Seattle event to raise funds to instill financial empowerment in kids

Junior Achievement Washington’s Dare to Dream event will be a fun night filled with food, drinks, and an epic silent auction. Sponsored by Harborstone Credit Union.

Author: New Day Northwest, Andrew Hinkelman

Published: 1:50 PM PDT September 7, 2021

To that end, Harborstone Credit Union and Junior Achievement Washington (JA) have long partnered to bring sound money management education to kids throughout the state.

“It’s an amazing relationship,” said Lisa Stirgus, senior vice president and chief experience officer at Harborstone. “Our missions are aligned, our values are aligned, and we couldn’t be more grateful to have JA and their really awesome curriculum.

“We believe it’s our obligation to teach our members the skills they need, the disciplines they need to really manage money well. We want you to have more savings than other people out there because you have a plan to have an emergency fund to weather a storm that’s unexpected. You have a goal savings and you have a plan for retirement and investing.”

Junior Achievement’s outreach to middle and high school students needs its own financial backing, and the annual Dare to Dream fundraiser is Saturday, Sept. 18 at T-Mobile Park.

“Dare to Dream is our largest event of the year,” said Natalie Vega O’Neil, Junior Achievement of Washington’s president and CEO. “It’s where we raise a bunch of money to really support JA’s mission of having kids all across the state of Washington, no matter where they are, no matter what school they go to, be able to really learn the basics about how money works.”

Both a live and silent auction will be held at the stadium. Among the items up for bid are Seahawks season tickets, trips to Belize and other tropical vacation packages, plus an adorable fluff ball of a puppy named Zoom — a mix of Goldendoodle and Australian Labradoodle.

“We really champion, internally and externally, to advocate and share the story (of JA),” Stirgus said. “This is our largest fundraiser at JA, and so it’s the funding we get to be able to provide the programs and get into the schools. We try to use our network at Harborstone to really champion the message and get as many people to participate and donate as they can. We’re so excited to be a part of the event.”

For tickets to Dare to Dream and to learn more about the event, visit the Junior Achievement website.