As we look ahead to Bellevue LifeSpring’s Step Up to the Plate Benefit Luncheon, we’re grateful for the dedicated leaders who help bring this event—and its impact—to life. Among them is Bellevue LifeSpring Board Member Keri Pravitz (Manager, Community Engagement, Bellevue/Eastern WA, Public Policy, Amazon).
Keri is serving as a Luncheon Chair for the third year in a row. She is co-chairing alongside Board Member Keri Ellison, Fairweather Circle Member Noreli Domínguez Acosta, and City Council Member and Founder of Bellden Café Claire Sumadiwirya.
Keri’s commitment to Bellevue LifeSpring is both deeply personal and forward-looking. Read below as she shares why she continues to step up, what she’s most excited about this year, and why this work matters now more than ever.
Why are you choosing to step up as an event chair?
I said yes to co-chairing for the third year in a row because I am deeply committed to sharing Bellevue LifeSpring’s story with audiences old and new. With a 100+ year history, it’s easy for people to assume they know what Bellevue LifeSpring does. However, as our local community constantly changes, the needs are changing as well.
What many people don’t realize is that food insecurity among Bellevue School District students has increased significantly in recent years, and we’re seeing more families struggling with housing instability than ever before. I want the broader community can see how Bellevue LifeSpring is “stepping up” to meet today’s challenges by addressing children’s basic needs so they can focus on education and thrive.
What part of the luncheon are you looking forward to, and what do you hope attendees will walk away with after the luncheon?
I’m excited about our panel presentation. Last year’s was so informative, and people left saying, “I had no idea” or “I didn’t know this was happening in Bellevue.” This year’s panel will pick up where last year’s left off. We’ll hear what kids and families are facing every day—not somewhere else, but right here in Bellevue. We’ll hear from compassionate leaders who are making an impact, empowering others, and constantly innovating to support our community in meaningful ways.
I hope attendees walk away with three things: First, a clear understanding that need exists in our own backyard here in Bellevue. Second, confidence that their support, whether through volunteering, donating, or advocating, makes a measurable difference in children’s lives. And third, a sense of urgency and commitment to take action. I want people to leave not just moved but mobilized. Whether that means signing up to volunteer, increasing their financial support, or simply spreading awareness in their networks, I want every attendee to know exactly how they can help ensure every child in Bellevue has what they need to succeed.
You’ve made a strong personal commitment to Bellevue LifeSpring’s mission as a board member, donor, and advocate. What has kept you engaged with our mission over time?
Personally, I had been Bellevue LifeSpring-adjacent for decades. I was one of the children in the Bellevue School District who needed support. Growing up in East Bellevue in a single-parent household, we struggled. I know we received help and support, although it wasn’t talked about openly. Looking back, I realize that the quiet dignity with which that support was provided, no stigma attached, allowed me to focus on my education and ultimately build the life I have today.
That experience shaped everything about how I approach this work. I understand viscerally what it means to be the child who feels different because you can’t afford what your classmates have. I also know what it means to receive help that doesn’t diminish your dignity but instead empowers you to thrive. That’s what Bellevue LifeSpring does every single day, and it’s why I’m so passionate about ensuring this organization has the resources to continue this critical work.
Now that I am with Amazon, I am able to shepherd funding and volunteer resources to Bellevue LifeSpring. At Amazon, we know that one of our greatest assets is the passion and brilliance of our employees. Through my role on the board and the other Amazonians who serve as volunteers, we provide frontline support and engage directly with the families we serve.
This is part of our aim to build long-term, creative partnerships that have a lasting, positive impact in the communities where we live and work. This partnership with Bellevue LifeSpring reflects exactly what can happen when innovation, community commitment, and a shared focus on children come together in action, with future generations in mind.
When I see a child receive a new pair of shoes or a backpack full of school supplies, I see that child’s face light up with relief and possibility, and I’m reminded why this work matters so profoundly. We’re not just meeting immediate needs; we’re investing in the future leaders, innovators, and community members of Bellevue. That’s a legacy worth building, year after year.
Join Keri and attend our luncheon on April 28 at the Meydenbauer Center.
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