Dear Friends,
We hope this message finds you well as we approach the final months of 2024. Here at BrightSpark, it has been a year of hard work, growth, and progress. From hosting our successful 2024 Annual Event to advocating for policies that support families during this election season, our staff have been living into our mission to nurture and sustain child-centered, antiracist early learning communities. This important work will continue to address accessibility and affordability, as well as continually increase the quality of child care for all families.
As we reflect on the past year, we are filled with gratitude for the unwavering support of our donors, community advocates, and partners. Your commitment has been instrumental in helping us make a lasting impact. Whether you’ve recently joined our mission or have been supporting us for years, your dedication is helping to bring essential early learning opportunities to our youngest community members.
I am excited to share some of the tangible wins we’ve seen recently and the continued progress we’re making. We want to thank our community of supporters, including YOU, for your support and partnership! We are looking forward to the next year with you!
With gratitude,
Phoebe Sade,
Executive Officer
Did you know?
For over 30 years, BrightSpark has helped families navigate through the early learning system and connect them to high-quality early learning experiences that meet their needs!
Finding and paying for child care remains a significant challenge for many families in Washington and across the country. At BrightSpark, we take on this challenge head-on by connecting families to the Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) Subsidy. This state funded subsidy program supports so many low-income families, and yet, the application process can be incredibly complicated. Our staff help families apply for and qualify for this program.
However, we continue to witness many families not qualify for WCCC or be disqualified because their income rose a few dollars over the WCCC income threshold. This is why BrightSpark created its own subsidy programs, and we partner with city, county, and state governments and entities as well as private donors and foundations to subsidize the cost of child care tuition for families across King and Pierce Counties.
As we get closer to the 2025 Washington State Legislative Session, we anticipate significantly tight state budgets and limited funding in the coming years. This means that securing adequate resources for child care will require even more creativity and collaboration. BrightSpark is committed to rising to this challenge by seeking out alternative funding sources, advocating for child care funding in policy discussions, and continuing our partnerships to ensure that high-quality care remains accessible to all.
BrightSpark has four unique subsidies programs that we offer through city and county partnerships!
We support Family, Friend and Neighbor caregivers in a variety of ways!
Spark Spotlight: Advocacy!
In each quarterly newsletter, we will highlight programs that benefit from our community of supporters. We will also keep you updated on the progress we’re making to ensure every child has access to high-quality early learning!
Did you know that BrightSpark is on the frontlines, advocating for change that directly supports children and families?
Our Advocacy Program is dedicated to closing the gap between policy development and the real-world experiences of those we serve. By creating meaningful conversations between community members, elected officials, and government agencies, we ensure that the voices of those most affected by policy decisions are heard and elevated.
But we don’t stop there! We are empowering the next generation of advocates; equipping them with the tools and knowledge to drive change. Through community organizing, mobilizing, and strategic advocacy, we are working to transform the legislative landscape to better serve families and providers.
As we prepare for the 2025 Washington State Legislative Session, we are excited to champion our top priorities:
- Access to High-Quality Care for Every Family
- Mental Health Support for Children, Families, and Providers, AND
- Living Wages for Child Care Providers
BrightSpark’s Advocacy Program is 100% privately funded, and we can’t do this vital work without your support. Together, we are creating lasting change for children and families in your community and communities across the Washington.
Want to get involved? Sign up for our Capitol Courier newsletter, stay up-to-date on our advocacy efforts, and learn how you can help drive the legislative change we need!
We Are Stronger Together!
At BrightSpark, one of our core values is that we are stronger together. In each newsletter, we will highlight ways in which our community has come together to advance our mission and ways in which you can engage.
2024 Annual Event: A Celebration of Community, Impact, and Support!
On October 5th, BrightSpark hosted our 2024 Annual Event, an unforgettable evening that brought together providers, community leaders, legislators, donors, staff, and board members to raise vital funds for our programs. It was a night filled with energy, inspiration, and connection all in support of the families and children across King and Pierce Counties.
Guests were treated to:
- Inspiring insights from our staff panel, sharing the direct impact of BrightSpark’s programs;
- Incredible performances by The Seattle Children’s Chorus and The Scratch Cats;
- Fun-filled kids’ activities that brought joy to our youngest attendees;
- Exciting raffle and silent auction prizes that kept everyone on their toes;
- And, most importantly, moments of action that allowed everyone to contribute to the future of early learning in our community!
A huge thank you to all who attended, donated, volunteered, and sponsored this event. Your partnership and support made this an unforgettable evening and played a pivotal role in our success.
We are thrilled to share that, together, our community raised an amazing $150,000 to support BrightSpark’s programs and continue the work of making high-quality child care accessible to all!
Meet BrightSpark’s Fund Development Team!
Donny Willeto: Donny (she/her) joined BrightSpark in 2020 and serves as the External Affairs Officer overseeing Advocacy, Public Policy, Marketing, Communications, and Fund Development. Donny is excited to lead this team of passionate, community-centric humans. With over 15 years of nonprofit experience, Donny is passionate about community-centered work and connecting with donors, advocates, corporate partners, and volunteers.
Katie Halterman: Katie (she/her) has been at BrightSpark since January 2023 and serves as the Director of Development. Throughout her 10 years in nonprofit work, she has focused on nonprofit fundraising, engaging fundraising events, and working with corporate and individual donors. Katie has a passion for connecting people with meaningful causes to champion.
Michaela Regehr: Michaela (she/her) joined BrightSpark in February 2023 as the newest Fund Development member, serving as Development Coordinator. Her six years of nonprofit experience focus on the early learning sector, creating equitable systems, and best-practice fundraising efforts. Michaela has an enthusiastic drive to meet new people, engage with constituents, and welcome all community members into this work.
Upcoming Events:
Gratitude Week – November 25th to December 3rd, 2024
Join us for a week of reflection, appreciation, and giving back! Gratitude Week will kick off on Monday, November 25th and culminate with Giving Tuesday on December 3rd. It’s the perfect time to celebrate what we’ve accomplished together and show your support for BrightSpark’s mission.
End-of-Year Giving – Donate by December 31st!
Finish 2024 strong by making your tax-deductible gift before December 31st! Your donation will not only support BrightSpark’s work in the year ahead but also ensure that you receive the tax benefits of giving in 2024. Every contribution counts, and together we can make a lasting impact on the lives of children and families in our community!