Non-profits

The Windermere Foundation recently donated $1000 each to three local non-profits. Here are the details from Bruce Bright with the Windermere Foundation:

The Windermere Foundation receives money from each Agent when an Agent Closes a Real Estate transaction. Our Burien Office pools our money with 6 other Windermere Offices, 2 in Federal Way, 2 in Renton, 1 in Kent and 1 in Maple Valley.

In October the 7 Offices put on an Oktoberfest Event at Fairwood Golf Course and we raised $15,000 to go to the Foundation. In our group of 7 Offices it is all Volunteers, no one gets paid, so it is all to the Foundation. This was our 3rd Event, like this. We started doing the Events 3 years ago because we have not raised as much money because of the poor Real Estate Market. We needed to do something extra to help out the Organizations we give Grants to. We also do a Spring Grant.

Our Burien Office is giving Grants of $1000 each to Hospitality House in Burien, Victory Outreach in Burien, and Angle Lake Family Resource Center in SeaTac.

Here is some additional information on the Hospitality house grant:

Press release:

Burien Goodwill’s Job Training and Education Center, located at 1031 SW 128th Street, will register people for free classes until December 12. The eight-week session runs from January 3 through February 23, 2012.
Classes fill up fast, and sign-up is on a first-come, first-served basis!
The center will offer the following classes:
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
Basic Computers: Introductory classes for people with little or no computer skills.
Computer Basics
Computer Basics for ESOL
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Excel
Online Job Search
GED Preparation
Basic/Intermediate Math
Customer Service
Citizenship Preparation
Writing for School and Work
Open Computer Lab
Open lab time for help with career related activities, practicing computer skills, or practicing English skills using Rosetta Stone.
For class availability and enrollment information, contact the center at 206-957-1026.
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Thanksgiving came early for the operators of the Evergreen Community Aquatic Pool in White Center on Friday, Nov. 18 when King County Executive Dow Constantine announced the pool will receive a $70,521 Youth Sports Facilities grant.

Butch Lovelace of the King County Parks Department said the grant money will go toward improving the pool’s heating system, the center’s largest expense.

“It will greatly reduce their cost of energy,” Lovelace declared. “It will go a long ways to making them more sustainable.”

Starfire Sports in Tukwila also received a $60,000 grant for their indoor sports fields.

Highline Public Schools received a $20,000 grant for Moshier Park Field in Burien.

Matching fund grants totaling $685,185 that will help build new sports complexes, playgrounds, an equestrian center and a rowing facility were announced today by Constantine.

“Through these grants we can support the kind of activities that promote good health, build self-esteem, and teach teamwork,” said Executive Constantine.

SeaTac resident Joe Van received the honor of the Advocacy and Civic Leaders Award as one of the unsung heroes who works behind the scenes to make Washington a better place. The third annual Molina Healthcare of Washington Community Champions Awards Dinner took place Thursday, October 27.

Seven everyday heroes were honored for their extraordinary service and civic contributions. Each honoree received a grant to be given to an organization of their choosing and a Molina Healthcare of Washington Community Champions Award trophy, named in honor of Molina Healthcare’s physician founder, Dr. C. David Molina.

“Molina Healthcare is excited to honor everyday heroes in our community like Joe Van,” said Glen Bogner, president of Molina Healthcare of Washington. “Joe’s commitment to helping marginalized children in the SeaTac area is truly inspirational.”

Van has almost singlehandedly planned, collected, organized and distributed backpacks and school supplies to more than 1,300 students each year at the Back to School Resource Fair.

Press release:
Burien nonprofit community mental health provider Navos has been awarded a $1.8 million grant by the Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The award, to be funded over four years, will support and promote better primary care and behavioral health services for individuals with mental illnesses and/or substance use disorders.

The program will be aimed at improving the physical health of people with serious mental illness by supporting Navos and the community to coordinate and integrate primary care services into publicly funded community mental health and other community-based behavioral health settings. Navos, with primary locations in West Seattle and Burien, will enter into a partnership with Public Health-Seattle/King County to develop and expand their offering of primary healthcare services for people with serious mental illness, resulting in improved health status. The funds are awarded and administered by SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS).

A Northwest nonprofit arts group is promising to turn one block of downtown Burien into a mini Burning Man festival on Oct. 15.

The popular Burning Man festival draws thousands yearly to the California desert. Correction: Burning Man brings thousands to the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, not California.

"We've outgrown every venue in Seattle, and this year we are stuffing two acres of downtown Burien with Fire, Music and Art," a press release from Ignition Northwest proclaims.

"We invite you to come celebrate with two full acres of theme camps, interactive displays, fire spinners, DJs, live music and performers, dance, art cars, grilled cheese, suspension rigs, small blimps, neon rainbows, and every other odd thing we can think of. Imagine one city block of Burning Man being transported - streets and all - to downtown Burien."

The Burien event, dubbed Seacompression, is a 21 and over event because sponsors will have five highly decorated theme bars along with local food vendors.

Press release:
New Futures has appointed veteran board member and management professional Jenn Ramirez Robson as its Interim Executive Director, beginning Oct. 1.

She replaces outgoing Executive Director Mario Paredes, who recently resigned for personal reasons.

While the agency is saddened to lose such a tireless supporter of New Futures and wish him the best, the Board moved forward with its succession plan and selected a strong and capable leader in Jenn Ramirez Robson.

Jenn Ramirez Robson has served on the board of director of New Futures since 2007. She brings a thorough understanding of the organization's mission, programs to help children and families, and its donor base. Ramirez Robson has served on the board's governance and development committees and as its vice president.

Along with her commitment to New Futures' mission, Ramirez Robson brings 20 years of management experience in the private sector and in local government.

During her career, she has served as a management analyst for the city manager of Burien, as well as a policy advisor, legislative analyst, project manager and technology professional with the City of Seattle.

Press release:

Help the nonprofit CARES OF BURIEN rescue 60-plus cats that were living with one person in Burien. Adopt one of these cats in need of a family and the usual adoption fee will be waived--or become a "foster human."

CARES, which provides animal control services for the City of Burien, initiated the rescue because the overwhelming number of cats has become an issue.

With the owner's agreement, CARES will remove the cats eight at a time and take them to the nonprofit Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project for spaying, neutering, checkup and rabies vaccination. The first appointments have been set for Oct. 3 and Oct. 6, and the cats will need homes immediately afterward.

CARES volunteers say the cats they have come into contact with so far have been very friendly and loving despite their circumstances. The cats spend time outside as well as indoors.

Due to the critical nature of finding homes for so many cats, including several kittens, CARES is waiving the normal $60 adoption fee. Since adoption fees help fund CARES' work, anyone who wishes to donate the fee to CARES is greatly appreciated.

Press release:
This free summer time family/friendly event featuring sailing fun, great food and valuable prizes, was also a great success as a fundraiser! Participant donations totaled over $6,000 for Hospitality House and over $1,400 for the Des Moines Food Bank.

Hospitality House is a unique program of rehabilitation for homeless single women and includes job training, counseling and housing assistance. The Des Moines Food Bank has seen demand rise and does its best to provide for the most needy among us.

The sailing social was held on six Thursday evenings, beginning July 7, and included a low-key race, conducted by The Three Tree Point Yacht Club, which was followed by a social hour with food, beverages, and generous prizes donated by local merchants.

This is an annual event, so if you missed it this year, join us next year on the first Thursday after the 4th of July.

For further information contact the Des Moines Marina at 206-824-5700 or Debra Valpey at 206-243-5566.

Two major events for the Highline Music4Life program are being held in
Des Moines in September. The Poverty Bay "Blues & Brews" event will be on Saturday, Sept. 10th at the Des Moines Beach Park beginning at noon and will feature several prominent "Blues" groups, including Left Hand Smoke, Rod Cook & Toast, Little Bill & the Blues Notes and the Fabulous Roofshakers.

The second event will be the Highline Music4Life "Instrument Collection Day" on the following Saturday, Sept. 17th, at the Des Moines Marina. This will be the first of what are intended to be annual springtime events to ask adults who have unused musical instruments in their garages or attics to donate them to the Highline Music4Life program. Both events are community-wide activities that are inspired by Des Moines Rotary with the active support of the Burien-White Center and SeaTac Rotary clubs.