Verzion West Chapter organized and distributed 30 backpacks to three local area shelters.  Eleanor Moore, our 2009 Hall of Fame Honoree purchased the backpacks, blankets, bears, cards, crayons and coloring books.  The thirty backpacks included a Verizon Dictionary and were distributed  by Mary and Jim Wellington to Coalition of Domestic Violence in Oxnard, Interface - Children and Family Services in Camarillo and Many Mansions in Thousand Oaks.  Many Mansions also received 40 bus tokens for the women who need to go to work and a laptop computer for shelter use.
The Verizon West Chapter has helped both children and parents who have left abusive situations by providing needed items and plan on continuing this in 2010.

Pictured  left to right are Toni Plume Grant Writer for Many Mansions, Mary Wellington, Verizon West Chapter Vice President and Elaine Benditson, Vice President, Development Division of Many Mansions.

submitted by Mary Wellington, Verizon West Chapter, Vice President

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/

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     

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Use our flower and gift fundraising site for all of your holiday gift needs.   Fresh flowers and memorable gifts with 12% of all sales going to support  the Pioneer projects in your local community.   Click here.....