@n?ml

mum-commit?

Eastside



 

Board Members

Clark Graves
President

Marika Dhingra, JD
Vice President

Brooke Bradshaw-Jacula
Secretary

Lisa Reents
Treasurer

Diane DeWitt, 
Past President

Minniieluneja
Bob Krulish
Karen Thies



Megan Bishop
Director

Michele Meaker
Development Operations
Director

Carolyn Kiser
Program Manager

Paul Gardiner
Volunteer Coordinator
(Volunteer)

Jim Holtzman

IT Support
(Volunteer)



IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF ALL THOSE AFFECTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS THROUGH
ADVOCACY, EDUCATION AND 

 

Dear NAMI Eastside Members Followers,

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, NAMI Eastside does not endorse any political candidate.

Currently in the 45th district election, Mental Health advocate and long-time Board Member, former
Co-President, President and current Vice President of NAMI Eastside, Manka Dhingra is running for the
open Senate seat. It was recently brought to our attention that political ads being sponsored by
Working Families PAC and the Washington State Senate Republican PAC listed as the Leadership
Council have been calling into question NAMI Eastside?s financial stability.

These claims are unfounded.

NAMI Eastside staff, Board of Directors and members take the stewardship of our organization very
seriously. The negative ads suggesting that NAMI Eastside "ran up large deficits and filed questionable
financial reports" for three years, that is both completely false and very damaging to our reputation.
All of the crucial and essential services that we provide are free and fulfill a need that is sorely lacking
in our State.

Our programs and staff have been growing in the last five years and we have been providing support
and education to more people than ever before. We are dependent upon our reputation to raise the
necessary funds to provide these essential services and it is extremely unconscionable for a political
action committee to disparage any non-profit providing these services. Mental Health is one of the
few subjects where we do find bi-partisan agreement in the Washington State Legislature.

Manka Dhingra has found time to support NAMI Eastside in a leadership role these last several years.
Her experience in the early formation of the King County Mental Health court sparked her interest in
our cause. Manka?s strong organizational and management skills plus her contacts have been a
wonderful benefit for NAMI Eastside.

Throughout her years, we have had strong and well-planned annual financial budgets and on time,
accurate tax filings. She is credited with originating our very successful Annual Fundraising Breakfast.
She has helped expand attendance and availability of consumer and family programs. Manka also, has
been a key establishing member of the important Public Policy Committee. In order to keep Mental
Health top-of-mind, Manka originated our very well attended, Candidates Forum events. Under her
tenure at NAMI Eastside, the Children?s Conference has grown in attendance each year and the
successful NAMI Washington Walk has remained in Kirkland.

We call for the Working Families PAC and the Leadership PAC to remove all the disparaging
advertising that references the nonprofits that Marika has lead.



Megan Bishop Clark

Sincerely,

Director President

NAMI Eastside NAMI Eastside Board of Directors

 

425 885 6264

a 9 16225 NE 85'? St. A-9. Redmond WA 93052

NAMI Eastside Is a 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are 100% tax deductible. Our federal tax ID is Ell-2106510