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Seattle Youth Garden Works wishes to thank their community of exceptional friends, volunteers and donors for the continued support they have received for the past 15 years.
Stemming from recent fiscal independence from the Church Council of Greater Seattle as well as a particularly challenging economic and fundraising environment, SYGW Advisory Board temporarily suspended our program as of January 01, 2010, and will close our offices on January 25, 2010.
Despite exhaustive fund raising efforts, SYGW was unable to raise the capital required to sustain the program and operations through the first quarter of 2010. The Advisory Board worked diligently to find a solution, but ultimately determined that it was in the best interest of the youth, volunteers, donors and staff, to suspend further programming given the uncertain financial situation SYGW finds itself in. The Board is continuing to work on pursuing a potential strategic alliance that may allow the program to resume in the future.
In 2009 SYGW served 52 homeless and at-risk youth, providing them with essential garden-based job training skills. Friends of SYGW is committed to continuing the important work of SYGW, and will function as an Advisory Board through 2010 in efforts to restructure and re-launch the program.
If you have questions about this change at SYGW, please contact Jennifer Crouch, President of our Advisory Board, at (206) 799-2545 or jlcrouch29@yahoo.com.
As 2009 draws to a close, Seattle Youth Garden Works is at a critical crossroads, with our financial needs more pressing than at any time during our 15 years of operations. While demand for youth services has never been higher, the fundraising environment has never been more challenging. In order to become an independent non-profit, SYGW is leaving the Church Council of Greater Seattle at the end of this year. Without the support of this fiscal sponsor, we must stand on our own financially and will need to raise more than $100,000 in community support in order to continue serving our youth into 2010 and beyond.
We need YOUR help.
Every gift counts. Your meaningful contribution puts SYGW one important step closer to serving the ever- increasing number of youth seeking our programs.
Total served in 2008 - 49, Total Graduated - 28, Total lead gardeners - 3
As part of Seattle Youth Garden Work's continued effort to improve our volunteer program, we would appreciate your personal response to the following questions. Your input is especially crucial as we transition from being a program of the Church Council. Thank you for your time!
Thanks to the generous donations of its readers, Northwest Hub and its sponsors raised over $5000 for Seattle Youth Garden Works (SYGW) as part of its Thanksgiving Charitable Giving program. This program, which was started by Pete Buck (Chairman of Northwest Hub) over 30 years ago as a way to give back to the community during the holidays, remains incredibly successful. Thanks to all of you for your contributions!
This month, many area businesses are participating in the United Way campaign. If your employer offers you the chance to give through United Way, know that you can designate Seattle Youth Garden Works (a program of the Church Council of Greater Seattle) as your gift receiving organization.
A very special thank you to the West Seattle Garden Tour! SYGW was honored to be selected as one of the beneficiaries of the 2009 tour, which was held in July. Organizers of the tour ensured it was a huge success, with proceeds donated to SYGW in support of our job skills training program.
Well, sort of...SYGW was invited to attend a Chicago and Earth, Wind, & Fire concert as part of a benefit organized by World Hunger Year.
Incredible Chicago and EWF fans donated nearly $2,000 and many, many pounds of food to very gracious SYGW volunteers. A fantastic evening!
Thanks to WHY, Chicago, Earth, Wind, & Fire, and our volunteers (which are always the best around!)!
What a magical evening it was! 90 guests attended the Outstanding in the Field benefit dinner for Seattle Youth Garden Works. We enjoyed sharing the marvelous feast prepared by Chef Matt Dillon of The Corson Building. The weather was perfect, and thanks to Urban Farm Manager Colin Anderson and the youth, the garden has never looked better.
Ciscoe recently visited our garden at UWBG and interviewed our youth and Youth and Farm Manager, Colin Anderson. View the clip here!
