Muscles for Charity (USA) was launched in Bellevue, WA during 2005 at the annual EastSide Domestic Violence Auction and Dinner and immediately raised over one thousand dollars for the teams services. Subsequent auctions for a variety of registered charities, especially ‘Helping Hands for the Disabled’ have raised thousands of dollars as the team undertook jobs from Shoreline to Sequim and Federal Way to Redmond.
Muscles for Charity is registered with the State of Washington, Secretary of State Office as an exempt charitable organisation. (Registration Number 30486). Registration dated 20th May 2011, confirms that Muscles for Charity is exempt from annual renewal or providing the Secretary of State with copies of financial information. US Muscles team volunteers are therefore able to claim on their tax returns for any out of pocket expenses incurred while traveling to/from Muscles projects for any organisation which is recognised by the State as a registered charity.
Muscles volunteers from Canada, the UK and Belgium have all traveled (at their own expense) to work alongside the American volunteers. On a regular basis, volunteers from Spokane drive to the Seattle area to assist and in 2009 the largest Muscles team ever assembled gathered in Bellevue to demolish and replace a large deck. (Please see the Muscles USA 2009 page for more details.)
Muscles USA members have also travelled to Europe to work alongside their UK and Belgium colleagues. Notably in the spring of 2010 when team members joined forces and descended on a Hotel in the southern Austria ski resort of Bruck and Zell-um-See.
The energy and enthusiasm behind the US team leader is reflected in the team leader, (Mel)Ody Larson from Issaquah.
Members of the Muscles USA team proudly display their certificates issued by a High Sheriff in the UK for ‘Outstanding commitment to the community’ during a project in Covington, WA in June 2010.
