Most people recognize the lily - a symbol of spring - as the official Easter Seals' logo due to its association with the building of a new life.

For the past 68 years, Easter Seals Washington has provided services to ensure that people with disabilities and families in need have equal opportunities to experience life to the fullest.

The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) helps to make much of what Easter Seals Washington does a reality.

"The CFC empowers more people with disabilities to reach their goals," wrote Summer McGrady, director of marketing and corporate relations, in an e-mail. "Easter Seals Washington serves more than 4,100 adults and children with disabilities and their families annually."

Nationwide, Easter Seals offers help and hope to more than a million children and adults living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other disabilities or special needs and their families annually.

Services and support are provided through a network of more than 550 sites in the United States and through Ability First in Australia. Nine of those sites are here in Washington State.

The money the organization receives from the CFC is well spent. Eighty-eight percent of every dollar is used to provide direct services for children and adults with disabilities.  The remaining 12 percent goes to administration and fundraising.

McGrady pointed out that CFC funding has made a significant impact at the organization's Olympic Peninsula Autism Center (OPAC).

"We serve mostly military families whose children who are on the autism spectrum," she continued. "Through intensive Applied Behavior Analysis, children up to 21 years old can make significant improvements in IQ, language skills and academic performance."

One parent whose child has attended the OPAC wrote simply, "I get a wonderful glimpse of my baby and her little personality.  It's amazing and something that I sometimes thought would never happen."

That's some lily the Easter Seals has!

"Throughout the years, funds from the CFC have been able to help people with disabilities do great things - gain employment, learn life skills that improve their education and allow families to receive respite and resources to improve their lives," concluded McGrady.

"Easter Seals Washington, through support from CFC donors, is able to empower individuals to live life to the fullest."

Easter Seals Washington's CFC donation number is 36645.

For more information, visit www.easterseals.com/washington.