Giving back to our communities as a company can take many forms – supporting local charities and causes with cash or in-kind donations, giving employees time-off to carry out charity work, or simply matching employees’ personal charitable donations. At PayNorthwest, we have taken a couple of steps recently to give back to the local community that we are a part of, benefit from, and care so much about. First, we have encouraged our employees to donate their time by giving them extra PTO each year to volunteer with worthy causes and organizations. Second, we have established a PayNorthwest employee committee that has designated dollars available each quarter to grant to worthy local non-profits that have been nominated by our employees or our clients. The results of our first charitable giving committee meeting are in and we are happy to announce our support of the following deserving organizations:
Bike Works
Bike Works is an innovative organization focused on bicycles that combines youth development, community engagement, bicycle recycling, and a social enterprise bike shop to help build a sustainable and healthy community. Since 1996, the organization has worked to educate and empower youth as well as make bicycling accessible and affordable to the Seattle community. Bike Works was nominated by a PayNorthwest employee for the organization’s efforts to educate youth by promoting cycling, building confidence, critical thinking, and life skills.
Caring Clowns International (CCI)
CCI’s mission is to free the “inner kid” in children and adults alike. As humanitarians, the organization funds life-changing improvements for children in need by connecting with people and uplifting spirits, beyond language and cultures. PayNorthwest was honored to sponsor CCI’s 2016 dinner-auction event recently held in Poulsbo, Wash. CCI was nominated by long-standing client Kitsap Physical Therapy as well as one of our employees.
“Caring Clowns International is honored to be a recipient of this generous donation from PayNorthwest,” explains Jed Selter, President and Executive Director of CCI. “We will use the funds to further our mission of helping children locally, nationally, and around the world.”
School’s Out Washington (SOWA)
SOWA provides organizations with services and guidance to ensure all young people have safe places to learn and grow when they are not in school. It is dedicated to building community systems to support quality after school, youth development, and summer programs for Washington’s children and youth ages five through young adult. Nominated by one of our employees, PayNorthwest is honored to count SOWA as a client and to sponsor the organization’s fall fundraiser held this coming November.
Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority (SCIDpda)
Started in 1975, SCIDpda is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, promoting, and developing the Seattle Chinatown International District as a vibrant community and unique ethnic neighborhood. PayNorthwest is proud and pleased to have its main office in this wonderful neighborhood. After being nominated by an employee, PayNorthwest decided to sponsor the organization’s Spring Clean Event to be held in April, a collective effort to beautify and revitalize the neighborhood. In addition to a cash donation, PayNorthwest employees are also participating in person in the clean-up effort.
Congratulations to all our Q1 2016 winners!
