We are thrilled to introduce our 2023 Step Up to the Plate Benefit Luncheon Chairs: Board Member Lisa James, Owner of Greet West Bellevue Magazine Lindsay Rucker, and One Circle Member Ellen Wilwerding. All three of our luncheon leaders are dedicated community members and longtime supporters of Bellevue children. Check out their bios here.
Read along as Lindsay, Lisa, and Ellen share why participation in this year’s luncheon is vital to building a better Bellevue.
Lindsay, your magazine has always been a trusted media sponsor of the luncheon. What motivated you to step up as a Luncheon Chair this year?
One of the primary motivations for stepping up as a Luncheon Chair is a deep sense of community involvement and a desire to make a positive impact on the lives of children and families in need here in our backyards. Serving as a Luncheon Chair provides an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and organizations that share this goal, as well as a platform to raise awareness and funds for important causes like this.
As a local business owner of a community magazine, I’m excited to have the opportunity to connect with other passionate individuals who are also working to make a positive impact on the Bellevue community.
What are you most excited about for this year’s luncheon?
We are putting a lot of effort into making this luncheon meaningful and impactful. We want to create an experience that raises awareness about the important work being done in our community and inspires attendees to take action and get involved for the future. From the speakers to the networking opportunities, every aspect of the event is designed to leave a lasting impression on attendees.
Why do you think it’s important to join together with your neighbors, colleagues, and fellow community members to give where you live?
This luncheon presents a unique opportunity to not only raise much-needed funds for local children but also to build strong relationships with others who share our vision for a better community. By working together, we can achieve so much more than we could alone.
We want this luncheon to be more than just a fundraising event – we want it to be a catalyst for change in our community. By coming together, we can make a real difference in the lives of those who need it most. So let’s roll up our sleeves, connect with each other, and work towards a brighter future for all.
Lisa, why was it important to you to step up as a Luncheon Chair this year?
Bellevue LifeSpring has been a part of my heart since I was welcomed to a Circle in my neighborhood of Yarrow Point 20 years ago. Currently, I serve on the board and am an active volunteer. I want everyone to know about the programs and services Bellevue LifeSpring offers and the immediate help we are able to provide to Bellevue’s most vulnerable children and families. Our annual luncheon is the best platform for conveying this important information, and I am excited to work with Ellen and Lindsay on this year’s event!
What should guests get ready to expect at this year’s event?
Our committee has had some great conversations and brainstorming sessions on how to make the program significant and memorable. We plan to shake up the format in a way I think will really engage our luncheon guests.
Why do you think it’s important to join together with your neighbors, colleagues, and fellow community members to give where you live?
We all know we are better together, and we all have a heart for Bellevue’s children. Bellevue LifeSpring offers a way for the whole community — neighbors, professionals, individuals, and groups — to give to those who need it the most in our community, the kids. I cannot think of a more unifying cause and one that makes an investment in humanity and community.
Ellen, after serving as a chair for our Uncork the Night fundraising event this past fall, what motivates you to step up as a Luncheon Chair this spring?
My first introduction to the Step Up to the Plate Luncheon was in 2016 when I was invited to attend with a group of neighbors. I remember being amazed at the huge number of people that had come together to support such an important cause. So, when the opportunity arose to help co-chair this year’s luncheon, I was more than happy to continue my support and help create an amazing event to help Bellevue children and families in need. Events, like Uncork the Night and Step Up to the Plate Benefit Luncheon, are critical to Bellevue LifeSpring’s ability to provide food and rent support to families in need.
What are you most excited about for this year’s luncheon?
Every time I attend a Bellevue LifeSpring event, I hear inspiring stories from those around me. This year will be no different. We have some amazing speakers lined up to tell us their own stories and to bring awareness to what is happening within our community.
Why do you think it’s important to join together with your neighbors, colleagues, and fellow community members to give where you live?
As the saying goes, “it takes a village.” And that couldn’t be more on point when it comes to the Step Up to the Plate Luncheon. No one knows Bellevue better than those of us that live right here. That’s why it’s important to help the children and families right here in our community.
Seeing the Bellevue community come together – friends, neighbors, and business leaders – to raise awareness for those who need it most is what giving is all about. Together our collective impact can make a difference in the lives of the one in five Bellevue children experiencing food insecurity.
Thank you to Lindsay, Lisa, and Ellen — our luncheon’s fearless leaders! Join our chairs and your neighbors on Tuesday, April 25, and step up to the plate for Bellevue kids in need. Learn more.
