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Current Articles (choose link to jump to full text)
July Message from Tom Everill
New Early Learning Facility to Open in Seattle
Profile on... Harvey!
Mark Your Calendar: Golden Hearts Luncheon on 9/24
Laundry Gets New Contract, Builds Job Opportunities
Thank You, Donors!
Partner Profile: Shaklee and Causemunity
Donor Profile — Great at Tax Time
Seattle Sketcher Captures The Big Blue Truck™
Look for Campaign Sightings in 2010
Northwest Center is in the News!
July Message from Tom Everill
If you had a chance to read Steve Kelley’s recent Seattle Times column about the wonderful relationship between the Seattle Sounders and a young man named Will Daniel, you might have wondered how it is that a young man with Down syndrome could inspire the world’s soccer-playing elite.
Will isn’t simply a passing fad or a lucky recipient of the team’s benevolence. He has become a valued part of the Sounders family—particularly to coach Sigi Schmid, with whom Will has built a 13-year friendship. Coach Schmid values Will’s unique perspective so much (“there’s such a truthfulness and an honesty to him that just cuts through so much of the bull”) he asked Will to address the team before the June 26 game.
I’ve seen countless examples of this mutual enrichment in workplaces, school rooms and other community locations. Business owners remark to me that after hiring a person with a developmental condition, they see sales, productivity, and morale go up—and absenteeism go down. Employers realize that inclusion is not charity, but rather a smart business strategy.
When people of all abilities engage with each other, it creates a richer experience for everyone (just ask the Sounders). Inclusion is an elixir that strengthens organizations by evoking the highest potential of everyone involved. Given the value Will contributes to the Seattle Sounders, it makes you wonder why we call his condition a “disability.”
Northwest Center Program Expansion:
New Early Learning Facility to Open in Seattle
Northwest Center is opening a new early learning program in September! We will launch an innovative childcare facility in the King County Chinook Building that recognizes the power of inclusion. Participants will include children of all abilities, including those with significant disabilities; children of all income levels; and children of diverse cultures.
The facility is the result of a successful partnership between King County, the City of Seattle and Northwest Center—and will serve approximately 60 children in five classrooms. “Strong advocates at both the City and County have worked tirelessly to create an excellent opportunity that will have a tremendous impact on the lives of local families,” said President & CEO Tom Everill.
The new facility will address the need for childcare in downtown Seattle, especially the need for infant care. Northwest Center Kids will serve a diverse population through an exceptional early learning program and the support of an early intervention therapy team. An application process for participants is under way now! Of the available childcare spaces, 20% will be reserved for children whose families earn below 80% of the mean Seattle income. In addition, children with special needs will be given priority. Additional spots will be filled via a lottery drawing.
The five classroom facility features two-story windows for natural daylight, an indoor play area and an on-site outdoor playground. “Everything in this space—from the lighting to the layout—has been designed based on our decades of experience and best practices in the field today,” said Jane Dobrovolny, VP of Children and Family Services at Northwest Center. “And the secret ingredient is complete inclusion of kids with all abilities from all backgrounds, where everyone brings something special to the table.”
Profile on... Harvey!
Harvey’s relationship with Northwest Center began with the School-to-Work program, where he gained critical skills that prepared him for a job after graduation. Harvey spent his last year of school doing internships at businesses like Fred Meyer and Home Depot, where he learned the professional skills and personal habits that contribute to success at work.
During that year, Harvey’s job coach observed his meticulous nature. He used hand tools with dexterity and confidence—and he excelled at tasks where he could be physically active. So toward the end of the school year, he was matched with a job at the Ballard Health Club that turned out to be a perfect fit.
Over a year later, Harvey is happily detailing the equipment and machines at the health club, as well as doing some vacuuming and locker room checks. Although he has limited verbal skills, he has found ways to communicate with the staff and members—and vice versa! Harvey says he enjoys his job, and he can often be found singing or dancing to the music as he works. Keep it up, Harvey!
Mark Your Calendar: Golden Hearts Luncheon on 9/24
Northwest Center is cooking up something new for this year’s Golden Hearts Luncheon. We are inviting a celebrity guest chef to do a cooking demonstration and speak to the power of inclusion.
In a recipe, each ingredient adds something to the dish and creates a deeper experience. In society, we all bring something to the table—and contribute to the strength of our community.
You are invited to join us on September 24th to create something special. With your help, we can bring together 500 community leaders and guests to create inclusion opportunities for people of all abilities.Date: Friday, September 24, 2010
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Washington State Convention Center
RSVP: 206-378-6389 or online
Get Involved: We want to create a cookbook for the event! If you’d like to participate, send us your best recipe, a photo and a story about what inclusion means to you. To learn more, call us at 206-378-6389 or e-mail goldenhearts@nwcenter.org.
Laundry Gets New Contract, Builds Job Opportunities
What does a new laundry contract have to do with Northwest Center’s mission? A lot! When St. Joseph’s Hospital in Bellingham recently signed a contract with Puget Sound Laundry Services (a Northwest Center business), five new jobs for people with disabilities were created.
In a year-long process, Puget Sound Laundry Services competed head-to-head with other regional laundry services and came out on top. St. Joseph’s chose our commercial laundry based on quality, capabilities and experience—as well as our regional impact. “St. Joseph’s Hospital loves our mission,” said Mike Quinn, Northwest Center VP of Manufacturing, Production and Assembly. “As a community-oriented organization, they truly understand the power of this investment.”
The contract represents an increase of 30% in revenue at the laundry, leading to critical job opportunities for people with disabilities. Puget Sound Laundry Services is an inclusive workplace, where people with and without disabilities work together to offer outstanding service to hotels, the military and private companies. The leadership and staff at the facility have fully demonstrated—to St. Joseph’s and the entire business community—how inclusion and success go hand in hand.
Thank You, Donors!
Northwest Center appreciates everyone who made a donation or pledge in the first half of 2010. Many partners have stepped up and invested in our programs for children and adults with disabilities. We’re thrilled that so many people in our community believe it’s what’s inside that counts.
Partner Profile: Shaklee and Causemunity
Northwest Center has been working with two community partners to ramp up a special program that benefits everyone!
Shaklee and Causemunity created custom shopping portals for us—so every time a customer buys a product through Northwest Center, a portion of the profit goes to our programs for people with disabilities.
Shaklee is well-known for its green cleaning supplies and vitamins, and Causemunity is a collection of popular retailers, like Target.com, Amazon.com and BestBuy.com. Which means our supporters can get the things they need and buy while strengthening Northwest Center’s community services.
Thank you to our generous community partners for creating this fantastic opportunity!
Donor Profile — Great at Tax Time
Did you know when you sign up for Northwest Center’s My Donor Profile, you can save valuable time at tax season? By scheduling your pickups online, you’ll be able to view your donation history and get your tax receipts—all in one convenient place.
Why not clean out your closets and donate your reusable clothing and household items? Visit our website to schedule a pickup and set up your donor profile today! We appreciate you helping us Go Green by scheduling your donation pickups online.
Seattle Sketcher Captures The Big Blue Truck™
The Seattle Sketcher, who documents local life for the Seattle Times, recently put pen to paper and captured The Big Blue Truck™. Gabriel Campanario donated at our Mukilteo Donation Depot and created a sketch of the experience, which appeared on his blog and in the paper.
Look for Campaign Sightings in 2010
By now, you’ve probably seen and heard Northwest Center’s awareness-building campaign around the Puget Sound region. We still need help. If you have contacts with any local media outlets, we’d welcome an introduction. Anything you can do to help further the campaign would be welcome. Call Alice Thavis at 206-378-6368 if you have ideas!
Learn more about our It's What's Inside That Counts campaign!
Northwest Center is in the News!
Northwest Center regularly pops up in local news stories, and we keep a list of online links right here on our website. To see articles where we've been mentioned, just head to our publications page! And if you know of any we haven’t listed, let us know!