20 Minutes Can Make All the Difference for Students in Expanded Learning

 

As the Site Director at Birney Elementary School's Allstar Center, a big part of Sergio Beltran's role is providing support for students to have a seamless transition in the 20 minutes between the school day and after-school Expanded Learning Opportunities(ELO). 

"I think it really shifts the young people's energy when we create a warm and welcoming environment and let them know that there are adults here who care about them and are willing to listen to them and help with whatever they may be going through." 

Read how Sergio makes the most of this 20 minute transition time

  An Opportunity for Impact Arrives at Age 70 1/2

 

It isn't traditionally seen as a milestone birthday, but age 70½ can be reason to celebrate. That's when Individual Retirement Account (IRA) holders must begin taking minimum withdrawals annually, known as a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD).

While an RMD does count as a "taxable event", it's also an opportunity to make a tax-efficient philanthropic impact for the community. 

Find out how one GTCF fundholder used their RMD to make a donation to Tacoma Rescue Mission

18 Pierce County youth leaders joined Greater Tacoma Community Foundation's 2019-20 Youth Philanthropy Board (YPB) cohort on October 23, 2019. Representing six local high schools and three colleges, a common theme for all members is a dedication to giving back to the community that gave them opportunities to succeed.

"When you have a community that does so much in favor of you, you can't help but want to get involved."

Meet the new cohort for the 2019-20 Youth Philanthropy Board 

Since 2011, GTCF's Youth Philanthropy Board (YPB) has provided young people in Pierce County an opportunity to identify, explore, and address their concerns for their community by using philanthropic resources to support change.

"It is rare that a group of youth can make a decision that directly impacts them, let alone make a decision that will improve the lives of other youth in their community. Too often youth find their voices overshadowed by adults and the YPB helped us take what is directly affecting ourselves and the youth around us into our own hands."

See how 2018-19 YPB members helped support change for Juvenile Justice  

A Spark Grant Helps Lincoln High School Book Club Bring Best-Selling Author to Tacoma

From March to August this year, Lincoln's Project Lit book club rallied support from individuals and businesses in the community-and raised $6,000 to bring best-selling author, Jason Reynolds, to speak at their school. 

In addition to receiving a Spark Grant from GTCF, Project Lit received a grant from the Tacoma Rainiers and numerous individual donations which were also matched by several local organizations. 

Nearly 2,000 people attended the event, either in-person or virtually with live-streaming to 60 classrooms across the district. Following the discussion, hundreds packed into the Lincoln library for a book signing.

Read why it was important to Project Lit Abes members to bring Reynolds to their school