Anticipation was buzzing in the air for HealthPoint’s annual benefit, Kaleidoscope. We weren’t just going forward together – we were GROWING forward together. Our annual benefit was hosted once again at the beautiful Hyatt Regency Lake Washington where we heard from patients and our behavioral health care team on how they support the community and care for mental health.
On September 9th, over 400 supporters, Board members, and staff celebrated the important work HealthPoint continues to do to support the community. The talented duo from EnJoy Productions, Martha Enson and Kevin Joyce guided us through the evening with laughter, joy, and excitement. Who could forget the amazing band, Boogie Boulevard? They kept the atmosphere upbeat with their catchy tunes. After a fun night, our organization raised $326k to support our community with essential health care such as physical exams, vaccinations, behavioral health visits, and dental work.
Missed the event? No worries, you can still make a difference and donate here.
The evening began with mingling in the foyer where guests interacted with performers, received corsages from the florist, and sipped on cocktails while engaging with HealthPoint staff to learn more about the health care that is provided. Guests also had the opportunity to enter our Golden Ticket Raffle package where we raffled off Pacific Northwest Adventures that included Seattle Kraken Game Night, a 2-night getaway on the Olympic Peninsula, and 9 other adventures!
Once we settled into our seats in the Hyatt Regency ballroom, our program began with opening remarks from our CEO, Lisa Yohalem. Throughout Lisa’s speech, she reminisced on the incredible work HealthPoint has done over the years while giving special acknowledgment to our Chief Health Officer, Dr. Judy Featherstone, who retired from HealthPoint after 33 years. Lisa proudly shared about Dr. Featherstone, “She used her experiences as a long-time HealthPoint physician and leader to advocate for behavioral health without barriers or stigma; for placing the mind and heart back into the body, and back into the context of overall health. Judy helped pioneer and grow our integrated behavioral health program and, in doing so, laid the foundation for HealthPoint’s whole-person approach to care which continues to guide us today.”
Lisa goes on to share how she was honored to be part of the HealthPoint community, “I feel deeply privileged to be a part of this caring HealthPoint community… a community that includes our patients, our board, our staff, our student learners, and ALL OF YOU!... Health equity means meeting people where they are. Where they feel safe, comfortable, and seen. It means listening, learning, and adapting to best meet folks’ needs – because great care is not one size fits all. That’s why HealthPoint continues to open health centers in schools and community hubs.”
Kaleidoscope wouldn’t have been the special evening it was if we didn’t highlight the student poet from Thomas Jefferson High School (TJ) who won our 2nd annual student poetry competition. Juan Luis is a Senior at TJ who is passionate about leadership and public service. Among the many extracurriculars he does outside being a student, he also served as President of the Student Health Ambassador club at his school. His poem, “School and Mental Health” resonated with the work we do at HealthPoint. A few lines that stood out from his piece,
" Education and mental health are intertwined,
One cannot be addressed without the other in mind.
For students to succeed both must be addressed,
To help young minds flourish and truly progress.
So let us work together, as a community, "
Our Emcee’s Martha Enson and Kevin Joyce from EnJoy Productions took over the show for our Live Auction to get the crowd excited for what had been the ultimate bidding match. Incredible packages included roundtrip tickets to any destination with Alaska Airlines, a 7-night Holland America Cruise, and so much more! Kevin and Martha excitedly hopped off stage and entered the crowd while embodying the ultimate auctioneer personas. Their voices got louder as excitement grew and they pointed to the crowd, encouraging competition until the winners stood out. It was an incredible sight to see! After passionate and intense bidding, winners were announced and $12k was raised from the auction.
As our program closed, we transitioned to a Q&A with some of our Behavioral Health Care providers, led by HealthPoint Board Member, Laura Ward, LMHC. HealthPoint Behavioral Health Care providers, Dr. Robert Allred, Dr. Melissa Baker, and Dr. Ianto West were asked to describe what behavioral health care is, share patient stories, and why they enjoy working at HealthPoint. Before leaving the stage, Laura shared why she also supports our organization, “It’s how I support my community, especially those families who are stressed by their circumstances.”
Guests and supporters alike danced the rest of the night away as we celebrated coming together to uplift the incredible work HealthPoint does and continues to do for our community. As we go forward, we grow forward together.
We want to thank our event partners and the incredible people who made this year’s Kaleidoscope an amazing success!
