Champions in Washington State

"Champions" are people in Washington state that care about others and demonstrate this caring and concern through their visions, energy, and good works. They are people that are making a difference in our small corner of  the world. Often these efforts are directed at helping babies, children, and teens find a better life.

This section will feature individuals, clubs, organizations and community volunteers that prove  that change can happen - sometimes through The ability of  one sometimes through The power of many.

Profiles of Washington Champions:

"A small piece of paper with "No Drugs" scribbled across the front remains taped to a window at the entrance of the Iris Apartments complex. ...Thanks to the efforts initiated by 10th Street residents, the daily drug activity has basically disappeared from Koch’s south Auburn neighborhood." (Neighbors won their war on drugs, Bellevue Eastside Journal, January 26, 1998)

"Would you eat rat poison? Do you smoke? The questions are more related than you might think. ...We are two of 18 Stewart Middle School students trained to present information like that - and how tobacco affects the human body. We teach to fourth and fifth-grade classrooms, traveling in groups of three to four students. ...The most frequent asked question is, ‘Is tobacco found in marijuana and coffee?’ ...The two staff members at Stewart Middle School responsible for this program are Mila Schneider, a sixth-grade teacher, and Joe Raniero, our seventh-grade counselor." (Teaming up against tobacco/18 Tacoma students learn how to persuade peers to stop smoking - or never start, The News Tribune, February 28, 1998)

"The Madison STARS pledge reads: ‘We pledge to remain drug and alcohol free and refrain from the use of violence for the remainder of the school year." ...The STARS core team, or ‘Students Taking a Right Stand,’ not only promotes the pledge within the school, but takes their positive message out into the community. The service club members inform elementary-school students about substance abuse, research the effects of drugs, coordinate food and gift drives for low income-families and perform dramatic presentations for classmates on the dangers of drugs. Team members earn points for every project they participate in. Those with 300 or more points at the end of the year attend a special party at Wild Waves water park in Federal Way. (STARS helps students shine by avoiding drugs, violence, West Seattle Herald, November 26, 1997)