The LEO 20th Anniversary Luncheon was a huge success!

Thank you to all our friends and supporters for coming. On Tuesday, October 13, 2009, the City of Issaquah's Pickering Barn was filled with close to 300 guests and excited LEO volunteers. Along with balloons popping, friends enjoying a delicious lunch and excitement in the air, John Curley, the emcee, lead the audience through a couple of hours of a fun where over $85,000 was raised for the organization's future.

The focus of the event was to honor the founding members of the organization, Rose Finnegan, Ann Dennis, Angela Dews, Shirley North (deceased) and Sally Fritz (deceased). The current board president, Mary Cline-Stively, spoke of the founders' dream of a community where people with developmental disabilities would fully participate. She spoke of the work that has gone on over the past 20 years to make that dream a reality. After a presentation of gifts, the three founders in attendance received a standing ovation.

A touching video, created by Jim Dever, followed by testimony from David North, whose brother Tim lives in the LEO Rose House, sharing his family's experience with the services and caring of the LEO caregivers, encouraged the guests present to open their hearts and give so that other families will have LEO there for them.

The LEO Board of Directors would like to thank the following sponsors for their generous donations that made the event possible.

Platinum Sponsors
Polygon Northwest
Northwest Capitol Group/Smith Barney

Gold Sponsors
Mike Ernst and Carol Weisbecker
Redmond Welders and Fabricators
Fredrick Real Estate Development, LLC
Stively Commercial Coatings

Silver Sponsors
Rebecca Kitz, CPA, PLLC
Washington Federal Savings
The Rotary Clubs of Issaquah and Sammamish
Outback Steakhouse
The Whitaker Foundation

Bronze Sponsors
Clark Nuber
Eastside Consultants, Inc.

Thank you also to the many businesses, who donated prizes, and the incredible volunteers who made the event possible!