Our Story

Plan USA
Their vision is of a world in which all children realize their full potential in societies that respect people's rights and dignity.

Their mission is to strive to achieve lasting improvements in the quality of life of deprived children in developing countries through a process that unites people across cultures and adds meaning and value to their lives by: enabling deprived children, their families, and their communities to meet their basic needs and to increase their ability to participate in and benefit from their societies; fostering relationships to increase understanding and unity among people of different cultures and countries; promoting children's rights and the interests of the world's children.

Vashon Maury Island Land Trust
The mission of the Land Trust is to preserve natural ecosystems and the rural character of Vashon Maury Island. In a sense, that includes most of the island. But, in reality, since funds are scarce, VMILT has focused on the most critical habitat areas and unique ecosystems. The Land Trust was founded to organize the purchase of the Whispering Firs Bog near the Episcopal Church. It is a fragile and special place unlike any other on the island. Likewise, the blue heron rookery on Maury, Bill Fisher's pond on Bank Road, the Christensen Creek pond, Lost Lake, and the Shinglemill Creek drainage areas are all natural areas with special ecological significance. They are all major ponds or riparian areas, or they have some special habitat quality. While maintaining undeveloped open space and nice forested areas are important goals, the highest marks in VMILT's ranking system are given for areas that help maintain biological diversity.