When Level Up Home reached out to Communiqué PR for some help with the launch of its organization, the answer was a resounding “Yes.” Working for an organization with such an important cause was easy to do.
Level Up Home is a new nonprofit organization whose mission is to support youth ages 18-24 who are at-risk or have aged out of the foster-care system and need housing to finish earning their high school diplomas. The nonprofit provides these young adults with consistent housing, meals and business partnerships that empower them to finish high school and implement a self-development plan around education, career and life skills. The organization has business partners who offer career and trade exploration opportunities such as mentorship programs, job shadowing, internships and full-time employment.
To mark the official launch of Level Up Home, the organization opened its first home in Edmonds, Wash., for this underserved and vulnerable young adult population. To celebrate, Edmonds’ mayor and the Edmonds Chamber of commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, July 26, 2019, at the home in Edmonds.
Frank Shankwitz, one of the supporters of Level Up Home and the creator and a founder of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, was a guest of honor at this event. After his success with Make-A-Wish, Shankwitz turned his attention to two other causes he cares deeply about: foster youth and U.S. veterans. He is chairman of Cause Equity, an organization that buys housing and leases it at below-market rates to nonprofit organizations such as Level Up Seattle and U.S. Vets.
Level Up Home is currently receiving referrals for youth who can potentially benefit from the nonprofit’s services, a process that began on Aug. 15. The organization is working with the Department of Children and Young Families (formerly DSHS), YouthNet, Friends of Youth, Tree House, various school district liaisons and high school athletics coaches to help facilitate connections with young adults who need stable housing. Initially, the home will be occupied by 10 young adults and the organization’s program director.
Communiqué PR had the opportunity to work with the Edmonds Beacon to secure media coverage of the launch. You can read the full article here: Seattle nonprofit opens home for youth locally.
We are thrilled to have supported this impressive nonprofit organization as it opened its doors to youth in need. We look forward to watching Level Up Home thrive!