LYNNWOOD—Volunteers of America of Western Washington held its fifth annual Hope is Brewing fundraising event at the Lynnwood Event Center Friday, September 27, with the goal of raising the $185,000 remaining funding for its upcoming Lynnwood Neighborhood Center.
With approximately 400 attendees, Friday’s event was VOA’s largest ever in 120 years of operation. The organization took in $156,775 from Friday’s event.
The $26.6 million Lynnwood Neighborhood Center project—which is in partnership with travel writer Rick Steves, and the cities of Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, and Edmonds—broke ground at Trinity Lutheran Church back in April and will serve 20,000 South Snohomish County residents annually when it opens June 2025.
The Center will be a 40,000 square-foot Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified facility on 2.13 acres of land in central Lynnwood, housing a VOA Community Resource Center, medical, dental and behavioral health clinics, an early childcare education and assistance program (ECEAP) preschool, a Boys & Girls club, technology lab, adult day programs, community events and gatherings, culturally specific programs, refugee and immigrant assistance, a commercial kitchen and café, and classes, trainings and workshops.
VOA’s, and its partners, goal is to open the facility fully funded and debt-free to allow nonprofit partners below maker lease rates. After securing federal earmark dollars, and donations from private and public entities, and a successful fundraising campaign that launched last spring, the nonprofit has only a sliver to go to actualize this goal.
Friday’s event kicked off with a breakfast and networking hour beginning at 7 a.m. before Dr. Steve Woodard, Vice President of Community Engagement for VOA and emcee for the morning event, took the mic to share some words and read a land and service tribute. Former Washington state Senator and now Vice President of External Affairs, Kirk Pearson, then shared a quick invocation.
“Every year this event reminds us that together we can make an incredible impact on the lives of others in our community and right here,” said Dr. Woodard.
Brian Smith, President and CEO of VOA, then shared some gratitude for the organization’s Board of Directors and his staff of roughly 850 employees. Smith then shared a story about Tricia, a woman who slept in a car with her family and four young children and how, through the virtue of one of VOA’s programs, she transitioned from homelessness to living in a house and having a stable job.
“That is the impact of your support,” said Smith. “Our mission has always been to empower people and to strengthen communities in need and it’s at the heart of everything we do.”
Brenda Priest, Executive Director of Personal Support for VOA, followed Smith to share some updates to VOA’s food banks, senior and disabled people services, and assisting housing insecure individuals find housing and a job.
Priest referenced the VOA’s Carl Gibson Center in Everett as example of provided much needed connection and activity for senior citizens.
The Carl Gipson Center is a membership-based community serving adults 50+, veterans, individuals with disabilities, underserved communities, immigrants, youth, and families.
“As we continue this morning, I hope you can feel the profound impact your support has on each and every person we serve,” said Priest.
Levi Van Dyke, Chief Behavioral Health Officer for VOA, reminded attendees that September is Suicide Prevention month and informed everyone about the tragic reality of suicide being the nation’s second leading cause of death for young people aged 10 to 24.
“Last year our trained counselors answered nearly 155,000 calls and over 95,000 chats or texts. We provide support to thousands of young people each month including our work to support the national 988 chat to text service,” said Van Dyke. “These aren’t just numbers. These are cries for help from our neighbors, our children, reaching out for someone to tell them we’re not alone. That’s 250,000 moments when we were there to offer hope to someone who was lost, scared, and feeling like there was nowhere else to turn.”
VOA’s housing services program assisted over 3,000 households facing homelessness last year, and its 211 hotline connected people to services over 186,000 times, Marlydann Dugger, Site Director for VOA’s Arlington Community Resource Center shared.
“This critical work saves lives and builds futures,” said Dugger.
VOA Board Member Todd Brunner acknowledged the work and dedication of all of the VOA volunteers for their sacrifice and dedication to service but also pointed to need that only financial support can fill.
“Each of us has a power to create meaningful change. Your support will ensure that VOA can continue to offer lifesaving services, whether it’s creating a lifeline to those in crises, shelter for families who have lost hope, or future for our youth who need someone to believe in them,” said Brunner.
Prior to Brian Smith returning to the stage to close out the evening, Joe Hampson, Executive Director for the Community Resource Center programs, shared some updates to the Lynnwood Neighborhood Center.
“Rick Steves has this phrase he says the Lynnwood Neighborhood Center is a place where love and community connect, and I couldn’t agree more,” said Hampson. “It will be 40,000 square foot, one-stop shop for essential services designed to support our communities most diverse needs.”
The fundraising event and breakfast were sponsored by FUSIONTEK, Puget Sound Energy, KTC, CPM, Coastal Community Bank, Paycom, and Fast Signs.
To donate to the Volunteers of America cause and upcoming Lynnwood Neighborhood Project visit: https://www.voaww.org/donate.
