nashenhurst's blog

Recently United Way of Thurston County received a generous gift from the estate of a Thurston County resident.  This heartfelt gesture was a reminder that even after we are gone, our legacy can continue for years to come.

It’s true what they say, “Time flies when you’re having fun”.  This past year as Chair of Women United (WU) has been filled with a lot of work and a lot of fun.  Coming into the role of Chair, I was both excited and anxious.  I had purposefully chosen to step outside my comfort zone to help make a difference in an organization I believe in and with women who are committed to making our community a better place.  

Calling all AmeriCorps VISTA alumni:

Please join the United Way of Thurston County AmeriCorps VISTA team on Friday, June 15 as a participant on our alumni panel. Many of our current VISTAs are nearing the end of their service and would find it very valuable to hear from former VISTAs (what did you do after completing service? How has service affected you?). We’ll facilitate a panel for Q&A before allowing for some networking.

If you've received an email from anyone at United Way of Thurston County (UWTC) recently, you'll notice seven logos displayed beneath our own. These organizations are UWTC's Cornerstone Partners.

United Way of Thurston County is pleased to introduce Bruce Grant, who recently joined the organization as Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Manager. Grant replaces former RSVP Director Paul Larsen, who has transitioned to the role of Director of Community Impact at United Way.

Does your nonprofit need help landscaping, painting or filing? United Way of Thurston County is seeking service project sites for the 26th Annual Day of Caring.

Mike Leonard, Director of Development, at United Way of Thurston County (UWTC) has been a Reading Buddy for five years. Mike is a Reading Buddie because he believes that Reading Buddies offer an additional level of support and mentorship to students beyond that of a parent and/or teacher.

“Children crave attention. During our session, we usually begin by talking a little bit. They have so much to say and listening is very important to build trust," he said.

Lindsay Fujimoto, United Way of Thurston County’s new Volunteer Engagement Coordinator’s journey to Olympia started in Hawaii. She was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii and later attended Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa, where she majored in Sociology.

In February, Dick Pust from Mixx96 FM interviewed United Way of Thurston County's Executive Director, Chris Wells, for his show, "It's Your Community."

In case you missed the interview, you can CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW.

The United Way Reading Buddy Program received overwhelming community support at our final orientation on January 10.  While 31 community members RSVP’d to attend, a whopping 52 people showed up! A BIG thank you goes out to all our media partners, such as The Olympian, ROXY and many Facebook “shares” who helped spread the word!

Marisela Gomez Raffo’s journey to Olympia and United Way of Thurston County’s VISTA program was long. Born and raised in Chile, she moved to Miami when she was in high school. She studied TV production at Miami Dade College and then moved to California where she completed her bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication and Media Studies online from Arizona State University.

We are happy to announce we have filled all of our positions for the 17-18 service year. We will begin recruiting VISTA members for the 2018-2019 service year in June with start dates in July-November. If you are an organization interested in hosting a VISTA member, we are currently accepting applications.

At the holidays, giving thanks is always top of mind. 

But it is effortless to do throughout the year. Anytime is the perfect time to give thanks to your volunteers.

An intentional thank you is the perfect motivation to keep them coming back to support you for years to come!

Here are some super simple ideas: