Foundation to Increase Support of City’s Youth and Family Services

The City of Mercer Island’s Youth and Family Services (YFS) Department will be able to continue to provide much-needed counseling and other support services to members of the community after the Mercer Island Youth and Family Services (MIYFS) Foundation pledged to increase its annual funding.

Under the terms of an agreement (AB 6764) ratified by the Mercer Island City Council at its Sept. 2, 2025, meeting, the Foundation will raise its annual donation, from $515,000 to $580,000 each year through 2028. Members of the Foundation were present at the meeting to mark this significant increase in funding.

“The financial support from the MIYFS Foundation is not only critical for sustaining YFS services but also speaks to the remarkable spirit of giving that has always been a big part of our community,” said YFS Administrator Derek Franklin.

The funds will be used to maintain school counselor staffing levels; provide rental and food assistance through the Emergency Assistance Program; support community- and school-based programs; and maintain competitive staff salaries for employees.

In addition, the Foundation’s board members and executive director were present at the Sept. 2 meeting to be recognized for their substantial financial support, both past and present, for the YFS Department and the impact that support has had on the well-being of Island residents throughout their lives.

The MIYFS Foundation was established in 1989 to raise funds for YFS programs and services, which include: school-based mental health counseling; individual and family counseling; programs to support and assist families, seniors, and youth; food security programs; and more.

The Foundation provides approximately 25% of the department’s funding, which is critical to ensuring YFS can continue to deliver its breadth and quality of services.

Pictured:

Front row – Mercer Island City Council members (from left) David Rosenberg, deputy mayor; Salim Nice, mayor; and Daniel Becker

Back row – MIYFS Foundation members (from left) Jocelyn Barber, board member; Amy French, executive director; Kate Gilham, board vice president; Ivy Suzuki-Jaecks, board member; Lisa Swanson, Foundation staff; Cindy Goetzmann, board president; Terry Moreman, board member; Kimberly Frank, board secretary; and Derek Franklin, YFS administrator