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LifeWire News

Posted on January 27, 2025April 17, 2026 by Patrick Martin

Spring 2026

Spring 2026 Newsletter Download

Stories of Hope

Just as Erica was about to begin school and build a new life for herself and her two daughters, her former partner – whom they had escaped – found them. The safety risks were so severe that she knew her only option was to move across the country, staying with her brother while they searched for a new community to put down roots. Thanks to the generosity of our partners and supporters, LifeWire was able to step up and provide crucial assistance.

We navigated the complex process of transferring her Section 8 housing voucher to a new city, secured a new birth certificate, and assisted her in getting approved for a new home. LifeWire also provided support during their long journey. Today, Erica and her children are safely housed and thriving in their new community, embracing their fresh start.

Events

Auctioneer Sasha Summer Cousineau, Emcee Jake Whittenberg, and Advocate Arely Madrid-Baker

On October 26th, LifeWire’s World of Hope Gala & Auction transported more than 300 supporters, advocates, and change-makers back to the 1980s. It was a Prom Night extravaganza celebrating our work offering hope, stability, and healing. Big hair, neon outfits, and incredible generosity filled the room as attendees and sponsors raised more than $312,000 to support survivors of domestic violence and their families. Every dollar will make a meaningful difference.

Guests had a blast while making a difference for survivors and their families, enjoying new experiences like Amazon Blast from the Past Packs, the Bank of America Time Machine, and LifeWire Radio by Intracorp, as well as bidding on incredible auction packages and gourmet desserts. Special thanks to our sponsors, dedicated volunteers, Event Committee members, and everyone who made this event unforgettable.

Don’t miss next year’s World of Hope Gala & Auction on September 13th, 2025 at Meydenbauer Center—we can’t wait to see you there! For more information on sponsorship, auction donations, or volunteering, contact Patrick Martin, Director of Community Relations, at patrickm@lifewire.org.

The holiday season shines brightest when it’s filled with joy—and at LifeWire, joy includes gifts! This year, our Holiday Shop brought smiles and warmth to 111 parents and their 245 children. LifeWire offered presents and gift cards to program participants, Hope Starts Here residents, and their families. Adding to the magic, our Hope Starts Here holiday party gave kids the chance to pick out and wrap heartfelt gifts for their parents!

As one participant shared with their LifeWire advocate, “Last year we had a very difficult holiday. This year, while we are thankful to be in our own place, I have been very mindful of budgeting as my little one is currently unable to attend childcare. It was a tremendous relief to have the opportunity to receive gifts for my daughter. The thoughtful presents were a much-needed boost for our holiday spirits, and it was a wonderful reminder that even if it feels like it at times, we are not alone. I can’t say thank you enough.”

We owe a tremendous thank you to the amazing friends and partners who made this year’s Holiday Shop a reality. The Forgotten Children’s Fund and Timberlake Church donated beloved toys and cozy winter clothing, while volunteers from Meta, Butterfly Effect, and Movement Mortgage (pictured) worked tirelessly to wrap hundreds of gifts with care. Your generosity created a season of hope, love, and unforgettable memories for so many families.

LifeWire In the News

LifeWire is honored to have our work supporting survivors and their pets featured by The Seattle Times in the annual Fund for Those in Need. As their article highlights, up to 50% of survivors delay or avoid leaving abusive situations because of their pets. Our new Hope Starts Here shelter, one of only a few in the region designed to welcome pets, ensures that every family member—furry ones included—can find safety, stability, and healing.

Check out the article!

Donor Spotlight

LifeWire is thrilled to announce our RedRover Safe Housing grant, supporting survivors of domestic violence and their pets. This funding tackles a critical issue: ensuring survivors never have to choose between their safety and leaving beloved animals behind.

Our new Hope Starts Here apartment complex is LifeWire’s, and one of the region’s, first pet-friendly domestic violence shelters, allowing survivors to stay with their pets as they rebuild their lives.

The grant enables us to provide essential pet care, including:

Discounted routine veterinary care (vaccinations, spaying/neutering).
Pet deposits at pet-friendly hotels.
Emergency vet services.
Supplies like food, crates, and leashes.

Our partnership with Seattle Humane strengthens this work by offering affordable veterinary services, boarding services, and staff training to meet the unique needs of survivors and their pets.

For many, pets are more than companions—they’re lifelines. Thanks to RedRover and Seattle Humane, LifeWire can ensure safety, stability, and healing for survivors and their furry family members.

Get Involved

Are you looking to get involved and make a meaningful difference for survivors? Volunteer with LifeWire! Current opportunities include:

Social Media Content Strategist: Do you have a knack for crafting and reaching audiences with engaging content on social media? Help LifeWire spread the word about resources for survivors and opportunities to support our team!

Event Assistant: LifeWire hosts events throughout the year, both for our participants and supporters. Help us make them memorable by helping with planning, setup, operation, and pack-out!

Stewardship Ambassador: Donors make LifeWire’s work possible. Help us show our appreciation to these incredible partners with a thank you call or card after their contribution.

Reach out and get involved!

Donate today!

LifeWire Hires a New Co-Executive Director for Organizational Operations

Posted on August 23, 2023August 23, 2023 by Patrick Martin

It is my pleasure to announce to you that we have hired the new Co-Executive Director of Organizational Operations. Through a rigorous search process, the Search Committee, in partnership with the Executive Committee of the board and several LifeWire staff members and Directors, determined that Janeira Bencosme-Gil would be an ideal fit for our organization.

The board and I are very excited about the skills, passion, leadership, and partnership Janeira will bring to LifeWire. After seeing her interact with members of the LifeWire team, it is evident we will be engaging in a true partnership that is going to result in optimal outcomes for survivors.

Janeira and her family will be relocating to the Pacific Northwest, and she will begin her work with LifeWire on July 3^rd. While I could share many things with you all about Janeira, I’ll allow her to share a bit about herself below.

In her own words…

Since graduating college 17 years ago, I have spent the entirety of my career committed to the field of Domestic and Gender-Based Violence services. Before stepping into my new position at LifeWire, I proudly served as the Deputy Director for the NYC Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence, at the Staten Island Family Justice Center. These centers are co-located multidisciplinary service centers providing vital social services to survivors of domestic and gender-based violence. I am particularly proud of my time at the Staten Island Family Justice Center because I was lucky enough to be part of the incredible team that brought the center to life, from the first groundbreaking to a thriving center empowering survivors.

My role was diverse, ranging from managing everyday operations and establishing policies, to guiding virtual programs and participating in city-wide initiatives, developing and implementing an all-encompassing community outreach and education program.

Prior to my time at the Staten Island Family Justice Center, I’ve filled several positions where I worked closely with the Family Justice Centers throughout New York City, including as a Child Protective Advocate, Resource Coordinator, and Paralegal with the District Attorney’s office, where I worked on complex cases intersecting with issues such as substance abuse, mental health, and sex trafficking.

Now, I’m preparing to undertake an exciting new journey as the Co-Executive Director of Organizational Operations at LifeWire, and I am thrilled to contribute my dedication and energy to the Seattle area.

As a proud Dominican American Latina, this role provides me with an even greater platform to champion racial equity and social justice.

The upcoming move to Seattle excites me. I am eager to engage with the local community and strive to make a positive impact. As a mother to two incredible daughters, I am passionate about amplifying underrepresented voices, breaking down systemic barriers, and fostering a society that respects diversity, inclusivity, and equal opportunities. This new chapter in my career is not merely a professional transition, but a deeply personal commitment to continue to propel positive societal change.

Please join me in warmly welcoming Janeira and her family to LifeWire!

Theresa Anderson (she/her/hers)
President, LifeWire Board of Directors

Meet LifeWire’s Dynamic Leaders: Housing and Services Directors

Posted on August 18, 2023September 7, 2023 by Patrick Martin

Alexis Harden, LifeWire Housing Director, and Liv Montgomery, LifeWire Services Director photographed with Valarie Buford and Karlah Ramírez-Tánori — Alexis Harden, LifeWire Housing Director, and Liv Montgomery, LifeWire Services Director, photographed with Valarie Buford and Karlah Ramírez-Tánori

We are excited to announce that we have successfully transitioned our Survivor Driven Services to a shared leadership structure between Olivia Montgomery, our new Services Director, and Alexis Harden, in a newly created position, Housing Director. By replicating our co-leadership model for our survivor-facing services, we have divided responsibilities between advocacy response and housing programs. Leveraging and braiding the wealth of experience in community research and racial and gender advocacy that Olivia brings to the role, with the extensive knowledge in local youth and family housing interventions Alexis holds, this partnership has been seamlessly working with our staff community to assess, align and enhance our shared commitment to survivors.

The benefits of this change have been quick and consistent over the last few months with a breadth of successes, including new and re-imagined partnerships with organizations like 4Tomorrow, the only culturally specific DV organization in Bellevue serving Latinx survivors, as well as For Goodness Cakes, an organization both feeding and feeding-into the development of youth in Washington. In addition, strategic changes have been made to our internal staffing structure to remove barriers, exponentially increasing response times for all survivors seeking services

For survivors, these changes show up as in-person family support for families in our housing programs. Families have enjoyed building community through outings to the aquarium, zoo, and museum, as well as participating in LifeWire’s survivor-centered BBQs, complete with food, games, and prizes. And, in our newly organized office space equipped with a resource room stocked with hygiene items, diapers, and children’s art supplies. We look forward to future developments and are thankful to Olivia and Alexis for their commitment to collective leadership and leading efforts to open a path to safety, stability, and healing for all survivors and their families.