Christine Umayam, Nominee
100 Kisses for Snohomish County
Christine
Umayam started her own non-profit organization after an eye-opening trip to the Philippines
in 2006. She witnessed children begging on the streets and scavenging through garbage just to survive.
It is these long lasting images that made her quit her corporate job to start
Child United
the following year. Since then, through her dedication and leadership, Child United has gained national
and local attention.The small organization empowers young children through education. The charity does this in three ways: help build learning centers, sponsor children through high school, and collect educational items to send overseas. In addition, they step up during times of disaster and provide relief.
Her work has brought her national attention from a renowned organization dedicated to military servicemen. In 2011, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society chose her as one of 10 finalists around the country for the ‘Citizens Service Before Self’ award. She is the youngest woman to have received the finalist honor. They say she was chosen, “for demonstrating a willingness to sacrifice for others and for changing the lives of the world’s poorest children by offering education opportunities and breaking the poverty cycle.”
