July 8, 2003

Karen Bates to Chair
Family Resource Center campaign

A year after retiring from the Lake Washington School District, former Superintendent Karen Bates is taking on a new challenge. Bates has agreed to chair Family Resource Center's Fulfilling Our Vision Campaign.

The nonprofit Center's campaign will significantly increase funds for health and human services at 18 agencies on Family Resource Center's unusual campus. By accelerating the payoff of its mortgage, the campaign will redirect $2.8 million in interest and principal payments to funding programs for people in need. Agencies will put these savings to use in providing medical and dental services, getting the homeless back to work, supporting at-risk youth, building new homes and much more.

"I am very excited to champion a project where Eastsiders can support Eastside agencies during very difficult financial times. With one gift, people will be able to help protect programs at not just one organization but 18 agencies serving 35,000 people.  I am pleased to lead a unique campaign whose impact will be felt for years to come," said Bates. 

Bates served for three years as Lake Washington School District Superintendent. She retired last year after 30 years with the District.  Bates has served as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors for her church, on the Kirkland Performance Center Board and has championed Operation School Bell (providing clothes for school age children) for the Assistance League of the Eastside. Karen also served for six years on the Professional Education Advisory Board for Western Washington University.  Public service is a cornerstone of Bates' personal and professional life.

"We are thrilled to have Karen Bates at the helm of our campaign," Pam Mauk, Family Resource Center Executive Director, said. "Karen is very well-respected and knowledgeable about the importance of community services. She's also extremely charismatic. She brings a lot of energy and excitement with her."

Family Resource Center, the Eastside's human services campus, is an innovative nonprofit designed to make it easier for people to get to services.  The three-building campus houses 22 health,housing and human services agencies serving the Eastside. Hopelink, Friends of Youth, Habitat for Humanity, Community Health Centers of King County, Youth Eastside Services, and Seattle Mental Health are just some of the agencies that will significantly benefit from the campaign.

Family Resource Center's goal is to raise $1.7 million dollars.  About a third has been given or pledged to date. Leadership support has come from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which donated $170,000.  The Paul G. Allen Charitable Foundation will double gifts made to the Center through September 30 as part of a one-to-one $150,000 matching grant. 

Other major support has also come from Microsoft ($30,000), The Seattle Foundation ($30,000), The Norcliffe Foundation ($25,000), Joshua Green Foundation ($17,000), Puget Sound Energy ($15,000), Norman Archibald Charitable Foundation ($5,000), US Bank ($5,000), Washington Mutual Bank ($5,000), Nintendo ($2,000), Charter Bank ($1,500) and more.

Family Resource Center is located at 16225 NE 87th, Redmond, Washington, 98052.

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