Welcome to CONNECTIONS, YouthCare’s new monthly newsletter! We’re excited to launch this space to share the inspiring work and many great things happening across our organization each month.

I’m Marty Hartman, honored to serve as Interim CEO with an experienced transition team: Alison Dean, William Wiggins, Jackie Liao, Rob Stewart, and Kristi Tollner. I bring over two decades of experience in nonprofit leadership and homeless services, including my time at Mary’s Place, and together we are grateful to join YouthCare during this important time. You can learn more about the team by clicking here.

Our priority is to stabilize the organization, both operationally and financially. We are doing this by listening to youth and young adults, staff, and community stakeholders to understand what makes YouthCare its very best. 

What we hear will guide recommendations that strengthen our financial foundation, enhance organizational stability, and protect the programs and services that make YouthCare a vital resource for young people in our community. I will keep you updated on our plans and progress as we work together to ensure YouthCare continues to serve youth who need us most.

I invite you to reach out to me with questions, ideas, or a time to connect at marty.hartman@youthcare.org.

Commercial Real Estate Graduates

Join us in celebrating the remarkable achievements of our latest talented cohort of On the Rise Commercial Real Estate (CRE) graduates; a group of amazing youth who committed to a transformative four-month journey through Porter and YouthCare’s On the Rise program. This special event marks the culmination of months of hands-on learning in design, project management, and the trades.

Porter is one of our workforce partners who assists us by providing facilitators and tour sites for our CRE clients. They also host a class once a week at The Shop by Porter and assist with connecting clients with internships all during the cohort. They are a commercial project company that sources furniture and décor for businesses creating environments and experiences that serve, connect, and inspire.

Click here to learn more about Porter. Click here to learn more about our workforce development programs.

Thank You Starbucks and The Seattle Storm

“Rebounds for Housing” is a partnership between the Seattle Storm, Starbucks, and YouthCare. For every rebound the Storm made during the season, Starbucks donated money to YouthCare, and in 2025, the partnership generated $10,000 for YouthCare from 1,361 rebounds. Interim CEO Marty Hartman was there to accept the check during the Storm’s final game of the season.

Volunteers Are the Backbone of Our Organization

Volunteers are the indispensable backbone of any non-profit organization, and we couldn’t be more grateful to all of the volunteers that support us each and every year. Throughout the year, we will be highlighting our volunteers who have contributed their time, specialized skills, and passion to ensure our core programs run smoothly, enabling us to continue to focus on our mission.

Thank you to the volunteers who came out to help clean our sites from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Your day of service made a real difference!

You’re Invited to a Very Special Event

Join us on Wednesday, December 3, for a special event that includes light bites, beverages, and special guest speakers. This is a chance for you to meet and mingle with YouthCare’s leadership and transition teams to learn more about our mission-aligned plans for the future, while supporting young people who are experiencing homelessness. To learn more, visit our events page at Together We Rise – YouthCare.

Ways to Get Involved 

Are you interested in getting involved with YouthCare? We have an array of ways that you can get involved, from serving meals at our Orion Center to organizing in-kind donations. Visit our website to learn more or reach out to our volunteer department HERE.