the powerone of Volunteers of America Western Washington 2005 Annual Report “In every community there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart there is the power to do it.” – Marianne Williamson, International Author and Lecturer President’s Report The Power of One Through Volunteers of America Western Washington, remarkable events occur every day.Today, a parent received desperately needed food for themselves and their children. After a long search, someone else was finally able to find a job.Yesterday, a single mother developed a plan to buy a house of her own after a painful period of homelessness.A father, serving several years in prison and separated from his family, read a book with his son.A homebound senior sat down to enjoy a warm dinner, visiting with the caring senior who delivered the meal.A person with developmental disabilities looked out at the world from the window of his own apartment. The most extraordinary thing about these events is that they occur because of one person’s passion, care and dedication.And this individual impact is duplicated across Volunteers of America Western Washington’s 2,000 donors, 475 staff, and more than 300 regular volunteers; each and every one is touching lives.This annual report shares just a few of these stories. This year, our volunteers contributed 72,150 hours – worth $901,879 - of their time to Volunteers of America Western Washington. Corporate and individual donors contributed 44% of our revenues supporting programs and services.And our dedicated staff of nearly 500 individuals provided the crucial professional skills that are central to any successfully run human service organization. While these are impressive facts, the truth is that the need for services, funding and volunteers continues to grow in western Washington. For example, the Everett Food Bank demand has increased 40% in the last two years, serving 2700 households now every month.Traditional sources of funding are not as readily available, so now—more than ever—we depend on the support of local businesses and citizens. Each person in the eight counties we serve is a valued member of our community. And within each person is the capacity and resourcefulness to encourage and empower others. You have the power to revitalize your community. Volunteers of America Western Washington has made it easy for you to do so.When you contribute to our organization, 87 cents of every dollar directly impacts greater Puget Sound individuals and families.When you donate your time and skills to any one of our many programs, you positively impact the lives of your neighbors. It is only through the power and spirit of individuals like you that we are able to take our mission of hope to thousands.With your help, we will move ahead, continue to fill unmet needs in our community and provide valuable resources for those who live and work around us.We thank you for your continued time, support and generosity. Sincerely, Over 350,000 individuals contact Volunteers of America Western Washington each year for assistance. Promoting Self-sufficiency The Power of Gratitude MAX ENGLAND IS AN ENGAGING, hardworking, fiercely independent family man. He never expected to need help. But, sixteen years ago, his wife was diagnosed with Huntington’s disease, a fatal, genetically inherited disease affecting the nervous system. In a very short while, Max, his wife and two daughters fell on difficult emotional and financial times. He lost his business and all of his financial resources were used to care for his wife; Max and his family’s reserves were exhausted.Then someone suggested he turn to Volunteers of America.“Wonderful, wonderful people work there,” says Max. “They are loving and treat people with respect.They are there because they care.” Help from Volunteers of America Western Washington came in many unexpected ways.When Max called on Housing and Transitional Services (HATS) for financial help in getting his daughters tested for Huntington’s disease, he was surprised by what happened next.“The man said,‘I don’t know, but I’ll see what I can do,’ and the next day someone from the UW called and asked when I could come in,” says Max. The tests —each of which costs $3000— were offered free of charge, and showed that neither of the girls inherited the disease. During those difficult times, Max twice used Volunteers of America’s food bank as well as the School Bell Program, which provided school clothes for Max’s girls.“My daughters were in their early teens,” recalls Max, “an age when what you wear to school means a lot. To have them in new school clothes really helped them feel okay.” Volunteers of America also provided a wheelchair and hospital bed for his wife. For Max, the ways in which Volunteers of America helped seemed to know no bounds. And now, years later, Max is back, this time as one of Volunteers of America’s dedicated volunteers, actively helping people gain access to the same services he used.“Now that I’m retired,” Max explains,“what better way to use my time than to give back to my community?” Armed with a gentle, sincere voice and by speaking from experience, Max passionately advocates for the Holiday Basket Bureau sponsorship program, giving presentations to various groups to earn support for the program. His fundraising doesn’t stop there however. Max creates giving opportunities around the calendar for others through raffles and auctions that benefit seniors, families going through difficult times, and people with developmental disabilities. When he needed it,Volunteers of America was there for Max England.And now when demand on Volunteers of America is reaching critical levels, Max England is giving back, helping others in need.What an incredible example of the cycle of giving and receiving, and giving back again. A true testament to the “Power of One”. Over 400 families in crisis received 46,000 days of transitional shelter last year through our Housing and Transitional Services (HATS) program, allowing these families to plan the next steps in rebuilding their lives. Encouraging Positive Development The Power of Words MARY FRENCH HAS SERVED TIME in the Washington Corrections Center for seven of her son Domisi’s eleven years, but the two have managed to maintain a very close relationship.Thanks to Domisi’s grandmother, they see each other weekly.And the bond between mother and son is further strengthened through Volunteers of America Western Washington’s Words Travel Family Connection program. “Mary found out about Words Travel at the facility two months ago,” says Camille French, Mary’s aunt and currently Domisi’s caretaker.The program teams Scholastic Inc. and Volunteers of America to create a literacy program that connects incarcerated parents with their children through reading. Words Travel helps children between visits by providing audiotapes of their mom or dad reading a book. Inmates are trained in how to read in a conversational, active way before they are taped reading their favorite story aloud. “I could tell Domisi was really proud of the book he picked out that his mom gave him,” Camille said of Domisi’s first visit through the Words Travel program two months ago. Since 1991, the number of children with parents in prison has increased by more than 50 percent, most children being under the age of ten.Without good role models and a solid relationship with parents, children are more susceptible to engaging in risky behavior or criminal activity.Words Travel Family Connection works to break that cycle, providing a simple, meaningful way for inmates to interact with their children.This, in turn, impacts their relationship when they eventually transition back into each other’s daily lives. “I would definitely recommend this program,”says Camille.“It’s a nice thing Mary and Domisi can do together that involves a lot of interaction. It gives their visits a focus.”And any day now, Mary French will be eligible for work release. Charles Conston II is a volunteer who accompanies the children on their bus ride to the prison. During the bus ride, Charles prepares the children for the experience of visiting a correctional facility.“For the kids who don’t see their parents often, it’s really hard,” says Charles.“They’re really excited on the way there, but on the way back it’s a different story.” He remembers Domisi’s first trip to visit his mom.“He was very quiet on the trip and in general, but when he saw his mom he just opened right up and talked with her.” However, not all children in the program get to see their incarcerated parent as often as Mary and Domisi see each other. For many children,Words Travel is their only opportunity to visit with an absent parent. Charles also participates in the reading workshops and helps record the audiotapes and gives them to the kids to listen at home.“Sometimes the inmates even thank me for being with the kids on the bus,” says Charles. “That really makes me feel good.” 164 children and 107 adults participated in our Words Travel program, a family attachment and literacy program for incarcerated parents and their children. Fostering Independence The Power of Persistence LIKE MOST OF US, individuals with developmental disabilities strive for self-reliance, community involve- ment and the freedom to make personal choices. For the children of the Prentice family, their dream was simply to be together. Siblings John, Richard and Julie Prentice—each with unique disabilities—were raised in separate locations appropriate for their individual needs.When the children were young, their parents, Phyllis and Terry Buckridge, had to make some tough decisions to ensure that each child’s particular needs were met.While Julie and Richard remained in Snohomish County, eventually graduating from Marysville High School’s Special Education Program, John moved to Pierce County, and later King County, to receive the specialized services he required.