All Posts in "Everything Else"

When her husband lost his battle with cancer, he left Janet enough to live comfortably.  He also left her with an unanswered question.

They had never considered what to do with those assets as she neared the end of her own life. Ten years later, when she heard a friend talk about “leaving a little something to charity in her will,” Janet kept her mouth shut.   Her friend was born and raised here, already had three or four non-profits she planned to honor with a gift.

She thought of the sob stories she saw on television, those charitable appeals that filled her mailbox every week.   They were worthy causes, but something was missing.  She could pick half a dozen prominent charities and it would probably work out.   But that didn’t sit right.   She wanted her gift to be heartfelt and sensible.  Whatever she gave, she wanted to have an effect close to home.

Rather than make a random choice, she sat down and faced three considerations.  First, she wondered, “What do I expect from the charity I choose?”   She didn’t care about having her name on a brass plaque, and tax shelter was not a serious motive.  If she made a gift in her estate, she wouldn‘t be around to enjoy it, anyhow.  She decided to make a gift that would help local kids in some way.

Her second question was “How do I know which local charity works on those things?”  She checked the Internet.  Sixteen agencies served kids within 30 miles of her home.  Some offered scholarships, some gave kids a safe place to play after school, and some helped kids with serious health problems.   She figured they were all providing worthwhile services.

Her final question cinched it.  She decided to ask for a copy of the annual report from five nonprofits.  She could do that online.   When they arrived in her mailbox, she learned who sat on those boards, their recent success stories, their annual budgets and expenses, and a lot about the programs they offered.
Now she had something she could use in making a gift that mattered.

Mike Robinson is Senior VP of Planned Giving for United Way of Pierce County. Please consult a qualified estate planner before making a gift in your will.

Contributing Author by — April 25, 2012 in Everything Else
Making people’s lives better by making homes safe

Elano Areno is one busy lady.  She retired in 2007 and heads a small non-profit called Barangay Community Services of Tacoma.  It’s a Filipino American non-profit whose mission it is to reach out to the elderly and newly arrived immigrants in Pierce County.  Barangay was the winner of the 2012 City of Tacoma Destiny Award for community groups and was also awarded a vacant lot to be converted into a community garden.  All those activities meant the group needed a safe meeting place but in order to open up Areno’s place for seniors and others to meet, the house needed to be safe.  However, her home was “homemade” as Areno calls it.  She feared it wouldn’t meet codes but was on a fixed income and couldn’t afford to make the repairs herself.  So she applied for help with Rebuilding Together South Sound (RTSS).

RTSS volunteers work year round on home modification and emergency repairs but their main program is Rebuilding Day which takes place on the last weekend in April.  In 2011, they built ramps, replaced or repaired roofs, modified or replaced porches and stairs and the list goes on and on for 29 homes and one non-profit facility.  For Areno, this is her second time getting assistance from RTSS.  The first time she applied, they came out to check her roofing.  While they were speaking with her they noticed orange extension cords running across her floor and asked her about it.  “My building is old,” she said, “and so half of my building had no electricity.  I used three orange extension cords from one side to the other.  It was okay because I could watch my TV.”

Her electrical box was old and used old-fashioned round glass fuses.  The fuses sparked when she changed them and scared her.  When she looked into getting her electric system repaired, someone gave her an estimate of $5000.  After her assessment, RTSS told her they were sending out a Bates student.  “They did a good job,” she said.  “I feel better because of safety (concerns).”

Then someone noticed that she slept on a couch.  Her upstairs area was used primarily for storage.  Her stairway was too narrow for her to move furniture up the stairs and into a room.  “They cleaned my upstairs and gave me a bedroom.”  The furniture came from IKEA and so could be assembled upstairs.  “They did a spectacular job.  They were pleasant and fun.”

Areno asked for help again because the February storm knocked down her fence.  Her neighbors behind her made her worried and so she didn’t feel safe being in her own yard.  Her gutters need work and the foundation for her home has some issues.  She’s still worried about her roof because her insurance company has sent her a letter about it.  RTSS has said that the roof isn’t in their budget but they’ll repair the fence, clean her gutters, do some yard maintenance and install a range hood so she can cook inside.

“They brighten my home but they also brighten my life,” she said.  “I feel so blessed and appreciate what they’ve done.”

Bonnie Dickson by — April 25, 2012 in Everything Else

Tacoma Writer, Karla Stover’s new book on Tacoma history
Hidden History of Tacoma: Little-Known Tales from the City of Destiny
Karla Stover
ISBN: 978-1-60949-470-4
$19.99

For years, Senior Scene readers received a dose of history with every paper in the guise of Karla Stover’s “Walkabouts.”  Each month, Stover introduced Pierce County residents to the characters, times and landmarks of Tacoma and its surrounding environs.  History isn’t about dusty old dates and dried up people and places, and Stover breathed life into the buildings we pass each day on the way to work and the music we hear when we turn to “old time” music programs.  She talks about local history on KLAY AM 1180, leads history walking tours and writes for several local papers.

Recently Stover released “Hidden History of Tacoma: Little-Known Tales from the City of Destiny.”  The book is a compilation of some of her previously published work as well as some new stories about familiar places and people.  These short, usually only a couple pages long, stories provide opportunities to get a real taste of life “way back when.”  She covers Tacoma from its birth to right around World War II.

Meet Karla Stover at the Lakewood Towne Center’s Barnes and Noble on Friday, May 25 from 3-7 p.m.

 

Bonnie Dickson by — April 23, 2012 in Everything Else

This year, National Volunteer Week takes place April 15-21. The theme is “Volunteers – Every One Counts.” The goal is to send a strong message to existing volunteers that they are valued, and to support potential volunteers by reinforcing that every single volunteer makes an important contribution to the broader community.

The Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program honors it volunteers.  SHIBA volunteers provide free and unbiased health care access and information resources, as well as information and counseling services for evaluating, planning, and using health insurance and public health programs.

A brief history of SHIBA

  • In operation since 1979
  • Started by a volunteer in Skagit County
  • The first program of its kind in the nation
  • Recognized nationally as a model for health insurance consumer counseling
  • Inspired federal funding to create State Health Insurance Programs (SHIPs) in all states
  • Approximately 400 volunteers statewide
  • Twenty-two local sponsoring agencies representing all 39 Washington counties

SHIBA volunteer contributions in 2010

  • SHIBA volunteers counseled 37,562 clients
  • Served 11,479 folks at enrollment events
  • Provided outreach to more than 71,041 folks by email/fax/postal mail
  • Assisted 58,977 folks at 237 health fairs
  • Counseled 12,064 at 419 public presentations and workshops

In Washington state:

  • 34.4 percent of state residents volunteered – ranking Washington 10th nationwide.
  • Washington has consistently had more volunteers than the national average for the past decade.
  • Volunteers served an average of 39.8 hours per resident – ranking Washington 11th nationwide.
  •  Volunteers in Washingtone have consistently served more hours than in the rest of the country.

SHIBA works because of you.  Many thanks for what you give to your local communities and to SHIBA.   We offer many volunteer opportunities.   If you have any question or would like to become a volunteer, call 1-800-562-6900 or check us out on the web at www.insurance.wa.gov/shiba.

Press Release by — April 11, 2012 in Everything Else