News

On Sunday, April 27, 2025, the Seattle Mariners hosted their annual We Are Family Day at T-Mobile Park—a celebration honoring foster, kinship, and adoptive families across Washington state. The day featured a lively pregame resource fair on the Rooftop Boardwalk, family-friendly festivities, and a ceremonial first pitch thrown by Tyson, a 15-year-old foster youth, multi-sport athlete, and proud Mariners fan. Selected by the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) as the 2025 First Pitch Kid, Tyson’s moment on the mound celebrated the strength and resilience of youth in out-of-home care—and the vital role of the caregivers who support them. 

Representing the Help Me Grow Washington Community Connections team at WithinReach, Noé Quezada Miramontes, Help Me Grow Washington Manager, and Faviola Ruvalcaba, Resource and Outreach Navigator, joined the celebration at T-Mobile Park. 

“It was incredible to see foster families enjoying a day just for them,” said Quezada Miramontes. “It’s an honor to be part of a public-private partnership that brings real joy to children and caregivers alike.” 

Their presence at the event not only celebrated caregivers—it also helped raise awareness of the powerful, often behind-the-scenes work of Resource Navigators in supporting Washington families. Through outreach like this, our team was able to introduce community members to the mission of Community Connections and the broader impact of their work across the state. 

As part of HealthierHere’s Community Hub, the Community Connections team is part of a growing community-based workforce that helps reduce barriers, improve health outcomes, and build trusted, person-centered support systems. Drawing on shared lived experiences, language, and culture, Resource Navigators serve as trusted advocates—guiding individuals through complex health and social systems, connecting them to essential services, and supporting long-term well-being and stability. 

For the past 17 years, DCYF and the Mariners have partnered on We Are Family Day to honor the more than 4,700 children and youth in foster care—and the dedicated network of caregivers and community advocates who support them. WithinReach is proud to stand alongside these partners in celebrating the strength of families across Washington—on and off the field.