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At four months old, Dillon began Kindering’s early support services. He was officially diagnosed with Noonan syndrome when he was a little over a year old. With therapies, 3-year-old Dillon is now able to walk and even chase his sisters, expresses himself through speech and loves feeding time, recently graduating out of his g-tube.

“When I first came to the SoDo shelter and met Giana, my case manager, I felt safe. I felt seen. I felt heard. Most of all, I felt respected.” said Destini. Salvation Army shelters provide case managers who help guests move from crisis into stability and eventually into housing. “The Salvation Army has given me hope by allowing me space to grow, learn, and believe in myself,” Destini says.

Born in El Salvador with a physical difference, Omar faced years of bullying. When his family immigrated to Bellevue, he was hiding beneath his hoodie, using it as a shield. At YES, Omar connected with a bilingual counselor who helped him confront years of trauma and rediscover hope. Today, he’s in college studying health science and pursuing a career in dental hygiene.

When Daniel arrives at his local Sound Generations senior center, he gets nourished, connected and cared for. In his 90s, Daniel lost his wife about 18 months ago and started coming to the center for lunch and companionship. He always leaves the center with “Bless you, thanks for all you do for me.”

When Daniela entered foster care after a traumatic event, she feared she wouldn’t graduate high school. With support from Treehouse, she earned her GED early, attended prom and received one-on-one coaching. “Mr. Kevin helped me so, so much,” she says. Now thriving in college with a 4.0 GPA, Daniela dreams of becoming a lawyer and using her bilingual skills to help others.

When Janie came to Wellspring Family Services with her child, they were sleeping in their car after escaping a dangerous situation. With support from Wellspring, she found a safe place to call home and began taking steps toward stability. She found employment, created a financial plan and built a resilient foundation for her and her son's future.

When Charlie arrived at LifeWire’s Hope Starts Here shelter, her baby was just a few weeks old. She had been living in fear, unsure if she would ever find a safe place. Charlie found more than a roof over her head. LifeWire provided her with newborn supplies, coordinated transportation to medical appointments, and helped her begin a journey of safety, stability and healing.

Guardians notice a positive change in their children soon after they’re enrolled in ASC’s After-School Program. “Seeing my child thrive through the youth programs at Atlantic Street Center has been a transformative experience,” says Roxanne. “The support, guidance and opportunities provided have not only helped my child grow academically but also instilled confidence and a sense of belonging.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound’s Future Ready Youth initiative creates mentoring relationships to help youth build confidence, skills and hope. One of those matches is John and Devante. John attends Devante’s football games, plays sports with him, and brings Devante to his own son’s games. Devante’s mother says, “John’s incredible. He really wants to invest the time and effort into Devante.”

When Jinyao Ma came to the U.S. from China, she worked long hours with little stability and few benefits. That changed when she joined Asian Counseling and Referral Service’s Ready to Work program. She improved her English, learned computer skills and gained confidence. “Ready to Work gave me hope,” said Jinyao. Now she is studying to become a nurse, a dream she thought was out of reach.

Heather Cantamessa began her work in family well-being with her personal experience in the child welfare system and her journey toward reunification with her children. She came to Akin seeking advocacy training to elevate family voice in policy. Her dedication helped to inform and lead the work of Akin’s Parents for Parents program. Today, Heather is the Director of Family Impact at Akin.

When an unexpected health crisis struck, Ashley was unable to return to her job as a dog-walker for months. As she relied on credit cards for everyday expenses, she found herself falling deeper into debt. That’s when she began working with Hopelink's financial coach, paying off debt and rebuilding savings. Now having recovered and returned to work, Ashley was able to purchase a much-needed new SUV.

At 13, Victoria Lee was referred to KYFS after repeatedly skipping school. “I was embarrassed about being in school because I didn't feel like I was the smartest kid and I was being bullied,” Victoria explains. With her counselor’s guidance, Victoria rebuilt her confidence and returned to school. Now, Victoria is back at KYFS, this time as a master’s-level therapist intern.