National Philanthropy Day Goes Over Big in Seattle

If you felt an outpouring of lovingkindness while walking past the Convention Center yesterday, it was likely because over 1,000 people were gathered inside to celebrate National Philanthropy Day, hosted by AFP Washington. I was glad to attend, because on a day when unemployment cut-offs and ballooning deficits were in the news, it was particularly good to hear about Seattle's pathbreaking philanthropic engagement. 

Enrique Cerna

Former Mayor Norm Rice

The lunch was emceed by KCTS's Enrique Cerna, and former Mayor Norm Rice spoke as well, but both men knew that the stars of the afternoon were the honorees, and said as much. In fact, the theme of the day was the "faces of philanthropy"--Seattle's populist spirit emerging even when it comes to what you'd imagine would be a wealthy-elbow-rubbing affair. 

In a town where you can run into a sweater-and-khaki-wearing Bill Gates catching a matinée at the Harvard Exit, it makes sense that Matt Griffin (a commercial real estate developer) and Evelyne Rozner (founder of her business consultancy, The Rozner Co.) were low-key about their Outstanding Philanthropists award, given because they "have not only contributed substantially to local and national nonprofits, they have also led efforts that raised more than $250 million for causes they support."

Rozner won applause for warning that an obsession with efficiency and short-term fiscal prudence (as measured by cents per dollar that go to administration "versus" operations) is harmful to non-profits, who need to be allowed to experiment and test out new practices.

The Whatcom Community Foundation was honored for Outstanding Philanthropy Organization (President Mauri Ingram's wry sense of humor won her a "She'll be here all week, folks" from Cerna), and the Moles family was recognized in the Outstanding Philanthropic Family category. For your family's reference, here's the contribution benchmark you should aim for: 

Pure Water for the World, the American Red Cross, Hospice of Whatcom County, Whatcom Community Foundation, St. Luke’s Foundation, Rotary, Mt. Baker Theater, Whatcom Symphony, Whatcom Museum of History & Art, Salvation Army, Boy Scouts of America, Visiting Nurse Home Health Care and Personal Services, Northwest Public Radio, Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, Mount Baker Planned Parenthood, Whatcom Maritime Historical Society, Whatcom County North Rotary Foundation, United Way of Whatcom County, Bellingham Dollars for Scholars, Ferndale Chamber of Commerce and the Whatcom County Old Settlers Association.

Under Outstanding Corporation, we heard from the McKinstry Company's Dean Allen, who explained that the company's practice of dividing up profits among employees, so that each can dedicate $500 to the non-profit of their choice, is something each employee's family is asked to weigh in on, so that philanthropy is taught to new generations. The Outstanding Small Company was Delivery Express, who "deliver" for both the Puget Sound Blood Center and the Starlight Children's Foundation of Washington. President Dave Hamilton dresses up as Santa to deliver toys to seriously ill children; he also contributes to KEXP and KUOW, whom he thanked for helping make his children think he's cool and smart, respectively. 

Grace Grubb (left) and Madeleine Colvin (right)

At this point, I was feeling like I really knew what Louis Armstrong was saying with that "What a Wonderful World" song, but there was one more award. The Outstanding Young Philanthropists award went to Madeleine Colvin and Grace Grubb, who, by the end of 10th grade, "had founded Dig Deep, a nonprofit that has raised more than $13,000 to purchase a water system for a village in Ethiopia." Grace is in Africa (of course), so Madeleine appeared to talk a little about how important clean water is, and their idea to raise money through, among other things, fundraising walks based on how far women in Africa might have to walk each day to provide water for their families. 

It's slightly surreal to watch a high school student address a crowd of 1,000 very influential Seattleites (the WAC parking garage nearby was almost full), half-apologizing for the fact that when the two were freshmen they really didn't know much about the legal or financial issues involved in starting a non-profit, and giving shout-outs to family members who drove them everywhere. "It's," said Madeleine, mastering a breathy trill of nervousness, "excellent," and then led the crowd in a chant of "I am a philanthropist!"