Jubilee Women’s Center, a local Capitol Hill non-profit which provides short- and long-term community housing and support services for homeless and low-income women, has announced their participation in the 2012 GiveBIG mega-fundraiser sponsored by The Seattle Foundation. The event, held on May 2, 2012, is a one-day, online charitable giving event to inspire people to give generously to nonprofit organizations that make the Seattle region a healthier and more vital place to live.

This is the second annual GiveBIG event after huge online involvement last year, and The Seattle Foundation hopes this year’s event will be even larger than the last. Each donation made to nonprofit organizations profiled on The Seattle Foundation’s website on May 2, 2012 will receive a portion of the matching funds (or “stretch”) pool. Throughout GiveBIG, donors will also be chosen at random to have an additional $1,000 given to the charity of their choice.  Additionally, donors will be eligible to win prices such as airline tickets, gift cards, and more!

While there are many deserving donor recipients on The Seattle Foundation’s page, Jubilee has seen a 67% increase in applicants, many whom are older and have a higher education yet were economically devastated and left without housing. Despite these challenges, Jubilee has continued to make a lasting and positive change in these women’s lives. In 2011, 83% of jubilee residents made a successful transition into independent living. Through technology and life skills training, 75% percent of Jubilee residents seeking employment found jobs; 92% of the women who could increase their income did so, on average doubling their income. Jubilee’s highest strategic priority is to deepen their ability to respond to the needs of the women living at Jubilee, alumnae and other homeless and low-income women.

Don’t forget to participate in GiveBIG 2012 on May 2 and consider donating to a worthy, local cause.  Jubilee plans to use any money raised to fund additional programming in care management, technology training, and life skills to better our community and the lives of homeless women in Seattle.