A highlight of our Inspire Breakfast each year is our Community Awards segment when we honor a business, community organization, and a volunteer who all share in our vision of a community where all children thrive.  This year’s awards were presented by honorary co-chairs Tavish and Rebecca MacLean and Encompass Executive Director Nela Cumming.

The John Castle Corporate Partner of the Year award is given to a business in honor of Dr. John Castle, a long-time Encompass Board and emeritus board member until his passing in 2017.  John’s passion was in helping staff develop new business initiatives, including the Encompass Pediatric Therapy clinic that has helped thousands of children with high-quality, innovative pediatric therapies since 2009. This clinic evolved into the new purpose-built Child Development Center in Snoqualmie which opened in 2021.   

Our John Castle Corporate Partner of the Year is TreeHouse Point. Guided by Judy and Pete Nelson, the team at TreeHouse Point has been in our corner for years. Part treehouse playground, part bed and breakfast, and part fairytale forest retreat, TreeHouse Point provides strong support to Encompass and our community. Some of the most popular auction items at our annual gala are the TreeHouse Point experiences providing access to the entire property for an afternoon and overnight stay in each of the seven tree houses, access to the Pond Room and Lodge, amazing breakfast, and a tour of the unique grounds. This magical experience is just one example of the generosity of the TreeHouse Point team. Judy and Pete Nelson are true leaders in the Snoqualmie Valley. They consistently devote time to mentoring youth and inspiring other local businesses and organizations by sharing their expertise, making our community stronger. We are so grateful for their unwavering support.

We are proud to honor Empower Youth Network as our Community Partner of the Year. Working to promote and inspire youth to lead safe, healthy, and successful lives, Empower Youth Network has created a wonderful model of sharing resources and expertise, making introductions to families, and connecting Encompass with opportunities to fulfill our own mission. Our connection with Empower Youth Network staff helped us establish a playgroup in a rural neighborhood, and our collaboration on grants over the years allowed for Trauma Informed Care Workshops for teachers, first responders, and caregivers throughout the community. Their reputation for consistent and sincere partnership has been nurtured by Laura Smith, Empower Youth Network’s soon-to-be departing Executive Director.  Her dedication for the last 19 years has secured them as a powerful force for supporting youth in the Snoqualmie Valley and beyond. Thank you, Empower Youth Network, for sharing your passion for healthy communities and for being an exemplary community partner. 

What a joy to present our Volunteer of the Year Award to Hattie Dianich.  Since joining us as a volunteer in 2023, Hattie has logged more than 50 hours of service. Often those hours were spent completing tasks that others might describe as boring: organizing supplies, folding t-shirts, updating spreadsheets—but not Hattie. She finds a way to add her artistic talents when she can and understands her impact on the bigger picture.  

During the breakfast, Nela shared about Hattie’s grandmother, Carol-Ann, a long-time Encompass supporter and the visionary behind the Imagine Serenity Garden at our Child Development Center. Hattie came to Encompass to carry on her grandmother’s passion, and we couldn’t be more delighted. We look forward to seeing her smile every week in our Clinic and are thrilled when she volunteers at our events. She is eager, impressively capable, and fun. Thank you, Hattie, for doing your part to make our community a place where all children can thrive.

Congratulations to our partners of the year and thank you for your generosity in our shared vision of a community where ALL children thrive!