Community of Hope 2026: An Evening of Impact and Inspiration

This past Wednesday, we gathered for Community of Hope, our annual fundraiser dedicated to supporting our East Snohomish County housing communities. The unrestricted funds raised during this event provide a critical foundation for the work we carry forward all year long. These dollars stay right here in East County, helping bring vital services to individuals and families as they build new foundations for their lives.

While unrestricted funds power our work year round, we also dedicate the evening to a targeted effort that expands opportunity for the families we serve. In 2026, our goal was to send children from our East County communities to summer camp through partnerships with the Boys and Girls Club of Snohomish County and the YMCA of Snohomish County. For many of these children, summer camp is not yet a lived experience. Camp offers more than just fun. It provides mentorship, education, confidence building, and friendships that can last a lifetime.

Thanks to your generosity, Community of Hope 2026 raised over $65,000, tying our all time fundraising record. Every donation, sponsorship, shared post, and seat filled in the room helped make that possible. It truly takes a community to address the significant housing challenges facing our region, and your partnership strengthens our ability to respond with compassion and effectiveness.

A Night to Remember

We were honored to gather with so many friends and supporters at the The Feather Ballroom. Reconnecting with familiar faces, meeting new champions of our mission, and sharing stories of impact is always one of the highlights of our year.

The evening opened with Joan Penney, the Senior Director of Resource Development, Marketing, & Communications, warmly welcoming guests and setting an inspiring tone. Housing Hope CEO Kathryn Opina followed with a look at the bold goals our agency is shaping for the region and beyond. Lauren Pease, our Grant Administrator, spoke to the critical importance of funding both housing and supportive services. Kristina Doherty, one of our onsite Family Support Coaches, offered a powerful perspective from the front lines of this work, including the story of a current resident whose life has been transformed through affordable housing. Joan then closed the evening with a moving reminder of why investing in our community matters so deeply.

The Sweetest Competition of the Year

Of course, no Community of Hope would be complete without the Dessert Dash. In a wildly fun blitz of generosity, tables strategized and moved quickly to claim their favorite treats from generous local bakeries. In just minutes, over $15,000 was raised.

The energy in the room was electric, and the enthusiasm was contagious. It was a joyful reminder that when a community comes together with purpose, incredible things happen

Gratitude for Our Sponsors and Partners

Behind every successful event is a network of partners who believe in the mission. We are deeply grateful to our sponsors for Community of Hope 2026. This year, we nearly doubled our number of sponsors compared to 2025, and that level of support does not go unnoticed. Their partnership helped ensure the success of this event from the very beginning.

Patrons of Hope

Evergreen Health of Monroe

PNW Tech Experts

Champions of Hope

Lakeside Industries

Ruby Pearl Solutions

Wallner Plumbing

Walsh Construction Co.

Ambassadors of Hope

The Erickson Group

John L. Scott

North Sound Media

Supporters of Hope

Aviation Technical Services

Skip and Karen Toreson

A heartfelt thank you also goes to our East County subcommittee volunteers who organized this entire event: Amanda Yeo, Connie Janke, and Jessica Trautman. Your leadership, dedication, and countless hours made Community of Hope 2026 possible.

We are incredibly grateful to the local bakeries that made the Dessert Dash such a success: Katie Bakes, The Creamery, Cakewalk Shop, Kelly Cannoli, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Simply Sweet, Ginger Shaque Sugar Studio, Grain Artisan Bakery, Costco of Woodinville, Fred Meyer of Monroe, Safeway of Monroe, and Haggen Groceries of Woodinville. You truly made the evening sweeter.

We also extend our appreciation to The Feather Ballroom for hosting us for a second year, and to the Housing Hope staff who poured their time, energy, and heart into producing Community of Hope 2026: Cat Delorey, Caitlin Rose, Lauren Pease, Hayle Wallen, Matthew Jager, Brian Ouellette, Jami Voight, Kya Nethercot, Kristina Doherty, and Joan Penney.

And finally, to every guest, donor, sponsor, volunteer, and advocate who showed up in support of Housing Hope, thank you. Your commitment to our mission will continue to impact lives in East Snohomish County for years to come.

We are already looking forward to gathering again next year!