Stephanie Land, author of Maid, to keynote the fundraiser benefitting Hopelink services

Hopelink has opened registration for its 29th Annual Reaching Out Luncheon, the organization’s premier fundraising event. The event which will take place on Monday, Oct. 21 at Meydenbauer Center in downtown Bellevue and stream online, shares the powerful, real-life stories of north and east King County residents who have partnered with Hopelink in their journeys to exit poverty. Renowned author Stephanie Land will take the stage with keynote remarks.

“Poverty is so complex. With only an hour-long event, it’s important to us that our guests come away with a stronger understanding of the systemic factors keeping people in poverty, as well as the strength and resilience we see every day as people build the tools to exit poverty,” said Meghan Altimore, Hopelink Chief Operating Officer. “Stephanie Land has so powerfully illustrated this duality in her writing over the years. We’re thrilled to have her as our keynote speaker.”

Land’s first memoir, Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive, recounts her experience with poverty as a single working mother in Washington State, and was later adapted into the 2020 Netflix series Maid. Land’s second book, Class: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger, and Higher Education, follows her journey as she chases her literary dreams, finishes college and pursues her writing career. All in-person attendees will receive a free book and attend a book signing with Land after the event.

With a goal of raising $1 million, Reaching Out Luncheon is Hopelink’s largest fundraising event. Every dollar benefits Hopelink’s nine programs. In 2023, the agency served 62,500 people, provided $1.2 million in financial assistance, distributed 4.1 million meals and saw 98% of participants in its Family Development program maintain or establish housing at program exit.

In the past five years, Hopelink has seen an increase in community needs, which can be attributed to rapid economic growth and a lack of affordable housing in its service area. According to Hopelink’s 2022 Community Needs Assessment, over 700,000 people within Hopelink’s service area are experiencing poverty.

“The pandemic brought a lot of the needs in our community into sharp relief, but the fact of the matter is that these needs are still there, and, in many cases, they’ve grown,” said Malory Gustave, Hopelink Vice President of Community Services. “Our region has seen a lot of prosperity in recent years, which means higher rent averages and higher costs of living. This makes it difficult for many of our neighbors to keep up and maintain stability.”

Of the 15,763 individuals Hopelink surveyed in 2023, 63% reported annual household incomes of less than $20,000. The Center for Women’s Welfare Self-Sufficiency Standard estimates a household income of at least $104,810 to meet basic needs in east King County for a family of two adults and one infant.

“Our region is at an inflection point. Too many of our neighbors are struggling to make ends meet and I believe Hopelink, along with our community, have extraordinary opportunities to grow our impact and meet these challenges,” said Altimore. “By joining us this October, community members can be a part of creating lasting change.”

About Hopelink

Since 1971, Hopelink has provided stability-building programs for people experiencing poverty, immigrants and refugees, and people with disabilities in north and east King County. The agency’s nine programs work in tandem to fill gaps, supporting each family or individual’s unique needs. These include housing, food assistance, financial assistance, adult education, energy assistance, financial capabilities, family development, and transportation.

Cade Schmidt (he/him) Hopelink Director of Communications cschmidt@hopelink.org 206-228-3967