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Federal Way Human Service Advocate Peggy LaPorte receives MLK Medal of Distinguished Service
Summary
“Peggy has been steadfast in her commitment to homeless families in Federal Way and her positive impact on their lives cannot be understated”
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| Councilmember von Reichbauer with Martin Luther King, Jr. Medal of Distinguished Service recipient Peggy LaPorte |
An idea to help homeless women that started with volunteers around a kitchen table is celebrating 25 years of helping people. Peggy LaPorte, the founder of the organization that is now known as FUSION (Friends United to Shelter the Indigent, Oppressed, and Needy), today received the Martin Luther King Jr. Medal of Distinguished Service from Metropolitan King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer in recognition of her service to the people of Federal Way.
“After 25 years of helping some of the most vulnerable in our community, I am pleased to honor Peggy with the MLK Medal of Distinguished Service,” said von Reichbauer. “Peggy has been steadfast in her commitment to homeless families in Federal Way and her positive impact on their lives cannot be understated.”
After working as a flight attendant for Pan Am Airlines, Peggy and her husband settled in Federal Way to raise their family. In 1993, she became aware of a growing need for transitional housing to serve homeless women and their children in her city. FUSION was born at her family’s dining room table with the goal of raising enough funds to support a housing program for these families.
The fundraising effort became an auction in 1994, and 25 years later, FUSION is an all-volunteer based non-profit with over 200 volunteers. FUSION owns, manages, and maintains 20 fully furnished homes and currently contracts professional case management services through Catholic Community Services. Over the last quarter-century, LaPorte has worn many hats at FUSION: fundraising, marketing, public relations, grant writing, and human resource work managing a core of volunteers.
Peggy is proud that close to 85 percent of the families served through FUSION have moved on to permanent housing after becoming stable and self-sufficient.
The annual presentation of the MLK Medal of Distinguished Service is the Council’s way of thanking those who have made a particularly strong impact on the county and to encourage others to renew their dedication to serve their community.
This is the fourth year Councilmembers have recognized individuals in their districts who have answered the question asked by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “What are you doing for others?”