Everyone Gives

On February 22, 2012, CISC will participate in a revolutionary eight-day global giving campaign spanning more than 60 countries around the world. “Everyone Gives” promises to be the most extensive and inclusive global giving event ever attempted, benefitting more than 200 non-profits around the globe.

“This is an easy way for our supporters to donate to CISC and to tell their friends and family about why CISC is important to them,” says Alaric Bien, Executive Director. Donating is simple and secure, and one hundred percent of all donations made through Everyone Gives go directly to the non-profit selected by the donor.

Participants make a small donation, as little as $5, to CISC through the Everyone Gives website at www.everyonegives.org and then tap into their social networks via email, Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook to invite friends, co-workers, clients and family to support CISC. “I think of it as a giving tree,” explains Doug Frye, President of Colliers International and a founding sponsor of Everyone Gives. “One donation becomes five, five becomes 25 and 25 can become hundreds. And you can track your giving tree and your friends’ giving trees on the Everyone Gives website.“

Everyone Gives grew from a seed planted by the leaders at Colliers International, one of the world’s largest commercial real estate firms. The idea germinated and grew through collaboration with other like-minded organizations, seeking to create sustainable good. Joining Colliers International and CISC together with hundreds of charities around the world.

Jiao Liu Community Engagement

Yesterday, CISC hosted a viewing party for US Citizenship and Immigration Services' Jiao Liu web stream. Over 50 people attended and staff from the local USCIS office answered questions in Mandarin and Cantonese for over an hour after the web stream concluded.

A Civics and Citizenship Toolkit was awarded to the eldest student there, who was 84 years young. And everyone appreciated the opportunity to talk to USCIS in their native langauge.

仁人家屬照顧者支援計劃﹕給家屬照顧者的好消息

新的一年祝各位新年快樂！ 希望大家有一個健康及幸福的2012年。有一好消息要與您們分享，仁人家屬照顧者計劃的工作人員成為了認證的健康舞步教師。到底什麼是「健康舞步」？

It's fun and easy!

「健康舞步」(Healthy-Steps) 是一種附有治療作用並配以輕鬆愉快音樂的簡單運動。此運動適合任何年齡的長者，不論是否行動不便或患有長期病患。此運動對整體健康均有幫助。特別是改善身體的平衡和增加身體的活動範圍。研究証明此運動有助改善癌症病人或其他長期病患者的整體健康狀況。(詳情請瀏覽以下網址﹕http://www.gohealthysteps.com/)

仁人家屬照顧者計劃將會在未來的數月舉辨一個健康舞步班給我們的照顧者(詳情請向職員查詢)，您還可以帶同患者一同參加此活動。假如他們不能出席的話，你常常能夠在舞步班完結後跟患者分享班上所學的一切，這樣，您及所愛的家人健康便得以改善。

For young and old alike

雖然這個舞步班在醫院及社區中心廣泛舉行，但教授的語言主要為英語及需要收費的，家屬照顧者支援計劃是唯一有合資格的健康舞步導師以中文教授！名額有限及必須預先登記。如有意參加者，請盡快致電206.624.5633 內綫4300 江嘉賢小姐及 內綫4137 林碧霞小姐登記預留位置。

We Start 'Em Young!

Our youngest walkathon fundraiser this year is 6 year old Alvin, shown here with his parents Hoi Cheung and Janice. Mom works at CISC as an Elderly Information and Assistance Specialist in Seattle and on the Eastside. We're all very proud of Alvin and all he has done to help other kids and families making the transition to a new life in America. Thanks Alvin!!

Happy Year of the Dragon!

A beautiful day, a great turn out, fun, food and prizes! Thanks to all who came out to support CISC!

Parent Recognition

Every quarter, our after school program holds a Family Night, usually showcasing the students' accomplishments for parents, teachers and relatives. This month, however, we decided to do something a little different and ask the parents to talk about their own kids.

As many of you know, Asian parents don't often compliment their children. In fact, many times the only interactions they have with their kids is to "encourage" them on to do better. As part of the introduction to American culture, CISC worked with parents to show them how encouragement, praise and positive reinforcement can be useful tools in raising their children in the US.

The kids ate it up! Most had never heard their parents say anything good about them in public before. For the parents, this was a huge learning opportunity, both in terms of acculturation, as well as in learning new and useful parenting skills and strategies.

Kudos to all our parents and our outstanding students!

Caregiver Appreciation

CISC salutes the untiring efforts of our family caregivers. Caring for a loved one 24/7 is a labor of love, but also a major stressor for those without outside support. CISC's Family Caregiver Program helps provide some of this support through education (like how to move someone safely from bed to wheelchair, how to ensure med compliance), respite services, and counseling.

CISC also provides social outlets like last week's appreciation party for caregivers who are all too often tied to the home, with no opportunity to engage with others. Exercise groups, peer support, and just plain socializing helps ease the stress of a full time, unpaid job done out of love.

Food doesn't hurt either.