It is with great pleasure that we announce our award recipients for the 2008 National Philanthropy Day Awards! The 2008 honorees are:
Throughout their 25-year partnership Jody Laine and Shad Reinstein have not only given tremendously of their money, but of their time and leadership. They don’t just write a check, they get involved on a personal and professional level and work not only to fix an immediate problem, but to work toward institutional change to keep the problem from continuing. They take risks and work on the big picture. The Seattle couple has given more than $1 million, primarily to small grassroots social change organizations. Not extraordinarily wealthy, Reinstein and Laine intentionally live a simple lifestyle so they have more assets to give away. Among the organizations they’ve supported with their money, time and leadership are the Pride Foundation, the Greater Seattle Business Association, the Women’s Funding Alliance, Seattle Young People’s Project, Camp Ten Trees, Social Justice Fund, and the Western States Center. Deemed a “power couple” by Seattle’s ‘mo magazine in 2007, they love to be involved with the organizations they support and are admired for taking the time to learn about the groups they fund, for volunteering with those organizations, and offering their skills and experiences as well.
A quintessential Northwest company, PACCAR has a virtually unsurpassed history of giving during its 102-years of business excellence. The Bellevue-based corporation, which employs 22,000 individuals in more than 100 countries, has donated millions of dollars to philanthropic causes locally, nationally and internationally. Known locally for truck manufacturing, PACCAR is a global technology leader in capital goods and financial services. Through its philanthropic efforts PACCAR supports projects in the areas of social and human services, environment, religion, arts and culture, health, literature and education. It funds annual operating support, special programs, and is often a leader in funding capital campaigns. It donates to dozens of organizations; among the most noteworthy are the University of Washington, Overlake Hospital, Seattle University and Gonzaga University. In addition to the company’s direct philanthropy and extensive employee matching gift program, PACCAR’s global citizenship includes leading in the development and sharing of innovative technologies that demonstrate its commitment to the environment. The prosperity of great corporations like PACCAR makes possible such incredible philanthropic contributions to the community.
Much more than an independent book store, Village Books is a community leader through philanthropy, education, and activism. Owned by Chuck and Dee Robinson, the Bellingham book store is part of the fabric of the community, connecting individuals and causes through the store’s newsletter, book signings and fundraising events in support of community good works. In addition to traditional fundraising activities and donations by Village Books owners, the small business routinely plays a leadership role in efforts to strengthen and enhance the Whatcom County community. The Robinsons and their business helped lead the way for Bellingham to become the number one “Green Power” city in the country and to become a national leader in the area of sustainable living. In addition, Village Books led the way in establishing the Fairhaven Village Green Fund, the Korean War Children’s Memorial Fund, and the Depot Market Fund. The Robinsons maintain the public trails near their store and contribute financially to numerous community non-profit organizations that preserve salmon habitat, wet lands, working farms and clean water. They teach children and adults how to read – and feed them when they’re hungry.
Led by Daniel and Sally Kranzler of Bellevue, the Kirlin Charitable Foundation’s mission is to serve as a catalyst and innovative partner in positive social change, helping children and their families become lifelong learners and thoughtfully active, compassionate members of the global community. The foundation lived that mission this year when it served as a major catalyst and launched Seeds of Compassion, a five-day transformational event in April that put a spotlight on the importance of early learning and attracted global dignitaries to the region, including The Dalai Lama. The Kranzlers named their foundation after their two daughters – Kira and Caitlin - and have a solid track record of supporting children and children’s causes. Other programs supported by the foundation include creation of Thrive by Five Washington, which supports early childhood learning; support for Bringing Baby Home, a program to teach new parents how to maintain and improve their relationship after the birth of a child; Family, Friend and Neighbor Child Care, an initiative to strengthen the quality of care for children being cared for by grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, friends and neighbors; and Arts Corps, a community-based arts education program. Both Daniel and Sally Kranzler take a hands-on approach to running their foundation and supporting the causes that help the youngest members of our community.
In the eight years since Major League pitcher Jamie Moyer and his wife Karen founded The Moyer Foundation to help and support children in physical, emotional or financial distress, the organization has already created a nationwide footprint of compassion. With the community’s support, the Moyer Foundation has raised over $15 million to assist more than 150 organizations that serve the needs of children. Among the foundation’s biggest initiatives are:
• Camp Erin, the largest national network of bereavement camps in the U.S. with 18 camps in 12 states. Through its Campaign for Kids, the foundation launched a national campaign to help establish and fund more than 50 new camps including one camp in every Major League Baseball city by 2012, and additional camps in Washington State.
• Camp Mariposa, a one-of-its-kind camp for children affected by addiction in their families.
• The Gregory Fund, for early cancer-detection research at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
• The Moyer Foundation Endowment for Excellence in Pediatric Palliative Care at Children’s Hospital.
Perhaps the biggest and most unique strength of the Seattle-based foundation is its ability to galvanize community partners and connect various entities to make the strongest impact. It has done that with all of its initiatives and plans to continue those efforts in the future.