Everyone loves a party, but there’s something special about attending one that leaves you with a true sense of purpose. That’s exactly what hundreds of guests experience at One Circle’s annual One Heart/One Community, A Party with a Purpose. One Circle is a volunteer membership group that serves local nonprofit, Bellevue LifeSpring, whose mission is to break the cycle of poverty for Bellevue children and students and provide them with the resources they need to reach stability.

One Circle is one of six membership groups—mostly comprised of West Bellevue neighbors—committed to volunteering, fundraising, and raising awareness. The beloved One Heart/One Community event brings together neighbors, philanthropists, and local business owners in support of a shared mission to prevent hunger for the more than 5,000 children in Bellevue experiencing food insecurity.

Driven by a deep passion for building community and helping local children, One Circle members poured their energy into making the event a heartwarming success, and what a success it was! From generous sponsorships to guests raising their paddles in the room, more than $563,497 was raised to prevent hunger for local children. “The One Heart/One Community A Party with a Purpose event represents 72 hardworking women who are willing to go above and beyond,” said One Circle Member Schanon Odell. “At the end of the day, our goal is to raise money as a community. If we can raise funds and have a wonderful time doing it, that’s a win-win.”

The energy in the room was contagious, with guests engaging in meaningful conversation and showing their commitment to giving back. “Our role as a circle is to help families get back on a path toward stability and long-term prosperity,” shared One Circle Member Gardenia Banks. “I hope our party plants a seed. One day, the families we serve may be in a position not only to thrive, but to give back and serve others. That cycle—receiving help, regaining stability, and eventually becoming a giver—is the true, lasting impact.”

At the event, One Circle Member Elise Lee’s story of support was shared with guests. Elise once received a college scholarship from Bellevue LifeSpring, which at the time was known as Overlake Service League. Elise shared that her scholarship gave her hope and set her on an upward trajectory in her education and career. Fast forward to today, when Elise is actively engaged in One Circle and, along with her husband Kai Cheng, they made a leadership investment as the Legacy Partner of the One Heart/One Community A Party with a Purpose event.

The event’s Presenting Partners were Anu and Naveen Jain, founders of Viome, whose continued support and generosity help to fuel Bellevue LifeSpring’s mission. The event would not have been possible without the leadership of One Circle Co-Chairs Liz Hale and Annemarie Marcus, and One Circle event Co-Chairs Trish Carpenter and Cathi Hatch.