As we reflect on our recent SOUND of Hope Gala: Open Hearts, Open Doors, I’m filled with deep gratitude for the extraordinary support shown by our community.
On November 22, our SOUND family came together at Fremont Studios to open new doors to hope, healing, and recovery for the people we serve. It was inspiring to see sponsors, partners, donors, volunteers, and friends gather with a shared commitment to strengthening behavioral health across King County.
I want to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who made the evening possible. Thanks to you, we were able to exceed our fundraising goal. Your generosity directly fuels our mission and keeps us focused on the work ahead. This year’s gala was more than a celebration: it was a powerful reminder of how collective action expands access to care and creates real pathways to transformation and recovery.
Building on the excitement from the gala, I’m also proud to share a transformative milestone for SOUND: our selection by the Washington State Health Care Authority to join the state’s first Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Pre-Certification Cohort.
SOUND is one of only ten community behavioral health organizations statewide chosen for this inaugural group, a recognition of our leadership in advancing whole-person, integrated behavioral health care. Our previous work operating CCBHC-modeled clinics in Capitol Hill, Auburn, and Bellevue–Redmond has already demonstrated the impact of this approach by strengthening same-day access, expanding services, and deepening community partnerships.
In the months ahead, our work will focus on key aspects of the CCBHC model:
• Dreaming big and finding new ways to support the thousands of King County residents we serve annually.
• Enhancing systems that allow SOUND to serve anyone, regardless of insurance or ability to pay.
As we build on the momentum of the gala and step into this next chapter, I am deeply grateful for our community’s trust and partnership. I want to take a moment to acknowledge our staff, who went above and beyond during recent SNAP disruptions by stocking clinic food pantries, securing community donations, organizing clothing and coat drives, and finding creative ways to ensure clients had the essentials they needed. Their compassion reflects the very best of SOUND and our vision for a community that helps one another.
Thank you for helping us open more hearts, open more doors, and move closer to a future where hope and healing are within reach for all.
Most sincerely,
Katrina Egner
SOUND President & CEO
This month, I find myself reflecting on the power of partnership. Across our region, we have witnessed what is possible when communities come together around a shared vision. Seattle's successful role as a FIFA World Cup host city has showcased our region on a global stage and demonstrated the extraordinary impact of collaboration among businesses, community organizations, public agencies, volunteers, and civic leaders. We appreciated the opportunity, in coordination with King County, for SOUND’s Crisis Services team to contribute to the Behavioral Health Emergency Planning for the FIFA World Cup. Beyond the excitement of the tournament itself, the event has highlighted how collective effort can generate lasting economic opportunity, community pride, and positive outcomes that benefit us all.
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As SOUND Behavioral Health celebrates 60 years of serving the Puget Sound region, the organization has launched its new Corporate Community Partner Program, creating meaningful opportunities for businesses to invest in behavioral health while advancing employee wellness, community engagement, and corporate social responsibility goals.
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For more than 20 years, SOUND's Middle School Support Program (MSSP) has helped connect middle school students with behavioral health support where they need it most. The program is one part of SOUND's broader continuum of school-based behavioral health services, which bring care directly to students across King County. Since the program's inception, the Nesholm Family Foundation has helped sustain the MSSP through two decades of dedicated support, allowing students to access care in the place they spend much of their day: school.
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