Ticket sales, raffle donations and other proceeds from The GIG will go directly to United Way of Pierce County’s Community Solutions Fund. The fund provides resources to over a hundred programs, allowing smaller non-profits to do what they do best: offer support and services in our communities. UWPC disperses the fund to programs that work to improve the following impact areas:
EDUCATION: The Community Solutions Fund targets programs such as HopeSparks’ Family Support Services and Birth to Three Development Center’s Early Intervention Services which focus on early learning development and prepare children for kindergarten and beyond. The fund also helps after-school programs that give students safer afternoon options, organize book clubs and provide mentorship.
INCOME: Developing more affordable housing units and improving financial self-sufficiency are top priorities of the fund. Programs that provide transitional housing, financial counseling and adult literacy classes are benefiting from the fund this year. Exodus Housing’s Transitional Housing, Helping Hand House’s Bright Futures and CARES of WA’s Employment and Family Coaching are a few of the programs that help build stronger economic futures for struggling families.
HEALTH: Since many in Pierce County aren’t sufficiently covered, the Community Solutions Fund also works to improve access to quality health care, especially care that is state or federally-funded. Strengthening health agencies such as the Children’s Therapy Center, Mary Bridge Children’s Health Center and Pierce County AIDS Foundation is one of the main objectives of the fund.
EMERGENCY SERVICES: Victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, as well as those who lack food and shelter, need support centers. St. Leo’s Food Bank, Sexual Assault Center of Pierce County and Helping Hand House respectively provide food, advocacy and emergency housing during times of crises. The Community Solutions Fund ensures that these support centers are there for those who need them.
EDUCATION PROGRAMS:
A Step Ahead in Pierce County
Bates Technical College: Early Childhood Learning Center/Parenting Basics
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Puget Sound: One-on-One Mentoring
Birth to Three Development Center: Early Intervention Services
Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound: Education & Career Development
Catholic Community Services SW: Family Support & Education/Foster Care
Centro Latino SERS-JOBS: Latino Student Support Program
Children’s Home Society of WA: Key Peninsula Family Resource Center’s Education Support Services
Communities in Schools of Lakewood: Communities-In Schools (CIS) Program
Community in Schools of Orting: After School Enrichment
Communities in Schools of Peninsula: Mentoring Our Students to Success
Communities in Schools Puyallup: Communities in Schools/Partnership with the Puyallup School District
Communities in Schools of Tacoma: Project GRAD
Community Montessori
Families Unlimited Network-UPPC: The Spot Program
Girl Scouts of Western Washington: Girls Scouting in the School Day/Girls in Care
Good Samaritan Outreach Services: Puyallup Family Support Center
Good Samaritan Foundation: Spanish Pre-School Language Group
Hilltop Artists in Residence Program: Production Team
HopeSparks: Family Support Services/Tacoma Learning Center
Northwest Leadership Foundation: ProTeen/Proyecto MoLe
Peace Community Center: Hilltop Scholars
Puget Sound Educational Service District: After School Programs
Reach Out & Read, Inc.: Reach Out & Read Pierce County
Tacoma Community College Foundation: Early Learning Center-Early Childhood Education Program
Tacoma Community House: Resource for Education and Career Program
Tacoma Day Care & Preschool Association
The Rescue Mission: Youth Program
YMCA of Tacoma-Pierce County: Late Nite
Youth for Christ: City Life/YFC Foster Care Program
YWCA of Pierce County: Children’s Program
INCOME PROGRAMS:
Associated Ministries of Tacoma-Pierce County: Pierce County Asset Building Coalition
CARES of WA: Employment & Financial Coaching
Catholic Community Services SW: Phoenix Housing Network
Exodus Housing: New Beginnings
Helping Hand House: Bright Futures Transitional Housing/Permanent Supportive Housing
HopeSparks: Relatives Raising Children
Lakewood Area Shelter Association: Transitional Housing
New Phoebe House Association
Prison Pet Partnership: Vocational Education
Salvation Army – Puyallup Corps: Family Services
South Sound Outreach Services: Financial & Housing Counseling Program
Tacoma Area Coalition of Individuals with Disabilities (TACID): H.E.L.P.
Tacoma Community House: Adult Literacy & Employment Program
The Rescue Mission: Adams Street Transitional Housing Program
Washington Women’s Employment & Education (WWEE): Housing Bridge to Self-Sufficiency/REACH Plus
HEALTH PROGRAMS:
American Cancer Society: Patient Navigator Program
Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound: Health & Life Skills/Meal Program
Catholic Community Services SW: Counseling & Consultation
Children’s Therapy Center: Children with Special Needs
Community Health Care: Uninsured Dental Care
Comprehensive Mental Health Center: Pebbles in the Pond
DASH Center for the Arts: Reality Check Youth Outreach Programs
Diabetes Association of Pierce County: Diabetes Prevention & Education
Franciscan Foundation Washington: Breast Cancer Navigator Program
Good Samaritan Outreach Services: Asian Counseling Services/Child & Family Services/Older Adult Services Volunteer Counseling Program
Good Samaritan Foundation: Assistive Technology Program/Serial Casting
Greater Lakes Mental Health: Child & Family Services
HopeSparks: Healing Hearts
Lindquist Dental Clinic: Dental
Mary Bridge Children’s Health Center: Grief & Loss Services/BRIDGES/Parenting Partnership/Pediatric Weight Management Program
MultiCare Health System: Adult Day Health
Neighborhood Clinic: Medical Outreach
Pierce County AIDS Foundation: Mental Health Case Management
Sexual Assault Center of Pierce County: Assault/Abuse Victim Therapy Services/Prevention/Education
Tacoma Area Coalition of Individuals with Disabilities (TACID): Blind Independent Living
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department: Access to Baby & Child Dentistry
YMCA of Tacoma-Pierce County: Youth Physical Education
EMERGENCY SERVICES PROGRAMS:
American Red Cross – Mt. Rainier Chapter: Emergency Services/Services to the Armed Forces
Camp Fire USA Orca Council: Teen Outreach Program
Catholic Community Services SW: Homeless Adult Services/Tahoma Indian Center/Volunteer Chore Services
Centro Latino: Family Outreach
Children’s Home Society of WA (CHSW): Key Peninsula Family Resource Center’s Emergency Support Services Steps to Security
Eatonville Area Council: Eatonville Family Agency (Emergency Services)
Families Unlimited Network – UPPC: University Place Food Bank
FISH Food Banks of Pierce County: Food Bank Program
Franciscan Foundation Washington: The Mustard Seed Project
Good Samaritan Outreach Services: Neighborhood Emergency Respite Shelter
Hearing Speech & Deafness Center: Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services
Helping Hand House: Emergency Housing Program/Homeless Prevention
Korean Women’s Association of WA: Southeast Asian Emergency Services Worker
Lakewood Area Shelter Association: We Are Family Home
L’Arche Tahoma Hope: Emergency Outreach
Lutheran Community Services Northwest: L’Arche Farms & Gardens
Mercy Housing Northwest: Senior Support Services Olive Crest Homes & Services for Abused & Neglected Children
Salvation Army – Tacoma Corps: Senior Companion Program/Comprehensive Emergency Services/The Salvation Army Jarvis Family Emergency
Sexual Assault Center of Pierce County: Housing Center
South Sound Outreach Services: Advocacy Services
St. Leo’s Food Connection: Connections Tacoma Community House: Backpack Program/Domestic Violence Advocacy
The Rescue Mission: Multilingual Immigration Program/Emergency Services
Tillicum/American Lake Gardens Community Services: Family Shelter/Emergency Services
YWCA of Pierce County: YWCA of Pierce County Legal Services/Women’s Support Shelter
