Multi-Service Center hosted its first inaugural regional luncheon to support programs that provide help, hope and change for South King County residents at Emerald Downs on Wednesday.
The Multi-Service Center Helps Luncheon guests experienced the impact of the organization’s programs through the stories of three individuals who are on the path to success because of the programs. Multi-Service Center community leader Tom Medhurst spoke and King 5’s Meeghan Black emceed the event.
The total raised for the day was $42,750.
“One of the things MSC does is help veterans, which I appreciate because I am a veteran,” said Bob Celski, Federal Way City Councilman. “The path to civilian life can be extremely challenging and we need programs like MSC to help.”
The Multi-Service Center Helps Luncheon, a mission-focused fundraising event, provided an opportunity for the community to learn about the myriad of services the organization provides for families and individuals in need. Multi-Service Center is a nonprofit social service provider in South King County, helping poverty-stricken people through support and resources in education, employment, housing, energy assistance, food and clothing.
Former Federal Way Public Schools Superintendent Tom Vander Ark was the keynote speaker. Vander Ark is now an author of, “Getting Smart: How Digital Learning is Changing the World” and chief executive officer of Getting Smart, a learning advocacy firm. Ark is also a partner in Learn Capital, an education venture firm.
Vander Ark talked about attacking poverty through education and working to ensure students that are impoverished have the tools they need to succeed.
“Kids growing up in poverty bring adverse childhood experiences into schools in the form of traumatic stress,” he said. “They are more likely to be impulsive, distrustful, preoccupied and tuned out.”
Vander Ark said one way to help students is through participating in and contributing to programs, such as Multi-Service Center.
“We need to get together to support organizations like MSC that help us erase poverty and give people the tools they need to learn and grow,” he said. Vander Ark also spoke about his research on teachers across the globe and how they are how they are incorporating new resources in their classrooms to better teach their students.
“A few schools I’ve seen are going even more digital through having digital playlists of homework and projects for students,” he said. “This really changes our approach to teaching, such as having more personalized learning.”
A recent report from the Brookings Institute cited a 73.4 percent increase in the number of people living in poverty from the year 2000 to 2012 within South King County. Comparatively, the Seattle area only had a 44.3 percent increase.
“MSC can assist individuals and families in South King County in their journey out of poverty to self-sufficiency,” Vander Ark said.
Slideshow photos courtesy of Bruce Honda and Ed Streit Productions.
