Volunteers of America Honors The Boeing Company and The Employees Community Fund of Boeing with its 2010 Outstanding Community Service Award



For Immediate Release:
Contact: Thera Matrin
Volunteers of America Western Washington
(425) 259-3191 x2320 or tmartin@voaww.org


SEATTLE, WA, June 7, 2010 – The Boeing Company and The Employees Community Fund of Boeing were presented June 7 with Volunteers of America’s 2010 Outstanding Community Service Award, in recognition of the support provided by both organizations to Volunteers of America’s Western Washington office during the past 50 years.

The dual award was presented by Volunteers of America Western Washington, based in Everett, during the organization’s national conference in Seattle.

“Their collective generosity has provided funds, equipment and many dedicated volunteer hands and hearts that have made much of our work possible,” said Volunteers of America Western Washington CEO Phil Smith. “These two organizations collectively impact tens of thousands of lives in this community each year.”

In recent years, The Boeing Company has provided support to Volunteers of America Western Washington through:
  • Funds to launch a behavioral specialist program providing crucial support to preschool and school-age children
  • Hundreds of Boeing volunteers, who have rebuilt wheelchair ramps; organized company drives for food, school supplies and holiday gifts; and donated coats and blankets for families in need
  • Funding over several years for Everett and Seattle food banks that feed 6,000 households each month
  • Gifts of phone and infrastructure equipment connecting clients and staff throughout five counties
The Employees Community Fund of Boeing has separately funded many programs and services that have benefited communities throughout western Washington, including:
  • Phone infrastructure for Volunteers of America Western Washington’s 2-1-1 and Care Crisis Call Centers, and offices which now collectively help more than 120,000 callers each year in five counties
  • Annual funding for holiday food at local food banks
  • Construction of a Community Resource Center in rural east Snohomish County
  • Walk-in cooler/freezers for food banks
Volunteers of America presents its Outstanding Community Service Award each year to organizations or individuals that display outstanding service to their local community, either through work with the local Volunteers of America office or through a community project.

The Boeing Company has been a vital part of the Northwest for more than 100 years, with a longstanding tradition of good corporate citizenship and strong community support.

In addition to the company itself, the employees of Boeing have operated a separate community foundation for more than 50 years funded by donations from thousands of generous individual employees. The Employees Community Fund of Boeing is governed by a board of Boeing employees who award grant funds to local organizations. These generous contributions make the Employees Community Fund of Boeing one of the largest of its type in the world. 

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About Volunteers of America
Volunteers of America is a national, nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need live healthy, safe and productive lives. Since 1896, our ministry of service has supported and empowered America's most vulnerable groups, including seniors, people with disabilities, at-risk youth, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, those recovering from addictions and many others. Through hundreds of human service programs, including housing and healthcare, Volunteers of America helps more than 2 million people in over 400 communities. We offer a variety of services for older Americans, in particular, that allow them to maintain their independence and quality of life – everything from an occasional helping hand to full-time care. Our work touches the mind, body, heart and ultimately the spirit of those we serve, integrating our deep compassion with highly effective programs and services.