Her day doesn’t stop after she wraps up her co-anchor duties on KING-5 Morning News and KING-5 News on KONG 6-16. Although you won’t see Joyce Taylor on television again until the next weekday morning, she’s busy behind the scenes living her life, which includes two children, a husband and a handful of volunteer projects. “Life is really great,” says Joyce. She says she just recently started to feel very balanced in her life. A few years ago, Joyce was working full-time in addition to raising two children and being a spouse. “I
was doing the morning show, which is four hours,
then the noon show, 12 to 1. I didn’t have much time or energy left after a full day
to do a lot of giving back. I was
exhausted.” Joyce made the decision to cut back on her hours and take control of her health. Now, she says her schedule is perfect. She anchors the morning shows only, allowing her to spend more time with her children and volunteer in the community. Although she is still almost full-time, she has enough flexibility to lend her bright smile, laughter and passion to area nonprofits. The organization most near-
and-dear to Joyce is Rainier Scholars, now in its seventh year. Rainier Scholars is a long-term academic and leadership enrichment program that recruits outstanding students
of color in the fifth grade and supports them academically and emotionally through college graduation. More than 80 percent would be
the first in their families to graduate from college. Joyce joined the
board a year ago after discovering the organization when she was asked to emcee its inaugural fund-raising event, which raised more than $800,000. “These are exceptional kids … there are so many kids, who if given the opportunity, could really excel academically.”
In addition to helping children discover all the things they can do, Joyce serves on the Foundation Board at her alma mater, Western Washington University, working to raise money for scholarships to
help students who need financial assistance to achieve their dreams. Joyce hasn’t forgotten about
the kids that haven’t even started school yet—she also serves on the advisory board for Seattle’s Talaris Research Institute, which works to increase awareness of how important early learning and parenting are in the first years of a child’s life. Talaris is part of Washington state’s Thrive by Five initiative put in place by Gov. Christine Gregoire. It is evident that Joyce tries to give back to the community she has been a part of almost her entire life in ways
Joyce and her husband, Calvin, enjoy staying active with their children Loren and Karsyn.
that impact children’s lives through education. “Education really is the pathway to so many things in life,” she says. She wants to help give other children the opportunities she had growing up. Even though she's cut back her work hours and found balance in her life, Joyce is as busy as ever. She has a marathon week of fundraising events this month, starting May 2, when she is supporting the Food Allergy Initiative Northwest annual dinner as the mistress of ceremonies. Joyce was asked to fill that position last year and is glad to help as both her children have food allergies. On May 5, Western Washington University is holding its annual Seattle Business Forum luncheon, featuring keynote speaker Jim McNerney. Joyce says the event, which brings together WWU alumni, friends and the business community, usually has a full house, and this year should be no different. “Very seldom do you get to see the president and CEO of Boeing speak.” The next day, Joyce will be mistress of ceremonies at the second-annual Rainier Scholars luncheon. Joyce says this fund-raiser is important because Rainier Scholars is an 11-year journey for the students that are served. Currently the organization is serving 280 students from 5th- through 11th-grade.
When she isn’t working behind the anchor desk or lending her talents to area fund-raisers, Joyce and her family enjoy staying active. Her children both swim on the Bellevue Club Swim Team, her husband, Dr. Calvin Wallace, enjoys swimming with the Masters Swim team and Joyce takes tennis lessons. Joyce says she also enjoys jogging, and has completed the Seattle half-marathon three times, and one full marathon in Portland. “It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life, physically.” The family also finds time to be active together—Joyce says they are all participating in the upcoming Relay for Life at Bellevue High School in June. Joyce is passionate about her career and says she is grateful her employer
For more information about any of the nonprofit organizations listed, visit their respective Web sites:
understands the importance of family. Not only did they support her in adjusting her work schedule, but also she says many of her female colleagues are able to work flexible schedules. “They made it possible for me to work fewer hours and maintain a career and focus more on my family.” The things she becomes involved with, Joyce feels, find her. “I don’t think it’s ever been … where can I put my time, where can I put my energy? I think things choose you.” And for her, those things—Rainier Scholars, Western Washington University and the Talaris Research Institute—are rewarding. “It’s really wonderful to feel like you’re having an impact on the lives of children.”
