We had a wonderful time with our supporters and new friends at Town Hall Seattle on October 20th for Showcase, Companis’ annual fundraiser. Although we were tempted to include all 136 photos that professional photographer Dan DeLong sent us, we painfully edited it down to 10 for the highlights. Enjoy!
“Showing Up and Building Community” was our Showcase theme this year. This poster greeted people as they walked through the doors of Town Hall Seattle. Featured on the poster are The IF Project’s Dr. Felisa Bryant, our guest speaker, as well as Companis Workers and nonprofit leaders who graced our stage and shared stories about how they work together to make a difference in our community.
Greeting people outside of Town Hall Seattle. Left to right: Companis Program Manager/Snohomish, Tia Lawson; Companis Outreach Specialist Cynthia Hunter; and Companis Board Member, Pinky Herrera.
Companis ED, Gary Davis, opens the evening by welcoming the 300+ in-person and online audiences to our hybrid event.
Companis Associate ED for Programs, Jennifer Wing, moderates a panel of Companis Workers and nonprofit partners. Left to right: Jennifer Wing; Alesia Cannady, ED of Women United Seattle; Dawn Brazel, Companis Worker; Queer Power Alliance ED, Taylor Farley.
The audience applauds the panelists, and laughs as Women United Seattle ED Alesia Cannady tells a heart-warming story about how Companis Worker Dawn Brazel goes above and beyond to help her with her nonprofit that supports grandmothers raising their grandchildren.
Featured speaker Dr. Felisa Bryant, a leader with The IF Project, gave a compelling talk about how her nonprofit builds pathways to equitable opportunities for recently incarcerated women.
The audience is moved by Dr. Bryant’s talk, closing out her presentation with the question The IF Project asks the women it works with while they’re still in prison: “If there was something someone could have said or done to change the path that led you here, what would it have been?”
Three donors took to the stage to say why they support Companis. Left to right: Peter Jabin, former Companis Worker and staff member who was responsible for writing a number of successful grants for our organization; Companis Board Member, Pinky Hererra; and Companis Board President, Anne Spangler. Gary also took the opportunity to thank Peter for all of his contributions over the years.
Gary introduces Companis’ first Director of Development, Mary Ann Goto. Mary Ann comes to the organization with decades of development experience and deep roots in the community (see Mary Ann’s profile).
At the end of the evening, a “Grow with us!” plant was handed to everyone who came to the event. And with our logo on each box, it served as a reminder that Companis is “where compassion meets action.”
Here’s the link to the entire show. Enjoy!