Phyllis Busch and (on stairs, from left) Donna Day, Roberta Swanson, Mary Elaine Burgess and Neena Blackwell volunteer with the Assistance League of Everett . Busch leads the league’s graduations awards. Volunteers work to identify high school students who are in need of help to celebrate their senior years. Students are given awards to pay for things like yearbooks, senior prom or Advanced Placement tests.

Phyllis Busch and (on stairs, from left) Donna Day, Roberta Swanson, Mary Elaine Burgess and Neena Blackwell volunteer with the Assistance League of Everett . Busch leads the league’s graduations awards. Volunteers work to identify high school students who are in need of help to celebrate their senior years. Students are given awards to pay for things like yearbooks, senior prom or Advanced Placement tests.

Assistance League ensures kids can celebrate senior year

EVERETT — The handwritten notes answer why the women spend hours in the thrift store folding clothes and sorting dishes or why they take on cleaning out houses for money-raising estate sales.

The notes remind them that their efforts mean something to young people whose lives are affected by poverty.

“Over the years I’ve been in school you have assisted me in funding many things that my parents have a hard time paying for us since our income is very low,” one girl wrote. “I will use this fund toward a yearbook, senior ball and prom.”

“I plan to use the money for a new dress for graduation,” another girl wrote. “This will be special to me and my family.”

The girls were two of 143 high school seniors who received $200 this year from the Assistance League of Everett’s graduation awards program.

Since 2000 the league and its volunteers have given out 1,472 awards, totaling $305,000, to students around the county.

The awards are meant to help young people pay for senior year expenses, such as Advanced Placement tests, graduation caps, gowns and announcements, yearbooks or even a special dinner to commemorate completing high school.

“Anyone who has gone through the struggles these kids have, yet makes it to graduation, deserves to be able to celebrate,” league volunteer Roberta Swanson said.

The graduation awards are the league’s second largest philanthropy project, behind Operation School Bell, program Chairwoman Phyllis Busch said.

The league raises money for the awards and its other projects through its thrift store on Evergreen Way, grants, estate sales, other fundraisers and individual donations.

The graduation award committee reviewed 230 applications from students this year. The volunteers consider students’ financial situations, grades and school and community involvement. Special consideration is given to those young people who are homeless.

This year, there were 13 more recipients than allotted in the program’s budget so a handful of members donated $2,600 to make those additional awards possible.

Awards were given to students at 17 different high schools. More than one-third of the students who received awards attend Mariner High in the Mukilteo School District.

“My heart is with these kids,” said Busch, a retired school psychologist. “These are the kids that 10 years ago didn’t graduate. They live under some really tough circumstances.”

Some of the teens are the first in their families to graduate high school, longtime volunteer Mary Elaine Burgess said. It’s important that they can participate in some of the end-of-year activities to mark their accomplishments, the volunteers said.

Busch and Burgess recently reread some of the notes written by students.

A girl will take her sister out to dinner to thank her for supporting her through high school. A student on the yearbook staff will be able to afford to buy one of the memory books.

“We get just as much out of helping them as they get from us,” Busch said.

Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @dianahefley.

Learn more

For more information about the Assistance League of Everett or how to volunteer, call 425-252-3011. The league’s thrift shop is located at 5107 Evergreen Way, Everett.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Trader Joe’s customers walk in and out of the store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Trader Joe’s opens this week at Everett Mall

It’s a short move from a longtime location, essentially across the street, where parking was often an adventure.

Ian Bramel-Allen enters a guilty plea to second-degree murder during a plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Deep remorse’: Man gets 17 years for friend’s fatal stabbing in Edmonds

Ian Bramel-Allen, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder for killing Bret Northcutt last year at a WinCo.

Firefighters respond to a small RV and a motorhome fire on Tuesday afternoon in Marysville. (Provided by Snohomish County Fire Distrct 22)
1 injured after RV fire, explosion near Marysville

The cause of the fire in the 11600 block of 81st Avenue NE had not been determined, fire officials said.

Ashton Dedmon appears in court during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett Navy sailor sentenced to 90 days for fatal hit and run

Ashton Dedmon crashed into Joshua Kollman and drove away. Dedmon, a petty officer on the USS Kidd, reported he had a panic attack.

A kindergarten student works on a computer at Emerson Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘¡Una erupción!’: Dual language programs expanding to 10 local schools

A new bill aims to support 10 new programs each year statewide. In Snohomish County, most follow a 90-10 model of Spanish and English.

Logo for news use featuring the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Woman drives off cliff, dies on Tulalip Reservation

The woman fell 70 to 80 feet after driving off Priest Point Drive NW on Sunday afternoon.

Everett
Boy, 4, survives fall from Everett fourth-story apartment window

The child was being treated at Seattle Children’s. The city has a limited supply of window stops for low-income residents.

People head out to the water at low tide during an unseasonably warm day on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett shatters record high temperature by 11 degrees

On Saturday, it hit 73 degrees, breaking the previous record of 62 set in 2007.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 and Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue respond to a motor vehicle collision for a car and pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, near Triangle Bait & Tackle in Snohomish. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Troopers tried to stop driver before deadly crash in Snohomish

The man, 31, was driving at “a high rate of speed” when he crashed into a traffic light pole and died, investigators said.

Alan Dean, who is accused of the 1993 strangulation murder of 15-year-old Bothell girl Melissa Lee, appears in court during opening statements of his trial on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
31 years later, trial opens in Bothell teen’s brutal killing

In April 1993, Melissa Lee’s body was found below Edgewater Creek Bridge. It would take 27 years to arrest Alan Dean in her death.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Man dies after crashing into pole in Snohomish

Just before 1 a.m., the driver crashed into a traffic light pole at the intersection of 2nd Street and Maple Avenue.

Bodies of two men recovered after falling into Eagle Falls near Index

Two men fell into the falls and did not resurface Saturday, authorities said. After a recovery effort, two bodies were found.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.