 If you have attended a Covington Chamber event in the last year, you have probably met Brian Williams, the Director of Operations of the See Ya Later Foundation. He is also the cousin of Scott Banke of McMinnville, Oregon who lost his life to a rare form of osteosarcoma cancer at the age of 12. The foundation is named “See Ya Later” because that was something Scott said frequently instead of ever saying “good-bye.” Scott was an impact-maker in his community. He was genuine, outgoing, and always tried to make people smile. In fact, when he was in treatment, the medical staff were eager to work with him because he was a great patient with a positive attitude. When Scotty died, his family wanted to honor his memory. Their first project was raising funds for a five-story play structure with a capacity for 175 kids which they then gifted to Church on the Hill. Next came sports camps and youth opportunities for kids because the community had a growing need for more impactful and positive activities. The youth programs have grown exponentially over the last decade, helping to serve the growing population of Yamhill County. Seeds of Hope In 2006, “See Ya Later” received non-profit status and started the Seeds of Hope program to help other families who have a child with a life-threatening medical crisis. The Seeds of Hope program supports families with whatever they might need, including unique family-bonding experiences, zoo passes, essential needs, tickets to sporting events, gas and grocery cards, and more. Once approved, each family meets with a Seeds of Hope volunteer who gets to know them and learn what they need and how the program can best assist the family during their cancer journey. The See Ya Later Foundation currently serves families in King and Pierce Counties. Scholarships In 2007, the year that Scott would have graduated from high school, the See Ya Later Foundation added scholarships to the mix in Oregon. The scholarships are awarded to students who are impact-makers like Scott in their communities. The foundation has grown and, in 2010, at a family meeting, the Banke family made the decision to expand into Washington where Brian lives. Brian had been working with the Special Olympics and was excited to contribute to the success of the See Ya Later Foundation in Auburn. In 2012, the foundation awarded two $1,000 scholarships to local impact makers in Auburn. Their scholarship program has grown to 28 local high schools in the region. This year, they awarded eight $2,500 scholarships to impact-makers from schools from Puyallup, Sumner, Auburn and Kent. See Ya Later Foundation – Washington The Washington chapter started with $5,000 in seed money and today they consistently raise approximately $150,000 per year through hosting local fundraising events. They held their first golf tournament and auction in 2011, raising $40,000 for the foundation. Last year, the two events combined to raise over $140,000. As for family support, since 2010, over 200 families have been supported with an average of 15 to 25 families per year. Brian anticipates serving more than 20 families this year. Recently, Seeds of Hope assisted one family with a daughter who was diagnosed with cancer two years ago. Brian and members of his BNI group, Covington Advantage Business Builders, recently helped this family with housecleaning, decluttering, organizing, pressure washing the roof and driveway, and getting the family car detailed. When the grateful mom saw the volunteers’ hard work, she said, “I got my life back. I’m at home again.” In another example, a grandmother was living in a motor home at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Brian visited her in the parking lot, giving her restaurant gift cards, gift cards for Fred Meyer, and toys and books for her granddaughter who was in treatment at the hospital. “We meet them where they’re at,” Brian said. Literally and figuratively. The Seeds of Hope program has also done backyard makeovers with swing sets, a limo ride to a Sounders game, and a family outing at Snoqualmie Falls. For Brian, the foundation is a way to support families like his who have been affected by cancer. “I wish we didn’t have to meet these families. I wish cancer wasn’t a thing,” Brian said. It is important for families to know they don’t fight alone.” The Washington chapter of See Ya Later hosts a trivia night as their primary fundraiser for their scholarship program. Their annual golf tournament and dinner auction are the major fundraisers for the Seeds of Hope program. They occasionally do pop-ups at events like the Covington Makers’ Market, Kent Station, and dining-to-donate events at Cosmic Bottles and other local restaurants. In addition to his passion for assisting families, Brian is also a big supporter of local businesses, many of whom support See Ya Later. “We understand our support comes from local businesses. We like to support those businesses that support us,” Brian said. “We give back to our communities because they support us, too.” To provide sustainable funding for Seeds of Hope, the foundation started the Hope Giver program about 15 years ago. This is a recurring giving program that allows donors to give a set amount each month. For as little as $10 a month, Hope Givers can help support families with a small electronic fund transfer. How you can help
There are many ways to support the See Ya Later Foundation and their work:
0 Comments
|
Archives
October 2024
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
