Beer & Bites 2025: A Night of Hope, Community, and Extraordinary Generosity
On Saturday, October 4th, 600 guests filled The Waterfront Venue at Narrows Marina for the 12th annual Beer & Bites fundraiser—an unforgettable evening of stories, celebration, and generosity. Together, we raised an astonishing $1.4 million, making it the most successful Beer & Bites in our history and providing vital support for cancer research and clinical trials right here in the South Sound.
Fueled by heart, hope, and community spirit, we gathered to eat, drink, bid, and uplift one another—reminded once again why this night means so much. Read on for highlights from this truly incredible evening!
Stories That Remind Us Why We’re Here
Beer & Bites has always been about the people behind the mission—those fighting, supporting, researching, and believing in a better tomorrow. This year, we were honored to share Krystal’s powerful story.
In the event video, Krystal offered heartfelt thanks to the donors who make life-changing research and trials possible—speaking directly to the impact your generosity has on real families in our community.
Her message, woven throughout the evening, reminded us that behind every trial, every treatment, and every research breakthrough is a person hoping for more time, more options, and more hope. Watch Krystal’s story below.
WATCH KRYSTAL’S STORY
An Unforgettable Night of Giving
This year’s giving was nothing short of extraordinary.
Live Auction Energy Was Electric
Thanks to the generosity of 176 auction donors, our Live Auction raised an astounding $142,000!
Guests were buzzing with excitement—especially when a Seahawks ticket and sideline experience soared to a $25,000 winning bid, making it the highest auction item of the night.
Showcase Silent Auction
Across dozens of community-donated items and experiences, the Showcase Silent Auction brought in $37,500, with enthusiastic bidding right up to the final moments.
A Sweet Tradition Fueled by Community
Always a guest favorite, this year’s dessert auction showcased 31 beautifully crafted desserts made with love by cherished members of our community. Their sweetness was matched only by the generosity in the room, helping raise an impressive $14,200 to advance local cancer research.
Fund-A-Need: A Moment of Profound Impact
Together, we raised a remarkable $780,650 during Fund-A-Need—an outpouring of generosity that will directly support cutting-edge research and clinical trials close to home.
Every donor, every paddle raise, every moment of shared hope made this total possible.
A Community That Shows Up—Again and Again
Behind the scenes, 75 dedicated volunteers helped make the night seamless—from coordinating donors and guests to running registration, assisting with auctions, and keeping the night going smoothly. We could not do this without you. THANK YOU.
We also extend heartfelt gratitude to our 47 generous sponsors including the event’s underwriting sponsor since our inaugural Beer & Bites event, Gordon Rush and The Rush Companies, whose support ensures every dollar raised goes directly to advancing cancer research in the South Sound.
What You Made Possible
Since 2013, Beer & Bites has raised more than $11.4 million to bring groundbreaking cancer research and clinical trials to our region. Your support helps ensure that patients can access life-saving treatments close to home—surrounded by the people who care for them most.
As Krystal’s story so beautifully reminds us, your generosity doesn’t just fund research.
It funds hope.
Thank you for showing up, for giving boldly, and for helping us move closer to a future where every patient has access to the treatments they need.
Here’s to another extraordinary year—and the countless moments of hope your support makes possible.
With gratitude,
The South Sound CARE Foundation
