Free Appliance & Electronics Recycling at the Windermere Mercer Island Office

Donations will benefit the Mercer Island Youth and Family Services Foundation! 

Saturday, June 15th, 2013
10am to 2pm

Windermere Mercer Island is teaming up with local non-profit 1 Green Planet, and shredding company Confidential Data Disposal, Inc., to offer free recycling and secure shredding. The following items will be accepted in their parking lot for recycling:

• Appliances – washers, dryers, refrigerators, etc.
• Electronics – televisions, stereos, etc.
• Scrap metal, machinery – circuit boards, etc.
• Computers (Secure data destruction) – PCs, laptops, printers, monitors, etc.
• Batteries – car, computer, etc.
• Medical equipment
• Ink & toner
• Cell phones

For information about recycling other items, you can reach 1 Green Planet at (425) 996-3513 or via email.

If you have questions or comments, please call Patti Murphy at (206) 232-4597.

Thursday, May 16^th at 6:30 p.m.

Mercer Island Community + Event Center, 8236 SE 24^th Street

The show features close to a dozen different artists working in a variety of mediums–from jewelry to paintings and glass art. The how will take place May 2, 3 & 4th at the beautiful lakeside home and studio of one of the founding artists, Leslie West. Most of the participating artists live here on Mercer Island.

Please shop the rock and support these local artists this weekend–and support MIYFS along the way. More information, sample art, directions and hours of operation can be found on their website, here.

These programs give Mercer Island students the opportunity to raise their social awareness by working directly with populations in need around the greater Seattle area while volunteering alongside their peers. SVP and VOICE projects are plentiful and diverse. Participants in the program might cook a meal at a soup kitchen, tutor a child in need, participate in recreational activities with people living with disabilities, build a hiking trail in Snoqualmie, or much more.

Current 10th and 11th graders with two or more years of VOICE/SVP participation experience are encouraged to apply to be a Project Leader in Training (P-Lit), where they will assist Project Leaders on SVP volunteer projects.

Registration will open 10:00am on Wednesday, March 27 and close at 5:00pm on Wednesday, April 24. All P-Lit applications are also due by 5:00pm on April 24. Registration and the P-Lit application can be found online at www.mercergov.org/voice.

The 2013 VOICE/SVP programs will run from June 23 – August 16.

For more information, contact Tambi Cork, Youth Development Program Coordinator at MIYFS, at 206.275.7755 ortambi.cork@mercergov.org.

MIYFS Foundation President, James Murphy, kept the program flowing as Master of Ceremonies, and Cindy Goodwin kicked off the program by showing off the new Department logo and walking attendees through the department highlights and statistics.

Three philanthropy awards were presented at the Breakfast. The first award went to Dr. David Weed, an Island dentist for his consistent support of MIYFS and for organizing Island dentists this year to provide pro bono dental care on a rotational basis to low-income clients with no dental insurance. The second award went to Michele Tesler, owner of Tatters who has supported MIYFS for years by donating a percentage of her December business to MIYFS and her early support for the Giving from the Heart Shopping and Dining Program.

The third award brought the crowd of 500 to their feet. Myra Lupton was surprised with an Outstanding Ambassador Award for her incredible contribution to MIYFS, having been  a generous contributor, longtime MIYFS Board Member and a breakfast committee member for  all eleven of the Giving from the Heart Breakfast events. James Murphy stated, “Myra has tireless energy to spread the word about the good things MIYFS is doing for our community—on the many boards and committees she serves in, with her neighbors, with people new to the Island, and among her many friends and acquaintances. She fully understands and embraces the value that MIYFS provides to our community and she’s one of our very best community ambassador.”

A highlight of the event was a talk by a 3-generation Island family–the Hanson/Eggebrecht family–who effectively connected-the-dots between MIYFS and all Island families.  Debbie and Dan Hanson, their three kids Connor, Nick and Mathew, Debbie’s mother and father–Jeannette and Arnie Eggebrecht, and Debbie’s brother Jason Eggebrecht, each took the microphone and talked eloquently about how MIYFS services benefit our community and them personally.

A new MIYFS Film was debuted, “We are the Safety Net” hosted by Council Member Tana Senn and featuring Island residents Jack Alhadeff, Sara Page, Lisa Brown Spencer, Mary Fran and Harold Hill, in addition to State Representative Judy Clibborn and State Senator Steve Litzow. The film can be viewed here.

Deputy Mayor Dan Grausz, joined by MIYFS Foundation Board Member Lisa Brown Spencer pulled the tickets for the five fabulous raffle prizes which were valued at over $700 each. The raffle grossed over $2,000 at the event. Additionally, they announced the winners of the School Art Program where elementary children draw pictures of ways to “Give from the Heart.” Award winners Nicole Moe of St. Monica’s, Caitlin Buri of West Mercer, Avery Condor of Lakeridge and Carter Burr of Island Park all will get pizza parties for their entire class compliments of Island Crust Cafe. You can see the winners images here.

The program closed with a request to visit the twelve Island businesses that gave 20% of their revenue that day to Mercer Island Youth and Family services through the Giving from the Heart Shopping & Dining program. The crowd enjoyed a funny video showing Mayor Bruce Bassett and his wife Nannette shopping and eating at all twelve businesses in a single day to the tune “Flight of the Bumblebee.” The video can be viewed here.

Attendees included State Representative Marcie Maxwell, King County Sheriff John Urquart, Deputy Mayor Dan Grausz, City Council Member Mike Cero, MISD School Board Members Janet Frohnmayer, Pat Braman and Brian Emanuels, two Representatives from the Office of U.S. Representative Adam Smith. There were tables hosted by many community organizations including NCL Evergreen, NCL Lake Washington, St. Monica’s/SVDP, Rotary, Mercer Island Farmer’s Market, Mercer Island Women’s Club, Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce, MIVAL, each of the MISD elementary schools and IMS, the MI Schools Foundation, and four tables of Fran Call’s walking group the Solemates of whom Honorary Co-Chair Virginia Moss Anderson is a member.

Additional photos of the event can be found here.

Twelve generous Mercer Island businesses will be “Giving from the Heart” on Wednesday, February 13^th by donating 20% of their revenue that day to Mercer Island Youth and Family Services. Now in it’s third year, the Giving from the Heart Shopping and Dining Program helps raise funds for MIYFS, the primary social services organization on the Island. This year, Mayor Bruce Bassett and his wife Nannette are getting in on the fun by appearing in a video to promote the program.

This years businesses include some past participants: Island Books, Stopsky’s Delicatessen, Studio 904 Hair Design and Spa, Tatters, YogaBliss, Auto Spa, Pete’s South Mercer Chevron, Yo Mercer Self Serve Frozen Yogurt, Indulge Full Service Salon, and Alpenland Delicatessen, along with program new-comers—Freshy’s Seafood Market and Deli and C.Michele Interior Lifestyles. You can get more information about the businesses and featured items on the Giving from the Heart Business Program web page.

Community members are asked to shop and dine at these businesses any time on Wednesday, February 13^th and 20% of their purchase will automatically go directly to Mercer Island Youth and Family Services.

“The Giving from the Heart Shopping and Dining Program offers support for the important work that Mercer Island Youth and Family Services is doing in our community, and it’s great for the businesses participating,” said Mercer Island Mayor Bruce Bassett. “Nannette and I are glad to be a part of it and encourage all Islanders to get out there and shop and dine at these generous businesses on February 13^th.”

The Bassett’s appear in a fun video that promotes the program that shows them visiting all twelve participating businesses. Among other things, the video shows the Bassett’s, chatting it up with Island Books owner Roger Page, flipping burgers with Stopsky’s owner Jeff Sanderson, handing over the credit card at Tatters, striking a ‘warrior pose’ with YogaBliss owner Maria Bliss, and getting a trim from owner Kay Harai at Studio 904.

The Giving from the Heart Shopping and Dining Program is one component of the annual Giving from the Heart Campaign to support Mercer Island Youth and Family Services. The campaign kicks off with a fundraising breakfast for 500 and includes an art program in the schools and glass heart sales around the Island for the month of February. Registration is currently open for the 2013 breakfast and reservations can be made online or by calling 206.275-7751. Honorary Chairs for the breakfast are Island statesman, public transportation advocate and health care reformer Aubrey Davis; and 83-year Island resident, avid walker and community volunteer Virginia Moss Anderson. (See related post)

About the Giving from the Heart Campaign

The Giving from the Heart Campaign is the primary fundraising event for Mercer Island Youth and Family Services Foundation. Last year over $100,000 was brought in at the event to support Mercer Island Youth and Family Services. This year’s event will be held on Wednesday, February 13^th. The campaign kicks off with the Giving from the Heart Breakfast from 7am to 8:30am at the Mercer Island Community and Events Center. The breakfast is free, but attendees will be asked to make a donation to Youth and Family Services at the event. More information can be found and reservations for the breakfast can be made online or by calling 206.275.7751.

Maren-Swenson Fund has once again stepped up as a $25,000 Matching Sponsor. The breakfast costs are supported through sponsorship. Major sponsors include: Island Crust Cafe, Union Bank, Tatters, Gull Industries, Ellen and John Gordon Hill, Lybeck Murphy LLP, Jennifer Sik, Bernstein Global Wealth Management, Drs. Bill McNeill & Kara McColloch, Sterling Savings and Mercer Island Pediatrics.

About Mercer island Youth and Family Services

Mercer Island Youth and Family Services is the human services department of the City of Mercer Island that provides development, support and assistance programs to residents. MIYFS touches every member of our community through counselors in the schools, senior outreach and advocacy, affordable family counseling, drug and alcohol prevention programs, arrested youth and early intervention programs, family assistance and a thriving thrift store.

About Youth and Family Services Foundation

The MIYFS Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that was founded in 1989 to support and enhance the work of MIYFS through fundraising efforts. The board continues to grow in its capacity to raise funds to support its vision of a healthy community for all youth, adults and families.