United Way honors those dedicated to helping others

TULALIP — United Way of Snohomish County on Wednesday recognized people who have spent years helping others. Ed Petersen, who cofounded Housing Hope a quarter-century ago, was among honorees at United Way’s annual Spirit of Snohomish County Breakfast.

Petersen, 67, received the Spirit of Snohomish County Reeves/Sievers’ Founders Award, which the local United Way gives annually to honor a lifetime of service and philanthropy.

The award is named for J.A. Reeves and Roy Sievers, who in 1940 formed the Everett Community Chest. That organization preceded United Way of Snohomish County.

“I’ve always seen housing as the fundamental building block for thriving families. The next most important agenda is education,” Petersen said after Wednesday’s breakfast at the Tulalip Resort Casino.

Petersen is executive director of Housing Hope. The nonprofit organization provides low-income housing and other programs in Snohomish County. He is also an Everett School Board member. After almost eight years, his term on the board will end in December. His latest mission is HopeWorks, which is linked to Housing Hope and focuses on employment.

Introducing Petersen, Everett Community College President David Beyer, chairman of United Way’s board of directors, said the Reeves/Sievers award “is our version of a lifetime achievement award.”

Petersen, in a video shown at the breakfast, said that as an immigrant “I grew up knowing I was different.” He was under age 2 in 1948 when his parents moved to Everett from Norway, which then was a poor country. His seaman father spoke English, but his mother did not.

After graduating from Everett High School, Petersen attended Pacific Lutheran University and the University of Pennsylvania. “I’m a Lute, a Quaker and a Seagull,” he said.

Housing Hope was born when, in the 1980s, Petersen and others began seeing families with children among the homeless.

With Housing Hope families involved in more than a dozen school districts, Petersen said serving on the Everett School Board has helped him better understand the workings of local education. “And I had been the beneficiary of a wonderful education in Everett, as had my three daughters,” he said.

The keynote speaker Wednesday was Donna Beegle. Today in Everett she will present a sold-out workshop called “Poverty 101,” sponsored by United Way of Snohomish County. A child of migrant workers who was once homeless, Beegle has a doctoral degree and heads a training and consulting company, Communication Across Barriers, aimed at fighting poverty.

“I was privileged to have mentors come into my life,” Beegle said Wednesday. “It is people to people.”

These other award winners were announced at the breakfast:

Spirit of Snohomish County Labor Award: Chris Kelly.

A letter carrier at the Lynnwood Post Office, Kelly has been a driving force behind the annual Letter Carriers Food Drive for a decade. The May event is the largest one-day food collection event in Snohomish County. The award recognizes a union member who shows outstanding leadership.

Spirit of Snohomish County Adult Award: Peggy Kennedy.

Kennedy, 85, cofounded the Edmonds Food Bank more than 30 years ago. An outreach ministry of Edmonds United Methodist Church, the food bank began serving 34 families per week. It now has 110 volunteers and helps at least 500 families weekly. The award is given to someone who works or volunteers in human services.

Spirit of Snohomish County Youth Award: Tori Ly.

A 2013 graduate of Edmonds-Woodway High School, Ly has served for several years on the United Way of Snohomish County Kids Matter Vision Council. She has worked with adult volunteers reviewing grant proposals. Because Wednesday was Ly’s first day of classes at the University of Washington, her award was accepted by her parents, Yen Truong and Chau Ly.

Spirit of Snohomish County Community Partner Award: Philips Healthcare.

Randy Hamlin, vice president of research and development at Philips Healthcare, accepted the award recognizing a corporation or organization that exemplifies a commitment to building strong communities. Philips Healthcare in Bothell consistently runs one of the county’s largest United Way campaigns. Employees help with the agency’s annual Days of Caring and volunteer throughout the year. This year, a company goal is to increase employee volunteer hours by 20 percent.

Dennis Smith, president and CEO of United Way of Snohomish County, announced an added award Wednesday. The agency honored Caren Skube, who retired from the Boeing Co. after 36 years. Skube was a liaison with the Boeing Employees Community Fund, which Smith called “the world’s largest employee-run and funded foundation.”

Through the years, the fund has given millions of dollars to United Way and other nonprofit groups.

Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460; jmuhlstein@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

The rezoned property, seen here from the Hillside Vista luxury development, is surrounded on two sides by modern neighborhoods Monday, March 25, 2024, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Despite petition, Lake Stevens OKs rezone for new 96-home development

The change faced resistance from some residents, who worried about the effects of more density in the neighborhood.

Rep. Suzan DelBene, left, introduces Xichitl Torres Small, center, Undersecretary for Rural Development with the U.S. Department of Agriculture during a talk at Thomas Family Farms on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Under new federal program, Washingtonians can file taxes for free

At a press conference Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene called the Direct File program safe, easy and secure.

Former Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy Jeremie Zeller appears in court for sentencing on multiple counts of misdemeanor theft Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ex-sheriff’s deputy sentenced to 1 week of jail time for hardware theft

Jeremie Zeller, 47, stole merchandise from Home Depot in south Everett, where he worked overtime as a security guard.

Everett
11 months later, Lake Stevens man charged in fatal Casino Road shooting

Malik Fulson is accused of shooting Joseph Haderlie to death in the parking lot at the Crystal Springs Apartments last April.

T.J. Peters testifies during the murder trial of Alan Dean at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Bothell cold case trial now in jury’s hands

In court this week, the ex-boyfriend of Melissa Lee denied any role in her death. The defendant, Alan Dean, didn’t testify.

A speed camera facing west along 220th Street Southwest on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Washington law will allow traffic cams on more city, county roads

The move, led by a Snohomish County Democrat, comes as roadway deaths in the state have hit historic highs.

Mrs. Hildenbrand runs through a spelling exercise with her first grade class on the classroom’s Boxlight interactive display board funded by a pervious tech levy on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lakewood School District’s new levy pitch: This time, it won’t raise taxes

After two levies failed, the district went back to the drawing board, with one levy that would increase taxes and another that would not.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.