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UW Combined Fund Drive

Category: Give

Join us for the UWCFD’s Third Annual Blanket Making on Feb. 13

Join the UWCFD and the Whole U and volunteer for our Third Annual Blanket Making on Feb. 13 at noon.

This hybrid event is one of our favorites.

  • It’s easy. You only need to know how to use scissors and tie a knot. No craft experience necessary.
  • It’s fun. Get a blanket making kit and invite a friend to join you. Book a conference room and invite the whole team!
  • It makes a difference. These blankets give animals in a shelter that is theirs. It starts in their cubby, stays with them in the shelter and goes with them to their fur-ever home.

This year, we’ll be supporting animals at PAWS. In addition to providing shelter for homeless dogs and cats, PAWS also provides relief for animals from disaster zones (often beyond the state) and rehabilitation for sick, injured or orphaned area wildlife.

We’ll have a short blanket how-to demonstration, a presentation from PAWS and then time for a Q&A. UWCFD staff will be available online to help with our blanket questions.

Sign up today to get a blanket making kit (you can also make a donation here. We have 180 kits available this year and they are first some, first served.

Stash with 2024 volunteer made blanket

Here are the answers to our FAQs.

  1. Can I get my own fleece to make my own blanket? Absolutely. Make more than one if you want!
  2. Can I make more than one blanket? Yes.
  3. Is it ok if I sew the blanket instead? Of course!
  4. This is so much fun. Can you help us put a volunteer project together for our department? Yes. Contact Jolyn Mason for more information.

PAWS accepts pet blankets year-round, and it’s a fun and easy craft project to do with friends or by yourself. No experience? No problem. Here’s how to make a no-sew fleece blanket. Or watch this video, produced by Seattle Humane (charity code: 0314982).

Season of giving: Gifts that give back

Bring more meaning to giving season this year with gifts that give back to charitable causes and efforts.

We get it. You want to give your family and friends meaningful, cool, interesting and eco-friendly gifts this holiday season that won’t end up at a thrift store or in a landfill and were made by adults earning fair wages. It’s not too much to ask.

You might consider a gift with a charitable component—a “gift that gives back.”

Gifts that give back often support nonprofit organizations or causes. Some prompt dollar-for-dollar donations through your purchase, some contribute funds directly to charitable causes, and still others provide employment at fair wages to people who need help getting their foot in the door.

Research shows that intentional gift-giving can both boost your mood and affirm and support your relationships with others.

Whoever you have on your list, there’s a socially responsible option that supports timely causes, such as racial justice organizations, food insecurity funds, and efforts to support wildfire victims.

Of course, the best way to give back is to donate to the causes that are important to you, but buying gifts that give back is a great way to supplement those donations and make your holiday purchases go the extra mile, too. To help you find the perfect present, we’ve compiled various opportunities and gift suggestions.

Gift your time

These small and inexpensive reminders of our togetherness can have a big impact.

Volunteer with others. This summer we shared some on-the-ground and virtual volunteer opportunities and the benefits people derive from volunteering. Grab your ugly sweaters, reindeer antlers and a thermos of hot cocoa and organize a festive holiday volunteer event for your family or friends.

Share your skills. It is easy to overlook our own skills and what we have to offer others. Do you bake delicious cakes? Know how to knit beautiful sweaters? Play trumpet like Miles Davis? Pro photographer? Give a gift of yourself with a coupon for classes or a session with you.

Gift a night out. Stressed out parents everywhere appreciate nothing so much as a chance to get away for a few hours, especially these days. Volunteer to babysit for a few hours and treat them to dinner or brunch or happy hour – even an hour to go for a walk.

Gift your support

Have a cow! Heifer International is the standard in gifting animals to families in need in countries around the world – pigs, cows, goats, chickens, sheep, alpacas – but you can also gift water, stoves or gift cards for the giftee to choose their own area of support. Heifer helps you create an “honor card” to send to your giftee via email, mail, or print at home options. World Vision has a similar program in place as well.

Virtual Holiday Meals. Consider supporting your local food bank or shelter with virtual meals. Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission has a long-standing Thanksgiving meal program, where a donation of just $5.15 provides a holiday meal and care for one person experiencing homelessness.

Or, you can sponsor a boxed meal at Ronald McDonald House Seattle and provide dinner for up to 60+ residents each day.

Support a virtual pet. Your favorite animal lover can’t have all the pets, but you can make a gift to support a local animal shelter in their name. Both Homeward Pet Adoption Center and Seattle Humane offer custom engravable tribute tiles that you can personalize in honor of a special pet or person in your life. Or support the care and feeding of a cat or dog at PAWS with a kennel sponsorship.

Think outside the gift box. Does your mom volunteer at the senior center? Is your sister into live theater? Does your best friend teach literature? Make a gift to a place or program you know they support by searching thousands of charities in the UW Combined Fund Drive. Many organizations provide virtual or actual cards with your gift message.

Gifts of experience

Memberships are a great experience gift and a good way to support nonprofit organizations that might be struggling financially in the wake of the pandemic.

Consider Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle Aquarium, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Seattle Children’s Museum, Washington Trails Association, Sierra Club or MoPop (Museum of Pop Culture).

Give them a pass. People have been getting outside and on the trails in record numbers the last couple years. An annual pass to our National Parks makes a great gift, as does a Washington State Discover Pass.

There’s a museum for everyone! Get passes or a membership for one of the many amazing organizations in the area. On campus, there is the Henry Art Gallery or the Burke Museum. Check out the Northwest African American Museum, National Nordic Museum, Wing Luke Museum, Seattle Art Museum or the Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI). Flight enthusiasts will love the Future of Flight and Flying Heritage Combat Museum. Like to go fast? Head over the Hydroplane &Raceboat Museum or LeMay – America’s Car Museum.

A great option for your theatre-loving friends or family who want to experience Seattle’s lively arts and culture scene, historic theaters like The Paramount Theatre, The 5th Avenue Theatre and The Moore Theatre offer single tickets, flex packages and season passes.

Sports fans can check out a game, set or match at the UW. Soccer fans will enjoy a pair of seats at a Sounders FC or a Seattle Reign match,  watch the four-time WNBA champions, Seattle Storm or one of our hockey teams, the Seattle Kraken or the Seattle Torrent. Kids are always welcome at Aquasox , Rainers and Silvertips games.

 

Meet this year’s fantastic team of Campaign Assistants!

Every year, the UWCFD welcomes a tiny but terrific team of campaign assistants who provide the support our volunteers need to make your annual workplace giving campaign happen.

Join us in welcoming this year’s team!

Kris Jenkins (she/her)

Kris is thrilled to be joining the UWCFD team as a campaign assistant for the 2025 Combined Fund Drive! She brings seven years of government public affairs, project management and communications experience to the campaign, as well as a passion for helping others through advancement work.

While raising a family, she has also been a dedicated volunteer in fundraising and community development roles for Seattle Public Schools. In her free time Kris enjoys camping, thrifting, gardening and exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her family.

Emma Ueda (she/her)

Emma is excited to be a returning campaign assistant for the 2025 campaign! As a UW alum and Seattle native, she is passionate about supporting her community. Since her last campaign, Emma has worked in product management at a digital marketing agency, where she focused on bringing innovative digital solutions to life.

She is eager to apply her skills in product, program management, and marketing to support the many nonprofits involved in this year’s UWCFD.

When she’s not working, you can find Emma out on a trail, hiking around the PNW, or hitting the slopes to go skiing. She also loves to spend a quiet evening at home, trying to cook or bake new recipes, or planning her next travel adventure.

Beza Ayele (she/her)

Beza is happy to return to the University of Washington community as a Campaign Assistant for the UW Combined Fund Drive, building on her UW past as both an undergraduate and graduate alumna. A Seattle native with experience in nonprofits, government, and community engagement, she focuses on facilitation, relationship building, and strategic thinking to create meaningful impact.

Committed to advancing equity and promoting well-being, both professionally and through volunteer work, she looks forward to supporting departments across UW in connecting with the causes they care about and making this year’s campaign a success.

In her free time, she enjoys local cultural and music events, playing Bejeweled, and catching sunsets.

About the UWCFD campaign

The 2025 UWCFD campaign runs through December 31. Discover ways to get involved here, and support our featured nonprofit WestSide Baby!

Help those impacted by floods in Texas

Broken trees and overturned vehicles after the Guadalupe River flash flood in Kerrville, Texas.
Broken trees and overturned vehicles after the Guadalupe River flash flood in Kerrville, Texas. Photo: Ronaldo Schmidt, AFP Via Getty Images

Over the 4th of July weekend, devastating flash floods struck Central Texas leaving more than 100 dead and more missing. More than 850 people have been rescued.

Early Thursday morning, a flood watch was issued. Rivers began rising on Friday, July 4. People near the river were urged to seek higher ground as the Guadalupe River grew from 3 feet to 34 feet in 90 minutes. The floods, among the worst in decades, took place in an area often referred to as Flash Flood Alley and the Gaudalupe River Basin is one of the most dangerous regions for flooding in the US.

As we watch the news and heartbreaking stories of loss, we can’t help but be impacted by the stories we hear. If you want to help, consider making a donation to assist with relief efforts.

Support recovery efforts: Consider making a one-time or ongoing donation through payroll deduction to a UWCFD nonprofit actively working in the communities affected by the floods:

American Red Cross Disaster Relief Services (charity code 1468727): We respond to an emergency every 8 minutes. No one else does this: not the government, not other charities. From small house fires to multi-state natural disasters, the American Red Cross goes wherever we’re needed, so people can have clean water, safe shelter and hot meals when they need them most.

American Red Cross (charity code 0337346): The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers, provides relief to victims of disaster and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.

Americares (charity code 0315518): Americares saves lives and improves health for people affected by poverty or disaster so they can reach their full potential.

International Medical Corps (charity code 1479246): Global humanitarian organization saving lives and building self-reliance by providing vital medical care training healthcare providers rebuilding clinics and improving water sanitation.

World Central Kitchen (charity code 2006691): World Central Kitchen (WCK) is first to the frontlines, providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. By applying a model of quick action, leveraging local resources, and adapting in real time, WCK has served more than 400 million meals.

Houses flooded by the Concho River in San Angelo, Texas
Houses flooded by the Concho River in San Angelo, Texas Photo: Patrick Keely, Reuters
Non-UWCFD organizations helping flood impacted communities:
  • The long-established Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country launched The Kerr County Flood Relief Fund, which it said would support rescue and rebuilding efforts.
  • The Salvation Army’s Kerrville Kroc Center asked for nonperishables, hygiene items, bleach, diapers and other items. (Donations can be dropped off at 855 Hays St. in Kerrville, Texas.)
  • Texsar, a volunteer-based search and rescue organization, has deployed to the flood-hit area.
  • Austin Pets Alive!, which has taken in more than 150 displaced pets from the floods, said it was most in need of monetary donations, after more than 2,000 people responded to its call for people to foster pets. It was also taking pet supplies.

Help those impacted by the fires in California

Devastating wildfires are sweeping through Southern California, causing widespread destruction and displacing tens of thousands.  

House on fire
Burning house- Pacific Palisades neighborhood (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Active fire prevention efforts continue as firefighters battle two of the most destructive wildfires in California history. This fire is one of the top 20 most destructive in California history, based on the number of structures destroyed. More than 56 square miles have burned and several local landmarks have been destroyed.

Fueled by a combination of fierce winds, dry air and dense vegetation, the fires have grown and spread quickly. Compounding the issue is the dense population and the layout of the Los Angeles area. These fires are being described as apocalyptic.

Firefighters are coming from across the United States and from Canada and Mexico to assist with fire suppression efforts. As the fires continue, the number of people are under mandatory evacuation orders fluctuates as does the number under evacuation warnings. The cause of the fires is currently unknown.

It is recommended that residents limit their time outside and wear an N95 mask due to poor air quality. Curfews are in place in impacted areas. Some residents refuse to leave due to fear of looting. As of Jan. 13, 2025, more than 26,000 people have registered for federal assistance under the president’s Major Disaster Declaration. That number is expected to grow.

Related: How to stay safe in wildfire season

This is an active fire situation. The numbers of those impacted continues to climb, the need for recovery assistance will increase. These fires will exacerbate preexisting housing and insurance issues in the region. First responders and residents will be dealing with complications created by the fires for years to come.

Sparks from the fire cause havoc in region. (AP photo Eitenne Laurent)

Here’s how you can help those affected by the wildfires:

Support recovery efforts: Consider making a one-time or ongoing donation through payroll deduction to a UWCFD nonprofit actively working in the communities affected by the fires:

The American Red Cross (charity code 0337346) provides many relief services in the aftermath of disasters, including sheltering and feeding evacuees in shelters, providing mental health support and counseling for families impacted with tips on self-care and how to cope. When it is safe to do so, Red Cross teams will help with damage assessment and begin distributing relief supplies.

If you are interested in volunteering with the Red Cross disaster relief team, you can learn more here.

American Red Cross Disaster Relief Services (charity code 1468727): We respond to an emergency every 8 minutes. No one else does this: not the government, not other charities. From small house fires to multi-state natural disasters, the American Red Cross goes wherever we’re needed, so people can have clean water, safe shelter and hot meals when they need them most.

Americares (charity code 0315518): Americares has offered assistance to more than 70 partners across California and they are prepared to address urgent health needs and provide health services to survivors.

Direct Relief (charity code 0316325) Delivers medical aid to first responders battling the fires as well as displaced residents.

Humane Society Disaster Relief (charity code 0314983): Our Animal Rescue and Response team is prepared to answer the call for any large-scale emergencies, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, earthquakes, utility outages and more.

Pasadena Humane Society : (not in the CFD) is helping with pet evacuations in the Los Angeles area.

The Salvation Army USA (charity code 1478728) The Southern California division is providing food and emotional and spiritual care, and other critical services, to evacuees.

World Central Kitchen (charity code 2006691) has mobilized across the region to provide immediate comforting meals and drinks to first responders and those families and individuals affected by the fires.

World Vison (charity code 0315561) is sending water, food, personal hygiene items, diapers, masks, blankets, air mattresses and toys to assist those impacted by the fires.

Non-UWCFD organizations helping wildfire-affected communities:

Resources for learning and emotional support