For immediate release 4/30/19

Encompass Board President Brad Hutt (left) and Executive Director Nela Cumming (right) present the 2019 Encompass Community Advocate Award to Ken Heikkila (center)

Snoqualmie, WA – On April 23rd, the Snoqualmie Valley community came together to raise $126,000 in support of Encompass programs for children and families at the third annual Rise & Thrive Breakfast, making it the most successful installment of the event to date. Over 240 local business, community, and government leaders were treated to a breakfast program including an awards presentation, a keynote address on the importance of addressing childhood trauma, and one family’s story of finding the healing support they needed at Encompass.

KING 5’s Chris Cashman led the festivities for the third year in a row. After a short video featuring children talking about their favorite things at Encompass, Executive Director Nela Cumming took the stage to introduce the audience to Encompass programs and new initiatives. She and Board President Brad Hutt then presented three awards: the John Castle Corporate Partner of the Year Award to Nintendo, the Community Partner of the Year Award to Riverview School District, and the Encompass Community Advocate Award to Ken Heikkila.

Keynote Speaker Dr. Kevin P. Haggerty addresses the audience at Rise and Thrive

Keynote speaker Kevin P. Haggerty, MSW, PhD, spoke next about the importance of building a resilient and trauma-informed community. Haggerty, who is an Endowed Professor of Prevention at the University of Washington School of Social Work, talked about the far-reaching effects of exposure to toxic stress from ACEs, or Adverse Childhood Experiences. He described the “Big Five” ways that we, as adults, can promote positive social development in children: opportunities, skills, recognition, bonding, and clear and healthy standards for behavior.

Family Speaker Creighton Hilstad tells his Encompass story at the 2019 Rise and Thrive Breakfast

After Dr. Haggerty’s academic discussion of how trauma affects children, family speaker Creighton Hilstad gave the audience a personal perspective on the topic. Hilstad told the story of how he and his husband took in a six-year-old foster child who had been mistreated and neglected by both his biological mother and a previous foster mother. With the help of a community of supporters, including Encompass, they were able to formally adopt their son and move toward healing and bonding as a family. Hilstad received a standing ovation for telling his powerful story, bringing many in the audience to tears.

First time attendee Jeffie Buchanan said of the breakfast: “The program was the perfect mix of educational and inspiring. Dr. Haggerty’s talk regarding trauma and child development was incredibly eye-opening, enforcing the need for the early intervention Encompass specializes in. Creighton Hilstad brought the room to tears with his story of his beautiful son, Christopher. Encompass played a vital role in getting Christopher the help he needed, but also supported Creighton in his parenting and mental health. We are so lucky to have this resource in our Valley, and I’m happy to support Encompass in their critically important work.”

Behavioral Health Manager Megan Walsh and Director of Pediatric Therapy Programs Kim Kanzler wave from the Mobile Therapy Unit

Encompass was honored to have several local civic leaders and guests of honor in the audience: King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert, Snoqualmie Tribal Councilmember Suzanne Sailto, Carnation City Councilmember and Mayor Kim Lisk, Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson and Councilmembers James Mayhew and Katherine Ross (also an Encompass Board Member), North Bend City Councilmember Chris Garcia, Riverview School District Board Members Lori Oviatt and Carol Van Noy and Superintendent Dr. Anthony Smith, and Snoqualmie Valley School District Superintendent Dr. Rob Manahan.

Phoebe the therapy dog from Snoqualmie Fire Department was a special guest at Rise & Thrive

Rise & Thrive 2019 would not have been possible without the support of 31 local sponsors: Bank of America, Banner Bank, and Nintendo; Abbott Construction, ABC World Movers, OAC, and Pioneer Van Lines; Dark Horse Brew Coffee, GK Knutson, Miller Family Dermatology, No Boat Brewing, Overlake Medical Center, Reliance Fire Protection, Signal Architecture and Research, Snoqualmie Springs School, and Swedish; CLG Employer Resources, Commercial Technician Services, Eastside Psychological Associates, Edward Jones, Elite Services and Support, The Goddard School, Goldsmith Land Development Services, Huntington Learning Center of North Bend, Pat L Bohan, CPA, PC Bennett Solutions, Pineapple Life, Pioneer Coffee Roasting Company, Raedeke Associates, Inc., Redmond Dental Smiles, and Technical Glass Products.

To view more photos from the event, view the 2019 Encompass Rise & Thrive Breakfast album on our Special Events Facebook Page.

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