Invest in Kids, Invest in Communities
As we kick off Gratitude Week, a time when BrightSpark reflects on the moments, people, and partnerships we’re most thankful for, one story stands out. A story that reminds us why this work matters and why your support is such a gift to our communities.
We Are Grateful for Alexis Cortes!
Alexis is a loving mother of four (soon to be five), a devoted student, and a courageous advocate. Her journey with BrightSpark began at a simple community event at her oldest child’s school, where she connected with our Early Head Start team. From that first interaction, she felt something rare: patience, encouragement, and a team committed to helping her family succeed.
As she enrolled two of her children in Early Head Start, while preparing for a new baby and returning to school, BrightSpark was there to walk alongside her. “They showed a lot of patience, which you don’t always see nowadays,” she said.
When her daughter was later diagnosed with autism, Alexis became a tireless champion for her needs. That advocacy spirit led her to join our Early Head Start Policy Council in 2023; and then to be elected Chair just a year later! Today, she is a respected leader who helps review program finances, strengthen outreach, and build community among families.
This Week, We Are Grateful for…
Stories like Alexis’s that are fueled by our community of supporters and the collective belief that investing in early learning, in families, and in community is when we see real change.
By supporting BrightSpark:
- Families can access quality care that supports housing stability, economic mobility and thriving communities;
- Parents and caregivers like Alexis are supported to grow into advocates who shape policy at every level;
- Children get the strong, equitable start they deserve;
- And community voices are elevated and build momentum for change.
This Gratitude Week, we want to express how deeply grateful we are for your partnership. Together, we are helping families thrive, leaders emerge, and ensuring that stories like Alexis’s are not the exception but the expectation. Together we make high-quality, accessible, affordable early learning possible.
Thank you for standing with us, believing in families, and championing early learning throughout King and Pierce Counties.
We are grateful for you, this week and always!
With gratitude,
The BrightSpark Team
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BrightSpark accepts donations in many forms: cash, credit cards, fund transfers, checks, money orders, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, donor-advised funds, and more! If you have any questions or would like more information on ways to give, please get in touch with our fund development department at getinvolved@childcare.org.
All photos on this email are credited to ©LisaBontjePhotography