United Way to Host Breakfast Featuring Interactive Financial Hardship Experience on November 18, 2025
October 16, 2025
– On Tuesday, November 18, 2025, United Way of Whatcom County will host their 2025 United Way ALICE Breakfast at Silver Reef Casino Resort. This will be an experiential and informational hour-long event highlighting localized data on financial hardship. During an Impossible Choices interactive experience, attendees will be put into the shoes of someone struggling to make ends meet despite working one or more jobs – a scenario all too familiar to the 45% of Whatcom County households who can’t afford the basics in our community. The event will also include information about United Way’s work to help those who are struggling financially move from survival to stability.
The data presented during this event comes from the ALICE report, a measure developed by United Way of Northern New Jersey to provide a more accurate picture of financial hardship than the outdated Federal Poverty Level. ALICE is an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, and refers to hardworking folks who earn more than the Federal Poverty Level but not enough to afford the cost of living in their community. The ALICE report uses HUD Point-In-Time Count data, census information, and other metrics to create a more holistic picture of what it costs to get by in a given community. ALICE data is unique in that it is specific to geographical areas and takes household size and composition into account, whereas the Federal Poverty Level is consistent across 48 states and does not take the cost of living into consideration.
United Way’s goal in hosting this session is to bring awareness to the complexity of financial struggles facing nearly half the households in our community, and to provide information about how individuals and organizations can help ALICE families succeed.
The interactive session will shine a light on the many barriers to stability so many of in our community face. Industry leaders, nonprofit employees, educators, local government, and community members interested in learning more about what financial hardship looks like in Whatcom County are invited to attend. Registration includes coffee and a hot breakfast provided by Silver Reef. Doors open at 7:30AM. The event will begin promptly at 8AM and end at 9AM.
A $25 donation to United Way of Whatcom County is suggested but not required for attendance. All proceeds from event registrations will go to United Way’s Community Impact Fund, helping ALICE families across our community access lifechanging services for years to come.
You can register for this event by clicking here.
About United Way of Whatcom County
United Way of Whatcom County opens doors and removes barriers for individuals and families facing financial hardship. By funding a collaborative network of local nonprofits working to provide basic needs, increase economic mobility, and break the cycle of poverty in our community, United Way is paving pathways to financial stability for ALICE households. United Way of Whatcom County also funds and administers Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a low-barrier, early literacy program available to Whatcom County children from birth to age five. Learn more at unitedwaywhatcom.org.
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The data presented during this event comes from the ALICE report, a measure developed by United Way of Northern New Jersey to provide a more accurate picture of financial hardship than the outdated Federal Poverty Level. ALICE is an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, and refers to hardworking folks who earn more than the Federal Poverty Level but not enough to afford the cost of living in their community. The ALICE report uses HUD Point-In-Time Count data, census information, and other metrics to create a more holistic picture of what it costs to get by in a given community. ALICE data is unique in that it is specific to geographical areas and takes household size and composition into account, whereas the Federal Poverty Level is consistent across 48 states and does not take the cost of living into consideration.
United Way’s goal in hosting this session is to bring awareness to the complexity of financial struggles facing nearly half the households in our community, and to provide information about how individuals and organizations can help ALICE families succeed.
The interactive session will shine a light on the many barriers to stability so many of in our community face. Industry leaders, nonprofit employees, educators, local government, and community members interested in learning more about what financial hardship looks like in Whatcom County are invited to attend. Registration includes coffee and a hot breakfast provided by Silver Reef. Doors open at 7:30AM. The event will begin promptly at 8AM and end at 9AM.
A $25 donation to United Way of Whatcom County is suggested but not required for attendance. All proceeds from event registrations will go to United Way’s Community Impact Fund, helping ALICE families across our community access lifechanging services for years to come.
You can register for this event by clicking here.
About United Way of Whatcom County
United Way of Whatcom County opens doors and removes barriers for individuals and families facing financial hardship. By funding a collaborative network of local nonprofits working to provide basic needs, increase economic mobility, and break the cycle of poverty in our community, United Way is paving pathways to financial stability for ALICE households. United Way of Whatcom County also funds and administers Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a low-barrier, early literacy program available to Whatcom County children from birth to age five. Learn more at unitedwaywhatcom.org.
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Contact:
Rebecca Ricks, Development & Communications Manager
rebecca@unitedwaywhatcom.org, (360) 733-8670 ext 4
