On May 5th, members of WWF visited our only two-time Pooled Fund Grant Award winner Amara’s brand new office space in South Seattle. Amara works to ensure that every child in foster care has the love, support and comfort of a committed family – as quickly as possible, and for as long as they need.
John Morse, Amara’s Executive Director, gave us a sneak peek at two new initiatives Amara is working on:
- Expanding services in Pierce County: Did you know Pierce County’s rate of children entering into foster care is double that of King County? Amara is currently building relationships within the county and hopes to open an Emergency Sanctuary there by the end of this year. (If you live in Pierce County or know someone who does, Amara is actively looking for volunteers for its new Pierce County Sanctuary!)
- Post-Adoption Support: Amara provides support for foster parents and helps place children in their forever homes. But they don’t want their services and support to end at the time of adoption – Amara wants to launch a post-adoption support program to enhance their relationships with adoptive families.
We also heard from Jen Kamel, Director of the Grandese’s Place Emergency Sanctuary. Our 2015 grant supported the Emergency Sanctuary, which welcomes children who are removed from their homes by Child Protective Services. The Emergency Sanctuary smooths children’s first 72 hours in the foster care system – they receive meals, clean clothing, loving support, and a safe place to sleep, which allows their social workers to concentrate their efforts on finding the best-possible next step. Since the Emergency Sanctuary opened in December 2014, over 300 children have come through the doors.
Amara and WWF’s relationship doesn’t end with grant making – our members have engaged their time and advocacy as well. WWF members Leasa Mayer, Holly Johnson and Ginny Trethewey all serve on Amara’s Board of Directors. Additionally, Leasa and Kim Eiring both volunteer as caregivers at the Emergency Sanctuary!
Amara makes a big impact on foster parents and children in our community. We are proud to support their work !
For more information, visit Amara’s website or check out this 4-minute video showcasing their work.
Through our groundbreaking model of women-powered, collective philanthropy, Washington Women’s Foundation has given out $15 million in transformative grants that enable not-for-profit organizations to improve lives, protect the environment, advance health and education and increase access to the arts throughout Washington state.
We invite all women to join us to make a more powerful impact in our community. The challenges ahead of us are never as great as the power behind us. www.wawomensfdn.org