EverTrust Foundation Grants $20,000 to
United Way initiative to increase families’ financial independence

Evertrust Grant

Above: IDA participant Maria Garcia, United Way Executive
Vice President Dennis Smith, Executive Director of EverTrust
Foundation Mary Sievers, and Kevin Hulten, legislative assistant
for state Senator Steve Hobbs.

The EverTrust Foundation on March 15, 2007 announced that they will provide a $20,000 grant to United Way of Snohomish County. The
$20,000 grant will be used to match and secure federal funding for the Individual Development Accounts initiative, which helps people save
toward an education, a home or to start a small business.

“The EverTrust Foundation is focused on being an integral part of the communities we serve,” said Mary Sievers, executive director for the EverTrust Foundation. “We are proud to grant these funds to United
Way’s IDA program as a collaborative and successful program focused
on helping people in the local community.”

United Way’s Individual Development Accounts initiative (IDA) moves people from homelessness and poverty to being back on their feet—
and staying there. IDAs are incentive-based, market-oriented, and they encourage savings and development of personal responsibility. United Way has 42 IDA account holders, 13 have graduated. A federal grant, in partnership with the Workforce Development Council, makes it possible
for a 2:1 savings match for a business startup or education.

“The EverTrust Foundation has been a supportive partner, and we’re appreciative of their expanded level of involvement,” said Dennis Smith, executive vice president for United Way of Snohomish County.

United Way is a community impact organization serving Snohomish County for 66 years. In the past five years, United Way has raised more than $53.7 million for the community. In addition to funding program grants at 46 nonprofit agencies, United Way supports community-wide initiatives including: the 2-1-1 information line, the Volunteer Center, Success By 6®, Born Learning, Individual Development Accounts and a new Free Tax Preparation campaign.

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