NON-PROFITS ELIGIBLE FOR OCTOBER GIVING CYCLE
NON-PROFIT CHOSEN: KIDS FIRST - ISLAND COUNTY
Kids First - Island County
Kids First – Island County is a community-based, non-profit organization dedicated to filling unmet needs of local area children in foster care. Founded in 2009, Kids First is dedicated to meeting the unfulfilled educational, vocational and recreational needs of children who are in foster care by building partnerships that link children with opportunities in Island County. Kids First serves all Island County children who are in the care of foster parents, relative caregivers, or in group homes, regardless of the county or state that child is placed in. We also serve all children who are placed with Island County foster and relative parents regardless of the child’s county or state of origin.
Kids First is entirely volunteer driven and is the only organization of its kind serving Island County children. Our volunteers have widely varied backgrounds and personal stories. If you are interested in helping us make a difference in the lives of these resilient and inspiring children, please consider becoming a volunteer. Just an hour or two per month is all it takes to make a huge difference!
Whidbey Animals' Improvement Foundation (WAIF)
Whidbey Animals’ Improvement Foundation (WAIF) is a non-profit organization which was formed in 1990 in an effort to help Whidbey Island’s homeless companion animals. WAIF is dedicated to providing food, shelter, veterinary care, and nurturing to displaced pets until loving homes can be found for them.
WAIF manages animal adoption facilities in three locations on Whidbey Island (Coupeville, Oak Harbor, and Freeland). Through donations of time and money, WAIF operates with a life-saving philosophy to provide care for healthy, adoptable pets until they are placed into permanent, suitable homes regardless of time or space constraints. WAIF also operates two retail locations that helps raise funds, but donations are vital to maintaining the current level of care for homeless cats and dogs, and to support low-income pet owners.
Big Brothers Big Sisters - Island County
Founded in 1999, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Island County (BBBSIC) provides children aged 6-16 facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. Affiliated with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, BBBSIC offers the oldest, best-known, and most effective youth mentoring programs in the world. BBBSIC is one the smallest and last remaining local, independent chapters of Big Brothers Big Sisters, serving a unique and diverse population including many military, rural, and urban families.
All services are provided on Whidbey Island. Our main office is in Oak Harbor, we have a satellite office in Coupeville, and available office space in South Whidbey as needed. We are a true a grassroots organization, with five local staff, and more than 250 loyal volunteers who work in every phase of agency activity. All BBBSIC mentoring services are provided entirely by volunteers with training and follow along support from professional staff. This year we project that we will serve approximately 100 children throughout Whidbey Island with meaningful relationships and lifelong learning opportunities.