Come celebrate 47 years of service with us on Saturday, May 3rd, 2025 at 6PM at the Museum of Flight! Help raise critical funds to support early learning and hear about the work we are doing at Denise Louie Education Center as you engage and connect with your tables. Together we will honor this year’s Dream Award recipients and raise funds needed to close the opportunity gap. It'll be a night you won't forget!
Event Schedule
6:00pm - Check-In | Silent Auction Bidding | Live Auction Preview
7:00pm - Program | Live Auction
9:30pm - Event concludes
Theme
Dress up in your favorite gala attire to bid and dance the night away. Get ready for an evening full of excitement and celebration!
The Dream Award
The Dream Award was established to acknowledge the exceptional work of individuals and organizations whose strong commitment to children has resulted in (1) increased access to early education for children and families and (2) increased internal resources that allow Denise Louie to serve and expand its programmatic mission and goals.
Community Dream Award - Sheng-Yen Lu Foundation
Founded in 2008 by H.H. Living Buddha Lian Sheng, Sheng-Yen Lu Foundation was established with a vision of practicing compassion through philanthropy. With a mission to promote quality health and education for all, the foundation has been a powerful force in addressing systemic challenges faced by immigrants and refugees in Washington State.
Entering its 17th year of grantmaking, Sheng-Yen Lu Foundation has distributed over $14 million in grants, scholarships, and disaster relief aid across King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. Their generosity has been instrumental in fostering equitable access to education, health, and opportunities that create lasting change for under-resourced communities. For over a decade, the foundation has partnered with DLEC to:
- Expand our reach through capital projects,
- Sustain essential programs for vulnerable children, and
- Provide critical resources to empower families.
Their generosity ensures immigrant children thrive, families feel supported, and educators have the tools to succeed. Together, we are shaping brighter futures for generations to come.
Individual Dream Award - Ted Saedi
For over 15 years, Ted Saedi has been a steadfast supporter of Denise Louie Education Center, embodying the spirit of partnership and generosity that fuels our mission. His commitment to ensuring high-quality early learning opportunities has made a lasting impact on our children, families, and programs. Ted's contributions go beyond financial support as he provided DLEC with below-market rent, helped us navigate complex facility challenges, and generously contributed to our auctions to raise vital funds.
A dedicated community leader, Ted's philanthropy extends beyond DLEC. He actively supports education initiatives for girls in Africa and India, believing in the power of learning to transform lives. As an engaged member of the Bahai Faith community, he upholds values of unity, service, and social responsibility principles that resonate deeply with DLEC's mission. If you see him at the auction, be sure to thank him and invite him to dance!
Auction Chairs - Denise Moriguchi and Jennie Cochran-Chinn
Denise has been a former board member of Denise Louie Education Center and has been serving on our Emeritus Board since 2021. With
deep roots in the community, Denise’s local knowledge combined with her
wealth of management and marketing experience has made her an
incredible resource, especially as a member of the capital campaign
committee for Mercy Magnuson Place. Denise earned her degrees in
economics, Asian studies, and business administration from Sloan School
of Management at MIT and Bowdoin College. Her career in marketing and
brand management spans nearly 15 years, including branding for Bayer
Healthcare. After returning to Uwajimaya in 2013 as Marketing Director,
Denise became President in 2016 and CEO in 2017. In addition to her
dedication to DLEC, Denise sits on the board for AAA and serves on Mayor
Bruce Harrell’s transition committee. This year, Denise will also be serving as our auction description reader during our live auction!
Jennie
has been serving on our Board of Directors since 2021. She has been an instrumental volunteer in our 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 Dinner and Auction and
Development efforts. Her support has led to the success of Denise
Louie's virtual and in-person auctions. We are excited to have her as our 2025 Auction Chair.
"The
brain is a muscle, and just like any muscle it is important to stretch
and build it. This is what early learning does - it sets the foundation
for learning for the rest of a child's life. It's fundamental for
every child to have access to multicultural early learning that allows
them to build that necessary foundation to be successful in life. No
other organization does this better than Denise Louie Education
Center." - Jennie Cochran-Chinn
Auctioneer - Gee Scott
Gee Scott is co-host of “The Gee & Ursula Show” on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, gameday host for the Seattle Seahawks, and podcast host of "KJ All Day". Gee is a high-energy speaker and auctioneer for today’s audiences. Gee built a career infusing personal experiences, innovation, and infectious energy across many industries. Gee's love and passion for giving back has resulted in supporting organizations like the Denise Louie Education Center to support the meaningful, important, and life-changing work you do.
Photography Disclaimer
Photos and videos may be recorded at this event. Please be aware that by attending this event, you grant permission to use your voice, name, and/or likeness, without compensation, in these photos and videos, which may be utilized for promotional, archival, or educational purposes.
