Washington Vocational Services

We Are Incredibly Grateful! Last week, Washington Vocational Services (WVS) was honored to receive a generous donation from Wellpoint Washington to support our transition programs, Pathfinders and Healthy Relationships. This funding allows us to continue empowering youth and young adults with disabilities in Skagit County by engaging middle and high school students in career exploration and future planning. It also provides opportunities to develop essential skills for maintaining positive boundaries and healthy relationships. A huge thank you to our amazing WVS team for their hard work and dedication, and to the team at Wellpoint Washington for their generosity and commitment to creating inclusive opportunities. Your support is truly making a difference in the lives of those we serve! We’re excited to share some moments from this special day—check out the photos! ?? Help us celebrate this partnership by liking, sharing, and spreading the word about the importance of inclusive employment! And be sure to check out Wellpoint Washington?to learn more about their incredible work supporting communities across the state. #ThankYou #CommunitySupport #InclusiveEmployment #WVS #WellpointWashington #SkagitCounty #DisabilityEmployment #YouthEmpowerment

Gratitude Alert! We are thrilled to announce that Washington Vocational Services has received an $8,000 grant from the Hazel Miller Foundation! This generous funding allows our Snohomish Employment Consultants to take clients on more community inclusion and engagement activities. It also provides essential resources to hire ASL interpreters, ensuring our Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing clients receive the support they need during coaching sessions and events. We are deeply grateful to the Hazel Miller Foundation for their support and commitment to our mission of creating meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. In addition, we are proud to share that Washington Vocational Services was featured in My Edmonds News as a recipient of the Hazel Miller Foundation’s 2024 grant cycle. We are honored to stand alongside other incredible grantees, including Leadership of Snohomish County, whose programs like the Step-Up Conference and Leadership Series have enriched our team and our work. Thank you to the Hazel Miller Foundation for making these transformative opportunities possible. We are excited to put this funding to work and continue empowering our clients and communities. Check out the full article, link in comments::

Congratulations to Paula Bouwer on 30 years with Washington Vocational Services. Your dedication and hard work have made a lasting impact. Thank you for your many years of outstanding service.

We are excited to announce that Washington Vocational Services is the 2024 recipient of the Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues and Employment, Small Non-Profit of the Year award. The award is designed to highlight employers that are committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce by adopting exemplary employment practices for people with disabilities. “WVS’ mission is to help people with disabilities achieve inclusion and connections through work in their communities and as an employer, they walk the talk by making sure they are strong examples of this”, stated the selection committee. Thank you to the Mayer family for the nomination and to our team and the Board of Directors for making WVS a great place to work. #GCDE

Congratulations to Renae Voth on receiving the prestigious Direct Support Professional of the Year award at last weeks GCDE award banquet. The Direct Support Professional award recognizes an individual who has made meaningful inclusive employment opportunities a reality for individuals with disabilities. We are so proud of her and happy she is part of the WVS team.

Last Friday, October 18th, the annual Washington State Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues and Employment (GCDE) Employer Awards took place. The following employers, who partner with WVS, received recognition from the Governor’s office: ? Bellingham Grocery Outlet ? Lowe’s Store #0061 ? PCC Community Markets – Bothell ? ProStar Insurance ? Rehab Without Walls ? Safeway – Mont Vernon ? Skagit Gleaners We are pleased to announce that ProStar Insurance was the recipient of the Small Private Employer of the Year award. Accepting the award was Customer Care and Operations Manager, Anthony Schultz. ProStar is a shining example of an employer dedicated to fostering diversity, inclusivity, and community engagement. We are so proud of our partnerships with all of these outstanding employers and congratulate them on their commitment to inclusive practices. Stay tuned for more exciting GCDE announcements in the days to come.

Join us in celebrating Peggy's 25th anniversary with WVS. Peggy has been instrumental in moving our mission forward. The team at WVS appreciates and acknowledges your contribution. Congratulations Peggy!!!

Last Thursday WVS celebrated Amanda Smith’s graduation from the Leadership Snohomish County signature class of 2024. The event was held at the Tulalip Resort and Casino and included very inspirational and moving speakers. We are proud to have Amanda on our Leadership team and inspired by her dedication to her field. Congratulations Amanda!