Washington

As a donor-supported community foundation and a catalyst for change, Pride Foundation supports transformative philanthropy, programs, and individuals in the Northwest that help people find joy and strength in who they are and where they are—in urban, rural, and remote communities.

With our main office in Seattle, Pride Foundation has deep roots in Washington. Thanks to our generous donors and dedicated volunteers, we have awarded grants to over a thousand LGBTQ-related organizations and supported hundreds of students in Washington and throughout the Northwest.

There are two full-time Regional Development Organizers in Washington. Farand Gunnels travels throughout Eastern Washington encompassing the part of the state east of the Cascade mountain range and is based in Spokane. Uma Rao travels throughout Western Washington and is based in Seattle.

Both Farand and Uma travel throughout the Evergreen State meeting donors, volunteers, grantees, and scholars—building a community to move LGBTQ equality forward in Washington and throughout the Northwest.

Contact Farand or Uma to learn more about Pride Foundation’s work in Eastern and Western Washington and to find out how you can get involved. Be sure to sign up for Pride Foundation’s monthly eNewsletter to learn more about our supporters, grantees, and scholars. You can also read all of Farand’s and Uma’s Washington stories online. Organizations in King County should contact Jeff Hedgepeth.

Local Leadership: Leading Equality

Local leadership makes Pride Foundation’s work meaningful and relevant as local Washington volunteers help award our grants and scholarships in Washington. The Leadership Action Team is one group of volunteers that provides guidance and advice to staff. Members of the 2012 Leadership Action Team are:

Eastern Washington

  • Darrell Alston, Umatilla Morrow Alternatives
  • Danielle Carver, Mental Health Technician, Eastern State Hospital; EWU Social Work Program Student; Pride Foundation Scholar
  • Jason L Kildall, Development Officer, Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho
  • Topher Mobley, Kennewick School District; Member of Public School Employees of Washington/SEIU Local 1948
  • Frank Roa, Umatilla Morrow Alternatives
  • David Victor, Community Volunteer
  • Rose Wardian, Community Volunteer

Northwest Washington

  • Lauren Mehl, Northwest Youth Services
  • Cathy Pfahl, Community Volunteer and retired GSA advisor at Mount Vernon High School
  • Kathy Reim, Skagit PFLAG
  • Bob Teichman, Community Volunteer
  • Bryce Vradenburg, Social Worker

Southwest Washington

  • Jane Arends, Community Volunteer
  • Colleen Dixon, Stonewall Youth
  • Spring Dowse, Triple Point Youth
  • Angie Hambrick, Pacific Lutheran University
  • Marcie Mathis, Community Volunteer
  • Alejandra Silva Hernandez, Scholar, University of Washington
  • Jennifer Smith, Pacific Lutheran University
  • Justin Taylor, MPowerment Olympia, Pierce County AIDS Foundation