Category: Vibrant Community
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Hiring Locally Strengthens Local Organizations
As a high school math teacher in Tacoma, Tim Herron developed the Act Six initiative in 2002 to help his students succeed in college and return to lead in their community. Today, as the President of Tacoma-based nonprofit Degrees of Change—which now operates the Act Six initiative—he continues to build on that effort by hiring > Continue Reading
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Spark Grants Light Up Communities
It all started with a conversation. Sandra Smith, a real estate agent from Buckley, says she was talking with her teenage daughter and a group of classmates about a lack of opportunity to contribute to community when the idea for Merry on Main was born. “They all said, ‘We would [get involved] if there > Continue Reading
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White River Community Grants Support Access & Celebrate Local History
Longtime Buckley resident Marydale Brooks was a quiet philanthropist who worked closely with community members to support special opportunities in the White River community. When Marydale passed away in 2018, her estate established the White River Hometowns Fund through GTCF as an endowment that will continue her work of supporting the local community for years to > Continue Reading
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Partnering for Food Security: Nourish Pierce County
At Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, we’ve seen how much more we can accomplish when we work together. Since 1981, community members have shared their commitment to a thriving Pierce County by partnering with GTCF to bring their vision to life and build a legacy for future generations. In our 2018 yearbook, Pierce County Partners, a few > Continue Reading
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Partnering for the Whole Child: Tacoma Public Schools
At Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, we’ve seen how much more we can accomplish when we work together. Since 1981, community members have shared their commitment to a thriving Pierce County by partnering with GTCF to bring their vision to life and build a legacy for future generations. In our 2018 yearbook, Pierce County Partners, a few > Continue Reading
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Community Health Fair Inspires Medical Professionals to Explore School-Based Health Centers
Getting sports physicals for all five of her children is usually a huge undertaking for Shirley Sagapolu. “We normally go to a free clinic, since the physicals aren’t covered by Medicare,” Sagapolu said, “but they only do two a day so we have to make several trips and take time off work to get all > Continue Reading
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‘In Our Backyard’ Event Activates Community Conversation on Homelessness
Every month, GTCF talks with organizers of events posted on our Community Calendar to find out what happened and what they learned. In this edition, Roni Chelben – City of Tacoma Artist in Residence shares her experience putting together In Our Backyard, a traveling series of community events that uses various arts and participatory experiences to > Continue Reading
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Arts, Science, and Living History Draw Big Crowds at Community Events
Great things happen when community gathers together. Every month, GTCF talks with organizers of events posted on our Community Calendar to find out what happened and what they learned. In this edition, Rosemary Ponnekanti from Tacoma OceanFest and Chris Staudinger from Puyallup Meeker Days share their experiences putting on large-scale community festivals in June. Tacoma > Continue Reading
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Event Lessons from Healing History, Youth Voice, and Living Art
GTCF sees that great things happen when community gathers together. Every month, we talk with organizers of events who posted on our Community Calendar to find out what happened. Tamiko Nimura from Tacoma Japanese American History , Michael Haeflinger of Write 253, and Katherine Wimble Fox from Pacific Bonsai Museum share their vision and lessons from > Continue Reading
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Farmers Markets Build Food Equity
It’s that time of year when Pierce County Farmers Markets connect residents to local farmers, small businesses, live entertainment, and a chance to meet neighbors. Farmers Markets also bring fresh produce to areas that have been referred to as “food deserts”, urban areas where grocery options are limited. To provide greater access to healthy nutrition, Tacoma Farmers Markets, Puyallup > Continue Reading