Planting the Seeds for the Future - Summer Dinner 2026
- Jul 21
- 3 min read
"If a flower doesn't bloom, do you blame the flower—or do you look at the environment? The soil. The sunlight. The water. The conditions around it? "
Thank you to everyone who joined us last week for our second edition of the Summer Dinner. This year we elevated the dining experience for attendees through a guest chef collaboration with the legendary 16Eleven, and even had The Colby Club on hand to craft some of their incredible cocktails. All of this was just the backdrop for our focus on raising funds for Tomorrow's Hope, and celebrating the successes of the HopeWorks Culinary Training Academy (CTA). Together, we raised over $20,000 for Tomorrow's Hope and the continued support of the children they care for daily!
Throughout the evening, we heard the importance of Tomorrow's Hope and the role it plays daily. Rachel Downes (Chief Strategic Officer) and Mandy Cheever (Director of Tomorrow's Hope) both gave beautiful addresses that spoke to the heart of the mission and how Tomorrow's Hope has made a direct impact in the lives of so many.
We then heard from Johnny Carswell (Owner of 16Eleven) about why being involved and supporting this event was so important to him. Thank you again Johnny and Amanda for taking on such an active role with our first ever guest chef dinner and for donating your time and the time of Chef Mike Lim, Sous Chef Dali, and Lead Chef Ben to not only help create the amazing menu we all got to experience, but also give Trainees a unique learning experience that they can carry forward with them forward in their budding culinary careers.
Cody Cadden (Culinary Training Academy Lead Trainer) spoke on the time and effort put in by his Trainees for this dinner and then passed the mic over for Trainees to introduce each course of the dinner. We want to wish a massive congratulations and thank you to each and every Trainee and Alumni that participated in this event. Your successes were clear for everyone to see, and taste, at the event and you should all be proud of the accomplishments.
Kyla Baird (keynote speaker, past Housing Hope resident, graduate from Tomorrow's Hope) then took the stage to deliver an incredibly powerful speech about her lived experience and growth from child to now adult and graduate of Sultan High School as someone who has been through the entire Housing Hope system. Her story of growth from dark times into the light, and how having a place of stability through Tomorrow's Hope and stable housing provided the needed foundation to bloom resonated deeply with us and we are so thankful for Kyla for sharing her story at the Summer Dinner.
Kathryn Opina (CEO of Housing Hope) closed things out for us by drawing parallels between Kyla's experiences and that of other children experiencing instability. As she expertly put it, "Tomorrow's Hope is far more than childcare. It is a safe, nurturing environment where children learn, develop confidence, build relationships, and begin to believe in what is possible. It gives parents the ability to work, pursue education, and create stability for their families, knowing their children are being cared for and encouraged every step of the way." That is why nights like the Summer Dinner and the funds raised are so important. It isn't just a donation; it's an investment in the future and peace of mind for families and their children. Together, we can all come together to create an environment where people feel safe to plant the seeds of what comes next.
Thank you to everyone who supported this year's Summer Dinner and made it so special. We could not do this without you.
