Photo by Ashish Keshwani
Our 2019 annual fundraising luncheon raised over $174,000 to help families leave homelessness behind
Attain Housing’s efforts to heal the trauma of intergenerational poverty and stabilize children and their families with its supportive programs got a boost from a distinguished physician at the nonprofit’s annual fundraising luncheon.
Dr. Ben Danielson, Senior Medical Director of the Odessa Brown Clinic in Seattle, praised Attain Housing in his keynote address at the “Home is Where the Heart is” luncheon, held at Bellevue Presbyterian Church Sept. 26.
Founded in 1989 as KITH in Kirkland and Housing at the Crossroads in Bellevue, Attain Housing is celebrating 30 years of housing and supporting families transitioning from homelessness this year. Many past board members were among the more than 200 people who attended the luncheon.
Dr. Danielson shared his personal story about being adopted out of foster care, addressed the root causes of generational poverty and praised Attain Housing for building a caring community whose members band together to weave a strong safety net.
“That filters from top to bottom in our community,” Dr. Danielson said. “Giving stability to a family has an impact on them, their children, and their children’s children.”
Executive Director Kathy Fleming spoke to the luncheon audience about the deep roots of community support that are propelling the organization forward. In addition to housing and supporting families in 33 apartment homes in Kirkland and Bellevue, Attain Housing also prevents homelessness with its eviction prevention program. Attain Housing also is expanding its New Lease on Life program, leasing existing apartments, condos and homes from property owners or investors to provide safe, stable homes for more homeless families.
Emcee Sasha Cousineau got the crowd fired up to raise those paddles and help us serve homeless families! Photo by Ashish Keshwani
We’d like to give one more big thank you to all our wonderful event sponsors: Windermere Real Estate, Hellam Varon Certified Public Accountants, Premera Blue Cross and HomeStreet Bank at the gold level; DLI Professional Consulting Services at the silver level, Murray Franklin Family of Companies, Merit Homes, Rotary Club of Kirkland, and Johnson and Shute Certified Public Accountants and Consultants at the copper level.
Another big thanks goes out to all the volunteers that helped with set-up and clean-up. We couldn’t have done it without you!