25 years of helping kids thrive

www.babycorner.org • 2015 Annual • 1Giving kids what they need to thrive

The EBC Story - from kitchen table start up, to

helping 500 kids each week

Plus: The donors, volunteers, provider partners and other supporters who

have made helping kids thrive possible

Inside

the Corn r

A letter from Executive Director, Renee Zimmerman

It’s been twenty-five years since Karen Ridlon started collecting things for babies in her dining room. For the thousands of volunteers and contributors over the years, Eastside Baby Corner has been the center of community – a place to gather together to do good things for all our children. But we also recognize the mixed blessing we are: there is great joy and goodness in knowing how many kids have been helped over the years, but also great sadness that families continue to struggle to provide their children with the basics. We are glad we’ve been here because every day that EBC serves this community there are fewer kids going hungry, fewer babies without adequate diapers, fewer toddlers riding in cars without proper child seats, and fewer school-aged children going to school without supplies and clothing that fits.Karen. Mary. Margo. The Rowley family. For two and a half decades they haven’t wavered, giving their time and resources to ensure that EBC stays true to the mission of giving kids what they need to thrive. That is amazing dedication…but the list doesn’t stop with them! Our incredible volunteers fuel this organization and infuse the Hub with their joy in giving. The workshop crew, the diaper divas, Sue the Sock Lady, the toy team, Katie, the blanket lady, the intake crew…

the list is long, including both present and past volunteers. I can’t name them all here but, please, each of you take a bow for the beautiful part you’ve played in keeping this “Little Engine That Could” organization chugging along for 25 years.Even with all our good work—and that of our agency partners--the need has not diminished.* It’s grown larger. That’s why we are expanding our ability to serve MORE kids as we move into our next twenty-five years. You’ll read more in this issue about the ways you are helping us grow to serve more children and partners…merging Northshore Baby Corner into EBC, giving out more basics, fun and fundraising events, and adding capacity. Please feel free to stop by to see me or give me a call anytime you would like to find out more about how your support is changing lives and bringing hope to families. Thank you for all you do for kids and EBC.

Renee

EBC welcomes new board membersEastside Baby Corner is pleased to announce the appointment of two new members to the Board of Directors. Please join us in welcoming Andrew Symons and Jason Hizer. Andrew is a real estate and business attorney at Inslee Best Doezie & Ryder, P.S. He began his service by assisting with the Northshore Baby Corner merger. Jason is the Vice President - Corporate Controller at Washington Holdings. After serving on the financial committee for more than a year, Jason decided to become even more involved in EBC’s success.

Giving EBC a home since 1990

8*Between 2005 and 2010, the percentage of children under five years old living in poverty increased from 13.4 percent of the total population to 15.4 percent, or 3,092 additional young children living in households of poverty in King County. During the 2013-2014 school year in Washington State, school districts reported enrollment of over 32,494 homeless students, including 6,458 students in King County schools. (King County Youth Action Plan, Kids Count Data Center, Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction)

www.babycorner.org • 2015 Annual • 3

In this Issue 4 The EBC story - 25 years of helping kids 6 Rowley Properties - 25 years of support 7 Giving the gift of sponsorship 8 An EBC photo album - then & now11 Volunteering for 25 years13 Meet the kids we serve14 How YOU can help


13

4

8

4 • www.babycorner.org • 2015 Annual

The Story of Eastside Baby Corner

Eastside Baby Corner founder, Karen Ridlon, is what you might call a child magnet, always has been. If there is a child in the same room as Karen, whether they know her or not, they are pulled to her as if by some unseen force. This magnetism has had a profound impact on Karen’s life. It has helped carve both her personal and professional path - from the decision to become a pediatric nurse practitioner to the determination to create EBC, an organization that is able to help more children than she, or any one person could help alone. Helping more kids is the goal Karen built into the soul of EBC, and it’s the aspiration that continues to drive the organization today. With a goal like that, it’s easy to understand the tremendous growth EBC has experienced since Karen created it 25 years ago. This is the EBC story.

Prior to starting EBC in 1990, Karen was working as a nurse practitioner. She was becoming increasingly disheartened by the number of new babies going home from the hospital without the clothing and gear they needed for a safe and happy start in life. Karen knew she had to bring about change. She saw an article about St. Joseph’s Baby Corner, a new organization started by Jeannie Jaybush that was working to get baby clothing and gear to families in need in Seattle. Karen decided to do the same thing in her own community - the Eastside. Karen gathered a group of volunteers and together they forged a plan. Without a home for the organization, they started working from Karen’s dining room table. She and her team put together research meetings with the organizations on the Eastside that would benefit from the services, they reached out to potential donors, and they sought professional help for necessary services like legal advice. Within a month Karen knew working from her kitchen table was not going to be sufficient. She contacted Skip Rowley of Rowley Properties, and asked for a

storage unit. Rowley decide to donate a 12 by 30 foot unit, and by April of the same year, the unit was stocked with baby clothing and gear, and EBC was in operation. EBC was well received by the community, and it grew quickly. More and more service providers heard about EBC and wanted to be able to pick up for their families, more and more donors wanted to be able to pass on the items they no longer needed, and more and more volunteers wanted to give their time to make a difference in the community. Karen and her team, worked tirelessly to keep up with the growth. Thanks to the generosity of Rowley Properties, they expanded the operating space several times. They also grew the number of providers helped, expanded service to children up to 12 years old, and they grew the coverage area to include all of east King County – as well as portions of south Snohomish County. Twenty-five years since its beginning EBC is still growing. The Hub is more than 10,000 square feet of space that is busting at the seams with the generous donations of individuals and organizations who give thousands of items to EBC annually. One hundred and sixty nine programs in 51 agencies are able to order from EBC each week. Nearly 100 individuals give their time to EBC each week, with more than 80 people serving as core volunteers – coming in every week to do a specific job. Karen believes the successful growth of EBC can be contributed to two factors. First, the simple mission of helping children is one that is easy to support. Second, as Karen explains, EBC doesn’t belong to any one person, it belongs to the community, and the community is encouraged to have ownership of their role in its success. The core volunteers are the perfect example of this. They each have a designated role

From kitchen table start up to brimming distribution center - how nurse practitioner, Karen Ridlon’s vision for helping newborn babies grew into a beacon of hope for more than 500 kids every week.

Karen Ridlon stands in front of one of the first storage units donated by Rowley Properties.

Continued on page 5


Helping more kids by joining forces with

Northshore Baby CornerEastside Baby Corner is expanding, bringing Northshore Baby Corner (NSBC) into our EBC family! When NSBC invited us to consider the merger, we realized we couldn’t turn down this opportunity to reach more kids in need. Northshore Baby Corner modeled itself after EBC when it launched about eight years ago. Working out of Bothell United Methodist Church, the volunteers fill about 900 orders annually. With this merger, we’ll be able to provide a higher level of service for families in the north end of King County and south Snohomish County. Eastside Baby Corner – Northshore will have full access to the large supply of children’s items in the Hub,

as well as our 25 years of experience and expertise in giving kids the essential items they need to grow and thrive. Your generous support is why we are able to grow, adding a satellite location to reach more children and partner agencies without diminishing our current service.

Top: EBC Executive Director Renee Zimmerman and Northshore Baby Corner Program Manager,Taryn Zier, at the NSBC facility at Bothell United Methodist Church. Left: Renee with EBC Board of Directors President, Kari Magill and Greg Field at the merger signing.

which they feel empowered to shape as they see fit. Karen explains, EBC is like a family that includes everyone from the children who are helped, to the volunteers, to the donors, to the community itself. Everyone stands to lose if the children in our community are not given what they need to thrive, and everyone wins if they are. Karen illustrates the ‘we all win or we all lose’ concept best when she discusses what she calls the conservation of the human potential. She explains, “When children are not given what they need to thrive, it has an impact on their development. If they don’t have the books or developmental toys they need to learn, they can’t realize their full potential. Likewise, if they don’t have clothing to keep them warm or food in their bellies, or if they have to stay in a wet or dirty diaper, their bodies have to focus on survival rather than allowing their minds to develop. In this way, if children don’t have what they need to thrive,

they might not ever reach their full potential. This full potential might mean they are the one to cure cancer or they might be a musical phenom. We’ll never know if we don’t give them the chance.” For a quarter of a century, giving kids a chance to realize their full potential has been Karen’s, and EBC’s focus. Karen is sad that after 25 years there is still a need for an organization like EBC, but she takes comfort in the fact that because of EBC many, many children have been given a chance. As she looks to the future she is confident in EBC ability to continue making an impact. “As long as we hold true to our belief that EBC belongs to us all, and as long as we keep our focus on the children, we can and will continue to help even more kids have what they need to thrive.”If you are reading this, EBC belongs to you too. Find out what role you can play in changing the lives of OUR children by visiting EBC online at www.babycorner.org.

EBC Story continued


So many people depend upon EBC, it just can’t fail. Rowley Properties had been giving a fledgling Eastside Baby Corner a home for 17 years when in 2007, then CEO, Skip Rowley came to the realization that EBC had become too important to the Eastside’s social service network to fail. He, EBC founder Karen Ridlon and a planning committee began to talk about what needed to be done to ensure the sustainability of this vital organization. From those talks emerged a strategic plan that outlined a path forward that would allow EBC to grow and continue serving kids for generations to come. Skip and Rowley Properties committed to playing a key role in that effort. Kari Magill, Skip’s daughter and current CEO of Rowley Properties, joined the Rowley Properties team in 1992. For her, supporting EBC has always been a part of her Rowley Properties experience. By the time Kari joined the business, EBC, having grown tremendously, was already in the third donated unit. She fondly recalls Karen’s visits to the Rowley Properties offices. “Karen was always very grateful,” she explains, “and really good about coming into the office and letting us know what good these units were doing.” Kari and the rest of the Rowley Properties team appreciated hearing the impact of their gift. Over the years Kari’s involvement with EBC deepened. Karen asked her to serve on the first full governing board – one of the results of the sustainability plan.

She accepted and has continued to serve on the board for 6.5 years, this year taking on the role of board president. She, Skip and Rowley Properties (under Kari’s guidance) also contribute financially through the Karen Ridlon Legacy Fund. Rowley Properties still gives EBC a home – one that is much larger than the 12X30’ unit Skip first donated in 1990. For Kari, supporting EBC both personally and through Rowley Properties is a simple choice. EBC’s mission of helping kids is, according to Kari, an easy cause to feel passion around. Kari also values EBC because of what she calls ‘community building ’. “One of the things I love most about Eastside Baby Corner,” Kari says,

“ is that it brings all of these people

together, many of them strangers, on a regular basis. They get

to know each other, and they help the

community help themselves.”EBC’s home community of Issaquah, like EBC itself, is growing in bounds. As a developer, Rowley Properties is playing a significant role in that growth. Because of Kari’s commitment to the EBC mission, her goal is to do everything possible to continue giving EBC a home in Issaquah, while also ensuring it can grow to help every child possible have what they need to thrive – for many years to come.

25 years of support from Rowley Properties - and the Rowley Family

Above Left: Skip Rowley, Karen Ridlon and Kari Magill at a Karen Ridlon Legacy Fund event. Above Right: Fast Signs owner Scott Juetten, Renee Zimmerman, Karen Ridlon Legacy Fund Co-chair, Angela Kennedy and Kari Magill at the unveiling of a Rowley Properties tribute sign (partially donated by Fast Signs) at the EBC Hub.

“Eastside Baby Corner was growing and becoming

a key part of the social service network on the Eastside.”

– Kari Magill


Eastside Baby Corner hosts three events each year: Helping Kids Thrive Annual Luncheon, Pants Party and, new this year, the Diaper Derby. Events are a way for the community to come together to support the EBC mission of helping kids thrive. Each of the three EBC events has a specific focus. Helping Kids Thrive Annual Luncheon is our fundraising event. Each November the community is invited to gather for a meal while learning about the impact EBC is making in the community – thanks to the community’s support. We call Pants Party a ‘fun-raiser’ because it is all about having a great time while helping to collect enough pants, an item we have a hard time keeping in stock, to send kids back to school ready to learn. The Diaper Derby was born out of the growing need for diapers. In 2014 EBC gave out nearly 800,000 diapers. We received about half from our partnership with Huggies and the National Diaper Bank Network. The remainder came in from individual donations, drives and purchases made with funds raised at the luncheon. As the need for diapers continues to rise, this seemed the time for a new diaper-focused event. We decided on one where local businesses can compete in a race to collect the most diapers.These heartwarming, entertaining and exciting events would not be possible without the support of event sponsors. From the donation of funds to help pay for the venue, food or entertainment to the donation of services, event sponsors allow the funds raised at an event to go toward purchasing items for children, instead of to the cost of the event. Thank you to all of our event sponsors.

*If your business or oganization is interested in sponsoring one of annual events in 2015, please contact Director of Development and Community Outreach, Helen Banks Routon, at 425-865-0234 ext. 701, or by email at [email protected].

Top: AmericanWest bank has served as a Pants Party sponsor for the past two years. Left: Nathan Bossler and his company Impact Studio Pro support EBC by creating impact videos for the Helping Kids Thrive Annual Luncheon. Bottom: Representatives from Swedish attend the 2014 Helping Kids Thrive Annual Luncheon. Swedish is a Benefactor sponsor of the event.

Continued on page 10

Giving the gift of

Sponsorship


These photos from 1994 show the EBC Hub after four years in operation. At top Karen Ridlon helps a provider pick up her order. The middle row shows sorting, the toy section and the bins where clothing was stored. On the bottom row (from left) Karen and volunteer Sue Goss welcome then Mayor of Issaquah, Rowan Hinds. Karen in front of one of the original storage units donated by Rowley Properties.

•Then &


Top row, left to right: The bin system we now use was created for a Girl Scout project by core volunteer Lauren Christian. Katie Milne helps a provider check out. Middle row: Volunteers are still helping sort donations that come in, only now the volume is significantly more. Sandi Dong is one of the volunteers in charge of toys. The EBC Hub now features an entire toy room. Bottom row: We still welcome local celebrities like Seattle Mariners announcer Rick Rizzs, whose nonprofit, Toys for Kids donated $5,000 in new toys. We still get excited about a new storage unit!Now


Sponsorship continued

Thank you to these 2014 Helping Kids Thrive Annual Luncheon sponsors.

Benefactor Sponsors: Swedish and Safeco Insurance

*Find the dates for this year’s EBC hosted events, as well as other community events EBC will be attending on page 15.

Top, left to right: Karen Ridlon, Mary Steele and Margo Shute. Each of these ladies has been a volunteer at EBC for 25 years! At right, clockwise: From 1994, Margo Shute helps Kay Lehuns sort socks. Karen Ridlon gives a tour of the EBC Hub. Mary Steele organizes the formula.

25Volunteering

for yearsThe volunteers at EBC are a very dedicated group. Each year about 3,000 volunteers contribute nearly 28,000 hours. A very special group of 80 volunteers, who we call our core volunteers, come to the Hub every week and take responsibility for a specific area of work. Many of the core volunteers have been with EBC for years, decades even. Three volunteers have been with EBC since the very beginning, 25 years! As we reach this quarter of a century milestone, we would like to thank Karen Ridlon, Mary Steele and Margo Shute for their extraordinary service. Karen is EBC’s founder. She currently serves as provider partner liaison and as Executive Director Emeritus. Mary has been in charge of baby food and formula for 25 years. She also helps with toys. Margo is now one of the diaper divas. She is responsible for diaper inventory and ordering. Each of these ladies is invaluable to the EBC mission.


Volunteer time

Donate Goods

Donate Money

Learn more at www.babycorner.org

How can you help kids in your community?

Your donation of necessary children’s items like clothing, toys and books makes it possible for Eastside Baby Corner to give more than 500 kids a week all of the “stuff” they need to thrive. You can give back just by cleaning out your closet.

When you give your time at Eastside Baby Corner you might fi nd yourself fi lling clothing bundles for school-age children, putting together layettes for new moms to take home from the hospital or helping us count and organize

donations coming in from the local community. No matter how you spend your time, you will leave EBC knowing you made a difference.

While much of what we give to the children we support comes from donations from the community, there are many items like diapers and

formula that cannot be donated as used items – though they are absolutely essential. Other items like car seats and cribs are just not donated quickly enough to keep up with demand. With your fi nancial contribution we are

able to get these items into the hands of the families that need them.

The Board of Directors Then and Now

1990 — The original board was: President-Karen Ridlon, Vice President- Margo Shute, Secretary- Judy Heasly, Treasurer-Donna Johnson. Most of the original board is in this photo that includes: Vee Fletcher, Judy Heasly, (EBC founder) Karen Ridlon, Susanne Unger, Mary Steele, Sue Goss, and Margo Shute

2015 — The current Board of Directors. Front row, left to right: Northshore Baby Corner representative Taryn Zier, Jason Shindler, Past President Liz Swanson, ED Emeritus, & Executive Vice President Karen Ridlon,Vice President Jennifer Lucas MSW, President Kari Magill, Secretary Meghan Altimore MSSW. Back row, left to right: Brian Daniels, Helen Christian, Rick Lessley, Andrew Symons, Colin Cagney and Jason Hizer.

Not pictured: Treasurer Claudia Malone and Olivia Thurmond

2008 — The first Governing Board created by the first strategic initiative in 2008. Front row, left to right: Kari Magill, Linda Benson, Executive Director and Executive Vice President Karen Ridlon, Doreen Booth, Valentina Zackrone. Middle row, left to right: Program/Volunteer Manager Christy Garrard, President Angela Kennedy, Vice President Edie Herb, Treasurer Karen Rubin, Liz Swanson and Secretary Claudia Malone. Back row, left to right: Dan Foster, Paul Dolan, Direc-tor of Development/Community Relations Helen Banks Routon, Jim Warrick

Meet our provider partners and the families we, working together, help

EBC supports 169 programs in 51 agencies. The providers at these agencies work directly with families in poverty and cri-sis to determine their needs. They order and pick items from EBC that will help them help the families succeed. Because we work with the providers and not the families, we don’t often get to meet the kids who are receiving stuff from EBC. Fortunately, the providers often send photos of the children – when it is appropriate to do so. The smiles captured in the images remind us of the importance of our mission, and grow our determination to do even more to help these kids and others just like them.Here are a few of the photos we have recently received. By helping EBC, you too have helped these incredible children.

“We are grateful for our partnership with these providers, and for the

work they do to help local children. We are amazed by the resilience of

these children. Growing up in poverty or crisis is not an easy thing, but

their determination, and that of their families, is truly inspiring.”

Top: Provider Partner Grace Kuan and Aidan, 9 years old, with the laptop Aidan received from EBC. Middle row, left to right: A mom and baby who received a Big Bundle from EBC through Friends of Youth. Provider, Courtney Rayburn from Emerson High School in the Lake Washington School District . A family shows the clothes from their Big Bundles. At left: An EBC baby with a pacifier donated by local business and EBC supporter, Booginhead.

Have you read the Eastside Baby Coner e-Blog? Join us online at eastsidebabycorner.wordpress.com for stories about our

clients, providers partners, volunteers and more.

Eastside Baby Corner hosts three events annually: Helping Kids Thrive Annual Luncheon, Pants Party and, new this year, Diaper Derby. We also attend several community outreach events. Events are a fun way to reconnect with the community and introduce new people to the EBC mission, all while helping kids. Mark your calendars now; we would love to see you out and about this year.

2015 EventsDiaper Derby

May 11th to June 5thThe Diaper Derby is fun race among local business and organizations to collect diapers for children living in poverty or crisis. Not being able to afford enough diapers is a barrier to stability and self-sufficiency for parents. Without diapers – babies cannot participate in early childhood education. Without child-care – parents cannot go to work.

Pants PartySeptember 12th

Pants Party is an event that is just as much about fun as it is about helping EBC make sure they have all the items needed to help send King County kids back to school prepared. For EBC that means with clothing as well as supplies. For more information about Pants Party contact Cori Benson at 425.865.0234, ext. 705.

Helping Kids Thrive Annual LuncheonNovember 6th

Helping Kids Thrive Annual Luncheon is EBC’s only annual fundraiser. Share the experience as the community comes together to support Eastside Baby Corner’s mission of helping children, families and agency partners. If you are interested in sponsoring Luncheon or serving as a table captain, please contact Helen at 425-865-0234 ext. 702 or by email at [email protected].*We are excited to announce this year’s Luncheon Chairs are Kim and Dan Foster!

Join us for these community-hosted events and activitiesGiveBIG ● May 5th - The Seattle Foundations one-day, online giving event ● https://givebig.wordpress.com

City of Bothell’s 4th of July Parade ● July 4th - Pancake breakfast, children’s and grand parade, live music, picnic and fireworks ● www.bothellblog.net

Redmond Derby Days ● July 10th -11th - the outgrowth of a small town’s community spirit and is now the nation’s longest running bicycle race. ● www.redmondderbydays.com

Celebrate Woodinville Summer Festival ● August 15 - an event to encourage a sense of community, and promote Woodinville’s unique character to visitors from the Puget Sound Region ● celebratewoodinville.com

Issaquah Salmon Days Parade ● October 3rd - Four music stages, a carnival, dock dogs, hundreds of artist booths, 60 food booths, inflatables, a parade, and of course, spawning salmon ● www.salmondays.org

Giving Tuesday ● December 1st - a global day dedicated to giving back ● www.givingtuesday.org

Eastside Baby Corner makes a positive difference in the lives of children and families in need. We do this by collecting and purchasing children’s items and distributing them, free of charge, through local social service agencies. We give families help and hope.

P.O. Box 712Issaquah, WA 98027

Stay ConnectedVisit us online at www.babycorner.org.Keep up to date with Eastside Baby Corner news and events by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter and Pinterest, or subscribing to our blog. Sign up for our social media tools, as well as our monthly E-News online.

The Hub1510 NW Maple StreetIssaquah, WA 98027Monday 5:30PM to 8:30PMThursday 9:00AM to 11:00AMSaturday 9:00AM to 12:00PM

Issaquah Highlands Self Storage 910 NE High St. Issaquah, WA 98029 (425)295-2959Monday - Sunday 9:30AM to 6:00PM

Marymoor Self Storage in Redmond 6065 E Lake Sammamish Pkwy NE Redmond, WA 98052 (425) 882-1111 Monday - Saturday 9:30AM to 6:00PM Sunday 9:30am to 5:00pm

Contact UsThe Hub1510 NW Maple StreetIssaquah, WA 98027(425) [email protected]

Drop-off Hours

25 years of helping kids thrive

Documents