TBD: 8th Annual Dinner & Charity Auction
Programs:
Blues Skies for Children is a non-profit organization focused on increasing the hope and raising self-esteem of our homeless, low income and foster children in Whatcom County. Our program, Little Wishes, provides financial sponsorship of enrichment programs such as art, music and dance lessons, summer camp and sports enrollment fees. Blue Skies also fulfills Little Wish requests for bicycles, helmets, computers, instruments, school supplies, shoes, coats, clothing and other essentials.
Blue Skies for Children previously collected clothing, shoes and school supply donations, but soon maximized its capacity to collect these items in advance of a request. To better serve our community and become more efficient as an organization, we have reorganized our approach and reallocated our resources to administering a Voucher program for one time wishes and a Sponsor A Child program for our Little Wishes Enrichment program. These programs will allow us to serve a greater client base over time, and redirect much of our resources from overhead and administration, to directly serving our clients.
Sponsor-A-Child Enrichment Program
Our Enrichment program, continues to sponsor Little Wish requests for ongoing art, music, and dance lessons, karate, taekwondo and swimming lessons, summer camp, tutoring fees, and other enrichment programs.
BSFC requires a written agreement with the provider to offer lessons and/or services at a discounted rate. The provider will be required to submit regular updates on a child’s progress.
To increase our capacity to satisfy Little Wish requests, we have established a Sponsor a Child program. Any individual or organization that would like to sponsor a child’s enrichment program is asked to commit to providing financial sponsorship for a period of 12 months. The individual or organization will remain anonymous, and will receive limited correspondence from the child and regular progress reports throughout the year.
Little Wishes: Voucher Program
Our new Voucher program provides sponsorship of one time Little Wish requests for coats, shoes, clothing, computers, bicycles/helmets, school supplies, and sports enrollment fees.
Blue Skies has established agreements with local and national retail stores that allow us to provide a child with a Voucher. The Voucher will allow the child to make a direct purchase of their approved Little Wish.
Instrument Loaner Program
Our instrument loaner program allows children to participate in their school orchestra or band curriculum with out paying the monthly rental fee. We work with local music stores to provide loaner instruments as well as have had individuals donate gently used instruments to our program.
Please do not hesitate to call our office if you have any questions about our recent changes to our programs – 360.756.6710.
Can you please help keep the wishes flowing?
Blue Skies for Children
1901 N.State St.
Bellingham, WA 98225
PH: (360) 756-6710 FAX: (360) 756-6732
HOURS:
MONDAY - FRIDAY 10am - 4pm
CONTACTS:
Julie N. Guay - Executive Director
Jessie Burton - Office Manager
Pamela Weyland - Administrative Coordinator
Gladys Hyatt - Board President
Blue Skies for Children is a Non Profit 501 (c) 3 Corporation
