Allyson Brown wasn’t sure if she would ever return to Bainbridge Island.
She previously handled community engagement and marketing for IslandWood, but when a health crisis hit her family, she left her job, and the family moved to Seattle to be closer with loved ones.
But after passing through the difficult time, Brown’s next move was unclear.
“We weren’t sure if we were going to be back on the island at all,” Brown said. “But the first weekend back I was looking through the Review and saw the One Call for All executive director position announcement.”
The path was becoming more clear, and it lead back to Bainbridge.
After asking a few questions and throwing her hat in the ring, she was hired as One Call’s new executive director.
Brown now spends her days managing incoming donations, as well as the relationships between the nonprofits they go to.
One Call for All is Bainbridge Island’s one-stop shopping for charity donations. The organization makes it possible to direct donations to over 80 nonprofits that benefit island families.
One Call’s annual fundraiser is up and running, and it’s the easiest way to give during the giving season.
Every island address is sent a red envelope, now widely associated with the One Call campaign. Through the envelope, islanders can choose which cause they want to donate to.
“Each island organization part of One Call are listed. A family can take the form and decide where they want to donate gifts,” Brown said. “One hundred percent of those proceeds go to that organization.”
One Call doesn’t take a cut. But the red envelope isn’t the only way to donate. Islanders can find donation forms at Columbia Bank on the island or at the Bainbridge Public Library. Donations can also be made online at www.onecallforall.org.
Last year, One Call for All was able to raise just over $1 million for island causes.
Brown says the organization is on track to match that number this year. By the first week of November, Brown said they have raised just over $239,000 from approximately 600 donors.
