It was an unusual scene at the Hilton Vancouver earlier this spring for the YWCA Clark County’s annual benefit auction, and not just because five First Independent employees were dressed as the Village People, shaking their behinds to their own version of the “YWCA.”
The Vancouver-based bank is a corporate partner of the YWCA Clark County, and as such, has pledged $25,000 per year over two years plus any in-kind help the nonprofit organization needs along the way – including entertainment.
“They have reinvented sponsorship,” said YWCA Executive Director Kathy Kniep. “This is not the traditional write-a-check, get-a-table, show-up giving. This is way beyond showing up.”
The woman behind First Independent’s creative giving is Chief Operating Officer Jeanne Firstenburg, and she joins the ranks of Talbitzer Homes’ Susan Glavin and Linda Hickey, director of the Ray Hickey Foundation: three women whose creativity and dedication in giving to the YWCA is boundless.
The YWCA focuses on empowering women, preventing violence and eliminating racism and all forms of oppression.
“(These three women) bring their whole network of resources to our organization, and we see them as partners in fulfilling our mission and making the community a better place,” said Kniep.
“They are visionaries who are proactive in their giving with the YWCA,” she said. “They come to us with ideas, which is extraordinary.”
On top of the monetary support, Firstenburg volunteers time with the Y’s Care Child Care Program and urges bank employees to give to the YWCA and volunteer with Helping Hands, which painted a lovely mural in the Y’s classroom.
“You know why she’s doing this, and that’s a large part of why she’s so driven,” said Kniep. “She’s been on her hands and knees with these kids and knows what they’re going through.”
Working with the nonprofit reminds Firstenburg to be grateful for her life, Firstenburg said.
“I am aware of how much we have,” she said. “It reminds me that not every child has a home to go home to. You have to make the time to participate in the things that sustain your spirit.”
“Hopefully, people can look in the mirror and look out the window with a different perspective and think, ‘What can I give?’” she said.
Firstenburg said it is hard to find good groups to partner with in the community, and appreciates the YWCA’s ability to plan, represent the organization well and honor its sponsors.
The organization fits with the bank’s mission to support community health and education, and Firstenburg said she believes in the Y’s mission to inspire social change rather than trying to put a Band-Aid on a problem.
“They cover the gamut of social issues that don’t get so much attention,” she said. “We love what they do, and they do so much. They have touched our hearts in so many ways, and we volunteer thousands of hours to support them because of that.”
Kniep said Firstenburg is clearly energized by her involvement with the organization.
“It’s infectious, which is why she’s able to rope people into dressing up like the Village People and sing in public,” she said.
Feeding a need
Aside from volunteering hours and hours with the Y’s domestic violence program, Glavin has used her skills and resources to inspire changes at the YWCA itself.
Upon taking a tour of the building more than a year ago and discovering the kitchen, which at best, could be described as awful, Glavin announced she had found her mission.
Legend has it, she said, “This is it,” closed and locked the door – complete with a “no-peeking” sign – and went to work.
She acted as the general contractor and used her resources from Talbitzer Homes to rally dozens of people to help remodel and donate appliances.
Three months and $25,000 worth of donated time, labor and materials later, Glavin unveiled the fully functional, gleaming kitchen fit for a magazine.
“I just sat there on the counter, and thought ‘This is great,’” Glavin said. “I couldn’t stop smiling.”
When the project was finished, Kniep said the volunteers were thanking the YWCA for letting them get involved with the organization.
Now program participants, community members and foster youth are able to use it for events and cooking classes.
That morning, they had breakfast in the kitchen.
Glavin expects to begin fundraising to renovate the domestic violence program’s kitchen quite soon.
As a child, Glavin said she experienced every kind of abuse.
But, she said, “I believe that we can heal.”
Glavin strives to help the women help themselves by making long-term changes in their lives.
And she is a certified Law of Attraction coach and has developed a series of workshops to teach participants about intentional living, and offers it to program participants at no cost.
Outside of the YWCA, Glavin is working to establish a nonprofit called Partners for Prevention, in which Talbitzer will build one home per year for a homeless family in the community.
Helping the next generation
Hickey’s dedication to the YWCA spans more than 10 years.
Serving on the board of directors and as board president, she has been able to draw tremendous community support by encouraging significant community leaders, donors, businesses and volunteers to support the organization.
As co-chair of the Classic Wines Auction board in Portland, Hickey played an instrumental part in securing the YWCA’s invitation to take part in one of the area’s most profitable fundraisers.
Last year, the auction raised $2.75 million. It is one of the 10 largest charity wine auctions in the country, and the net profits go to support five area nonprofits.
The Classic Wines Auction, which will take place March 1, will replace the Y’s annual benefit auction, but the organization will introduce a new themed fundraiser, likely to take place in spring, Kniep said.
“Our being invited to the wine auction has all to do with Linda’s ability to speak very intelligently and passionately about our work,” she said.
Through the years, the Hickey family has been one of the organization’s biggest supporters and donors.
In June, Ray Hickey gave $1 million to the YWCA to establish the Ray Hickey Endowment for Children.
“It’s pretty unique for people who are philanthropists in our community to invest that kind of personal time in our program, and they do it because they want to and they know what these kids are facing,” Kniep said. “They’ve taken the time to learn about issues of homelessness and child abuse.”
Kniep said there is no way to put a dollar amount on the support of Hickey, Glavin and Firstenburg.
“All three are charismatic leaders in our community,” Kniep said. “Other people are looking to them for how to contribute. When they’re recommending the YWCA, I think people really listen to that. They’ve become ambassadors of our organization.”
Ed. note: Coincidental to this assignment, Megan Patrick has recently been nominated to join the YWCA Board of Directors.
