Annual Report 2024-25
July 2024 - June 2025
A Message From Strive Northwest’s President & CEO, Dena Strong
The 2024–2025 fiscal year marked a defining moment for our organization. After 60 years of service–and more than two decades as Innovative Services NW–we became Strive Northwest, a name that reflects who we are today and where we are headed.
Our programs, services, and impact have grown alongside our community, and our identity needed to grow with them. This rebrand was a company-wide effort, shaped by staff across programs who shared their voices, experiences, and insight. Together, we created an identity rooted in rising above challenges, reaching beyond expectations, and building a future where our clients and community can thrive.
While this year brought change, it also brought meaningful impact.
Across early learning, pediatric therapy and early intervention, and employment services, our teams supported hundreds of children, families, and individuals navigating systems that can be complex and overwhelming. Whether helping families access high-quality early education, supporting developmental progress during critical early years, or assisting adults in building skills and pathways toward employment and independence, our work focused on making services more accessible, more connected, and more human.
Thank you to our staff, partners, families, clients, and supporters for being part of this journey. Together, we are striving toward a stronger, more inclusive future.
Dena Strong
President & CEO
Executive Staff & Board Members
Executive Staff
Dena Strong, President & CEO
Melody Partridge, Vice President
Beth Markell, Vice President of Pediatric Therapy
Susan Veneruso, Chief Operating Officer
Board of Directors
Darcey Reed, Chair
Taylor Vilhauer, Vice-Chair
Ryan Hart, Treasure & Past Chair
Rhonda Buck, Secretary
Aimee Walter, Board Member
Liz Marquez, Board Member
Armida Nunez, Board Member
Emily Yoder, Board Member
Jaymey Sweeney, Board Member
Lauren Shimer, Board Member
Strive Northwest's Services
Early Learning
Early learning is about giving children a strong start and supporting families during some of their busiest and most important years.
Our team focused on strengthening both the environments where children learn and the experiences that support their growth. Across our classrooms, children ages 1 to 5 engaged in play-based learning, outdoor exploration, and community activities that encouraged curiosity, confidence, and connection, while families continued to rely on consistent care and trusted relationships with staff.
This year also brought meaningful improvements to our spaces. At our Fourth Plain site, we refreshed the facility with updated décor, seating areas, and staff amenities to better support families and the team. At WSU Vancouver, the Early Learning team completed a fantastic first year with full enrollment and opened a new toddler classroom, expanding opportunities for young learners.
Across both locations, staff continued to invest in professional development and bring new ideas into classrooms, strengthening daily practice and family engagement. While Fourth Plain and WSU Vancouver serve different populations, both remain grounded in the same commitment to accessibility, inclusion, and high-quality early education.
Early Learning Highlights
Children served:
Received financial assistance:
Children with IEP or other high educational support needs:
Languages spoken by families:
192
Fourth Plain Early Learning Center
181 (94%)
Fourth Plain Early Learning Center
36%
Fourth Plain Early Learning Center
191
WSU Vancouver Early Learning Center
36 (20%)
WSU Vancouver Early Learning Center
1%
WSU Vancouver Early Learning Center
English, Spanish, Arabic, Punjabi, Ukrainian, Russian, Burmese, Wolof, Mandinka
English, Spanish, Somali, Ukrainian, ASL
WSU Vancouver Early Learning Center
Fourth Plain Early Learning Center
Fall 2024 graduates:
47
Fourth Plain Early Learning Center
7
WSU Vancouver Early Learning Center
Pediatric Therapy & Early Intervention
Strive Northwest’s Pediatric Therapy & Early Intervention program focused on strengthening clinical capacity and improving access to coordinated care for children and families during critical stages of development.
The program welcomed four new members to the Early Intervention team, expanding expertise across speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and special education. These additions allowed Strive Northwest to reintroduce Occupational Therapy services and better meet the needs of children and families navigating developmental concerns.
Families continued to benefit from Strive Northwest’s integrated model at the Fourth Plain facility, where Early Learning and Pediatric Therapy services are offered under one roof. This shared setting supports more coordinated care, reduces barriers for families, and creates smoother transitions between services, especially during the early years when timely support matters most.
The team also invested in workforce development and professional connections. Staff represented Strive Northwest at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Convention in Seattle, connecting with clinicians and sharing career opportunities while highlighting the organization as a place to do meaningful, impactful work.
Pediatric Therapy & Early Intervention Highlights
364
Total children served
​ ​
​
691
Early Intervention teacher visits
​
338
Early Intervention clients served
​
56
Outpatient clients served
​​
​
247
Early Intervention evaluations completed
​
34 (61%)
Outpatient clients with Medicaid as primary insurance
Employment Services
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Finding the right job looks different for everyone.
Participants received individualized support to build skills, gain work experience, and move toward greater independence. Services centered on meeting people where they are, providing hands-on guidance through assessment, job development, on-the-job training, and ongoing support to help ensure success in real workplace settings.
The Employment Services team also invested in learning and connection beyond day-to-day service delivery. Staff attended Community Summit 2024 in Wenatchee, joining self-advocates, families, allies, and partners from across the state to share experiences and explore ways to strengthen diversity, equity, and inclusion within the disability community. These conversations helped inform how the team continues to support inclusive employment and community participation.
Equally important were the employer partnerships that made this work possible. Businesses across the region continued to partner with Strive Northwest to create inclusive workplaces where participants could earn wages, build confidence, and gain meaningful employment experience
Employment Services Highlights
123
Total clients served
​​
​
52%
Participants building job skills
$18.10
Average hourly wage
6
New job placements
49%
Participants employed​
30
Clients accessing more than one Employment Services program
Businesses who support inclusive employment practices / employed clients from our Employment Services program
A Dog’s Best Friend
Candlewood Suites
Department of Social and Health Services
KFC
Round One Entertainment
The Heathman Lodge
Avamere Rehabilitation of Cascade Park
Carl’s Jr
FedEx
Marshalls
Safeway
Timberline Therapy
Bath and Body Works
City of Camas
First Aid Only
MOD Pizza
Seize the Bagel
Walmart
Burlington
Deja Vu Consignment Boutique
Ilani
Panera Bread
St. John’s Presbyterian Church
Whole Foods Market
Donors & Grantors
Granting Organizations
Assistance League of SW Washington
IQ Credit Union
Sundt Foundation
Clark County Realtors Foundation
Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit (KP Gives)
Tulalip Tribes Charitable Contributions
Cowlitz Tribe CCDP Grant Funding
PNC Foundation
Umpqua Bank Charitable Foundation
IMA Foundation
Rick and Carol Terrell Charitable Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation
Umpqua Bank
Cornhole Sponsors
Columbia Credit Union
Cornhole Donors
Aimee Walter
Christenson Electric
Dena & Chris Strong
Jodi Wicks
Johnathon Peterson
Lori Wick
Morgan Kasraei
Bob Serji
Cody Lorenzen
Hilary Henderson
Joe Reid
Kelli Dowling
Mark Potter
PointNorth
Bobbi Heitschmidt
David & Pamela Marquez
Hull Boards
Joel Scott
Lisa Schauer
Mike Hudnall
Rhonda & David Buck
Castenada Household
Denise McGaffey
Jennifer Mountain
John Donahue
Liz Marquez
Mike McGrath
Corporate Gifts
CEC Entertainment, LLC
Kroger-Fred Meyer Rewards Program
Costco
Marathon Local Giving Foundation
Forge Training & Fitness Inc.
HP-Vancouver
Individual Donors
Anonymous
Darcey Reed
Gitner Family Fund
Marion Noe
Rob & Toni Woodard
ARC of SW Washington
Dick James
Jason Hull
Mark Potter
Ryan Hart
Armida Nunez
Dr. & Mrs. Bruce and Carolyn Johnson
Jim Lodwick
Prebble La Dage
Sertoma-VCTC-Robbins endowment
Aya Al Bayati
Emily Yoder
Liz MarJulianna Marlerquez
Rhonda & David Buck
Taylor Vilhauer
Financial Performance
Revenue
$7,969,203
Total Revenue
Revenue received through:
$223,029
Federal Grants
$3,581,860
State Grants
$3,905,898
Program Income
$143,392
Donations
$21,639
Miscellaneous
$13,040
Special Events
$47,592
In-kind Income
$32,753
Investment Income & Losses
Expenses
$6,590,169
Program Expenses
$839,645
Management & General
$24,556
Fundraising
Net Assets
$5,732,521
Net Assets
Beginning of The Year
$6,247,353
Net Assets
End of The Year
+$514,833
Increase in Net Assets
