Washington’s Got Talent Virtual Finale
Saturday, January 30, 2021 - 6:30 PM

Washington’s Got Talent was created 11 years ago by our Community Coordinator, Amy Podgurski Gough. Each year, talented young people compete in local auditions in a tough competition to secure a space among 15 top finalists. Prizes are outstanding – first prize is $1000, second prize is $500 and third prize is $250.

Traditionally, the Washington’s Got Talent Finale is a huge community event, selling out 1000 plus seats at a local school auditorium. 

The 2020 Finale was cancelled due to COVID-19; as the virus altered school schedules and rules on the size of gatherings, it became more and more obvious a typical Finale could not be held.

The young people who are 2020 finalists will be respected, honored and given their time to shine!

The Finale this year will be virtual. The Washington’s Got Finale is our Washington Health System Teen Outreach’s annual fundraiser, Funds typically go our one-on-one educational mentoring program, ECHO (Educate Children for Healthy Outcomes). ECHO began in 1999, with the goal of lowering teen pregnancy rates for young people experiencing the antecedents research links to early childbearing. In its first 10 years, the program served 721 young people in this category, and only 3 gave birth. 

Other wonderful outcomes resulted from the ECHO mentoring - increased school attendance, higher academic standing, lower drug/alcohol use, and higher graduation rates. In 2015, ECHO started a five-year longitudinal study using law mentors. A control was selected from 8th grades with similar demographics to the students in the study. The graduation rate at the school district was 67% in 2014. 

The young people in the study graduated in June of 2020. Results were excellent, with 90% of the mentored group graduating versus 70% of the control group. 

Despite the need for ECHO funding support, we’ve made the decision to offer the same prizes to our Washington’s Got Talent contestants at our virtual event on January 30th. 

The community is invited to attend the Virtual Finale. We are asking for a minimum donation of $5.00 per person to help us cover expenses. Any funds will go to ensuring ECHO’s reach to young people.

Thank you so much. 

Dr. Mary Jo

The Finalists!

·       Avella Percussion Ensemble – Cole Davidson, Emily Devenney, Dexter Greene, Lyndon Herschell, Bryn Riley

·       Sofia Bennett

·       Brynn Boyd

·       Sophia Curry

·       Anna Knight

·       Dakota Martin

·       Ashley Mullens

·       Week’s Notice – Colin Zahradnik, Amarah Narus, Mikey Ewing

·       Hannah West