Emerging Leaders Raise Money & Awareness for DAWN

Every year of the Emerging Leaders program, WMFHA strives to provide a unique experience for each group. During the application interview process, it became very evident that this group was passionate about giving back to the community. To feed this passion, we partnered with DAWN & Akin, which are two of WMFHA’s philanthropy partners to provide an opportunity to raise money and awareness.

The group was placed in teams, with each focusing on one of the charitable groups. They chose different roles for each person from project managers to marketing and volunteer coordinators. They are responsible for planning the entire project from start to finish.

The DAWN Dream Team which consisted of Erica Chesley, Brandon Valencia, Danielle Tieskotter, Miles Bruck, Krystal Carradine & Jason Moss, was the first group to hold an event on September 20. They held a field day at a park in Renton which included face painting, lawn games, cupcake decorating and a step & repeat for photos. They were able to speak to people in the park about the great work that DAWN does and accepted donations on site. The grand total they collected was $1100!

Some of the team shared what the experience meant to them:

What did you learn about DAWN that you did not know before this project?

Krystal:

I learned just how comprehensive DAWN’s work really is. I knew about the organization and its mission, but through this project I gained a much better understanding of the range of support they provide and how important those resources are to individuals and families working toward safety and stability. It made the impact of what we were planning feel much more tangible.

Miles:

Learning about DAWN has been such a welcomed development within the Emerging Leaders Program.  With no prior knowledge, I was an open book when it came to their cause, purpose, and goals.  Being able to represent such an important pillar of the community has been enriching and eye opening.  From the volunteers who make it happen to the victims they support I am now aware how pivotal women’s shelters are to the housing community.  Throughout the event I chatted with patrons of the park, and it was interesting to find out how many of them knew women and children that needed DAWN’s services.  Taking moments to walk in other people’s shoes is something I will cherish and never forget.  The generosity of the event attendees that day was special, and I hope we made a small difference to DAWN’s fundraising.  It was an honor.

What was the most rewarding part about being involved in planning the event?

Krystal:

The most rewarding part was watching everything come together and seeing what we were able to accomplish as a team. There is a huge difference between talking about wanting to support our community and actually seeing people collaborate, contribute their strengths, and turn an idea into something that has a real impact. Being part of that process (and knowing the work ultimately benefited people who genuinely need that support) made all of the planning worthwhile.

What leadership lessons did you learn during this experience?

Miles:

In terms of leadership lessons, I think the biggest takeaway was that leadership can come in many forms.  Within the nuances of a team, each member is crucial in the overall success of the event.  The leader’s biggest challenge is utilizing the strengths and weaknesses of the individual to help the greater group.  When assigning tasks for the event, team members gravitated towards tasks where they were strongest and could positively contribute.  For this event, I was part of the logistics team.  Due to my family, emergency logistics was the optimal role because it allowed me to ask questions with concrete answers.  For instance, I was able to bring tables, chairs, and a canopy.  These physical items were all vital to the event when it came to layout and a welcoming set up.  I felt immense pride in volunteering for DAWN and putting together such a successful event.  It really proves that with the right leaders in place, hard work, and a worthy cause we are capable of so much good.