March Board Recap: The Gala Gets a Makeover and a Tech Nonprofit Worth Knowing

Two things stood out at the Bellevue Chamber's March board meeting: a fresh approach to the Annual Gala that puts our community front and center, and an introduction to a Bellevue nonprofit that has been quietly changing lives in tech for years.

The 2026 Annual Gala Is Getting a New Look

This year's gala on June 5th is moving away from the keynote speaker format and building the evening around the Bellevue Regional Awards. Rather than bringing in an outside voice to anchor the night, we're centering the event on the people already doing exceptional work here on the Eastside.

"We're really leaning into going into the Bellevue Regional Awards and really celebrating the people in our community." — Chamber President Joe Fain

Board members weighed in on which awards matter most and what they'd like to see improved from past years. If you have a restaurant willing to donate a dinner for two, an Airbnb rental in Washington or Oregon, or connections to spa or wine experiences, reach out to Jennifer, who is leading auction procurement this year.

A Bellevue Nonprofit Placing Students in Tech Careers

The meeting also featured a presentation from Computing for All, a Bellevue-based nonprofit and Chamber member that has been breaking down barriers for underserved young adults pursuing careers in technology. Their virtual software development program serves students ages 16 to 24, pairing them with industry mentors and real-world project-based learning.

"We have already placed close to 500 since 2024." —  Mandira Virmani, Computing for All

Students have gone on to internships at Microsoft, Amazon, and Bank of America, and the organization recently launched its second year of free AI career skills training in partnership with Bellevue College. If your organization has entry-level tech roles or internship capacity, this is a partnership worth exploring. A $600 sponsorship supports one student for one quarter. Learn more here!

Coming Up

The Eastside Real Estate Symposium is approaching fast. If your organization purchased a table and hasn't submitted attendee names yet, reach out to Ashley soon. The gala survey results will shape the June 5th program, and planning for next year's Women's Leadership Conference is already underway.