The County’s 2016 Annual Employee Giving Drive is approaching the halfway point, and this year’s goal is to raise $1.82 million. King County employees have donated $419,780.58 so far, bringing the drive to 23.1% of the goal!

If you’ve made it to one of the nonprofit expositions, you may know you can win prizes just by learning about five attending nonprofits! (This can be done virtually, as well.) To enter a drawing for the grand prize of Seattle City Pass, movie tickets, and fun giveaways, visit nonprofits (in person, or through the online video presentations) and fill out the “passport.” The drawing will take place November 9. You will be notified if you win, and winners will be posted on the website.

This week, we’re featuring four nonprofits serving children in the King County area, and each is eligible to receive donations through the Employee Giving Program!

• Seattle Children’s Hospital and Research Foundation (9002) – Seattle Children’s Hospital, Foundation and Research Institute together deliver superior patient care, advance new discoveries and treatments through pediatric research.
• Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America (5048) – We grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.
• March of Dimes Foundation, Washington Chapter (4024) – To improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality, through programs of research, community services, education and advocacy.
• St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (serving AK, ID, MT, OR & WA) (4015) – Researches and treats deadly childhood diseases – primarily cancer. Families are never billed by St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food. Discoveries freely shared worldwide.

The Employee Giving Program is a philanthropic resource for King County employees that benefits county employees by providing prescreened nonprofits, allowing you to plan your giving, making it possible for you to donate time (vacation or compensatory hours), and offering anonymity.

You may pledge either online in PeopleSoft or with a paper form. Through payroll donations, employees can donate to as many as 20 nonprofits, and contributions can be made bimonthly (first two pay checks each month), monthly (second paycheck each month) or annually (first paycheck in January).

Every donation made through the Employee Giving Program is tax deductible. Just keep track of the proper paperwork and you can deduct your donations when you file your taxes!

This year’s drive runs through November 18. For more information, visit the EGP site. For additional questions, contact your EGP Ambassador, email EmployeeGiving@KingCounty.gov or call 206-263-9405.