The Bellevue School District (BSD), in partnership with Bellevue LifeSpring, with support through Amazon’s Right Now Needs Fund, invites the community to join elected officials and public leaders to celebrate and attend the Bellevue Family Hub at Stevenson Elementary School open house, Wednesday, November 8, from 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. at Stevenson Elementary School, (14220 NE 8th Street, Bellevue, WA 98007).
The Bellevue Family Hub will serve as a one-stop center for families districtwide to receive support and resources like food, clothing, health services, credit recovery scholarships, and emergency rent assistance. The Stevenson location is the second Hub within the Bellevue School District, preceded by the first location at Highland Middle School, which opened its doors in 2022. Bellevue School District Superintendent Dr. Kelly Aramaki shared, “This partnership is a great example of what it means to be a part of a Beloved Community, providing resources, information, and assistance that supports and strengthens all of us.”
Since 1911, Bellevue LifeSpring has supported Bellevue’s children and their families. The organization welcomes the chance to expand this support directly to families with the opening of the second Bellevue Family Hub at Stevenson Elementary. Local non-profit Bellevue LifeSpring provides funding and staff support for the Bellevue Family Hub. Jennifer Fischer, Executive Director of Bellevue LifeSpring, said, “We are thrilled to partner with the Bellevue School District and Amazon in creating this second resource center for Bellevue families. We look forward to providing immediate support for students and families in our community to ensure their needs are met. This project will evolve as we work with the district to enhance our services.”
Amazon donated $700,000 in cash and $150,000 in Amazon Gift Cards to Bellevue LifeSpring to support all 29 schools in the Bellevue School District. Bellevue LifeSpring supports nearly 4,000 underserved students enrolled in the Bellevue School District and their families. Since the Fund was created with Bellevue LifeSpring in 2020, there have been more than 36,000 instances of student support.
“We’re committed to helping more students meet their basic needs to learn and build their best future – our headquarters communities are a big piece of this mission as these are the neighborhoods, we’re proud to call home,” said Victor Reinoso, global director of Amazon’s philanthropic education initiatives. “Without warm clothes for the winter, without access to healthy food and school supplies, students can’t be successful at school. Our support ensures they have their essential needs covered so they can focus on what’s important – learning.”
The Bellevue School District, with over 18,000 students and 28 schools, is diverse and dynamic in East King County, Washington. Its mission is “To serve each and every student academically, socially, and emotionally through a rigorous and relevant education that is innovative and individualized. As a learning community that values one another’s humanity, we provide courageous support for equitable and exceptional education for all students.”