This blog post was written by Nathan Collins, United Way of King County Peer-to-Peer Fundraiser.

Thank you to everyone who supported our United Way of King County Lead United for Equity FUNdraisers this winter. A wonderful group of 15 folks came together to raise over $10,000 to fight hunger and homelessness.

The annual Emerging Leaders 365 fundraiser is a testament to the power of community and the joy of giving. This year, we saw individuals from all over our community come together, united in their commitment to making a difference.

The Lead United for Equity FUNdraiser began on November 13, building up to GivingTuesday, and will run through the end of the year.

Emerging Leaders 365 is a group of dedicated young professionals who are interested in getting involved in their community through United Way. Emerging Leaders get together to give back and do good—and meet other like-minded young professionals in the process.

Our celebration of giving kicked off with a series of exciting events. At Barry’s in Seattle, Dre Gohlke’s exhilarating HIIT workout set the tone, showcasing how fun and philanthropy can go hand in hand.

Elsewhere in Seattle, the International Karaoke Federation assisted Maurice and Kiki Roper in hosting a raucous evening with their “Songs for Equity” karaoke event at Ozzie’s. It was a night filled with laughter, music, and a shared sense of purpose. Kae Hondorp held her second annual crosscut workout class.

In Renton, the Step for Equity event, which was hosted by Marcus Ramirez at Wellness Gaines Fitness, had participants stepping in rhythm, their energy and enthusiasm lighting up the room to groovy tunes.

Down in Auburn, Cristina Luevano-Santos partnered with Reyes Boxing to step into the ring for equity!

In West Seattle, Jenny Elger’s hot yoga session at Breathe Hot Yoga offered a unique blend of wellness and giving. And in North Seattle, Ariella Varley held a neighborhood yard sale to contribute to the collective fundraiser.

But the spirit of giving extended far beyond these events. Across the region, countless individuals stepped up to support our cause, demonstrating that everyone, in their own unique ways, can contribute to making our community a better place.

All these efforts were directed toward supporting the United Way in its mission to ensure everyone has access to resources, quality education, enough to eat, and a safe place to call home. United Way runs a host of vital programs, like the Home Base program for rental assistance, a home grocery delivery program, free summer meals program, and the Bridge to Finish program to provide students the resources they need to graduate.

Dre Gohlke secured a match of $2,500 from a generous donor to put the fundraiser at $14,566 raised for a running total of $24,566.

Together, we’re making a difference, supporting vital programs, and strengthening our community. Here’s to keeping the spirit of giving alive and looking forward to what we can achieve together next year! Let’s keep the positive energy flowing!