Hands of Hope Tacoma
Friday’s event was a genuine success in introducing Harbor Hope Center to a new Tacoma audience. The program, meal, and venue all landed well, the room was energized, and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. One attendee produced a beautiful video recap now circulating on Facebook, which we’ve shared on our page and are working to feature on our website.
Financially, the initial event did not generate a surplus, though we anticipate it covered costs and expect donations to continue over the next few weeks. Our team worked hard on this event while simultaneously building out Hands of Hope Gig Harbor, and 133 people attended, expanding both our donor base and volunteer pool.
We consider this the opening salvo of our Spring/Summer fundraising in Tacoma. Donations are still coming in, one foundation committed $10,000 after the event, and another couple with a foundation has been contacted about how we can apply.
We are emailing all attendees and calling table point people to thank them, invite them deeper into the mission, and give them a heads-up on our ribbon cutting, planned for early summer. We’ll also be posting social media highlights to sustain momentum during this follow-up window.
We came away with actionable steps to take in future Tacoma events and lessons about the Tacoma market. Going forward, we are committed to a more cost-effective event model, including self-catering options and a potential partnership with the Rescue Mission, whose culinary program recently produced exceptional food for their annual event.
Save the Date: October 9 — We have secured Ocean5. If you would like to RSVP or sponsor a table, please let me know. We will send a separate email with promotional material.
Tacoma Rotary Today we were notified that the Rotary Club of Tacoma #8 awarded Harbor Hope Center $5,000. That’s meaningful not just financially, but because it represents a Tacoma community organization formally recognizing our work. We will continue inviting local groups to tour the properties and engage with the mission.
Tours If you haven’t visited 716 MLK Jr. Way (the duplex) or 712 (the house), please reach out and we will set something up. Also, feel free to reach out for coffee. Your input is welcome as well as introductions to individuals who might be interested in supporting Harbor Hope Center.
Daniel Johnson
Last modified: May 6, 2026
