MIYFS Foundation fundraising breakfast draws nearly 500 attendees

With an attendance of nearly 500 people strong, the Mercer Island Youth and Family Services (MIYFS) Foundation presented its 21st annual fundraising breakfast in person on Feb. 8 after two years of virtual events due to the pandemic.

There were smiles, embraces and chatter in abundance inside the walls of the Mercer Island Community and Event Center gymnasium during the “Community, Connection, Compassion” gathering that had notched a fundraising amount of just over $400,000 for MIYFS at press time.

To kick off the event, master of ceremonies Bill Radke — an Island resident and KUOW host — spoke of the importance of MIYFS and the crucial programming it has provided in the community and schools for the last 50 years.

Throughout the hour-long event, MIYFS organization and foundation leaders addressed the crowd about the impact counselors and other key people have made on the Island in caring for and elevating residents in need. Counselors told stories of their experiences with residents in heartfelt video interviews, and several attendees read letters from anonymous Islanders about how they’ve navigated through trying times with counselors by their side.

MIYFS Administrator Tambi Cork said it’s been a tough three years since the last in-person fundraising breakfast.

“When I look around this room and I see all of you, what I feel is hope and gratitude, because here on Mercer Island there is a resounding call of support, a resounding call that this community values mental health and human services,” said Cork, who thanked community members, the MIYFS Foundation, city leaders and the city council “for recognizing and elevating the critical supports that are provided by Youth and Family Services staff, for giving so generously of their time and financial resources.”

As MIYFS continues to grow and assist the community, it has added a second counselor at Islander Middle School, noted Cork, whose announcement was followed by resounding applause.

Mercer Island Presbyterian Church was the recipient of the philanthropy award, and Radke said the church community exemplifies the breakfast theme by raising more than $15,000 for MIYFS during the church’s annual holiday campaign, “Give From the Heart,” and has provided more than $40,000 in financial support to MIYFS over the years. The congregation also delves into vital work focused on education, food insecurity, homelessness and mental health through monetary gifts, donations, volunteerism and prayer, Radke added.

Upon receiving a plaque, senior pastor Kristy Farber said the church is honored to partner with MIYFS and they look forward to continuing that relationship for years to come. Representing Mercer Island High School, Jen McLellan thanked attendees for purchasing holiday trees at the student-run lot hosted by the church in 2022 and sending proceeds to MIYFS.

Parent Andrea Hegarty was pleased to see the Island community rally around MIYFS at the event.

“I thought it was amazing, and it was really nice to be back in person again and see everybody supporting MIYFS,” she said of the essential organization.

Another parent, Michael Lill, felt the interviews and testimonials were powerful to listen to as he sat amongst the other attendees.

“It’s just really inspiring to be around such a strong community and supportive community where you have a lot of people who pull together and they give of their time and the resources to support each other and make this such a great community to live in,” he said.

To view a pair of impactful breakfast videos, visit: https://www.youtube.com/@miyfsfoundation6670/videos