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Human Interests

Seattle Human Services news and events

New Seattle Foundation Web Site – the Giving Center

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The Seattle Foundation, one of the nation’s largest community foundations, recently launched a new Web site, the Giving Center.   The site provides information for prospective donors on 675 nonprofits doing a wide range of work. Financial and evaluation information is included for each organization described. Launch of the site was covered in the Seattle Times and New York Times.

Seattle receives grants to promote active living

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The fight against tobacco use and obesity just got a big boost. The Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) was among the recipients of 51 Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) grants totaling $8.9 million from Public Health – Seattle & King County to fund school districts, community-based organizations, and local governments to improve nutrition and physical activity, and decrease tobacco use. HSD received two awards:  

  • $200,483 to the Aging & Disability Services division to reduce the price of fresh produce for 17 congregate meal sites and one home-delivered meal provider by cooperatively purchasing directly from local farmers.
  • $73,000 to Early Learning and Family Support division to increase availability of healthy foods and children’s physical activity in early learning and afterschool programs serving children ages birth through 12.

For details about this federal stimulus-funded grant program, please see this press release and the CPPW Web site. If you have questions, please contact Jerry DeGrieck, HSD, at jerry.degrieck@seattle.gov or 206-684-0684.

Coffee hours to feature Walk-Bike-Ride, Richard Conlin

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On July 15, the Mayor’s Office of Senior Citizens’ Coffee Hour features Barbara Gray (Seattle Department of Transportation), who will talk about the Walk Bike Ride initiative and the Seattle Pedestrian Master Plan. The Aug. 19 coffee hour features Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin.

Both events are on Thursdays mornings (10-11 a.m.) in the Central Building, 810 3rd Ave. (between Columbia & Marion streets in downtown Seattle). Following both events, guests are invited to walk up to City Hall for free concerts. Questions? Call the Mayor’s Office for Senior Citizens at 206-684-0500 or e-mail seniors@seattle.gov.

2009 Annual Report

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The Seattle Human Services Department has published (online) its 2009 Annual Report. The report provides a snapshot summary of the department’s accomplishments and outcomes in 2009 in data, photographs, and inspiring stories of people who have turned their lives around with the help of City-funded programs.

KUOW radio airs series on aging

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KUOW radio aired a three-part series on aging in late April that featured Mayor’s Office for Senior Citizens intern (and jobseeker) Katherine Kirsch in the story “Work: The New Retirement Plan.” A story on affordable housing for seniors, “A Quiet Crisis,” refers to the Seattle Human Services Department’s  Aging & Disability Services (ADS) division projections that the number of seniors living in poverty will double by the year 2025. A third story, “Who’s Caring For The Caregiver?”, discusses services to help caregivers cope with stress. KUOW reporter Ruby de Luna worked closely with ADS staff on these stories.