Children in our region
Bridge the Gap reports that more than 1,400 children experience foster care each year in Clark, Cowlitz, and Skamania counties.
← Community Soul Mission
COMMUNITY SOUL MISSION / FIFTH ANNUAL FUNDRAISER
Every child deserves the chance to thrive.
Your tax-deductible contribution through the fifth annual Community Soul Mission fundraiser supports Bridge the Gap and children in foster care across Southwest Washington.
Every contribution matters. Together, we can help local children in foster care access the experiences and resources they deserve.
Donations through the dedicated Zeffy fundraiser benefit Bridge the Gap, a registered nonprofit (EIN 68-0523104). Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Keep your Zeffy donation receipt for your records.
THE HEART BEHIND THE FUNDRAISER
She knows what it means to need help. And what it means when someone shows up.
Behind this fundraiser is a personal story about hardship, resilience, and the difference a community can make.
For Chrissy Moe, this mission is deeply personal. Throughout her childhood, she experienced foster care, instability, homelessness, frequent moves, abuse and neglect. By seventh grade, she had attended 13 different schools. She became pregnant at 16 with only a seventh-grade education, while facing many of the challenges young people in foster care navigate.
She also knows another side of that story: what can happen when a community steps in. At a critical time, community services offered support, resources and opportunities that helped change the direction of her life.
Those experiences shaped her belief in stability, connection and opportunity. Years later, she created Community Soul Mission—the community outreach branch of Real Estate with Soul—to bring businesses and neighbors together to help people in need. That commitment led to this annual fundraiser for Bridge the Gap.
Read Chrissy’s personal story ↗
WHY BRIDGE THE GAP?
Together we can build a brighter future for children in foster care.
Bridge the Gap has helped children in foster care since 1999, serving Clark, Cowlitz and Skamania counties in Southwest Washington. Donations help make opportunities and essentials accessible when they might otherwise be out of reach. The images shown are illustrations of activities, not photographs of Bridge the Gap recipients.
THE NONPROFIT YOUR DONATION SUPPORTS
Meet Bridge the Gap. More than 25 years of showing up for children.
Founded in 1999 by social worker Peggy Hays and community member Tauni Hemminger, Bridge the Gap is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Southwest Washington. For more than 25 years, this locally rooted, 100% volunteer organization has helped children in foster care feel supported, included, and able to experience more of childhood.
Bridge the Gap depends on people right here in our community. Individual donations, local businesses, grants, and grassroots fundraising help put essentials and meaningful opportunities within reach for children in foster care across Clark, Cowlitz, and Skamania counties. That can mean tutoring, therapy, camp, sports, music, art classes, clothing, or simply the comfort of having what a child needs.
With an entirely volunteer-run organization—including its board—and very little spent on overhead, the focus stays where it belongs: on the children. According to information provided to Community Soul Mission, more than 98% of Bridge the Gap’s funds go toward supporting children in foster care. That is the power of neighbors giving together: local generosity helping local children feel included, supported, and able to experience more of childhood.
1999Established in Southwest Washington
100%Volunteer organization, including its board
98%+Reported share of funds supporting children in foster care*
3 countiesClark · Cowlitz · Skamania
*The 98%+ figure was provided to Community Soul Mission and has not been independently verified against current financial statements. Bridge the Gap is the registered nonprofit beneficiary (EIN 68-0523104); Community Soul Mission organizes the fundraiser.
THE STAGGERING STATISTICS
The need is real. So is the power of showing up.
These are the foster-care statistics Bridge the Gap shares to illustrate why children and young people need stability, opportunity, and people in their corner.
Severe trauma
Bridge the Gap reports that 90% of children in foster care experience severe trauma.
Teen and young-adult pregnancy
Its website states that 71% of young women who have experienced foster care become pregnant before age 21. It also reports that 50% of their children enter foster care.
High school graduation
Bridge the Gap reports that only 48% of children in foster care graduate from high school.
Suicide attempts
Bridge the Gap reports that 25% of children in foster care attempt suicide.
Incarceration after aging out
Bridge the Gap cites 23,000 young people aging out of foster care annually and reports that 81% of the young men become incarcerated.
Family reunification
Bridge the Gap reports that only half of children in foster care reunite with their biological families.
Source: Bridge the Gap — “Did You Know?” foster-care statistics ↗. Figures are reproduced in substance from the organization's website; study dates, methodologies, and populations are not provided there. Only the 1,400+ figure is explicitly local to Southwest Washington. The remaining statistics should not be presented as verified 2026 rates or assumed to describe the same geographic population.
These statistics do not define a child's future. Access to education, counseling, recreation, and everyday essentials can help create opportunities and connection. Together we are the Solution.
Donate now ↗
Education & tutoring
School supplies, tutoring and learning opportunities.
Clothing & essentials
Clothes, shoes and other everyday needs.
Camps & enrichment
Camp experiences, recreation and exploration.
Sports & activities
Participation fees, equipment and uniforms.
Music, art & STEM
Creative experiences that help children discover new interests.
Therapy & support
Therapy and other important individualized needs.
Bridge the Gap is an independent registered nonprofit (EIN 68-0523104). Donations made through our Zeffy campaign benefit Bridge the Gap and are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Donate now ↗Discover Bridge the Gap’s work ↗LOCAL CHILDRENREAL COMMUNITYMEANINGFUL SUPPORT
WHY I STARTED THIS
Together we are the Solution.
I'm Chrissy Moe. I was in and out of foster care throughout childhood, became pregnant at 16, and began raising my daughter while I was still a teenager. After foster care, we started over in subsidized housing with very little. I know what it means to need someone in your corner. That's why this fundraiser for children experiencing foster care is personal to me.
Today, I use Community Soul Mission—the community outreach branch of my real estate business—to connect local businesses and community members around giving. Contributions through this fundraiser benefit Bridge the Gap, an independent nonprofit. Together we are the Solution.
More about Community Soul Mission ↗
Watch my KGW8 interview to hear why the mission is personal.
DECEMBER 8 · FACEBOOK LIVE FUNDRAISER FINALE
Meet your hosts.
Join Chrissy Moe and Jason Presser of Fairway Mortgage for our fifth annual Community Soul Mission fundraiser finale, supporting Bridge the Gap and children in foster care.
A LOOK BACK · LAST YEAR'S LIVE EVENT
Moments from Waterfront Taphouse.
These photographs capture some of the people and connections from last year's Community Soul Mission live fundraiser at Waterfront Taphouse.
YOU’RE INVITED · DECEMBER 8 AT 7 PM
Join us for our Facebook Live fundraiser.
Be part of the fifth annual Community Soul Mission fundraiser finale! Join us live on December 8, 2026 at 7 PM for community connections, prize drawings, and an evening dedicated to supporting children in foster care through Bridge the Gap.
Join our Facebook Live event ↗READY TO GIVE?
Support the fifth annual Community Soul Mission fundraiser through the dedicated Zeffy donation page.
Donate now ↗HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Your generosity is the heart of this fundraiser.
Donate.
Every penny counts. All donations matter, and no donation is too small. Donations benefit Bridge the Gap, a registered nonprofit (EIN 68-0523104), and are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Keep your donation receipt for your records.
Donate now ↗Share the event.
Help spread awareness by sharing our fundraiser with friends, family and neighbors. Every share helps us reach more people who care about children in foster care.
Share the Facebook event ↗Attend the Facebook Live event.
Join us on Facebook Live on December 8 at 7 PM for our fundraiser finale and prize drawings as we hear from our community business sponsors.
Visit the Facebook Live event ↗ABOUT THE ANNUAL FUNDRAISER
A tradition of community giving.
The fifth annual fundraiser has a $5,000 goal, with a Facebook Live finale and prize drawings announced for December 8 at 7 PM. Visit the Facebook event for current prize details, drawing rules, and eligibility; donations and drawing entries should not be assumed to be interchangeable.
WITH GRATITUDE TO OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES
Sponsored by
Thank you to the businesses helping bring our community together in support of children in foster care.
SPECIAL THANK YOU · OUR LIVE EVENT HOST
Waterfront Taphouse
A special thank-you to Waterfront Taphouse for hosting our fundraiser finale! We’ll be broadcasting live from the restaurant on Facebook so our community can join us virtually.
WITH APPRECIATION · EVENT CO-HOST
Jason Presser · Fairway Mortgage
Thank you to Jason for co-hosting the fundraiser event with me and supporting this mission.
Our community business supporters
COMMUNITY SOUL MISSION
Together We Are the Solution.
Be part of something meaningful.
Help Bridge the Gap create more opportunities for children in foster care right here in Southwest Washington.
Donate now ↗Community Soul Mission is a community outreach branch, not a nonprofit. Contributions through the linked fundraiser benefit Bridge the Gap, a registered nonprofit (EIN 68-0523104). Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Keep your Zeffy donation receipt for your tax records.