HOPE FESTIVAL 2017 OFFICLIAL PRESS RELEASE 3/6/17

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1 HOPE FESTIVAL 2017 OFFICLIAL PRESS RELEASE 3/6/17 On February 25 th, 2017 at the Bellevue Highland Community Center; an incredible community event called the Hope Festival changed the lives of 800 of local in-need families. The Hope Festival is an annual single-day event that serves hundreds of local in-need families and individuals in our communities. The latest Hope Festival, which took place on February 25 th in downtown Bellevue, served 800 in-need individuals from five Eastside cities. No background checks were required for our guests the Hopefest team welcomed anyone who wished to visit the event. Every guest who attended Hopefest was able bring home life necessities such as clothing, groceries, and hygiene supplies. Also available to those who came to the festival were refreshments, books, free haircuts/massages, and toys for the kids. The festival, along with the Hope Festival 501c3 nonprofit organization, is managed and run by local youth. At Hopefest, our 250 volunteers were the pivotal part in making sure our guests walk out of the event feeling more content, empowered, and loved than when they walked in. Dressed up characters mingled the facility, brightening up each child s day as they stopped to take a picture. Positive and motivating posters decorated the entire facility while smaller kindness notes were slipped into each family s grocery bag. The generously provided mini-golf course provides yet another source of fun for the children while the adults shop. Several lucky families even walked away raffle items including new bikes, gift cards, and a brand new canoe! Additionally; nine organizations such as food banks and local agencies joined us at the festival to provide information to our guests about lifechanging programs available to them. These connections will provide a lasting impact in the lives of our guests following the festival. Through our efforts, we provided many of those in need in our community with supplies, as well as a positive atmosphere; that we all need in our lives. Our guests left the Hope Festival with the renewed mindset that there really is good in the world. Simply said: each and every person we served discovered a newfound sense of hope. We would like to give a big thank you to some sponsors who made Hopefest possible: Kids Without Borders Sammamish Rotary Sammamish Kiwanis Bellevue Highland Community Center (City of Bellevue) Bellevue Rotary Costco Value Village Small Threads for Kids Seattle s Union Gospel Mission Sammamish McDonalds Two Men and a Truck The Salvation Army

2 Spirit of Peace Church Sammamish Teen Center Boehm s Candies Below are some of the best event photos: All the volunteers before our Serving Guests shift began at 3pm Eastlake High School students who served as department leaders for the event

3 Volunteers in the hygiene department MORE PICTURES BELOW

4 9 organizations attended the Hope Festival s Connection Center, where guests were able to connect with local human service organizations

5 All the kids who attended Hopefest left with a new toy! Guests mingle the Hopefest facility

6 Volunteer haircutters and masseuses provided free services to guests The gym was transformed into a clothes shopping center for guests

7 Please feel free to spread the word about the success of Hopefest and our efforts in continuing to serve those in need! Sincerely, The Hopefest Team Karen Burrington, Mai Nguyen, Elliott Wong, & Tyler Zangaglia M: C: