What Matters Most
Our annual What Matters Most fundraising event was on Friday, May 31, 2024 from 5:00PM to 7:30PM at Town Hall Seattle.
What Matters Most is our largest fundraising event of the year!
This year we hosted a reception to commemorate our 118th anniversary. We enjoyed drinks and appetizers by That Brown Girl Cooks! while mingling with fellow Neighborhood House supporters with the common goal of creating a more equitable and welcoming King County for all. We offered engaging content that informed attendees about our work, built connections, and raised funds to support our communities.
Couldn’t make it? Consider donating today to help us reach our fundraising goal!
Keynote Speaker: Susan Lieu
Susan Lieu is a Vietnamese-American author, playwright, and performer who tells stories that refuse to be forgotten. A daughter of nail salon workers, she took her autobiographical solo theatre show 140 LBS: How Beauty Killed My Mother on a 10-city national tour with sold out premieres and accolades from L.A. Times, NPR, and American Theatre. Eight months pregnant, she premiered her sequel OVER 140 LBS as the headliner for ACT Theatre’s SoloFest. Within one year she held 60 performances to over 7,000 people. Her award-winning work has been featured at Bumbershoot, Wing Luke Museum, The Moth Mainstage, On The Boards, The World Economic Forum, RISK!, CAATA ConFest, Viet Film Fest, and she has spoken at more than a dozen universities around the country. She is a proud alumna of Harvard College, Yale School of Management, Coro, Hedgebrook, and Vashon Artist Residency. Susan lives with her husband and son in Seattle where they enjoy mushroom hunting, croissants, and big family gatherings. The Manicurist’s Daughter is her first book.
Executive Director: Janice Deguchi
Janice Deguchi has served as the Executive Director of Neighborhood House since September 2019. Janice is a Seattle native and has worked for over 25 years helping people gain access to vocational training, early learning, senior care, and youth mentorship. She is a tireless advocate for early learning and in 2013, was selected as a Parent Map Superhero for her advocacy. Janice currently serves on the board of Washington State Community Action Partnership, and is co-chair of the Seattle Human Services Coalition Wage Equity Leadership Committee.
MC: KUOW Host Angela King
Angela King is an Emmy-award winning journalist who’s been a part of the northwest news scene since the early 1990s. A proud University of Washington alumna, with degrees in Broadcast Journalism and American Ethnic Studies, she started her career as a news writer in Seattle, before becoming a reporter and anchor in Seattle, Portland, and Albuquerque. She is currently the Morning News Host at KUOW in addition to being an independent documentary producer.
Ways to get involved:
Event Host
Event Hosts help us fill the room with partners, friends, family, and neighbors that are interested in supporting our work! This year’s event seating is theatre-style, so while we won’t be asking you to fill a table, we’d love for you to bring as many guests as possible. Hosts who bring 5 or more guests will have special reserved seating for the program. Contact Deborah Daniels, deborahd@nhwa.org if you are interested. Check out our event host packet to learn more.
Sponsor
Sponsoring the event is a great way to show your company support for our mission and community. All sponsors will be featured in promotional materials and be recognized during the event. Contact Emily Tomita, emilyt@nhwa.org if you are interested in sponsoring our event.
Volunteer
We will have volunteer opportunities before, during, and after the event. Contact Muna Ali, munaa@nhwa.org if you are interested in volunteering for the event.
COVID-19 Safety Guidelines
Neighborhood House staff and volunteers work with vulnerable populations all over King County. Masks are welcome. Please stay home if you are feeling sick. For more information on Town Hall Covid Policies.
Thank you to our sponsors!
