MUKILTEO — Anna Bui traveled Europe for three weeks last year. She was the happiest she’d ever been. She looked forward to more trips, exploring the world and different cultures.
Next week, her family and friends will honor her dreams at an event to raise money for the Anna Bui World of Hope Fund. After her death, Anna’s family established a scholarship at the University of Washington Bothell to help students study abroad.
“Unfortunately Anna’s life was tragically cut short but with your help her dreams will carry on. With this scholarship, Anna’s memory and spirit will live on …,” the event’s organizers wrote in a flier advertising the Aug. 3 fundraiser.
Anna, 19, was among three former Kamiak High School students killed at a house party on July 30, 2016. Jordan Ebner and Jake Long, both 19, also died at the hands of a former classmate. A fourth student, Will Kramer, was injured but survived. The teenage shooter, Bui’s former boyfriend, is serving a life sentence for the killings.
The fundraiser, scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, is open to the public at the Rosehill Community Center in Mukilteo. Tickets can be purchased online. Guests can enjoy international appetizers and desserts, along with wine and beer. There will be a short program with special guest Mark Wright from KING 5 news. Wright’s son attended the party.
The event will include an auction with some high-end prizes, including a vacation getaway, jerseys signed by Seahawks Russell Wilson and Richard Sherman, hotel packages and artwork from local artists and photographers. Anna’s favorite line of cosmetics, Tarte, also donated a makeup kit for the auction.
“It’s meant to be a celebration of Anna’s life,” said her sister, Anny Bui.
Event organizers received donations from around the Puget Sound area. The generosity and support from the community has been heartening, Anny Bui said.
“I hope this is a way of healing for people. It just means a lot to me,” she said.
The family created the scholarship as a way to honor Anna’s life. She had just finished her first year at the UW Bothell and planned to earn a degree in nursing.
The goal is to raise $25,000 for an endowment to fund the scholarship indefinitely. The family hopes it will help students achieve their goals of studying abroad.
“It’s a way to get outside your bubble and when you do get outside your bubble you are able to learn and grow,” Anny Bui said.
Anna would have wanted the family to help others, her sister said. “She was very caring and kind. She wanted the best for everyone she met.”
Organizing the event has been a lot of work. Anny and her brother, David, have been joined by their cousins, friends and staff at UW Bothell to make the event happen.
Living through this past year has been more than Anny can put into words. She has found meaning and hope in raising money to benefit others.
“I can’t give my sister anything physical for her birthday anymore,” she said. “This scholarship that we are doing is probably the best gift I can give her and the students at UW Bothell. I think it’s a symbol of hope, peace and love.”
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.
Scholarship fundraiser
The Anna Bui World of Hope Fundraiser is scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3 at the Rosehill Community Center, 304 Lincoln Ave., Mukilteo. Tickets are $40 with $30 going directly to the scholarship. Must be 21 or older to attend. To buy tickets, go to www.uwb.edu/advancement/annabui. Questions: Tiffany Kirk at tdk6@uw.edu
Community gathering
A Mukilteo Strong community picnic is planned from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Lighthouse Park, 609 Front St. There will be free popsicles, gummy bears, Mukilteo Strong bracelets, lawn games and firewood for the fire pits.
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