On Friday, the Seahawks visited SafeFutures Youth Center in Seattle and the Domestic Abuse Women’s Network in Tukwila for what the organizations believed to be a final site visit but instead the Seahawks surprised each with a $12K donation. The donation will be used to create teen wellness spaces as part of the Seahawks Mental Health Matters platform. In partnership with Safeway, each wellness center will also receive nutrition hubs to keep the areas stocked with healthy snacks.
Walking through the doors of SafeFutures Youth Center, there is something unique about the community space. This is thanks to program manager, Unique Hebert, who brings an infectious, heartwarming energy to creating a welcoming environment for the teens visiting SafeFutures.
She knows the space could be better utilized to provide a comfortable area for teens to unwind after school.
“People walk-in and say, ‘This is a great space to hold a meeting,’ and that’s not want you want,” Unique said.
Further South in Tukwila at the Domestic Abuse Women’s Network (DAWN), a non-profit offering domestic violence institute training, Civil Society Organization advocacy, mobile advocacy, immigrant advocacy, campus prevention, and mental health services, their community saw a similar need to create an area where teens felt safe and could decompress.
Staff at DAWN said, “For youth and adults in our shelter, the wellness room will be a place to rebuild autonomy, provide a healthy coping outlet, and invest in their long-term resilience. Most of our teens/adults spend their days caring for others. This space gives them something that is just for them. For those experiencing DV-related PTSD symptoms, accessible movement opportunities are a lifeline and survivors who have access to structured physical activity show better emotional regulation, lower rates of crisis-driven behaviors, and teens show higher school engagement.”
Launching these wellness hubs marked the 50th event as part of the Seahawks Impacting 50 Communities initiative presented by Safeway, which began earlier this year to celebrate the Seahawks 50th season and create a lasting impact in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
“Celebrating 50 seasons with our Impacting 50 Communities initiative has allowed the organization to reach more communities than ever domestically and internationally,” said Mario Bailey, vice president of community engagement and legends. “We are grateful for Safeway’s partnership and being a true community advocate in all the Seahawks efforts. Together, we reached more than 50,000 individuals and donated $1M in grants and resources to schools, youth football teams and non-profit organizations.”
To continue supporting mental health efforts throughout the community, the Seahawks have established a Mental Health Matters Grant to assist others in their journey to creating safe spaces in community centers, shelters and more. Thanks to support from the Vitalogy Foundation, the Mental Health Matters grant funding will be matched to provide access to underserved communities in the Pacific Northwest. The Vitalogy Foundation was founded by Seattle music icon, Pearl Jam, and seeks to support opportunities that value people’s minds, bodies, and souls.
Applications for the grants will close on Monday, January 12. Interested organizations can apply here.