Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP)
Do you volunteer for the PTA? Tutor children or
adults? Coach soccer? Raise money for community organizations?
The Volunteer Incentive Program recognizes employees'
contribution of time and talent to nonprofit organizations. Under the
program, employees are eligible to apply for a grant on behalf of the
qualified organization where they volunteered 50 hours or more during
the year. The Foundation rewards these employee volunteers with a $750
check for presentation to the designated organization. Employees may
request VIP grants on behalf of two separate organizations for a total
of $1,500 each year.
view poster and links
 On
Friday, January 16th, over 150 dogs were seized from a "puppy mill" in
Gold Bar WA. Those dogs were taken to the animal shelter in Everett.
The raid was covered by the local paper and news channels. Donations
were requested. The dogs were in very bad condition. Some had to be
put down.
I emailed Karen Stalberger at the animal shelter asking if they had
specific needs we could help with. She said the employees and
volunteers had been working so many hours since Friday it would be
nice to do something for them, and of course food is always good. I
told Karen about our group of Pioneers at Verizon and told her I would
"rally the troops" and be bringing in homemade goodies on Wednesday.
After sending out an email to the Norwesco Pioneer Club distribution
list, I started getting questions about donating money as well. I
offered to take any monetary donations to the shelter when I delivered
the goodies on Wednesday.
In total 6 people brought in homemade goodies. And 14 people donated
money, and after the Verizon Foundation match (MIP program) that total
monetary donation will be $770. All this in just over 48 hours notice.
On Wednesday, January 21st, Marie Shaw and I went to the Everett
Animal Shelter and met with Karen Stalberger. She was so excited for
the goodies because she'd been having trouble keeping that secret from
the volunteers, they only knew something good was being dropped off.
She accepted the monetary donations and we explained how the Verizon
Foundation matching funds works, she had all the info she needs to get
that match.
The shelter is currently closed to the public. Volunteers and workers
have tables set up out in front to answer questions, and take
donations. While we were there for maybe 10 minutes the donations just
kept coming, it was a wonderful feeling to see the community rise to
the occasion.
And just FYI...... ARF is the charitable arm of
the Everett Animal Shelter. ARF provides when tax dollars cannot. ARF
is a 501(c)(3) organization. Volunteers work for ARF not the Everett
Animal Shelter.
http://everettarf.org/
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