LACEY, WA—On September 20, 2025 more than 300 guests, supporters, and volunteers gathered at Saint Martin’s University’s Marcus Pavilion for the first annual Habitat Gala. Guests arrived in cocktail-attire, adorned with leafy flower crowns and fantastical accessories. Adding to the whimsical forest experience, costumed mushroom gnomes, forest guardian stilt-walkers, magicians, and a captivating acrobatic performance from troupe Cirque Cadia entertained guests.

Gala attendees gave generously to the cause of homeownership, raising more than $200,000 over the course of the evening hosted by KING 5 Evening’s Chris Cashman. Inspiring speakers including South Puget Sound Habitat CEO Elizabeth Walker and Board Member and Principal Architect at Artisan Group Tessa Bradley.

CEO Elizabeth Walker shared that “In Thurston County, an undersupplied market has resulted in a 119% increase in home prices in the last 10 years compared to a 51% increase in wages. This type of trend is effectively locking renters and moderate-income would-be buyers alike out of the market while simultaneously increasing the instability of our most vulnerable neighbors.” She also shared that South Puget Sound Habitat is nearly halfway done with the 28-home Tâlíčn development in Tumwater, and recently recorded a 150% increase in home repairs in the community.

At the lectern, Tessa Bradley shared that her father purchased their first family home for about one-year’s salary—while a median income homebuyer is faced with paying ten-times their annual salary for a home today. She had this to say about South Puget Sound Habitat’s work: “Think about the families who will move into these homes. Over 160 families in the next five years. Conservatively, that’s 500 people in just the next five years. That’s 500 new voices shaped and empowered by the empathy of strangers. That is the power of opportunity.”

Unique auction items included a golf package at seven local courses, and a scenic private flight over the region. Panowicz Jewelers donated raffle prizes: two raffle winners got to choose from a luxury watch, necklace, ring, and earrings.

Hugely impressive was the dessert dash table, which was 16-feet long and laden with creative, forest-themed sweets. The dessert dash alone raised over $14,000 as tables bid to be the first called to run and select their desserts. Creative home bakers designed mushroom-topped cupcakes and swiss rolls, while bakeries Anjuli’s Cakes, 8 Arms Bakery, San Francisco Bakery, Masonry Café, LUV Cookies, and Crumbl Cookies made generous treat donations.

Habitat Gala was supported by local businesses and community organizations large and small, including presenting sponsor OlyFed. South Puget Sound Habitat extends special thanks to The Barn Nursery and Eastside Urban Farm & Garden Center, who loaned a cargo truck filled with lush mature greenery for décor.

Photo credit: Shanna Paxton Photography. More pictures available at https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/hzni5aydazfhmq8lr2tqb/AGkl00E1V5Dl96UlTzumEBQ?rlkey=2i8zh23gi739tkxuimam6ngqe&dl=0