Our new address
as of August 1, 2018 is
1311 4th Ave E, Olympia, WA 98506
Author Archive: El Sanchez
The 2018 Gayla Featured Performer: Mary Lambert!
Introducing Pizza Klatch’s 2018 Slice of the Good Life Gayla feature performer: Mary Lambert
Mary Lambert is a two-time Grammy nominee, singer, songwriter, poet, activist and author, She is especially known for writing the chorus for Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ marriage-equality anthem “Same Love”. Lambert wrote from her vantage point of being both a Christian and a lesbian.
“She is just shimmering – each song is performing with emotion, performance and raw honesty. It’s quite rare to come across something this real, and when we do, it’s an absolute pleasure.”
Renowned for Sound by Helena Ho
Videos of Mary:
Secrets https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqqqV50zaAc
She Keeps Me Warm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhqH-r7Xj0E
MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS – SAME LOVE feat. MARY LAMBERT (OFFICIAL VIDEO) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlVBg7_08n0
Know your Name https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsc01-0V_QU
Hang Out with You https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Rz2-thDmuw
Tickets Available at www.washingtoncenter.org
Or Call the Washington Center for the Performing Arts Ticket Line at 360 753-8586
The First 125 Tickets Sold using the PROMO CODE:
pizza
gets $10 off the ticket price.
Adult, Student and Senior Prices Available.
Pizza Klatch is an option for Combined Fund Drive participants
The Washington State Combined Fund Drive (CFD) is Washington State’s workplace giving program for active and retired public employees. State and higher education employees are invited to give to the charity of their choice through payroll contribution and agency fundraising events.
For more than 30 years, Washington State has proven to be one of the most giving states in the nation. Each year, over 15,000 active and retired public employees pledge more than $5 million to over 1,700 local, national and global charities. That number is good enough to place Washington State third in the nation amongst state employee giving programs, an incredible feat given the fact that our great state is 13th in overall population.
CFD participants can contribute to Pizza Klatch. Our CFD number is 1481491.
A state employee can make a contribution safely and easily through the CFD’s online system, or with a paper contribution form in any of the following ways:
Monthly Contribution
A recurring amount will be taken out of each paycheck until the employee chooses to stop.
One-time contribution
A single donation is collected and distributed to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Limited Time contribution
Donations will be taken out of each paycheck for a set amount of time as defined by the employee.
Personal check
The Combined Fund Drive campaign runs annually from the beginning of October to the end of December and is administered in over 250 different agencies and higher education institutions.
County Committees also put together events around the state that help bring donations to the charities of the CFD.
To find out more about the Washington State Combined Fund Drive, see their home page.
Pizza Klatch is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Pizza Klatch Hires New Executive Director
Pizza Klatch is excited to announce the selection of our new Executive Director, Rosalinda Noriega. Board President Marissa Rathbone says, “I believe Rosalinda is the ideal candidate to lead Pizza Klatch into the future based on her professional experience, personal passion for positive social change, and ability to be a thoughtful and responsive leader.”
For eleven years, Rosalinda served as founding director for Partners in Prevention Education (PiPE). PiPE is a local non-profit dedicated to serving marginalized youth who are victims of various forms of violence including child abuse, domestic violence, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and human trafficking. In this role, Rosalinda was responsible for creating and overseeing the implementation of all aspects of internal organization and infrastructure including program and policy development, human resources/personnel, budget and fiscal management, contract administration, managing day-to-day operations, outreach, and grant writing. In addition to her administrative duties, she continued to provide one-on-one advocacy to victims of violence; develop and provide professional development training; and provide community education on the cycles of violence, homelessness, and the impacts of trauma.
Rosalinda has been a longtime supporter and advocate for Pizza Klatches’ work. As the ED of PiPE, Rosalinda spearheaded organizational efforts to provide financial and in-kind support to Pizza Klatch by incorporating some of PK’s expenses into PiPE’s budget and statement of work in contracts awarded by the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy. As a result, PiPE contributed resources to support the printing of facilitator training materials, as well as to dedicate staff resources to contribute to annual facilitator training and to act as regular guest speakers for various PK groups. For the past twenty-three years advocating on behalf of victims/survivors of violence (LGBTQ, youth, tribal and homeless communities), Rosalinda believes in the Golden Rule. We believe strongly that her skills, experience, and compassionate heart will be paramount to the future success of our organization.
Rosalinda will start her work with Pizza Klatch on Monday, August 21st. For several weeks, she will be working with outgoing Executive Director Erin Honseler, to ensure a smooth transition. Pizza Klatch is grateful to both of these talented and dedicated individuals for lending us their passion and energy. Please join us in thanking Erin Honseler for her work in leading Pizza Klatch over the last fifteen months and in welcoming Rosalinda Noriega to her new post.
Give Big on Giving Tuesday!
Giving Tuesday is right around the corner --- but what does it all mean?
If you celebrate holidays in December, and even if you don't, you are likely aware of the shopping catastrophes in malls and stores nation-wide. What used to be consolidated into one day: Black Friday, has now reached back to Thanksgiving Day, which is turning into a HUGE shopping day for many big-box stores. Thanksgiving is still followed by Black Friday where many attempt to fight through crowds to get the best deals. Shopping continues over the weekend and is followed by Cyber Monday, where folks may even sleep at their laptops in order to be the first to click "buy". Although shopping trends continue to change, we're also seeing a large spike in more people "Opting Out" of the Holiday craze.
Whether you are a shopper or not, there is still an important opportunity for you that arrives on December 1, 2015, to pull out your wallet.
This year, make sure you add Giving Tuesday on your calendar - a day where you are encouraged to give back by donating to local charities and nonprofits!
We have a few generous donors who have offered to match up to $10,000 of donations given on this day, so your gift will get even more mileage!
It's easy, you are just a few clicks away from giving a secure online donation for Giving Tuesday and providing pizza and support to LGBTQ+ teens. You can give at www.pizzaklatch.org/givingtuesday.
Thank you!
Jessica McKimmie
Executive Director (far left in the photo above from Capital City Pride '15)
Pizza Klatch launches at Tenino and South Sound!
As we kick off Pizza Klatch for the 2015-16 school year, we'll be serving more pizza and support in Thurston County schools. We are excited to announce new partnerships with Tenino High School and South Sound High School, bringing confidential support and resources to 30 new LGBTQ+ youth and allies every week.
South Sound is a small alternative high school in Lacey that has been eagerly anticipating their chance to start Pizza Klatch. Old School Pizzaria is providing discounted pizza to the South Sound group each week.
"The first time I was late with the pizza, one of the students said, I don't really care if you bring lunch, I'm just glad you're here," said Bryan Butler, volunteer facilitator at South Sound High School. "That one actually stopped me up short."
Shawn Harris, South Sound's licensed social worker and school counselor added, "The students have bonded through the group and have become great supports for one another. Pizza Klatch is definitely something I look forward to each week!"
Thirty minutes away, south of Yelm highway, volunteers April Spaulding and JennyAnn Wheeler bring Pizza Time pizza in a hot bag from downtown Olympia to Tenino High School. April, a 2003 alumni of Tenino High recalls her high school experience, "The only person in high school that was out got made fun of and bullied a lot in the locker room. I didn't see anything other than heterosexual monogamous relationships. If there had been a Pizza Klatch when I was younger, it may have given me the space to figure things out sooner."
Dave Chappell, Principal of THS, has been pleased with the addition of Pizza Klatch to their support services at school. "Our goal at Tenino High School is to provide a safe, secure learning environment for ALL our students, including LGBTQ youth. Pizza Klatch provides a safe, supportive and caring environment where students who may feel disconnected and alone can just be themselves," Chappell said.
Pizza Klatch was made possible at THS with funding and support from the Bucoda-Tenino Healthy Action Team (B-THAT), a coalition of TOGETHER!. The coalition began discussions about Pizza Klatch last November and administered a survey in the Spring to gauge interest, support and/or opposition of Pizza Klatch. The survey results showed overwhelming support from students and staff, and the coalition voted to include Pizza Klatch as one of their projects this year. Stacia Wasmundt, Community Coordinator of B-THAT said, "Some of the goals of the B-THAT coalition are to increase safe and healthy opportunities for youth, build relationships and promote positive healthy futures, which aligns nicely with the mission of Pizza Klatch. So far, it seems like the students are loving not only the free pizza, but the ability to have a safe place to go every week and find support with their peers and the facilitators.” Michael VanBuskirk, counselor at THS, and Greg Meyers from True North Student Assistance and Services, ESD 113 were also integral to getting Pizza Klatch started at THS.
“I am excited to see that Pizza Klatch has had a strong student presence from the start. I introduced myself on the first day and both groups of students were extremely grateful and thanked us for having this
group available at their school." Wasmundt added.
TOGETHER! also provides funding for Rainier high school, who has an average of 20 student attendees so far this year (in a school of 300). It is through community partnerships like that between Pizza Klatch and TOGETHER! that allows Pizza Klatch to continue to reach students at new schools each year.
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