2026 Champions Luncheon Showcased Pathways to Possibility

2026 Champions Luncheon At the 2026 Champions Luncheon, it was thrilling to host nearly 900 people in the room—the most attendees since 2021. This year’s theme delved into how Treehouse creates Pathways to Possibility—both in partnership with youth experiencing foster care and as a community in action.

The Year’s Journey

The past year has been a big one for community action. After tough state budget cuts impacted Treehouse and many other organizations, 400 students lost access to our one-on-one education services. Yet Washingtonians banded together to advocate in the Legislature for youth to receive Treehouse services. As a result, we regained half our funding for the 2026–2027 year.

While this is a partial win, it’s no less profound. This outcome is a powerful reminder of what is possible when we come together, raise our voices, and refuse to leave our young people behind. And the power of youth who’ve experienced foster care was palpable throughout the event.

Honoring Youth Perspective

In the lobby, guests were immersed in a gallery of vision boards created by high school Treehouse participants in the Spokane area. Each board was as unique as the teen who made it, yet common threads emerged: goals, family, stability, and enough of everything to lead a life of their very own. Guests were invited to share in the youths’ hopes and plans for the future, while also remembering their own aspirations at 17 years old.

On the stage, the audience was treated to a few examples of the impact Treehouse makes on a young person’s journey. We caught up with Winter and two of her sisters, who were the subjects of a video in 2021. Next, we heard from Ericka Mickelson—advocate, family woman, artist, and former Treehouse participant. Ericka crafted her own vision board for the event, which incorporated her past, present, and future. And presenting our Legislators of the Year awards with Dawn Rains was Tashawn DeVille, a fellow Treehouse alumna who championed reinstating our state funding this legislative session and intends to enter public service herself.

Congratulations to Our Award Winners!

Treehouse gratefully recognized several community leaders and partners at the event who truly made a difference for youth in foster care this year:

2026 Corporate Partner of the Year: Dropbox
2026 Volunteer of the Year: Linda Finn
2026 Community Partner of the Year: Microsoft’s Global Employee Engagement Team
2026 Legislators of the Year: Senator Claire Wilson and Representative Alicia Rule

Thanks to Our Sponsors & Partners

Thank you to our sponsors for standing with Treehouse and the young people we serve. Your support creates tangible opportunities every day: stable educational support, access to extracurricular activities, essential resources, and the shared belief in a future where all youth in foster care can build the lives they imagine for themselves.

2026 Champions Luncheon

From volunteers and advocates to corporate partners, donors, alumni, and legislators, the Treehouse community continues to show what is possible when people come together to build a brighter future—where every young person has the opportunity to thrive.