2015 ANNUAL REPORT & SOUNDINGSVolume 28, Issue 1Spring, 2016

The Mobile that is L’Arche Tahoma Hope

Have you ever sat and watched a complicated mobile, moving and turning in the currents of the air? If one arm is disturbed, a well-crafted mobile may bounce and turn chaotically for a bit, but after a while it always comes back into balance. This is the image that comes to mind as I reflect on 2015 at L’Arche Tahoma Hope.

At the center of the mobile are our four homes, turning at the slowest pace, moving with our normal cycles of change and growth. On one arm, we have the rhythm of Day Support, which turns faster as our core members come and go, busy with activities, work, outings, and volunteering. On the other side, the Farm & Gardens arm fairly whirls with the seasons, hundreds of visitors, and thousands of tiny seeds sprouting into beautiful flowers and tasty vegetables. Despite their different rhythms, these three branches have remained in equilibrium – and sometimes in tension - for many years.

In 2015 we started to add a significant new arm to our mobile, as we began in earnest to design the Welcome Center, and as we launched our first-ever capital campaign. We are experiencing some of the tug and pull of the weight of this new arm. Not surprisingly, questions have emerged about what it will mean for the future. Will the Welcome Center pull us out of balance? What new colors and possibilities will it bring? Will it create strains and tensions with the other arms? What efforts and resources will be needed to bring this new arm into equilibrium, to balance our mobile again?

While we don’t have answers to all of these questions yet, of one thing I am certain. Support for L’Arche and for our mission runs deep among our thousands of friends and supporters. Thank you for the friendship, the support, and the resources you provide so we can add another arm to the beautiful mobile that is our L’Arche community.

Laura Giddings, Executive Director/Community Leader

• Open Houses• Celebrations• Immersion Groups• Meetings and trainings• Administrative functions

L’Arche Tahoma Hope ~ 2015 Annual Report & Soundings

2.

We made significant progress in 2015 toward our long-held dream of creating a gathering space designed to meet not only our internal needs, but more importantly to support sharing our mission with the wider community. With the Welcome Center, we will create a place of belonging: a space where we can invite more families to share in our vision of building a more human society through mutual relationships between people with and without intellectual disabilities. The Welcome Center will host:

The building design is nearly finalized, and we are fine-tuning the cost projections. The Welcome Center will be located on Vickery Avenue East, adjacent to Ananda House. We plan to break ground in spring of 2017, L’Arche Tahoma Hope’s 40th anniversary year. The building should be complete by the end of that year.

As we pass the one year mark of our 5-year capital campaign to fund the design and construction of the building, we want to express our deep appreciation for the vision and leadership of our first campaign donors. For the first time in our 39-year history, L’Arche Tahoma Hope is inviting significant philanthropic investment, and the response has been both humbling and extraordinary. Under the leadership of our honorary co-chairs, Mike and Mary Jo Tucci, and our Campaign Steering Committee Chair, Tom Pagano, 40 donors have pledged over $1.1 million so far! Our campaign target is now set at $3.5 million, which includes building design, site development, permits, construction, utility hookups, equipment and furniture, campaign costs, and initial operating expenses.

The Board has approved giving levels for naming spaces in the new building. If you are interested in learning more about the capital campaign or our progress on the building, please contact David Rothrock, Development and Capital Campaign Director, by telephone at 253-535-3178 or by email at development@larchetahomahope.org. You can also get updates on our website, www.larchetahomahope.org.

Laura Giddings, Community Leader

• Expanded Day Support program• Community nights• Social events• Learning opportunities

Spring, 2016

3.

Decked out in blue jeans, buckles, cowboy hats and an abundance of generous and joyful spirit, L’Arche Tahoma Hope’s 22nd Annual Auction grossed over $155,000 in support of the mission and vision of L’Arche.

It was an incredible night of community, and, in true L’Arche fashion, the support for this year’s Fund-an-Item topped off the evening by bringing in an all time high of $76,500!! A heartfelt THANK YOU goes out to all of our friends and steadfast supporters who once again made this an evening to cherish!

So many people came together to make this event a continued success. Giving of their time, effort, skill and enthusiasm throughout this last year of planning – our Auction Committee in particular. It was a year of change (great and small) and a big thank you goes out to Jen, Donna, Jana, Irena, Joan, Katie, Margaret, Chrish, Mary and Nicole for coming together to make this event truly one of a kind – and a grand success! To all those that so generously donated gift certificates, unique and fun experiences, and great hand-crafted items – THANK YOU!!

We welcomed back Jennifer Bolton from Allegria Auction and Pat Toohey as Master of Ceremonies, with a delightful and well-dressed Chuck Schilling as Announcer who all worked together to keep us entertained, on track and enjoying the evening.

A tremendous dose of gratitude goes to all those that sponsored core members for this event and all those who helped underwrite the auction. We are especially grateful to our Program, Table and Patron Sponsors (listed to the left); to our BEVERAGE SPONSORS: Korsmo Construction and Law Offices of Manza & Moceri, our APPETIZER SPONSOR: Larry & Bea Cates, and our

DECORATIONS SPONSOR: Coordinated Care.

We sincerely hope you enjoyed this evening of fellowship, fundraising and celebrating the spirit of L’Arche as much as we did. Your generosity and support keep us going, and we look forward to seeing you all next year!

“And the Bill Downey Award Goes To....”

James Bentley, faithful friend... James Bentley was 19 years old when he first came to be an assistant at L’Arche Tahoma Hope over 30 years ago. He had visited his brother in France and met L’Arche and wanted to pursue it at L’Arche, an assistant is called to create home – with and for the core members. This means cooking and cleaning and doing all the household duties. The learning curve was a bit steep for this 19 year old – with many humorous moments,

such as the time he put a cup of bouillon cubes into the dish because the recipe called for a cup of bouillon.

But the values that are essential to L’Arche– presence to the core members, kindness, faithfulness – are values that James excelled at. He won the hearts of Bill Downey and everyone at L’Arche. To this very day, James continues in countless ways to be a very faithful friend to all at L’Arche Tahoma Hope. For that reason it is fitting that James Bentley was awarded the Bill Downey Award on March 5th, 2016. Congratulations James! Bill would be very proud – because he helped raise you.

Special Thanks to:

Program SponsorsRebecca CatesColumbia Bank

Connelly Law OfficesTucci & Sons

Table SponsorMultiCare Health System

Patron SponsorsCHI Franciscan HealthFinancial Design Group

2016 Auction Round-UpVicki Cates, Auction Chair

3.

L’Arche Tahoma Hope ~ 2015 Annual Report & Soundings

It all began with the following conversation: It was evident that the spirit had been working in Debbie’s heart for a while when the following conversation between Tree and Debbie took place at 9:30 pm one night at Hopespring:

D- “Tree. I have a question.”T- “What is it?”(Debbie pats the chair beside her, indicating I should come sit down next to her. I followed her invite.)T- “What’s up Debbie?”D- “Well... I want to get baptized.”T- “Really!? That’s exciting. What inspired that?”D- “Well... I just want to... go in the water. ‘Debbie - we baptize you in the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit. Amen.’” (Debbie folds her hands and bows.)T- “Alright Debbie. Let’s make it happen.D- (giggle laugh, clapping hands) “Yeah.”

What a journey it has been…starting last August at St. Leo’s with Debbie Wilson, Brad Krick, Dotti Krist-Sterbick, (Tree) and me. Much can be said about these days of challenge, growth and discovery. It was certainly the spirit who lead Debbie on this journey. Her full hearted openness to the Holy Spirit’s lead is truly the power of the Resurrection in action.

Debbie’s focus and intent on being baptized had an impact not only on those accompanying her but our L’Arche community and many parishioners at St. Leo’s. Almost every Sunday, someone would come up to us to say how touched they were by Debbie. She asked great questions, such as, “What is a scrutiny? Will I be baptized during the scrutinies?” Debbie could not wait for her baptism. When asked why it was so important to her, she would simply respond, ”I want to be closer to Jesus.” Two of the highlights that

stand out are the reconciliation service and her baptism.

On our way to the reconciliation service at St. Leo’s, Debbie asked me what the word meant. We talked about what it meant to “reconcile.” What it took to make right our relationships. It was during the service that I noticed Debbie crying, tears flowing down her cheeks. She was the first to go up to one of the assigned stations in order to talk to someone about what was in her heart. Later, as I assisted her in drying her tears she said, “I want Jesus to forgive me!” I assured her that she was forgiven, that there was nothing we can do that God would not forgive. When we returned home, she immediately went to her house leader to talk to her and ask forgiveness for some thing that had happened months ago. Debbie “Got it!” What a role model for our Rules of Cooperation!

On Holy Saturday, Debbie was beyond excited! She could not wait to be baptized on this holiest night of the year. She was the first to be called forth to be baptized. As she stepped into the water with her hands open and her arms out stretched, she announced, “Here I go!” Her joy was palpable. Before coming out of the water, Debbie said “Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for allowing me to be a part of this. This is now. This is my dream.” Jesus was the water that Debbie thirsted for,the food that she hungered for, the Jesus that is her life. At baptism we die to our old ways, we die to our old selves and we become new. Debbie understood this.

When asked what she would like to say to others about her baptism, she responded: “Thank you for what you done. It has been an honor and a challenge. It has changed my life. I am a new Debbie! My heart is full of love and all of you are my brothers and sisters. We came before you and before them. God, I am freely united to your Kingdom.” For those who accompanied her, we, too, join Debbie in saying…I am a NEW person! Thank you Debbie, for your openness to the spirit revealing the power of the resurrection. Thank you for your grateful heart!

Debbie’s Journey Toward BaptismSue Hudacek, Long Term Assistant and Debbie’s sponsor

Remember MomWhat better way to thank your mother

for all she has given you than

with a gift to L’Arche

in her honor or memory?

4.

Spring, 2016

“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.” Maya Angelou

A Special Thanks to Our Donors....

Following is a list of those who have supported us financially, and through Auction item donations from January 1, 2015 through December 31. 2015.

John Abbott

Able Environmental LLC

Adriatic Grill Italian Cuisine/Wine Bar

Al Terry Architecture

J.A. and K.J. Albanese

Tom and Jana Angelos

Anne Kettenring

Duane L. and Ida Annoni

Steve and Pat Anstett

Anthony’s Restaurants

Archdiocese of Seattle

Harry and Molly Archer

Argosy Cruises

Candace Attwood

Chris and Lilla Attwood

Atarah Austin

Greg and Stephanie Bachmeier

Ro Bacina

Daniel R. and Ann C. Bailey

Steve and Mary Barger

Art and Mary Fran Barkshire

Brian and Pauline Barlow

Maryanne Barnes

Miriam Barnett

Howard and Loree Baumgart

Larry and Jo Beauchamp

Tony and Corrine Becken-Gaddo

Megan Bent

Laura Boffeli

Pietro Boffeli

Todd and Kristin Boffeli

Robert and Carol Bohlman

Daniel Borba

Alan and Sue Borne

Berk Borne

Paul and Eileen Borne

Peter J. Borne

Matthew Bosisio

Mary Ann Boulanger

Catherine Bove

Christina Boverman

Joseph and Nancy Boyd

Pauline Boyd

James and Ruth Boyle, D.V.M.

Joe and Carole Boyle

Patrick M Boyle

Mary Bradford

Patsy and George Brannon

Broadway Avenue Properties, LLC

Broadway Center for the

Performing Arts

Rich Brown & Carlee Harder-Brown

Mark L. and Margaret Bubenik

Bobby Buchanan

Robert and Colleen Buchanan

Tim and Maria-Cecelia Buckley

Diana Busch and Levin Conway

Wayne and Kathy Busch

Ruth Cannon

Joan Capp

Gayle Carino

Sharon and Joe Carl

Dana Carlisle

Bridget Carney

Jean Carney

Lisa Carney and Patrick Boyd

Ken and Elisa Carrothers

Tony and Rozanne Caruso

Jim Cash

Andy and Becky Cates

Larry and Betty Cates

Rebecca Cates

Vicki Cates

Joseph and Stacy Cates-Carney

James and Barbara Cathcart

Les and Mary Lou Cathersal

Catholic Daughters

of America #2003

Catholic Daughters

of America #977

Catholic Woman’s Club

Jim and Barbara Cavanaugh

Chalet Bowl

Margaret Champagne

Scott and Mary Chapman

Charles Wright Academy

Childrens Museum of Tacoma

Betty Chipps

Nancy Chmiel

Gregory and Sharon Chow

James Sawatzki and

Lynne Christiansen

James and Mary Jo Clary

Victor Cloquet

Niko and Kim Colella

Ronald and Linda Coleman

Carol Colleran

Christine T. Colleran

Liz Colleran

Perry and Sandy Colombini

Richard and Jane Colombini

Tony and Anna Colombini

Michael and Barbara Comte

Jack and Angela Connelly

Thomas and Laurie Connolly

Jim and Fran Cooper

Robert and Barbara Cooper

Craig and Katie Cootsona

Corina Bakery

Stan and Chris Cotton

Georgeann Cukjati

Sarah Cushing

Perry and Willy Dahlquist

John and Margaret Daley

Tim and Sharon Daly

Bruce and Mona Davies

Wes and Ellen Davis

John and Ashley Deasy

Todd and Lisa Deck

James Degel

Shannon Dell

Jeanne Depaul and Charles Wilcoxon

Yvonne DePaul

Diamond Designs

Herman and Dorothy Diers

Maura Donaghey

Richard and Darlene Donmoyer

Meghan K. Dooley

Michael and Kathleen Dorcy

Gail Dougherty

Doyle’s Public House

Earl and Pat Drangstveit

Keil and Theodora Drescher

Joan Eads

Robert Byrne and Jean Eilers

Byron Ellingson

John and Sheila Elting

Emerald Downs

Daniel and Anita Enriquez

Tami Erhart

Robert J. and Jeanne M. Farrell

Financial Design Group

Ronald and Sharon Finholm

Claire Foley

Tom Foote and Debra Janison

Judy Trummert and Doug Fox

Mary Fox

Michael and Susan Fox

MaryAnn Gaines

Florence Gallo

James and Susan Gardner

Luciano and Emily Garofalo

Emily and Jon Garza

Alexander and Shelly Garzon

Gateway to India

5.

Sincere efforts have been made to assure the accuracy of these donor records. We apologize for any errors or omissions and ask you to notify the office at (253) 535-3178 with corrections to help us continue to improve our efforts.

L’Arche Tahoma Hope ~ 2015 Annual Report & Soundings

Keeping the Boat Afloat (Development Update)David Rothrock, Development and Capital Campaign Director

Let me first say thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you have given to L’Arche Tahoma Hope this last year. We appreciate your continued support of our mission. It has been a wonderful year of transitions and new beginnings.

In June of 2015, Laura Giddings became the Community Leader and accepted stewardship of the new Mandate. The Mandate guides L’Arche Tahoma Hope’s actions for the next five years, and it includes the following main directives:

• Build ongoing opportunities for growth and belonging for individuals• Continue sustaining our LTH Community by adapting to the changing political, financial, and social environment around us• Develop a Welcome Center in order to better reach out to the wider community and invite more people to join in our mission

Laura has led us tirelessly in all of the directives of the Mandate since assuming the helm. Specifically, the Welcome Center is well on its way. Thank you to the Board members who have also spent countless hours working on the building design and the capital campaign. As of February 2016, over one million dollars have been pledged in donations, and the design work is nearly complete. If you’d like to be a part of this exciting project, please reach out and let us know.

Thank you for your participation and generous support of our most recent auction. It was a great event, a lot of fun and a smashing success! Thank you to Vicki Cates, the members of the auction committee and our faithful volunteers. We couldn’t do it without you.

With all the ways in which you support us, we are confident that 2016 will be another year of blessings for the L’Arche Tahoma Hope community. We are deeply grateful.

From our Board President, Megan Matthew

Development at L’Arche Tahoma Hope is all about keeping the boat afloat. To do that, we must raise 26% of our annual $1.7 million budget – or $440,000 a year. And we are grateful to you “faithful friends” for helping us work toward this goal. We keep the boat afloat in the following ways:

• Annual Auction, which this year raised over $155,000 – over 10% more than last year.• The Annual Giving Campaign and donations throughout the year. We are especially grateful to

those faithful friends who send a monthly gift. (2015 $122,000)• Grants from foundations, $50,000 to $75,000 a year.• The Fr. James Boyle Endowment Fund for L’Arche. This fund, now held by the Greater Tacoma

Community Foundation,is at $133,462 as of 3/31/2016. The Foundation manages the endowment fund (as it does for many of Tacoma’s non-profit organizations). At present, we are leaving all interest proceeds in the fund to help build it up for future use. This fund has more than doubled in the past two years – a great tribute to Fr. Jim Boyle.

• L’Arche Farm and Gardens Retail Sales (2015 - $55,000)• Gifts to L’Arche in memory or honor of loved ones. Mother’s Day is coming up, and a gift to L’Arche

is a great way to honor a mother.• United Way Donor Voice• Matching Gifts from employers• Giving Tuesday (2015 - $8,927, a five fold increase from 2014)• Fred Meyer Community Rewards. If you have a Fred Meyer rewards card, you can tell them to include

L’Arche Tahoma Hope and a gift is given to L’Arche, at no expense to you, every time you shop at Fred Meyer.• Legacy Gifts. A legacy gift to L’Arche is a gift that will support L’Arche forever.• A Place to Belong, The Campaign for L’Arche Tahoma Hope. Please see our Capital Campaign

update on page 2.

We at L’Arche are most grateful for your prayers, your kindness, and your support as you share our mission .

6.

Spring, 2016

L’Arche Tahoma Hope’s financial position remained stable in 2015, albeit with some challenges. Tremendous thanks are due to our supporters, who donated generously throughout the year to the community’s general fund and set a new proceeds record at the L’Arche 2015 annual auction. This giving considerably augmented our governmental funding and made life better for all concerned. Donations were also made to the Fr. James Boyle Endowment Fund, established to help ensure the community’s long-term sustainability. The 4th quarter market downturn affected L’Arche just as it likely did you, generating a year-end loss (unrealized) in our investment accounts. We anticipate that 2016 will see these investments recover fully. Our annual results also reflect tapping reserves for budgeted, one-time expenses related to personnel costs and the transition of the Executive Director, as well as timing issues regarding capital donations received in 2014 but spent in 2015.

A great deal of excitement was generated by a number of significant pledges and donations to the capital campaign to design and construct a new “Welcome Center” for the L’Arche community. It’s a certainty that the energy and activity surrounding this will build as we near the public phase of this campaign; you’ll hear much more from us about this exciting new venture for the L’Arche community in the coming months!

Many thanks are due to Board Member Chris Colleran, who served as the L’Arche Treasurer for the past 13 years! Chris has done an outstanding job stabilizing and moving L’Arche ahead in its financial practices; we will continue to rely on her as an active member of Finance Committee. 2015 also saw the Committee complete its revamp of L’Arche’s financial policies, ensuring the right financial controls and practices are in place and being followed.

Undoubtedly, 2016 will be filled with the activity of the capital campaign, but we will continue to strive to improve operations and our financial position. Thank you for your generosity and ongoing support of L’Arche!

7.

2015 Financial Summary

Operating RevenueGov’t FundingDonationsGrantsAnnual AuctionFarm SalesRoom & Board Pmts.From ReservesOther Income

TOTAL INCOME

$1,112,381$138,153$50,635

$138,629$55,139

$137,649$61,775$33,827

$1,728,188

Operating ExpensesPersonnelRoom & BoardProgramatic ExpensesAnnual AuctionFarm Supplies/COGAdministrationDepreciation

TOTAL EXPENSES

$1,337,491$115,794$141,371$33,116$17,062$58,075$58,541

$1,761,450

Agency Income*

2015 Financial Narrative, John Elting, Treasurer

* Excludes Unrealized Gains/Losses on Investments.

L’Arche Tahoma Hope ~ 2015 Annual Report & Soundings

8.

Laura Giddings & Charles Schilling

William and Rochelle Giddings

Alan and Deborah Gill

Virginia Gilmore-Uno

Bob Gipe and Betsy Fine

Jerry and Theresa Graddon

Grand Cinema

Ted and Mary Faith Green

Edward and Clara Greer

Alex Griffin

Dan and Judy Griffin

Barbara Gruber

Grunewald Guild

Ann Gugger and Parke Burgess

Clarence and June Guimond

Clara Hagens

Nicholas Hagens

Rachel Knoke and Erin Hahl

Susan Hahn

Kendyl Hair

Toby and Vanessa Hair

Jon and Julie Hale

Carie A. Halle

Verna Hammond

Hands On/Olympia Chidren’s Museum

Harkness Furniture

James and Patricia Harnish

James W. and Patricia Harrington

Anton Harris

Danelle Harris

Dorothy Harris

Christopher J. and Kristen Harrison

Mike Hartman

Philip and Brenda Hauge

Rodney and Rebecca Hauth

Frank Hayden

Frederick B. Hayes

Paul Hayes

Julie Ann Hebert

Michael Hebert

Hello, Cupcake

Patrick and Mary Ann Henry

Margaret Hensler

Jon and Jill Herendeen

Sergio and Cheryl Hernandez

Leon and Esther Hershberger

Teresa Hershberger

Ben Niedermeyer and Joanne Hidaka

Bryan Burpee and Joseph Hill

P Michael Hochstatter, Jr.

Charles and Rebecca Hoffman

Hoodsport Winery

Ray and Nancy Hopfer

Bill Hoskyn

Marjorie Hudacek

Sue Hudacek

Thomas and Karin Huelsbeck

Dave and Phyllis Hunt

Holly Hunt

Bruce and Bernadette Huson

Erik Hynes

Infinite Soups

Intervarsity Christian Fellowship

of Missoula

Joan Jackson

Paul E. Jacobson

Fr. Jack Jennings

Mark Jennings and Cindy Davis

Donna Jerome

Barry and Tessa Johnson

David C. Rothrock & Kirsten Johnson

Gerald Johnson

Johnson, Stone and Pagano, P.S.

Gordon and Carolyn Jones

Jeannie Jones

Julie Kirk

Michael Kander CPA

Katie Downs

Steve Rothrock and Tessa Keating

Joseph Kenny

Kevin and Maggie King

Jack and Bea Kingery

Korsmo Construction

Lou and Cari Kramp

Steve Kramp and Sarah Thorpe

Mimi Krsak

Sandra and Jan Kuwahara

La Salle Catholic College Preparatory

John and Shannon Lake

John and Kate Landy

Robert and Molly Lane

Janet Lapore

L’Arche Syracuse

Seamus Laverty

Cathlynn Law

Clarence and Barbara Leingang

As a part of the Exploratory Retreat I was asked to invite a core member from our community to come to the retreat and share about their experiences in L’Arche. One of the talks leaders were asked to present was titled “Thriving In L’Arche,”but in all honesty it was a talk where I did not feel I had a lot of wisdom to offer. When I think about those who teach me the ways to thrive, I look to our core members. I knew right away that I wanted to invite Kendyl to come and lead the “Thriving In L’Arche” talk. Since moving to L’Arche Tahoma Hope, I have been struck by Kendyl’s gift to shine in community. I have observed that she is someone who is fully present to those around her and makes her friends feel seen and appreciated.

Kendyl successfully finds her places of belonging outside of community. At aerobics class she is adored by all the aerobics ladies, is part of a weekly bowling group, attends an advocacy class, and teaches the kids at Puyallup Playcare. Kendyl has enthusiasm and fearlessness in finding belonging in the world, and I was hoping she would share that with the group.

Kendyl did share these aspects of her life, but she also shared so much more wisdom with the group. She signed what made her happy in community, but also what was hard for her about living in community. Many of the elements she shared were intrinsically linked. It makes her happy to be a leader and help, and it is hard when she does not feel she has those places. It makes her happy when people learn sign and she can teach sign to people, and it is hard when people don’t know sign and she can’t share her stories with them. Kendyl exhibited the grace in which she lives the paradoxes of her life, and how she can lean into the hard places and turn them into gifts of belonging.

Thriving in L’ArcheMegan Bent, Live-in Assistant

Spring, 2016

Mark and Nancy Lennox

John Leung

Alayna Linde

Mary Ann Lindsey

Yvone Link

Ingelaurie Lisher

The Little Church on the Prairie

Michael and Amy Loughren

Suzanne Lowell

Tim and Mary Lowenberg

Cynthia Luke and Mark Sumearll

Douglas and Angela Lusk

Donald and Carrol Lyle

Jane MacNeil

Patricia and John Magee

Thomas and Theresa Mahoney

Jim Manville

Pat and Judy Manza

Viola Marcoe

Sheila Marston

Sisters of the Holy Names

of Jesus and Mary

Scott and Megan Matthew

Pamela Mayer

April McComb

Thomas and Doris McGuire

Jerry L. and Mary Ellen McKain

Lawrence and Millie McNerthney

Fred and Carol Meirose

Janel Melinkovich

Liz Milazzo

Danny and Teres Millar

Stephanie Miller

Lac Qui Parle Global Mission

Orestes and Lauren Molina

Debbie and Douglas Montgomery

Judy Mladineo and Jeff Morgan

Mountain View Lutheran Church

The Museum of Flight

Douglas and Donna Myhre

Jerry and Margaret Mylet

Nate and Karin Van Duzer

Mike Neeland

Tim and Bernie Neff

James and Anne Newton

Hoang Nguyen

Andy and Teresa Noethe

North Shore Golf and CC

Joseph and Anne Nusse

Christine and Maria O’Brien

Neil and Claire O’Brien

Kirsten and Susan Odencrantz

Gerard D. O’Leary

Valerie A. Oliver

Rob and Paula Olson

Oregon Shakespeare Festival

Bill and Marie Orrange

Amy Pagano

Tom Pagano

Park 52, Inc.

Janet M Parker

Paul and MJ Patterson

Tim and Patti Pavolka

Joseph and Margaret Pazderka

Ovidio and Margaret Penalver

Teresita Perez

Richard and Fran Perry

Michael Peters & Bernadette Langen

Jack and Mary Peterson

Wendi and Mike Pfannenstiel

Carl and Elizabeth Pierce

Pioneer Farm Museum

Laird and Julie Pisto

Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium

Nora Prentice

Presbyterian Women

Marc and Juleen Pudists

Douglas and Lois Quail

Daniel and Jana Quiocho

Colleen Rappe

Eugene Ravizza

Redeemer Lutheran Church

Ed and Betty Reed

Janice Reeves

Jesse Reeves

Leo and Debbie Regala

Richard and Christine Reichman

Barry and Becky Reid

Brigid Reid

Stephen and Mary Jo Riehl

Robert and Anne Roberts

Ronald and Joann Roberts

Mark and Jan Rogers

Inga Rohde

Dave Ronald

Shannon Harder Ronald

She made space for the retreatants to sign what was easy and hard for them about life in community and was a patient teacher with those who were new to ASL. Kendyl created an atmosphere that offered openness and reflection about how we meet each other and our shared commonality to want to be affirmed in community.

I am grateful for Kendyl’s friendship and leadership. For all the ways she helps me feel seen, and for all she teaches me about how to be a better friend and community member. I appreciate her invitation to live into the paradoxes of life and embrace them, and I am excited to see her shining as a leader in our community.

Thank You to all those who faithfully support our

community through various Donor Voice programs. Your support is invaluable

to us.

...and to those who support us each time

they shop through Fred Meyer Community

Rewards, Amazon Smile and iGive.

9.

10.

L’Arche Tahoma Hope ~ 2015 Annual Report & Soundings

Jane Ross

Jonathan and Christina Ross

Tom Ross and Patty Bahoshy-Ross

Todd Rothrock

Lynn M. Rutledge

Mary Rybnick

David M. Rothrock and

Gloriose Sakubu-Rothrock

St. Mark’s Lutheran Church

by the Narrows

St. Frances Cabrini

St. Ignatius College Prep

St. Leo Parish

Rick Samyn and Glenda Umipeg

Mark Schacht

Paul and Kathy Schappler

Anna Lena Schick

Christopher J. and Veronica Schmitt

Jesuit High School

Jennifer Schott

Joanne Schott

Sherry Schultz

Tim and Demetra Schwieger

Gerry Scully and Jennifer Kelly

Seasons At Pine Creek, LLC

Seasons Under The Oaks, LLC

Seattle Seahawks

Selden’s Home Furnishings

James and Kathryn Seley

Robert and Marilyn Sendek

Jay and Kathy Sessler

Richard and Donna Severson

Jon and Sara Sexton

Hakan and Susan Sezgin

Timothy and Marcia Sherry

Mark and Roxanne Shinn

Erin Shinn-Eaton

Brainerd and Christiana Shiu

Dr. Samuel Shiu

Jo Simms

Roger and Lily Simms

Sisters of Saint Dominic

Sisters of St. Dominic of Tacoma

Megan and Jordan Skarr

Andy and Laurie Smith

Donna Smith

Jennifer Smith

Jeffrey and Angela Sorenson

Source Yoga

Southwestern Washington Synod

Region 1 of the ELCA

Pat Sparks

Jessica Spring

Hugh and Carmen Stanley

Edward and Darleen Stanton

Doris Steeg

Tom Steinbeck

Jake and Karyn Sterino

Cindy Stoffel

Ron and Beth Stone

Susan Strobel

Sun Break Cafe

Dave and Loretta Sutherland

Allen and Joanne Suver

Steve and Carrie Swafford

Carl and Linda Swanson

Stacie Swanson

Dohn C. and Christine A. Swedberg

The Swiss

Tacoma Art Museum

Tacoma Little Theatre

Tacoma Rainiers Baseball Club

Al Terry and Cheryl Brush

Ray Thoenig

Dan and Rosanne Thompson

Joan Thompson

Maik Togel

Francis and Margaret Tolman

Kevin Toohey

Patrick Toohey and Cheri’ Paillet

Top of the Hill Ceramics

Tower Lanes Entertainment Center

Ervin and Nancy Trapa

Kim Travis

Michael A. and Mary Jo Tucci

Michael F. and Mimi Tucci

Tom and Diane Tucci

Nancy Tyson

Sally Underwood

United Church in University Place

The Urban Gardener, LLC

John Van Buskirk and

Kitty-Ann Van Dorninck

Thomas Vandenberg

Bryan and Irena Vaughan

Chris Veraya

Michael Viafore

James and Lucille Vig

Dave Vogel and Carla Rasmussen

Arnljot and Dorothy Wagsholm

Charles and Lucy Walker

Robert and Teresa Walker

Gilda Warden

Washington State Historical Society

Kerry and Terrie Watrin

Ben Wells

B Yolande Wertman

Robert and Janet West

Westminster Presbyterian Church

Cindy White

Karin White

Malcolm and Laura White

Karen Wild

Wildwood Brewing (Nat Woodsmith)

Denise Lucas and Paul Willers

Clint and Judy Williams

Debbie Wilson

Robert H. and Karen Wilson

Wynne Brown and Peter Wimberger

Jean Witte

Wolf Haven International

Richard Woo and Arlene Joe

Del and Jeni Woock

Chris and Cat Woon

Susan Yang

YMCA of Tacoma-Pierce County

Steve and Kim Zaubi

Zach Zaubi

4.

We are grateful to the following Foundations & Corporations. Their support of us in 2015 is invaluable.

Thank You!

The Benevity Community Impact Fund G. M. Babare Family Foundation

CHI Franciscan HealthHelpers of the Mentally RetardedGary E Milgard Family Foundation

L’Arche USA

MultiCare Health SystemStewardship Foundation

The De Falco Family FoundationTucci Family Fund of the Greater Tacoma

Community FoundationUnited Way of Pierce County

We also appreciate the following companies’ commitment to encouraging their employees to share their blessings by instituting internal Matching Gifts Programs and allowing their customers to designate us as recipients of their support.

Amazon SmileBank of America Matching Gift

Boeing Employees Community FundIGive.com Holdings LLC

Kroger - Fred MeyerMicrosoft Matching Gifts Program

Vanguard Charitable Endowment

10.

Spring, 2016

11.

Who’s Where in Our Community

FARMHOUSE

Doug CreekShannon DellKendyl HairNancy Tyson

Teresa BildhauerKate GoodselBrittni Grace

Gretchen HathawayKatie Miyakado

JeanNette NelsonBenjamin Scott

ANAWIM

Nathan BarlowMark Drangstveit

Carie HalleLeana Shiu

Sarah CushingMarissa JenkinsJane MacNeil

Hannah Sampson

HOPESPRING

Ricky DurhamSharilynn Heinzman

Debbie WilsonMegan Bent

Matthew BosisioMichelle Boverman

Nick Hagens

ANANDA

Bobby BuchananLes Leise

Cindy SkarvoldStacie SwansonPietro Boffeli

Grace KretschmannMatthew Whalen

Our Homes

DAY SUPPORT

Michelle BovermanFatima Cervantes

Brian HoltvedtSue Hudacek

Amanda Schappler

Laura Giddings, Executive DirectorTeresa Hershberger, Community Coordinator

Sue Hudacek, Volunteer CoordinatorInga Rohde, Commmunity Coordinator

David Rothrock, Campaign & Development DirectorMary Fox, Admininstrative Assistant

Peter Young, BookkeeperAnn Gugger, Development Assistant

Dave Ronald, Maintenance

James Bentley, Tara Brown, Stacy Cates-Carney, Perry Colombini, Sr. Madeleine Farrell, Matt Gill, Carol Guenther,

Karl Hilsenberg, Misha Kimbrell, Abby Laxa-Anderson, John Leung, Jodi McConnell, Annie Nelson, Theresa Rice,

Chelsea Rogers, Linda and Rose Snyder, Margaret Tolman, Marie Trevisan, Karin VanDuzer

Farm & Gardens Our Long-Term Volunteers

Charles Clark IIDoug Creek

Zach HovlandGreg Kingery

Les LeiseLeana Shiu

Debra VelderDebbie Wilson

Teresa BildhauerBrittany Hubler

Megan ReidPatrick Toohey

Zach Zaubi

Community Support

OFFICERS

Megan Matthew, PresidentKevin King, Vice President

Paul Borne, SecretaryJohn Elting, Treasurer

Chris ColleranAnna Colombini

Steve KrampPaula OlsonJen SchottKim Travis

Board of Directors

Memorial ContributionsWe are grateful for the donations we have received in memory of the following people since our Christmas newsletter. They,

along with their families and friends, are in our prayers.

We are also thankful for the donations we received in honor of :

Stacy Cates-Carney

The Davies Family

Mark Drangstveit

Darin Krebs

Dick & Julie Kirk

Sr. Sally Lowell

Knut & Kim Olson

Rocky & Lolly Rothrock

Fr. Jimmy Boyle

Dorothy Heikikken Fitch

James Henriot

Dean Kettenring

Dick Kirk

Mary MeansClifford Stewart

Nancy Tyson

11.

L’Arche Tahoma Hope ~ 2015 Annual Report & Soundings

Alex Griffin was a live-in assistant at L’Arche Tahoma Hope from June 2012 until November 2015. He lived at Anawim, Ananda and Hopespring and was an avid participant in the community. Alex was celebrated for his deep compassion for people, his laughter and his love of food. It was with great sadness that we had to say goodbye to him this past November, due to health concerns. In recent months, a few community members, including Ricky Durham, had the opportunity to visit him in Ohio and bring him some L’Arche love to aid in his recovery. Even though we miss his presence each day, we continue to cherish his friendship and relationship with the community.

While reflecting on the topic of re-birth, my initial thoughts take me back to December 29th of last year. I was lying in a hospital bed, attached to multiple machines, a few different IV bags delivering medications, and a few different organ systems shutting down due to my heart's inability to pump enough blood through my body. The next morning, I was prepped for surgery. After about six agonizing hours, my family learned that I was given a new lease on life.

Re-birth, of course, isn't always that dramatic. I hope for all of you that it never is.

The beauty for all of you, as it was for me, are the countless opportunities L'Arche allows for a sense of re-birth.

The re-birth and renewal that L'Arche offers is sometimes very large and sometimes very simple. From welcoming both core members and assistants, often from a place of brokenness to a place of belonging and community, to simple forgiveness of one another after an argument. A clean slate, a new attitude, an opportunity to be our best version of ourselves, all examples of what a re-birth can look like.

These moments of re-birth are an extension of grace and the promise of Easter, where we celebrate perhaps the greatest re-birth of all time.

One of the great gifts of L'Arche is the communion with one another and the opportunities for re-birth and grace. This gift is something that I continue to be grateful for each and every day.

Reflections on RebirthAlex Griffin, Former Assistant

We are excited to announce the upcoming debut of our new electronic newsletter, called eSoundings. With a publication schedule of roughly every other month, it will offer a lively mix of photos, announcements, core member interviews, updates from homes and programs, Welcome Center progress, and stories from L’Arche USA and L’Arche International.

In case you are wondering about the future of our print newsletter, rest assured that it will still come in the mail three times a year. We are proud of Soundings and the following it has developed over the years. It’s just that we have so much more we’d like to share with you!

If we have a valid email address for you, the first issue of eSoundings will arrive in your inbox within the next few weeks. Once you receive your first issue, you can manage your subscription to this and other L’Arche Tahoma Hope electronic publications by clicking on the “Manage my Subscription” link at the bottom of every email from us.

In the meantime, if we don’t already have a valid email address for you, if you just want to be sure you receive our first issue of eSoundings, or if you’d like to encourage a friend to subscribe, you can do so in one of 4 ways:

• Using your smartphone, scan the qr code to the right to be directed to a sign-up page• Visit us at www.larchetahomahope.org and click on the blue “Mailing List” icon on the right side of the

home page. From there, you will be able to subscribe to eSoundings.• Visit our Facebook page (L’Arche Tahoma Hope Community) and click on the “Email Signup” tab just

below our cover photo.• Email info@larchetahomahope.org with your preferred email address.

eSoundings.... Coming Soon to Inboxes Near You!

Alex & Ricky riding the Carousel in Downtown Cincinnati

12.

Spring, 2016

Taking the time to reflect back upon what has occurred is a gift at this time in community. We are full of the spirit from just coming off Lent, Triduum and Easter, an especially blessed year this year with the Farm’s very own Debbie getting baptized.

We give thanks each day on the Farm and this season is no different. We have been blessed each and every day. Sometimes those blessings are easily seen: the yellow tulips for Easter Vigil at St. Leo’s popping open on Holy Thursday just in time; a group of college students sharing stories or a meal time game with our team; sophomores singing while weeding in the fields; a group of fourth graders making their “20th” trip moving pots, or one of our four OT student interns building relationships within the work and joy of a day seeding or building beehive frames. Not any less important and much more mysterious are the blessings that are harder to see in the moment. For example, the many plants that didn’t make it through the winter – bye bye mums - where is the blessing? Our faithful volunteer Matt dumping them out into the compost pile, to be turned by Charles,

sifted by Greg and put in pots by Zach. Seeds planted by Leana, transplanted by Debra into that pot filled with the compost from those mums that died, weeded by Debbie and sold on site at Spring Fling. The circle of life; a blessing experience. The gift within the grief or the loss.

We lost Greenhouse #2 to storm damage. Our oldest greenhouse…filled with so many memories: the many nights spent in sleeping bags stoking the fire, the fuchsias growing as our first baskets, the tomatoes, the veggie starts. Yet not far from its location, a building project has come to fruition: new benches, built from the repurposed wood of the greenhouse by Eagle Scout candidate John Schott. A gift for us, to always remember our first foray into growing under plastic. We mourn the top of Greenhouse #1, gone to the wind, a sail set loose by the winds of March to its desires to soar, and we will use the pieces for our cloches in the field. When you come by to see our new larger perennial area,

take a look at the bed markers. These were created out of the old deck wood from Ananda by our Transition students from Peninsula High School, working in the newly created wood-working shed.

With nearly 300 volunteers coming to serve and to learn so far this year, we are on target to match last year’s nearly 2500 volunteers. Our team has worked hard adapting to the change in work spaces and making the best out of the new challenges of working in the rain. Brittany, Teresa, and Megan have honed their skills and shine brightly in all their gifts. They have blessed us with their presence, laughter, fun, attention to detail and a desire to learn and grow from the L’Arche experience. Zach and I laugh at all we have had to change in our Farm plan this year. The “yellow tulips” that were actually red, the impatiens that didn’t make it or the seeds that come late but the order is doubled. We have adapted how we grow and become better due to these mis-fortunes, or, as we have begun to see, hidden treasures. As I sit and type with my face sun-kissed once again, I reflect upon the daily blessings: those seen and the joy of finding those not so easily found. Come out and be blessed, join us on site for our opening day on Saturday April 23rd or at one of the many shows, events, or markets that have begun to open as spring arrives around Tacoma.

A Farm of Blessing Which Thee Bless……….Patrick Toohey, L’Arche Farm & Gardens Coordinator

13.

L’Arche Tahoma Hope ~ 2015 Annual Report & Soundings

14.

Like us on Facebook (search for L’Arche Farm) for special onsite offers, to find out what the “Market Deal of the Day” is, and to see what we’re up to!

WHERE TO FIND US...Please call ahead to confirm we will be at the following events before making a special trip out to see us...

GREENHOUSE HOURSTuesday - Saturday, 10am-4pm April 23rd through October 1st

EVENTS

Spring Fling April 23rd, 10am - 4pm (see next page for details)

Wayzgoose Steamroller Press & PlantsApril 30th - May 1st

Mother’s Day Sale at the Farm Saturday, May 7th, 10am - 4pm

Fresh From the Farm Father’s Day Saturday, June 18th, 10am - 4pm

Gig Harbor Garden Tour June 25th and 26th (for more information, visit www.gigharborgardentour.org)

Harvest Festival at the Farm October 1st Details to come!

Wonderful Wreath BonanzaChristmas Crafts, Wreaths, and Treats

Saturday, December 3rd

We encourage you to contact us ahead of time before making a special trip to see us, as sometimes our plans

change. We can be reached via phone at (253) 537-7871 and via email at farm@larchetahomahope.org.

MARKETS

Proctor Farmers Market, 9am - 2pm Saturdays through December 17th

Tacoma Broadway Market, 10am - 3pm Thursdays, May 5th - October 27th

Tacoma 6th Avenue Market, 3pm- 7pm Tuesdays, June 7th - August 30th

CHURCH SALES

Fircrest Presbyterian, April 24th

St. Mark’s by the Narrows, April 24th

Shepard of the Hill Presbyterian, April 30th

St. Andrew’s Episcopal, May 1st

St. Charles Borromeo, May 8th

Redeemer Lutheran, May 8th

Little Church in Lakewood, May 15th

Eco Sunday at St. Leo’s, May 15th

(Visit our website or Facebook page to get specific times for our weekend church sales).

Spring, 2016

15.

Directions to the Farm: visit our website at: www.larchetahomahope.org and click on the “Get Directions” link in the left column.

Questions? e-mail: farm@larchetahomahope.org, phone: (253) 537-7871

C O U P O NValid only on

April 23rd, 2015Buy 2 Perennials and get a 3rd one of equal or lesser value for FREE.

Does not include premium perennials.

• Veggie starts and herbs for your garden

• Perennials and annuals for your yard

• Farm & Gardens’ handmade crafts for sale

• L’Honey products - hand balm and soap

15.

Soundings is published three times a year, Spring, Fall and Christmas. L’Arche Tahoma Hope is a non-profit organization. Your donations may be tax-deductible.

Non-ProfitOrg.U.S. Postage

PAIDTacoma, WA

Permit No. 1126

L’Arche Tahoma Hope Community12303 36th Avenue EastTacoma, Washington 98446

The Farmhouse11716 Vickery Ave. E.

Tacoma, WA 98446(253) 535-3171

Anawim616 East 45th St.

Tacoma, WA 98404(253) 474-5618

Ananda12306 Vickery Ave. E.

Tacoma, WA 98446(253) 537-5126

Farm & Gardens11716 Vickery Ave. E.

Tacoma, WA 98446(253) 537-7871

Hopespring12319 - 36th Ave. E.Tacoma, WA 98446

(253) 537-6936

w w w . l a r c h e t a h o m a h o p e . o r g e-mail: info@larchetahomahope.org

Day Supportamanda@larchetahomahope.org

sue@larchetahomahope.org(253) 537-7540

Main Office12303 36th Ave. E.Tacoma, WA 98446

(253) 535-3178

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Join Us!We are accepting applications for live-in assistants now... Find out more at www.larchetahomahope.org.or email us at info@larchetahomahope.org

See you at

Spring Fling!

on Saturday...(See pg 15 for details)