 |
|
|
|
SPECIAL THANKS |
|
Heartfelt thanks to our 2010 Luncheon sponsors:
Leadership Sponsors
Laird Norton Tyee
Nintendo
McKinstry
Perkins Coie
Benefactor Sponsor
Sprague Israel Giles Inc.
Community Sponsor
Sweeney Conrad, P.S.
Grand Hyatt Seattle
Media Sponsor
Puget Sound Business Journal
Additional support Banner Bank
Safeway
Thank you to our matching pool donors
Anonymous (2)
Connie and Steve Ballmer
Jon and Bobbe Bridge
Gibson Family Foundation
Lakeside Industries
Brian and Leasa Mayer
John and Deanna Oppenheimer Seattle Foundation Advised Fund Marty and Mimi Siegel
Thomas C. Wright Foundation
Thank you to our
Table Captains
Gary and Mitzi Aspiri
LaShaun Bellamy and Glenn Gregory
Judy Bloom
Jon and Bobbe Bridge
Jane Brown
Monica Cripe
Jan Cunningham
Joe Cunningham
Bob Day
Michael Deal
Paul Delay
Stacey Devenney
Christopher Drajem
Marcia Ellis and Peter Morse
Alan and Mary Frazier
Susan Hettinger and John Brottem
Jason Hoffmaster
Susan Clifford Jamroski
Lynne Langseth
Lisa Love
Martha Lunbeck
David and Jo Ann Marshall
Leasa Mayer
Rob and Marilyn McKenna
Alethia Mead
John and Janet Morse
Bob Moser
John Osterhaus
Cheryl Pleas
Eric Pucher
Robin Rothe
Mimi Siegel
Susan Smallidge
Cynthia Smith
Linda Suzman
Keith Vernon
Jan West
Craig Wright |
| Join Our List |
 | |
|
Dear Friends,
Thank you. Our recent From Hope to Home luncheon was one of the most successful celebrations in our history. We raised critical funds to find forever families for children who have experienced abuse, neglect or abandonment.
For me, one of the highlights of the event was the presentation of Amara's Stella Mae Carmichael award to Amy and Jennifer Hallmon. They exemplify excellence in foster care. I'm always inspired when greatness is recognized and honored.
We at Amara are so fortunate to work with the Hallmon family, one of many outstanding foster and adoptive families who have enriched our community.
Best regards,
John Morse, Executive Director |
| Event Raises $210,000 for Vulnerable Children |
| |
"Looking after children in foster care is a common responsibility. If we don't, we'll have to take care of these children in the future in an entirely different way," said Ashley Rhodes-Courter, Keynote at Amara's Annual Luncheon.
More than 420 supporters attended Amara's Annual Luncheon on May 3rd, donating over $210,000 to fund Amara's work finding lifelong homes for children in foster care.
Ashley Rhodes-Courter | Luncheon highlights included a warm welcome from emcee Jean Enersen of KING 5 and remarks from Retired Justice Bobbe Bridge and her husband Jon Bridge.
Ashley Rhodes-Courter, who lived in 14 different foster homes before being adopted at age 12, spoke about the importance of finding a forever family. "To me, having a home means that there is one place where I don't need to knock on the door before I go in." Her life story has been powerfully captured in her memoir "Three Little Words."
Thank you to the many generous donors and community partners that made this luncheon such a success. A special thanks to our sponsors and table captains for their invaluable support and leadership.
|
| Honoring an Exceptional Foster Family | |
At the luncheon, Amara presented the third annual Stella Mae Carmichael Award to Amy and Jennifer Hallmon. Since adopting two daughters from foster care, Amy and Jennifer have opened their hearts and home to children who need temporary foster care.
In the past three years, Amy and Jennifer have cared lovingly for six children. They plan to provide temporary foster care well into the future.
The Hallmon Family |
"I cannot see the beds empty knowing that there are children out there who need them,"
says Amy.
Amy and Jennifer have witnessed the damaging effects of bouncing from one foster home to another. When working as a teacher's assistant, Amy met Russell, a second-grader in foster care. He languished in the child welfare system through adolescence and was in jail by the age 18. "We don't want this to happen to any child," says Amy.
Amara established the award in 2008 in honor of its namesake, Ms. Stella Mae Carmichael of Bellingham, who served as foster parent to hundreds of children during her lifetime. Each year Amara recognizes a family who exemplifies her unconditional love; her vision for and encouragement of children's futures; her blend of realism and hope; her spunk; and her superb parenting.
Photos courtesy of Julie Sotomura/PhotoMura Images
|
|
Amara: Building Strong Families since 1921
| |
|
