Empowering Youth Spokane luncheon: Building bright futures

On Tuesday March 5, 2024, College Success Foundation Spokane hosted its inaugural Empowering Youth Luncheon at the Spokane Convention Center. This event brought together students, their CSF advisors and coaches, educators, and key community members to empower students furthest from educational access and opportunity. By coming together for this important fundraising event, our Spokane community is helping ensure thousands of students from low-income families across eastern Washington get the support they need to pursue their best post-secondary pathway.

“College Success Foundation is honored to work in partnership across eastern Washington, advocating for equitable access and opportunity in education for all students.” said CSF-Spokane Executive Director, Shannon Demant. “Together, we are building our Scholars up to achieve their best and  brightest futures possible.”

To a crowd of over 325 guests, CSF-Spokane Board Chair, Kelly Fukai, commenced the event with inspiring focus, engaging the audience in thoughtful reflection on the value of higher education and its importance for our future community. “Helping students reach their potential is critical to workforce development and building a thriving community,” said Kelly. “ Our students bring diverse perspectives and voices and are critical to economic prosperity. In turn, CSF alumni go on to build successful careers and start their families, further enriching our region. They live generously and seek to create legacies of impact as they reach towards their future careers and volunteer endeavors. To date, more than 13,300 CSF Scholars have graduated from college.”

CSF Scholar, Chin Michiosy, boldly shared his personal story of resilience and triumph, recalling his struggles growing up unhoused to recently losing his brother. Without his high school advisor and college coach, Chin remarked he would be lost without CSF. “Help is vital to the experience of being human,” Chin said. “I am only here today because of [my CSF advisor and CSF college coach]. We all need help sometimes, it’s not bad to have it. By combining our strengths and becoming a unified force, we can build the next generation of Spokanites.”

It’s with wholehearted thanks that we acknowledge our event sponsors and partners for making this inaugural event so special. Through their generous financial and in-kind support, we can continue to fund the critical programs and resources that empower our youth to achieve their fullest potentials.

Didn’t have the chance to attend the event? We invite you to make a positive impact on the education journeys of our students by making a gift today.