Homelessness Begone: Seattle businesses join Pearl Jam in calling for shared strategy to fight homelessness
In conjunction with Pearl Jam’s Home Shows concerts at Safeco Field this week, more than 50 businesses today released a letter committing to a shared strategy toward fighting homelessness in the region.
Along with the letter, Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard released this statement:
“There is simply no way to address homelessness in our region without the work of all of us. This is not an issue that government, nonprofits, philanthropy or individuals alone can solve. We need everyone — and that includes the business community. Businesses have innovative ideas, resources and employees eager to be engaged. We’ve been thrilled by the role Seattle’s business community has played in the Home Shows. We’re looking forward to continuing the collaboration as we work toward a shared strategy to fighting homelessness.”
SEATTLE, WA – APRIL 23: (L-R) Seattle Seahwaks players Jimmy Graham, Doug Baldwin and Russell Wilson speak on stage during We Day at KeyArena on April 23, 2015 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images)
Today the NFC Champion and America’s Favorite Team, Seattle Seahawks begin OTAs (organized team activities) and every day, every meeting, every chance to compete is ‘super’ important to Wilson and this team. Despite this being an important start to an important run towards the 2015 NFL season, Russell Wilson chose to fly to Miami with new teammate (and future favorite target) Jimmy Graham to support him at services for Tamara Myerson who was Graham’s longtime mentor and manager, as well as an important mother figure in his life.
Condolences to Graham and the Myerson family.
Kudos to Russell Wilson for knowing what is most important in life – people.
Unfortunately, the kids at Children’s Hospital in Seattle may have to wait until next Tuesday for Wilson to return to his regular visitation schedule.
Bob Megargel from Bellevue is on a mission to see more families share sit-down Sunday dinners with their senior loved ones. The reason? New research shows that 50 percent of surveyed families living near senior relatives feel they do not share enough meals with older loved ones, losing an important family connection.*
“For seniors, it’s not what’s on their plate that matters most at mealtime – it’s who is at the table with them,” said Megargel, owner of the local Home Instead Senior Care office serving Bellevue and East King County. “When seniors share meals with a companion, they have a better mealtime experience – both nutritionally and emotionally.”
Almost 75 percent of the people surveyed said they only sit down for a family meal with senior loved ones for special occasions, events or holidays. They say a big part of the problem is time – both not having enough of it and conflicting schedules.
To encourage families to make time for these meals, the Home Instead Senior Care Foundation will donate $1 to Meals on Wheels America (up to $20,000 total through July 31, 2015) for each person that commits to regularly scheduling family dinners at www.SundayDinnerPledge.com. Pledging to have a sit-down dinner with loved ones will help to ensure other seniors will have a quality meal, friendly visit and safety check delivered by Meals on Wheels programs across the country.
“We hope families will make the pledge to either revive or begin new mealtime traditions with their senior loved ones,” Megargel said. “This small commitment can have a big impact on a senior’s well-being.”
To help families across the country host their own Sunday dinner, Home Instead Senior Care has partnered with celebrity chef and mother of four Melissa d’Arabian to develop easy, nutritious recipes. Additional resources include tips for how to involve seniors in meal planning and preparation, pre- and post-dinner activities and meal plans for healthy, inexpensive meals that all generations can enjoy.
For these free resources and more information on how you can bring back the Sunday dinner and reconnect with your senior loved ones, visit www.SundayDinnerPledge.com, call Home Instead Senior Care at 425-454-9744, or visit www.homeinstead.com/130.
Neighborhood Grills & Lunchbox Laboratory are teaming up for a Margarita Marathon to raise money for The Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Cinco de Mayo Weekend, May 1-5, 2015.
$1 from each featured Margarita sold at all Lunchbox Laboratory and Neighborhood Grill locations during this time will be donated to The Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.
“Giving back to our community is extremely important to us. Cancer affects so many people these days and we are incredibly fortunate to have such an amazing facility right in our backyard that is focused on prevention and treatment. Our goal is to raise money and awareness for this great cause,” said Director of Operations Joanne Poulias-Schmidt.
The margarita marathon is taking place at Lunchbox Laboratory in Bellevue, Seattle & Gig Harbor AND Eastlake Bar & Grill, Greenlake Bar & Grill, Lake Forest Bar & Grill, Bremerton Bar & Grill and Maple Valley Bar & Grill.
Neighborhood Grill’s and Lunchbox Laboratory are locally owned by John B. Schmidt and his partners.
Neighborhood Grill’s Current locations include:
Greenlake Bar & Grill: 7200 East Greenlake Drive North, Seattle, WA 98115 (206) 729-6179
Eastlake Bar & Grill: 2947 Eastlake Avenue East, Seattle, WA 98102 (206) 957-7777
Lake Forest Bar & Grill: 17535 Ballinger Way NE, Seattle, WA 98155 (206) 364-1261
Bellevue resident Matthew LaTurner is being honored for volunteering his time year-round to help build strong, connected and thriving communities. As part of National Volunteerism Week, April 12-18, LaTurner received the prestigious President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA).
Matthew LaTurner, a Senior Principal Architect , is among 4,500 AT&T employees nationwide being named President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) winners. The PVSA gives U.S. Presidential recognition to individuals who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to volunteer service each year.
LaTurner, is a father of two boys and spends hundreds of hours each year volunteering for the Boy Scouts of America, the local Boys and Girls Club and the AT&T Aspire mentoring academy. A Scout Master , he organizes weekly activities for boys 14 to 16 years old.
Once a month his Boy Scout troop takes on challenges like hiking up 9,000 feet on Mt. Rainier and building snow caves. He mentors high school students and talks with them about careers in technology and AT&T. Finally, he is a dedicated basketball and soccer coach for his sons and their teammates.
“I volunteer because I want to be a positive role model for people,” said LaTurner. “I have been blessed all of my life with wonderful men who helped me become a good husband and father. I want to pass that along and make a difference in the lives of these young men.”
“We are proud to celebrate AT&T employees who volunteer their time, talents and passions to make a difference in their communities,” said Bob Bass, president, AT&T Washington. “I am inspired and encouraged by our President’s Volunteer Service Award winners for this year, and want to say thanks to Matthew Laturner for the service he provides to his community every day.”
More than 50,000 hours of personal time was given by AT&T employees and retirees in Washington to community outreach activities last year – worth more than $1.1 million based on a financial equivalent of annual industry standards from Independent Sector.
PVSA is an initiative of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and is administered by Points of Light. With a shared mission of inspiring more to answer the call to service, PVSA celebrates the impact we can all make in bettering our communities and our world. The award is available on an annual basis and is an honor that every American – from youth to seniors – can participate in and be recognized by our nation’s president for their dedication to volunteerism.
To be eligible to receive the award, AT&T submits a record of employees’ annual volunteer service hours to be verified and considered eligible for the award.
A 2010 Renton High School graduate and Seattle native is currently serving with the U.S. Navy’s Strike Fighter Squadron 122, also known as the “Flying Eagles”, stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Jimmy Louangsyyotha is an avionics technician with the squadron, which the Navy designates as VFA-122, and works with the Navy’s most lethal and versatile strike fighter aircraft, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
“I work on communication, radar, and weapons systems on fighter jets,” said Louangsyyotha.
The Super Hornet takes off from and lands on Navy aircraft carriers and is capable of conducting air-to-air combat as well as air-to-surface combat. It is approximately 61 feet long, has a loaded weight of 51,000 lbs., and a max speed of 1,190 miles per hour.
Operating from the sea aboard aircraft carriers, the Super Hornet gives the Navy the power to protect America’s interests anywhere, at any time. The versatile jet has the ability to destroy targets located hundreds of miles inland, without the need to get another country’s permission to operate within its borders.
“I enjoy the camaraderie here at VFA-122,” said Louangsyyotha.
Louangsyyotha said he is proud of the work he is doing as part of the squadron’s 1140-member team, helping to protect America on the world’s oceans.
“My job is vital because we are the ‘eyes’, ‘ears’, and ‘fingers’ of the jets,” said Louangsyyotha.
Sailors’ jobs are highly varied in VFA-122. Approximately 220 officers, 660 enlisted and 260 civilian men and women make up and keep all parts of the squadron running smoothly — this includes everything from maintaining aircraft airframes and engines, to processing paperwork, handling weaponry, and flying the aircraft.
“The Sailors here are the epitome of a team,” said Cmdr. Ernie Spence, VFA-122’s commanding officer. “Everyone here is professional, skilled in their job, and they are great team players which enables us to accomplish our mission.”
The Flying Eagles are the Navy’s West Coast Fleet Replacement Squadron for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. They train aircrew and maintainers to prepare them to go to the fleet and join the squadrons that fly the Super Hornet. VFA-122 trained aircrews have flown combat missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Inherent Resolve.
“The Navy gives me the opportunity to travel, work on jets, and build new friendships,” said Louangsyyotha.
Geraldine Mensink and Linda Bauer are all smiles as they head off for a ride on a sunny day.
87-year-old Geraldine Mensink does not know what she’d do without Volunteer Transportation. When she decided it was time to give up her keys two years ago, the program saved her from feeling helpless and stuck. She uses the service regularly to get to appointments and says, “I love all of the volunteer drivers! They are wonderful.”
Since 1975, Senior Services’ Volunteer Transportation drivers have accumulated “miles and miles” of positive impact throughout King County. Using their own vehicles, volunteers pick seniors up, take them to their doctors and drive them home again—offering valuable transportation with a personal touch. Clients of the program often refer to them as their “heroes,” “guardian angels” or “life-savers.” In a very tangible way, volunteer drivers make a difference in the lives of vulnerable members of our community.
Volunteer Transportation currently faces the grim reality that it cannot serve all seniors in need of rides to important medical care. More volunteer drivers are needed! If you have a reliable vehicle, a clean driving record and some weekday availability, this is the role for you. Visit the program’s blog to read more of its stories; contact Hilary at (206) 748-7588 or hilaryc@seniorservices.org to find out more; or fill out an online volunteer driver application to sign-up. Help more seniors like Geraldine get “on the road” to improved health and peace of mind!
What: Today, Cyber Monday The Summit at Snoqualmie, located at Snoqualmie Pass, WA., will be donating funds to help fight hunger from season pass sales. In the spirit of the holidays The Summit will be donating $10 to Northwest Harvest for every single Big S Season Pass sold on December 1st, 2014. The Summit is also encouraging people who’ve already purchased a pass prior to Cyber Monday to contribute as well.
Who: The Summit at Snoqualmie Ski Resort for Northwest Harvest.
Why: To raise awareness and funds with The Summit at Snoqualmie’s skiers and snowboarders for Northwest Harvest’s fight against hunger, particularly now that the winter weather is in full effect.
When: Contribution period starts at 12:01am Monday, December 1, 2014 and continues through 11:59pm Monday, December 1, 2014
. The Summit will contribute $10 from every single season pass sold in this time-frame.
Where: The Summit at Snoqualmie’s website: www.summitatsnoqualmie.com/tickets-and-passes/season-passes. Season pass purchasers can also buy their pass in person at The Summit at Snoqualmie, Snoqualmie Pass at the Summit West Guest Services office from 9am to 5pm on Monday, December 1, 2014.
About Northwest Harvest: The mission of Northwest Harvest is to provide nutritious food to hungry people statewide in a manner that respects their dignity, while fighting to eliminate hunger. Our vision is ample nutritious food is available to everyone in Washington State.
As high-profile cases of domestic violence draw the attention of people across the country, Bellevue’s LifeWire is bringing local awareness and resources to the issue at its ‘Hope Starts Here’ breakfast on Thursday, October 2, 2014 in Bellevue. “We are at a pivotal moment within American culture in which domestic violence, so often a taboo subject, is being addressed on a national level,” said Barbara Langdon, LifeWire Executive Director. “America needs to know that domestic violence is an insidious crime and a national epidemic.”
Langdon cites recent cases involving NFL football player Ray Rice, and stunning video of him hitting his fiancée inside a casino elevator, knocking her out. NFL players Greg Hardy and Adrian Peterson have also been arrested in separate cases of abuse. Local women’s soccer player, Hope Solo, has pleaded ‘not guilty’ and is awaiting trial on charges that she assaulted her half-sister and 17 year old nephew. And newly crowned Miss America Kira Kazantsev, a domestic violence survivor, made headlines with her pageant platform of domestic violence awareness.
For 32 years, LifeWire has been addressing the complex issue of domestic violence. “Many of these victims call our helpline and walk through our doors in desperate need of help,” said Langdon. “Domestic violence and sexual assaults account for more than 200,000 visits to hospital emergency rooms across the country each year.” National police statistics show that nearly half of women murdered by their intimate partner had visited an emergency room within two years of the homicide.
Janine Latus, award-winning journalist and author of the book, If I Am Missing or Dead: A Sister’s Story of Love, Murder and Liberation, will deliver the keynote speech at the ‘Hope Starts Here’ breakfast. Latus will share her story of being in a series of abusive relationships for both her and her sister, Amy, which eventually ended in Amy’s death. The LifeWire breakfast will be held at Bellevue’s Meydenbauer Center on Thursday, October 2nd. Jean Enersen of KING 5 News, will emcee the event. Register to attend at www.lifewire.org.
If you are reading this and need help, call LifeWire’s 24- Hour Helpline at 425-746-1940 or 1-800-827-8840. If you are reading this and want to support our work send your check to:
In conjunction with Pearl Jam’s Home Shows concerts at Safeco Field this week, more than 50 businesses today released a letter committing to a shared strategy toward fighting homelessness in the region.
