Even as belts keep tightening for families, businesses and government, this community continues its tradition of generous giving. With most forecasts predicting the recession has yet to bottom out, that spirit will need to spread even further among those who are weathering the storm relatively well.
Inspiration is all around:
n The YMCA of Snohomish County’s Invest in Youth Campaign set an ambitious goal of raising $1 million, and exceeded it.
n The Providence General Foundation, the fund-raising organization for Providence Regional Medical Center Everett, had a record year in 2008. Physician groups made unprecedented gifts, led by a $1.75 million donation from The Everett Clinic. The outpouring couldn’t come at a better time, given the increasing need and cuts in state health-care funding.
Providence employees also stepped up like never before, nearly doubling their giving to the foundation and the United Way.
n Premera Blue Cross, traditionally the United Way of Snohomish County’s second-largest donor (Boeing employees are first), is working hard to exceed last year’s campaign, which raised $420,000.
n Many organizations are focused on increasing the number of employees who give to the United Way, emphasizing the reality that every donation, large or small, makes a difference in the lives of people throughout our community. Agilent Technologies had 84 percent of its employees donate. Several nonprofits also had participation rates of more than 80 percent.
Despite such success stories, however, United Way and other agencies are feeling the effects of the recession. Most corporate donors have cut their levels of giving, an understandable move when facing their own cutbacks and, in many cases, layoffs. And when a worker who has made a pledge to give loses his or her job, agencies must kiss that donation goodbye.
So the impetus turns to the relatively well-off to dig a little deeper. And a little can go a long way: the United Way is launching a “Give $5” campaign that will encourage folks to give five bucks at a Web site (www.liveunited.org/give5), and pass the message on to five friends — a case where “going viral” would be a very good thing indeed.
Volunteering is another way to do your part. If you’re looking for ideas, the 2009 Volunteer Expo (10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at the Everett Mall), will have plenty.
Whatever you have to give, the time for action is now. The river of need never dries up completely, but these days, it’s running wider and deeper than usual.
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