We Belong Gala
Saturday, October 24th, 2026
5:30pm
Meydenbauer Center
11100 NE 6th St | Bellevue, WA 98188
An inspiring evening celebrating powerful stories of resilience and hope, hosted by Emmy Award winning news anchor, entertainer, and auctioneer, Matt Lorch.
You are cordially invited to our Annual Gala! Each year, we come together as a community to celebrate our shared commitment to welcoming, rooting, and empowering refugees and other immigrants.
This year, our gala will feature an in-person auction with a curated selection of experiences and items designed to help showcase the beauty and vibrancy of our Western Washington communities.
Join us in creating lasting impact on our new neighbors as we build a future where we all belong.
Become a Sponsor
Partner with World Relief Western Washington for our We Belong Gala and help create a community where refugees and immigrants can thrive and belong.
Explore our sponsorship packages to discover opportunities for your business to support the event, connect with our community, and be recognized as a valued partner in this work.
Donate an Auction Item
Partner with World Relief Western Washington by donating an auction item or experience to our We Belong Gala and help create a community where refugees and immigrants can thrive and belong.
Contribute a product, service, gift package, or unique experience to our gala auction. Your donation will help raise critical funds for our work across Western Washington while showcasing your business or organization to guests who care deeply about welcoming and supporting our neighbors.
From Home to Home
All Gala attendees have the opportunity to participate in From Home to Home: a powerful, interactive display that provides participants a deeper understanding of the journey of those forced to flee their homes by bringing to light the suffering, loss, confusion, and trauma of displacement. Through a combination of photography, installations, and written narratives, From Home to Home invites you to consider the complexity of displacement, the courage of the individuals who experience displacement, and the importance of welcoming and supporting those who are seeking refuge in our communities. Choose a time slot to participate during registration.
Host and Auctioneer: Matt Lorch
We’re pleased to introduce Matt Lorch as the host and auctioneer for this year’s We Belong Gala. A three-time Emmy Award–winning storyteller, Matt brings his signature energy and heart to every event he leads.
After an accomplished career as a news anchor and reporter in major markets including Seattle, Boston, Miami, and Baltimore, Matt now devotes his talents to helping nonprofit organizations inspire and engage their communities. He’s hosted and auctioneered for dozens of organizations across the Pacific Northwest—raising millions of dollars for causes ranging from healthcare and education to inclusion and environmental conservation.
A Pacific Northwest native and University of Washington graduate, Matt’s commitment to serving others runs deep. As the parent of a child with intellectual and physical disabilities, he is a passionate advocate for individuals with special needs. His authenticity and dynamic presence make every moment memorable—and help transform generosity into impact.
We’re honored to have Matt bring his expertise, warmth, and storytelling to the We Belong Gala stage.
Keynote Speaker: Aerlande Wontamo
Senior Vice President of U.S. Programs, World Relief
We’re honored to have Aerlande Wontamo, Senior Vice President of U.S. Programs at World Relief, speak at this year’s We Belong Gala. Aerlande has been working in the refugee and immigrant services field for more than 15 years. This work is near and dear to her heart both personally and professionally, having spent her formative childhood years in Kenya. Prior to joining World Relief, she spent a decade with Lutheran Social Services beginning her career as a case manager, eventually assuming the role of Regional Director for Maryland and Virginia. Most recently she held several leadership positions at Catholic Charities D.C.
Aerlande has extensive experience in program management, building, motivating and optimizing teams, and enjoys expanding and enhancing community partnerships. She holds a bachelor's degree in economic development from Eastern Mennonite University and a Master of Public Health, Behavioral Sciences from Saint Louis University.
Michele Bombardier, Poet
Award-winning poet Michele Bombardier is the author of Don't Ask Me How I Know and What We Do. Her poetry has appeared in hundreds of literary journals and anthologies, read on NPR, and set to music and performed at OPERA America in NYC. Before returning to graduate school for her MFA in poetry, Michele worked as a neurological specialist speech-language pathologist in hospitals and private practice. She is the founder of Fishplate Poetry, offering workshops and retreats to raise money for humanitarian aid, and the inaugural Poet Laureate of Bainbridge Island.
Nexus Quartet
The Nexus Quartet is a nascent professional string quartet serving the Greater Puget Sound. Since forming in early 2024, the quartet has recorded an album of three string quartets by local composer Charles Roland Berry, distributed on Centaur Records; has been featured on Classical KING FM 98.1 on Northwest Focus Live; and performed for the Alf Hurum Centennial, sponsored by the Northwest Edvard Grieg Society. Despite working and studying all around the globe, every member of the quartet can trace their journey to Seattle from Taiwan, a nexus from which the quartet takes its name.
Kurt Dyhrsen
Singer-songwriter Kurt Dyhrsen pairs a rich baritone with thoughtfully crafted lyrics that speak to our cultural moment. A skilled guitarist and composer, Kurt has been active in Seattle’s music scene and has served as a worship director in Northwest churches for more than twenty years. At our gala, he will perform original songs from his forthcoming debut album, Under the Dayblind Stars.
Get Involved
Interested in getting more involved? Check out opportunities to sponsor the Gala, donate an auction item, or volunteer at the event. If you have any other questions, email wrwwdevelopment@wr.org.
Thank You to our 2026 Partners & Sponsors!
Thank You to our 2026 Auction Donors!
Thank You to our 2026 Winery Donors!
