PHOTO: Christine Dodson (right) with Claudia Fisher, Operations Manager at Tillicum Community Center 

While attending a convening on homelessness at the Tilicum Community Center, Christine heard her neighbors share their concerns about the safety and cleanliness of the Center's bathrooms. "We were finding syringes in the bathroom, and there were also a lot of community members experiencing homelessness who were using the bathroom sinks to bathe, so many people who were using the facility for the clinic or the library didn't want to use the bathrooms or even come in the building in some cases."

Several homeless residents also in attendance at the convening  talked about the challenge of finding a place to get clean, and as a group they wondered aloud if there was some way to create a separate shower facility on-site at the community center.

After the meeting Christine said she immediately got online to search for a solution and applied for a Spark Grant to make it happen.



 
PHOTO: Panelists at GTCF's Professional Advisor Breakfast on May 7, 2019


Charitable giving  in 2018  set another overall record , r each ing  $427.71 billion  nationally .  Although that is  an increase of  nearly $3  billion in current dollars from 2017 ,  adjust ing  for inflation, total giving decreased by $7.4 billion.    
Those numbers came from Giving USA's annual report on philanthropy offering research into the who, what and where of giving in 2018. 
To mark the release  of the giving report ,  Seattle consulting firm Campbell & Company  invited GTCF Director of Philanthropic Engagement, Stacey  Guadanola , to join  a webinar that included Maria Kolby-Wolfe, Development & Communications Director, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project  and Amanda Walker, Vice President for Advancement, The Evergreen State College and Executive Director, The Evergreen State College Foundation.  

PHOTO: Students from Hodgepodge Dance team perform at the Expanded Learning End of Year Showcase

Students and parents from 12 Elementary Schools in Tacoma celebrated a school year worth of Expanded Learning Opportunities with an event at Edison Elementary on May 30.  The students showcases their learning through art, dance, writing, and song. 

Parents noticed the difference these Expanded Learning Opportunities made for their kids, but it's not only the kids who learned new skills.  Adults worked together in new ways to provide these Expanded Learning Opportunities for the students, offering them the opportunity for positive change as well.

 

PHOTO:  Lyle Quasim, Community Organizer & GTCF Board Alumnus

At Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, we've seen how much more we can accomplish when we work together. Since 1981, community members have shared their commitment to a thriving Pierce County by partnering with GTCF to bring their vision to life and build a legacy for future generations. In our 2018 yearbook, Pierce County Partners, a few of our partners shared their lessons and insights from working to strengthen Pierce County.

Lyle Quasim arrived in Pierce County fifty years ago. In that time, he has led nonprofits, health services, social service policy, and government in Tacoma, Pierce County, and for the state. He served on GTCF's Board of Directors in the early 90's.
 


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