Building from Tijuana to Tacoma

Recently when cleaning up our basement, I came across some boxes at home that contained memorabilia and pictures that we’ve accumulated over the years and immediately let go of any hopes of accomplishing the task that I had set out to achieve. 

It was fun to share memories with my kids that included some gems like a medal from my first Hood to Coast race in 2001 and my first box of business cards that contained an uplifting message from Kerry Tymchuk, someone who has become one of my closest friends over the past 20 years.

But one of the items that caught my attention was an information packet from my first service trip with Habitat for Humanity from the summer of 1993 (see the header image). The trip was coordinated through my youth group from Resurrection Lutheran Church in northeast Portland and this trip was especially significant as my mom, Amy, was one of the leaders. On our way there, with my mom driving a van full of teenagers somewhere in central California, one of the tires blew and she skillfully got us over to the shoulder of the freeway. And while that event was certainly memorable, thankfully we made it to our destination, Tijuana, Mexico, where we created more impactful memories that have stuck with me 28 years later.

That trip provided me the opportunity to work alongside some of the future homeowners who were contributing sweat equity toward their new homes and to learn about the Habitat model. In addition to their patience with my still-developing mastery of the Spanish language, and that one time I might have spilled a wheelbarrow of cement, the thing that still amazes me 28 years later is the pride those homeowners took in their work and in their community, and it has been something that has drawn me to supporting Habitat throughout my life and my career ever since.

Earlier this week, Regence BlueShield served as the Presenting Sponsor of the 2021 Changing Lives Lunch-in benefitting Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity, and it was my honor to represent our company and our employees during the program. Regence has deep ties to the city of Tacoma and we are so proud to still be an integral part of the city and region. We are one of the county’s largest employers, with more than 500 employees, and we are committed to the health of this community.

Regence’s long-standing partnership with Habitat aligns with our commitment to address social determinants of health, like affordable housing, that have a strong influence on well-being. We currently support Habitat for Humanity affiliates across Washington state, including Seattle-King Co, Tacoma/Pierce Co., Skagit and Spokane, to help those in need.

Since 2014, Regence BlueShield has given $425,000 in funding and countless volunteer hours to support vital programs that positively impact the health and well-being of communities we serve. And, we don’t just provide financial support. Since 2018, Regence has had 40 employees volunteer nearly 500 hours to help families build homes and that’s just in Pierce County.

Even before the recent effects of the pandemic, we knew that access to stable, affordable housing and food insecurity were key factors to the overall health of a community. According to a report from the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department: “Housing is an important social determinant of physical and mental health. Access to affordable housing enables families to spend more on healthy food and health care, which can improve health outcomes…High cost of housing refers to the percent of people that live in renter-occupied housing units or owner-occupied housing units with a mortgage and pay 30% or more of their household income on housing costs. Between 2010 and 2014, 39.5% of Pierce County residents had high housing costs, compared to 36.4% of Washington state residents.”

As we have all seen, the pandemic and events of 2020 have magnified the strain on our infrastructure and exposed families and communities in need. We were proud to support the mission and impact of Habitat for Humanity this past week and I ask you to join us. 

I know I can’t wait to be back out on a build site, definitely in Tacoma, but maybe even in Tijuana! But in the meantime, Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity is still seeking gifts to meet its fundraising goal from this week’s luncheon and you can go here to donate today.