One day left to pledge: Annual Giving Drive
Thank you to everyone who has participated in this year’s Annual Giving Drive so far! As a reminder, the Employee Giving Program made a one-time extension to this year’s Annual Giving Drive (AGD), to Friday, Nov. 21., 2025.
If you are donating eligible Vacation or Compensatory time, tomorrow Nov. 21, 2025 is a firm deadline and one of the benefits of PeopleSoft is that it can be done from home. Every year, hundreds of hours of time must be turned away because they come in after the deadline and were not able to be processed. Click here to learn more about giving time.
Don’t forget to renew your payroll pledge as well. While renewing is easy, it is not automatic.
The best way to ensure that your pledge reaches us in time is to do one of the following:
- Go online in PeopleSoft and complete; or
- Fill out a paper form and then scan and email to employeegiving@kingcounty.gov.
If you need assistance, we’re here to help. Visit the new Employee Giving Program intranet site, call 206-263-9372, or email employeegiving@kingcounty.gov.
Find a nonprofit. Renew now. Donate now.
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Special discount for Cirque du Soleil’s ECHO
King County employees can now take advantage of discounted tickets for ECHO, performing at King County’s Marymoor Park Jan. 30 to March 22.
Use this link to save up to 40% on select seats and dates. For groups of 10+, enjoy up to 40% off plus reduced handling fees. For questions or more information, contact Sarah.Hudson@cirquedusoleil.com.
See all available discounts on the Employee Discount intranet page.
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Executive Braddock announces upgrades to Metro’s Access paratransit service, improving freedom and flexibility for riders with disabilities living in rural communities
Crossposted from Metro Matters
Recently, King County Executive Shannon Braddock and Metro announced an improved customer experience for Access paratransit service customers and seniors, especially in rural communities, delivering on one of the key priorities in the Executive’s 200-Day Plan. People with disabilities who live in rural communities and use Access will have an easier time making reservations and enjoy improved on-time arrivals. There are also pilot programs that range from grocery delivery to same-day reservations. These services – alongside new in-person support for Access paratransit, Community Van, and Hopelink – will offer more flexibility and independence.
Additionally, community transportation coordinators and navigators will deliver in-person support to help all customers with mobility challenges access the full range of Metro services. Read more.
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As surging utility costs make housing less affordable throughout King County, Executive Braddock brings together partners to develop a more sustainable future
With household costs for utilities projected to rapidly increase each year for the next decade – making housing even less affordable than it is today – King County Executive Shannon Braddock and Sound Cities Association on Friday brought together more than 150 elected officials, regulators, and public works managers from throughout King County to develop a path that both protects the natural environment and reduces the burden on homeowners.
A typical single-family household in King County currently pays an estimated $400 per month for utilities, including natural gas, electricity, solid waste, stormwater, sewer, and water. The combined monthly costs will likely continue to escalate over the next decade due to inflation in the construction industry, new environmental regulations, and the need to maintain and expand aging infrastructure to serve a growing population. Read more.
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Monitoring in Action: PHSKC responds to unpermitted food vending with an equity and data-driven perspective
Ava Michler, with the Performance and Strategy (PSB) team, spoke with Eyob Mazengia about how Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC) responds to unpermitted food vending. The Food Safety team decreases barriers to receiving permits and uses data visualization to inform their operations.
As we see an increase of unpermitted food vending throughout the county, the Food Safety team’s work has been critical for protecting the health of county residents and upholding food safety standards. A key part of their approach is supporting vendor entrepreneurial goals, by providing guidance and resources to pursue a permit. Food Safety also gives meaning to their data and identifies trends using an innovative Power BI dashboard. Read the full story here.
Employees can take a moment to check out this story, and explore others in the PSB Monitoring in Action section to see how King County programs are turning data into impact. For more information about the portal, or to send your blog post idea, contact Sara Hospador at Sara.Hospador@kingcounty.gov.
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Employee notice about the KC Employee ID/ORCA pass
King County employees can now note that their ORCA pass will automatically renew at the start of the new year and disregard the expiration alert when tapping for use on transit.
For questions or concerns, please reach out to the Employee Transportation Program coordinator at ETP@kingcounty.gov.
For more information, visit the Employee Transportation Program SharePoint employee website.
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Support Hurricane Melissa relief through the Annual Giving Drive
In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, a devastating Category 5 storm that struck Jamaica and parts of the Caribbean, thousands of families are facing unimaginable loss. Homes, hospitals, and infrastructure have been destroyed. Many communities still remain without power, clean water, or access to basic necessities. Through the Annual Giving Drive, we have an opportunity to come together and support the nonprofits working tirelessly on the ground to provide emergency aid and long-term recovery.
Here are the Employee Giving Program (EGP) nonprofits that are responding to Hurricane Melissa relief efforts. Read more.
To see the full list and discover more, search online or review the 2025 Giving Guide of nonprofits by service category.
Start or renew your pledge through Employee Giving on PeopleSoft by Nov. 21. If you are renewing your pledge, remember to click “Continue” then “Confirm” in order to complete the process.
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Annual Giving Drive extended to Nov. 21
Good news: the Employee Giving Program is making a one-time extension to this year’s Annual Giving Drive (AGD), made possible by the early kick-off. The AGD was launched a week earlier than usual to meet an anticipated payroll processing deadline. We have since learned that we can stick to our usual timing. The new deadline will be Nov. 21. This includes Time Donations.
This is a special opportunity, during a busy time. Join us in coming together for an extra week of fun, joy, and community!
Learn more on the King County Employee Giving Program intranet.
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Recognizing the service of Metro veterans
Crossposted from Metro Matters
This Veterans Day, we recognized and thanked all of Metro’s military service members, past and present, for their service and sacrifice. Your continued commitment to public service strengthens our community.
On Monday, Nov. 10, we held a ceremonial flag raising at one of our facilities honor the courage and dedication of veterans and their families. In addition to this ceremony, we’re also continuing our annual tradition of highlighting Metro colleagues who have served in the military. This year, I’m pleased to share the stories of four veterans —Nicholas Warren, Ruy Diaz, Scott Peterson and William Herbert—whose experiences remind us of the many ways veterans continue to lead, serve and inspire across our organization. Read more.
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It’s the journey and the destination
Crossposted from Metro Matters
While I lead transit communications and marketing in Washington state, my earliest public transportation journeys were nearly 5,000 miles away in my birthplace of London, England.
As a toddler, my paternal grandmother—who exclusively took transit or walked—would take my sister and me on double-decker buses. I’d always ask to go upstairs. But my Granny, to avoid taking two small children up and down a windy staircase on a moving vehicle, creatively claimed that we couldn’t go up there because that’s where the bus driver lives. Read more.
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