Change Starts With You
Covid-19 has only exacerbated our community’s needs and racial inequities are disproportionately affecting our neighbors of color. Your gift is more important than ever.
By giving $100 a month or more for a year, Change Makers invest to make a difference and improve our community for everyone.
For information on how to give during a workplace giving campaign please contact changemakers@uwkc.org.
The Difference $1,200 Can Make in a Year
Get one family permanently off the streets.
Enable 10 youth to take GED tests necessary to finish their high school education.
Provide after-school meals for 40 kids whose families are struggling to make ends meet.
Change Makers Benefits Include:
- Volunteering: Several intimate, family-friendly volunteer opportunities will allow Change Makers to work directly with others in the community to give back and make a hands-on difference.
- Learning: Throughout the year, get access to exclusive deep-dive educational sessions led by local experts and thought leaders to learn more about the issues affecting our community.
- Connecting: Meet and socialize with people like you—people wanting to make a difference—at several social events held during the year.
- Exclusive Opportunities: From a VIP reception at our signature event, Eat, Drink & Be Generous, to a unique Day of Caring opportunity with other Change Makers, there will be several opportunities available to just Change Makers.
- Staying Informed: Every other month, you’ll get a newsletter with updates on how your dollars are making a difference, plus information on upcoming volunteer opportunities and events.
Meet a few Change Makers
“I chose to become a Change Maker because I know that I can trust United Way to put my investment wherever it’s needed most in the community today.”
–Heather Roper | Group Rental Manger, Enterprise Holdings
“I chose to be a part of the Change Makers community because I felt that I could make a difference immediately. I’m excited to be able to bring my experience and enthusiasm to United Way and serve my community in ways that are impactful.”
–Kamika Dillard | Business Program Manager, Microsoft
“Being a Change Maker has provided me an opportunity to meet with people who share the same connection with United Way, and give back to the community in a hands-on way.”
–Dora Leung | Clark Nuber PS
“I believe every child should have an equal chance to succeed. I am proud to partner with UWKC as a Change Maker to support that mission because I trust UWKC to leverage their incredible partnerships to make my dollar go further.”
–Kayleen Burnett | Costco Wholesale
“I want to do more than just clocking my 9-5 and I am thankful that I can directly make a difference for others in my community through United Way.”
–Steve Hooper | Jr.President, Ethan Stowell Restaurants and Change Makers Committee Co-Chair
“I love the depth that United Way has–the number of people they’ve helped in this economic crisis is impressive.”
—Kamala Saxton | Co-owner, Marination and Super Six
“Volunteering and engaging with United Way has helped me feel more tapped into the issues affecting my community.”
—Vannessa Rivera | Senior Program Manager, Amazon
“Knowing how much further my dollars stretch with United Way gave me the confidence to give.”
—Melanie Deitch | Marketing & Communications, PCL Construction
“The name tells the story. My wife and I want to be catalysts in addressing homelessness, disparate educational outcomes and racial equity in our community. That is why we became Change Makers.”
—Stephan Blanford, ED.D. | Principal, Lighthouse Consulting
“We’ve seen the direct impact in the community—and the many stories we’ve heard inspired us to step up and become Change Makers.”
—Philip and Juliana | Software Engineers
“Now more than ever, it’s clear we really are connected to one another. Change Makers is one tangible way to express that community.”
—Sue Sherbrooke | Community Volunteer
“My work, and the work of my firm, feels so well-aligned with the mission and values of United Way of King County.”
—Brian Carter, AIA | Principal & CEO, Integrus Architecture
“We became a Change Maker household to make a difference in our community. Plus, the family-friendly volunteer opportunities allow us to introduce our daughter to the importance of giving back.”
—Malia| Software Development Manager
—Matt | Manager, Marketing Data & Analytics
“I know that by being a Change Maker I’m supporting a variety of efforts to improve our community and fight the impacts of poverty.”
—Robby | Data Analyst
Change Makers Leadership
The Change Makers leadership team is made up of a group of volunteers dedicated to making a difference.
Upcoming Events
National Volunteer Month: Big Impact Project with Food Lifeline (morning)
April 15 @ 9:00 am – 11:00 amNational Volunteer Month: Big Impact Project w/ Food Lifeline (afternoon)
April 15 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pmMonthly Volunteer Project: Summer Meals Are Here!
May 13 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pmVolunteer and Learn: Create Artist Kits for Choose 180’s Youth Art Therapy Program
May 20 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pmHappy Hour & Hellos
May 23 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Become a Change Maker Today
By giving $100 a month or more for a year, you’ll be a part of the change our community needs.
FAQs
What Does It Take to Join Change Makers?
Wanting to make a difference and improve our community for everyone, profoundly changing lives here in Seattle and King County, is the “seed”. There are two ways to make that seed grow:
What Are the Benefits of Joining?
Besides knowing you’re making a difference in our community, you’ll also enjoy a full year of benefits like:
- Several intimate volunteer opportunities will allow you to give back by working directly with others in the community at exclusive volunteer opportunities with other Change Makers.
- Learn about the issues you care about at exclusive deep-dive educational sessions led by local experts and thought leaders.
- Meet, socialize and connect with people like you—people making a difference—at several social events held during the year.
- Change Maker-only events and opportunities like a VIP reception at our signature event, Eat, Drink & Be Generous, to a unique Day of Caring opportunity.
- Access to the exclusive, family-friendly Change Maker event with the Mariners in Summer 2020.
- Staying informed through newsletters every other month that include updates on how your dollars are making a difference in our community plus news about upcoming volunteer opportunities and events.
Where Does the $1,200 Go? Am I Paying for these Benefits and Events?
Every dollar you give goes directly to building a community where people have homes, students graduate and families are financially stable. Change Maker benefits and events are covered by our generous corporate sponsors.
Once I Join, How Long Am I Part of Change Makers?
You are a part of Change Makers for one full year from the date that you make your gift. For example, if you make a gift of $1,200 to United Way on Sept. 1, 2019, you are part of Change Makers until Sept. 1, 2020.
I Gave Last Year, Does That Count?
Change Makers started July 2019. If you give a gift any time after that, you’ll be recognized as a Change Maker for one full year from the date you give.
Made your donation before that? Thank you for giving! We’ve already put your dollars to work in the community and would love to ask you to give again so we can recognize you with all these great benefits!
Last Year I Was a Leadership Giver at the $1,000 Level—is That Different From Being a Change Maker?
Thank you for your donation last year! Your dollars have already been put to work in the community.
There is a $200 difference—or a little over $16 a month over a year—between the former Leadership Giver level and qualifying as a Change Maker donor. That additional $200 means more change in our community, which is great!
In addition to more change in the community, an annual gift of $1,200 qualifies you as a Change Maker, which comes with a host of educational, volunteer, social and event opportunities that are only available to Change Makers—all things that weren’t available as a Leadership Giver. Now is your chance to give and become a Change Maker.
If I Give, Is My Spouse Included?
Yes! You’ll both be recognized as Change Makers and have access to the full range of benefits.
My Company Matches My Donations—How Does That Work?
We love that your company matches donations, effectively doubling the impact of your gift. At this time, we’re not currently set up to recognize matched donations from the workplace, though we’re actively looking to change the way we recognize those gifts.
I Made a Gift and I Haven’t Heard Anything About Change Makers. Did I miss something?
We apologize. Sometimes our data processing lags a bit, but don’t worry—we’ll get it straightened out as soon as we can. In the meantime, please contact changemakers@uwkc.org.
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