skagit County: one each in Hillcrest Park, Mount Vernon, and Storvik Park, Anacortes. In each park, every post carries two signs – English & Spanish.

One of the things that makes Born Learning Trails so unique is the rich, research-based content with playful design and bold colors.

The Trail is a series of 10 interactive signs that offer fun, active learning activities for young children and their families.

It helps parents, caregivers and communities create quality engagement occasions when out on a stroll or visiting a local playground. Adults can use the suggestions on the signs to take everyday moments and turn them into fun learning opportunities for children. We invite you to take a walk in these parks with a small child!

Readiness Calendar

CHOW is helping our low-income neighbors by providing supplemental food on the weekends. Currently, approximately 500 Skagit children receive food every weekend to help cover the very real nutrition gap that exists for thousands of Skagit kids.

All children are different and learn at their own pace. This calendar will help you plan activities that will help your child grow in the skills needed to start kindergarten. The calendar contains: • Ideas for fun things to do that will help CHOW was created by a partnership your child get ready for school of the Child Nutrition Coalition (1095 • Kindergarten registration and other Skagit); United Way of Skagit County; school information Helping Hands Solution Center; Skagit Publishing; and Community Action’s Food • Books every child should hear before Distribution Center. starting school • Contact information for elementary schools and libraries.

Call 360-755-9521, ext 6 United Way of Skagit County to get a calendar!

2017-18 Annual Report

4

ACCOUNTABILITY & TRANSPARENCY

2017-18 Financial Snapshot Sources of Support & Revenue Donor Contributions

$1,122,211

Bequest $132,267 Grants $58,360 In-Kind Contributions

$30,920

Sponsorships & Other Income

$32,465

ACCOUNTABILITY CHECKLIST YES

Total $1,376,223

Does the United Way of Skagit County have an active Board of Directors comprised of citizen leaders that meets regularly?

Use of Funds United Way Grants and Initiatives

$838,856

Donor Designated Gifts Outside UW

$354,829

Supporting Services

$192,096

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

Total $1,385,781

Does the United Way of Skagit County have a Finance Committee?

To see our Audit and 990 please go to www.unitedwayskagit.org.

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

Does United Way of Skagit County have ethics and conflict of interest policies?

Does United Way of Skagit County have a diversity policy?

Does United Way of Skagit County have a “whistleblower” policy?

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

Does United Way of Skagit County prohibit providing donor information to third parties?

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

United Way of Skagit County 2017-18 Annual Report

5

• Annual Audited Financials • IRS return • Annual Report • Board of Directors roster • Staff roster

WORKPLACE CAMPAIGNS Anacortes School District Andeavor Bank of America Bank of the Pacific Banner Bank Best Buy Brigid Collins Burlington-Edison School District Car Toys Cargill Cascade Natural Gas Corp.

Chinook Enterprises City of Anacortes City of Burlington City of Mount Vernon City of Sedro-Woolley Columbia Bank

These Skagit Employers offer payroll deduction benefits to their employees, and build a culture of giving and community involvement at their own workplaces. These businesses care about growing stronger families, well-equipped children and better systems for healthier Skagit communities. Highlighted are Pacesetter organizations – they lead community-wide efforts, commit to impact goals, and stand strong for lasting positive change in Skagit County.

Comcast Cable Community Action of Skagit County Conway School District Costco Wholesale Enterprise Rent-a-Car FedEx Fred Meyer Goodwill Heritage Bank Hospice of the Northwest JCPenney KeyBank La Conner School District Macy`s Mills Electric Mount Vernon School District North Coast Credit Union-MV

North Sound Behavioral Health Organization Northwest Clean Air Agency Northwest Educational Service District 189 Opus Bank PACCAR Inc. PeaceHealth United General Medical Center Peoples Bank Port of Skagit County Puget Sound Energy Regence BlueShield RW Baird Sedro-Woolley School District Shell Puget Sound Refinery Skagit Bank

CORPORATE PARTNERS

Many large companies, foundations, and local businesses make significant gifts to create positive, sustainable change in Skagit County.

GIFTS • GRANTS • SPONSORSHIPS • IN-KIND DONATIONS

ELITE

GOLD

BRONZE

Andeavor Boeing PACCAR Shell Puget Sound Refinery

Skagit Bank US Bank Foundation North Coast Credit Union Opus Bank Foundation Employees Community Fund of Boeing Puget Sound United Way Worldwide (InKind)

BNSF Railway Company Cascade Natural Gas Washington Federal Foundation Padgett & Padgett, PLLC (InKind) USW Local 12-951 Regence BlueShield Tulsa Community Foundation Wilkinson Family Fund PROforma Creative Printing Solutions

$35,000 and above

PLATINUM

$15,000 - $34,999 BECU KAPS / KBRC (In-kind) Puget Sound Energy Foundation

$7,500 - $14,999

SILVER

$2,500 - $7,499

Argus Christmas Fund Cargill Williams Gas Pipeline Costco Swinomish Casino & Lodge (In-Kind) Skagit Community Foundation Skagit Publishing (In-Kind)

* Gifts can include matching payroll deductions, in-kind donations, sponsorship of events, and grants awarded for specific programs.

Skagit County Skagit Farmers Supply Skagit Public Utility District #1 Skagit Regional Health SPARC Target The Skagit United General District #304 United Way of Skagit County UPS US Bank Walmart Washington Federal Wells Fargo Bank Williams Gas Pipeline

$500-$2,499

United Way of Skagit County 2017-18 Annual Report

6

James Walters (In-Kind) JH Kelly, LLC Dreamchasers RV of Burlington Target Skagit Famers Supply Sanofi Avantis Charitable Trust Stronghold Specialty / Cat Spec Ltd. State Farm Foundation Peoples Bank Stowes Shoes & Clothing Walmart #2596 (Mount Vernon)

DONORS TO BORN LEARNING TRAILS $500 +

Thanks to Leadership Skagit team “Skagit Reign” Anacortes Parks Foundation Anacortes Rotary Charitable Association Burlington-Edison Kiwanis Soroptimist International of Anacortes Fidalgo Island Rotary Foundation Mount Vernon Rotary Foundation

Skagit Legacy Gifts $100,000+ Susan Krienen Herbert Rubin

Alexis De Tocqueville $10,000+

Dr. Carl Berliner Ann & Donald Caldwell Susan Krienen Anonymous (2)

Bald Eagle

$7,500 - $9,999 Guy Masters Shirley Yap

Red-Tailed Hawk $5,000 - $7,499

Ken & Susan Johnson Debra & Doug Lancaster Richard Moldenhauer Dan & Erin Peek James & Michele Tangaro

Peregrine Falcon $2,500 - $4,999

Cheryl Bishop Kelly & Ken Codlin Dr. Robert Coffey & Dr. Deborah North Mike & Mary Killien Kirk Loy Julie O’Shaughnessy Elsbree Diane Rusher Mark & Cec Spahr George Welch Anonymous (4)

Trumpeter Swan $1,000 - $2,499

Bill & Vicki Aslett Claude & Annie Blackburn Patrice & Philip Blakeway Mark Boger Sean & Brenda Cornett Marilyn Brink Daniel Brown Mark & Kathy Buford Betty & Sean Burton John Carr Ian Crawford Ken & Flo Dahlstedt Alan & Yaneth Daniels Michael Daou Antonia Elliott-Bush & Daniel Bush John & Marie Erbstoeszer M. Evans Katherine Ferris Chris Fisher David & Lisa Forsythe

Robert Gruber Kenneth & Christina Hansen Mark D Hansen Bryan & Carol Harrison Steve & Trish Henery Rich & Betsy Humphrey Mike & Lisa Janicki Diane Kaplan Bryanna Kessler Gail & Glenn King Dreabon & Dustin Knowles Will & Jennifer Larson The Mahar Family McCammant Family Anita & Charles McCarthy Christina McGee Kyle McNair Medcalf Family Wade Melton & Sara Young William Mercer Irene Millay Dyana Mitchell Elizabeth Morgan Anne Marie Morse Christopher Neblett Doreen Nystrom Kenneth Patnode Shannon Perkes Tim Quiggle William & Wendy Rabel Kari & Steve Ranten Crystal Rau Richard & Nancy Robblee Ross Roberts Jason Schmidt Sigrid Schumacher Eric Shen & Betty Carteret David & Tracie Skrinde Ann & Rich Spiegel Philip Stephenson Dr. Robb & Carrie Stewart Jeri Teevan Mary Tyler Tom & Tiffany Urland Richard & Maryann Ward Mark & Julie Wenzel Stephen Williams Donald Wolf Michael & Patricia Woods Anonymous (12)

Blue Heron $750 - $999

Jim & Debbie Allen Phil & Tamera Brockman Carl & Carmen Bruner Sandy & Mary Carter Richard Clasen Deb Davis Bundy Clifford Finkbohner Jeff & Diana Holmes Sara Anne Simchik Hough

Erin Long James Lowe Kimberly McCarn Eiren & Rick McKay Sharon Pawlowicz Kevin & Kaela Schwitter Keith & Cyndi Sorestad Doug Stone Mia Troy James Upham Bob & Bonnie Warnecke Ron & Jan Wesen John & Allison White Anonymous (6)

Snow Goose $500 - $749

Berniece Aarstad Susan & Jon T. Aarstad Cyrus Anderson Barb Askland Greg & Stephanie Bachmeier Kurt Bachtold Mark & Karen Backman Karen Barlean Dan & Susan Berentson Kenny & Jenny Bergsma Dave & Becky Billings Lynne & Joe Blanford Christa Boudreau Kelly Bradford Ted Brockmann Jeff & Melissa Brown Peter & Laurel Browning Jerry & Judi Butterfield Laura Cailloux & Andrew Ross Mark Campbell Vicki Childers Drew Clark Dr. Pauline Cline Scott Corcoran Jennifer Covey Cutshalls-Anacortes Pam & Ken Davis Jeff Demorest DeVoe Family Paul Dixon Tara Dowd & Steve Nelson Nathan & Jonna Dunham Kirk Dunn Mark & Sandra Eaton Diane Eiesland David & Aree Entenmann

United Way of Skagit County 2017-18 Annual Report

7

INDIVIDUAL LEADERSHIP GIFTS Andrew & Tia Entrikin Cory & Naomi Ertel Marc & Pam Estvold Echo & Family Lance Fisher Idelle Fode Brett Fontes John & Gail Fotheringham Laurence Francois Axel Franzmann John Gallagher Levi Hall Tim & Pat Halloran Linda Hammons The Hansen Family Daryl Hawes Darrell & Betty Heisler Bill & Amanda Henkel Alicia Huschka Andrew Jacobs Elizabeth Jennings & Tim Schaebethal Jennifer Johnson Teresa Johnson Scott Johnston Dr. Bryan & Anne Jones The Krell Family Henk & Sue Kruithof Thomas LaCroix Nathan Levin Jim Lippert Byron Manering Chanda Marek Patsy Martin Robert Martin Linda McAdams Katy McCoard Agata McIntyre Lori McLeod Dawn Meade Darlene Mindrum Evelyn Morse Deannie Nelson Lynda Nelson Timothy Newall Worth & Lisa Norton Jessica Oliver Gary M. Pea Kathleen Peterson John & Michele Pope & Family

Philip Prud`homme & Michelle Stahl Tim Rawlins Greg & Lou Ann Reed Kyle & Kelly Reep Adam Regan Will & Diane Reichardt Jeff Richardson & Jeniffer Tobon Bruce & Cora Rolfe Cecilia Sargent Michael & Ellen Schweigert Dr. Jerry Sells & Rev. Linda Larson Tom & Tina Shields Jason Smolsnik Becky & John Taft Mel Takehara Kevin & Ann Tate Chad & Tracy Tesarik Cecil Thomas Kathleen Thomson Sarah Thornhill Lin & Carla Tucker Keith & Beth Tyne Omar Valdez Shane & Kim Walley James Walters Bob & Jennifer Walton Jesse Wesen Shaun Wesen Matthew White Maria Wraspir David Wright Mike & Jeanne Youngquist Chris & Helen Zimmerman Michael Zullo Anonymous (21)

For a full list of donors, go to UnitedWaySkagit.org.

Any omission or misspelled names are unintentional.

Please contact our office to correct any errors.

Bold Steps to a Bright Future Are YOU interested in creating positive and sustainable change? While we give today - can we plan for the future?

Investment in early learning will pay big dividends.

And, of course, it will take BIG investments. As a general manager of a large refinery, Susan Krienen understood the need to build infrastructure and train staff. This investment isn’t the glamorous side of giving. However, it’s crucial to the overall success of the goal.

In 2014, Susan made a commitment - $100,000 a year for 5 years. With her contribution, United Way funded a coordinator for the Children’s Council of Skagit County...and Lyndie Case led the team through strategic planning and set the stage for what would become the First 1000 Days “Call to Action.” Susan’s contribution also funds enhanced communication about the importance of early learning. Both of these are necessary to achieve our Goal.

This year, Susan has an even more important reason to plan for the future – her first grandchild, Quinn! In addition to her Legacy gift of the past 5 years, Susan has also included United Way of Skagit County in her will. Children born 30 or 40 years from now will benefit from her farsighted desire to improve the quality of life in Skagit County.

Create YOUR legacy! Now is the time for additional infrastructure funding to create systems that will bring tools and coaching to every new parent. If you believe in the power of investing in the beginning - in creating a solid start for EVERY child in Skagit County - now is the time to join the team. Every dollar now will save $7-$13 per child, per year, down the road.

Gifts to United Way can be immediate or deferred. Some of the ways you can make a Legacy Gift include: • Cash - giving you a tax deduction that year.

• A Bequest - in your will. Complete a Commitment Form to let us know.

• Life Insurance Policy - with United Way as a beneficiary • Stocks or Bonds - can give you a tax deduction in the year you make your gift.

• Other Assets - call Debra at 360.755.9521, ex 1 United Way of Skagit County 2017-18 Annual Report

8

Your lasting gift to improve lives for generations to come.