La Dolce Vita: Recapping the 2025 Forest Ridge Gala

On a celebratory evening that lived up to its name, the Forest Ridge community gathered for La Dolce Vita, this year's annual gala and auction. Despite a rare March snowfall outside in Bellevue, the night inside was warm, generous, and full of laughter.

This year's Fund-a-Need supported the Forest Ridge Experience Fund, which makes possible the immersive travel, experiential learning, and transformative programs that enrich a Forest Ridge education. The community's support represents more than a fundraising goal met. It represents trips taken, programs attended, and moments of growth that students will carry with them long after graduation.

The evening was given particular meaning by the words of Fine Arts Department Chair Alison Seaton, who spoke movingly about the power of these opportunities, noting that they allow students to "touch what their minds can imagine." It was a reminder of exactly why this community shows up so generously year after year.

Keeping the energy high throughout the night was emcee Taylor Omondi, who brought warmth, humor, and more than a few well-placed math jokes to the evening.

A heartfelt thank you goes to everyone who attended, bid, donated, volunteered, and contributed items and experiences to the auction. Your generosity directly benefits our students, and it does not go unnoticed.