20 February 2013

The Salvation Army Eastside Corps will host its second annual fundraising breakfast on Thursday, April 18, from 7:30am to 9am, at the Westin Hotel in Bellevue (600 Bellevue Way NE). Money raised at the event will benefit The Salvation Army Eastside programs and services.

Cary Bozeman will present the keynote address at the breakfast. Mr. Bozeman is well known in the community. He worked for the city of Bellevue from 1976 through 1993, including three terms as Bellevue's mayor.  He later was elected and served as mayor of Bremerton from 2002 to 2009. He was subsequently appointed to CEO of the Port of Bremerton, retiring in 2011.

King County Councilmember Jane Hague will join the event as emcee. Plus, Northwest Divisional Commander Major Doug Tollerud and Eastside Corps Officer Lieutenant Darryck Dwelle will offer insight to The Salvation Army work on the Eastside. The program will include an update on the programs and services of The Salvation Army on the Eastside, and heart-warming stories about the lives changed by The Army.

The annual breakfast is sponsored by many members of the community. The Platinum Sponsor is The Ellison Foundation; Gold Sponsors are DeYoung, Rainier Welding, and Polygon Homes;  Silver Sponsors are Dick Rosincrins, Puget Sound Bank, and Overlake Rotary; Bronze Sponsors are Doris Cassan, Big Dog Realtors, John N. Gehlen Memorial Foundation, Darrel Davis, and Cross of Christ Church.

Sponsorship of the event is still available at all levels. Corporations, organizations, and individuals interested in supporting The Salvation Army and the event should contact Lieutenant Darryck Dwelle at 425.802.9429. Event sponsors receive tickets and prominent seating for the event, and exposure throughout the event. For a complete list of sponsor benefits, please visit www.SalvationArmyEastside.org.

Established in 1992, The Salvation Army Eastside Corps continues to be a valuable asset in the community. The programs and services offered each year continue to increase, due to the increase in need in the community. The Eastside location serves the less fortunate neighbors in Bellevue, Redmond, Issaquah, Bothell, and Woodinville.

In 2012, The Salvation Army continued hosting a daily Community Supper and served more than 14,000 meals. Each night (Monday through Friday), a home-cooked dinner is served at 5:30pm to the homeless, senior citizens, and people living on the edge.

"Even on the Eastside, many working families struggle to make ends meet," said Lieutenant Darryck Dwelle. "Our programs and services are vital to the families that need our help and support."

Among other programs with increased attendance at The Salvation Army Eastside include the after-school homework tutoring, computer lab, and music lessons; summer camps for kids; rent and utility bill assistance; grocery bags of non-perishable foods; personal hygiene kits for the homeless; infant diaper and formula distribution; and Thanksgiving and Christmas meals.

Individual tickets for the event are available for $100 each. The breakfast fundraising event will begin at 7:30am, and includes a sit-down, plated breakfast. Complimentary three-hour parking is available in the adjacent parking garage.  

Friends who can't attend the event, but still wish to make a donation, should send contributions to The Salvation Army, 911 164th Avenue NE, Bellevue, WA, 98008. Or donate online here.