philanthropy
September 18, 2024
A powerful pair
The Walkers are being recognized for their lifetime of philanthropy, volunteerism and impact.
November 29, 2023
Fulfilling a vision
The original vision for wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ (the Intellectual House) included workshop space. That vision is on its way to becoming a reality.
November 26, 2023
Hometown health care
Raised on a dairy farm, Wyatt Bowles dreamed of becoming a hometown doctor. Thanks to scholarship support at the UW, that dream can come true.
September 2, 2023
Quiet philanthropists
Dan and Pam Baty, recipients of the 2023 Gates Volunteer Service Award, have spent nearly five decades supporting UW programs.
Spratlens' legacy
Transferring ownership of a book on African American nurses to a professional organization will raise scholarship funds.
February 26, 2023
Plant power
Doctoral student Natalia Guayazán Palacios works to understand how plants and microorganisms coexist.
September 20, 2022
Dynamic times, dynamic giving
Through the UW Fund and other unrestricted philanthropy, donors to the UW can make an immediate impact where it's needed most.
Let's do something about it
By supporting students, professors and research-based solutions to global problems, Leo Maddox Schneider's family is honoring his passion for learning and making a difference.
September 4, 2022
Nursing advocate
Joanne Montgomery, recipient of the 2022 Gates Volunteer Service Award, spent two decades as a nurse—and two more ensuring that the UW is at the forefront of the field.
UW’s Brotherhood Initiative builds a community of success for men of color
As the UW’s Brotherhood Initiative grows—and welcomes a counterpart Sisterhood Initiative—students like senior Noah Stanigar continue to soar.
May 30, 2022
Clear sailing ahead
A new nonprofit called the Husky Sailing Foundation aims to create a more stable future for a sports club that dates back to 1948.
November 19, 2021
Rising above hate
A Japanese American UW grad turned businessman, Harry Kawabe was a humanitarian who built economies in two U.S. cities and dedicated his life to building community.
September 11, 2021
Friend to veterans
Dentistry professor Theresa Cheng leads a nonprofit organization that connects veterans with resources and employment opportunities.
August 31, 2021
Global vision
Stan Barer, recipient of the 2021 Gates Volunteer Service Award, used his UW Law degree to help make the world a better place.
June 10, 2021
Learning the business
At the Foster School, Nicole Bryant, ’21, is getting a real-world business education and helping a women-owned startup.
June 1, 2021
Speeding up the science
Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson lost their daughter to an uncommon form of cancer. Their philanthropy aims to expand research and bring hope to patients and their families.
May 11, 2021
Building opportunity
The Black Opportunity Fund addresses the harmful legacies that colonialism, racism, white supremacy and racial capitalism have on Black communities.
March 9, 2021
Standing tall
He went from the UW to professional basketball and back. But it’s in the special education classroom that Anthony Washington, ’16, ’19, is making a lasting difference.
December 9, 2020
He taught us how to care
The impact of Bill Gates Sr. will continue to be felt throughout Western Washington, and that is a tribute to his ambition to make this a better world.
November 29, 2020
Bill Gates Sr.’s legacy
As a leader in public service and champion of the UW, Bill Gates Sr. leaves a legacy far beyond his legal contributions.
September 21, 2020
Celebrating a milestone
At the end of June, the University closed the books on a historic fundraising campaign, in which more than half a million donors gave a combined $6.3 billion.
A brilliant conclusion
In 2016, the UW launched the public phase of its Be Boundless campaign. Since then, the campaign effort has expanded community connections and investment in the work the University does.
March 10, 2020
A serving of support
As CEO of FareStart, Angela Dunleavy Stowell gives people a path from poverty to success in the culinary world.
December 9, 2019
Human touch
Jill Higson ’86, gives people a chance to communicate through the written word.
November 24, 2019
Granters of wishes
Melissa Arias, ’97, and Trina Cottingham, ’96, are on local Make-A-Wish leadership team.
March 11, 2019
Down to the core
While the UW may look robust, long-standing cuts in state funding are eroding the school’s ability to maintain buildings, raise salaries and retain faculty.
March 1, 2019
Blake Nordstrom, 1960-2019
A longtime leader of a family company, he went out of his way to connect with customers, employees and community members.
November 30, 2018
Paul Allen's legacy
To the late Paul G. Allen, the University of Washington felt like home.
June 5, 2018
Dorothy Simpson, 1924-2018
She teamed with her husband to make her mark at the UW through generosity and service.
June 2, 2018
Mr. Smith’s journey
With core values formed by his Chehalis upbringing, Orin Smith went on to become a business leader who knew how to treat people right.
March 3, 2018
Family of philanthropy
The Seeley family follows its passion for science by giving to the UW.
January 9, 2018
The lunch guy
Fueled by an appetite for social justice, Jeffrey Lew, ’06, set out to end the stigma of school lunch debt.
December 29, 2016
For Washington, for the world
A look inside UW’s most ambitious fundraising campaign.
September 1, 2015
Allen's imprint
UW Libraries is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Kenneth S. and Faye G. Allen Library Endowment.
March 1, 2014
Nurse, philanthropist and more
Ekene “Kennie” Amaefule is a former Nurse of the Year at Harborview Medical Center who has single-handedly improved health care, education, social services and access to clean water in her native village of Imo State, Nigeria.
Jack R. MacDonald, 1915–2013
When Jack R. MacDonald died Sept. 13 at age 98, a $187.6 million charitable trust was provided for three of this favorite causes in Western Washington: the UW School of Law, Seattle Children’s Research Institute and The Salvation Army’s Northwest Division.
June 1, 2013
Moving mission
Catching up with Patrick Gallaher, ’95, founder of the School of Pharmacy’s Memorial Day weekend Border-to-Border relay race that for the past 18 years has raised money for cancer research in honor of his late father.
Bill Gates Sr.'s impact
Even at 87, the 2013 Alumnus Sigma Laude Dignatus recipient continues to serve his alma mater while leading the fight for social justice.
December 1, 2012
Building a way out
A unique partnership will bring a school, and designs for a hopeful future, to girls in Afghanistan.
March 1, 2012
Breaking barriers
Thaddeus Spratlen and Lois Price Sratlen, ’76, UW emeritus professors who broke barriers and raised the bar for women and people of color in higher education, have presented the UW with a $1 million lifetime gift.
December 1, 2011
Ben's fund
Carin Towne, ’95, ’02, and her husband Jeff, ’95, have turned a personal tragedy into a ray of hope for parents of children with cancer.
June 1, 2011
Althea D. Stroum, 1922-2011
Althea Diesenhaus Stroum, one of the UW’s most renowned philanthropists, died March 14 in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Pulling for Paul
While Paul Dann, ’83, of Richland, received cancer treatment at the UW Medical Center, his daughter Claire got busy and organized a Relay for Life team she named “Paul’s Pals.”
December 1, 2009
Sharing success
Geta Asfaw measures his success by the amount he is able to help those in his community.
September 1, 2009
The best Samaritan
To tell the story of Phil Smart Sr. is to encapsulate one of Seattle’s most beloved businessmen, philanthropists and volunteers.
June 1, 2009
Going to bat
Last year, Seattle Mariners legend Edgar Martinez and his wife, Holli, ‘08, launched the Martinez Foundation to help students of color through scholarships and grants.
December 1, 2008
Students to the rescue
A charitable group set up by two UW students after the May 12 earthquake in China’s Sichuan Province has been as no-nonsense as its name, raising $65,000 for children in the disaster zone and winning a prestigious award
Special gift
For nearly 30 years, Norris Haring led efforts to address learning challenges and develop strategies to help young people. Now, through a major planned gift, he is ensuring that this essential work will continue at the UW for years to come.
September 1, 2008
Future's so bright
The UW’s recently completed capital campaign is, of course, greater than the sum of its parts — but some of its parts are pretty darn great. In this photo essay, Jeff Corwin offers nine glimpses of UW philanthropy at work in the world.
$2.68 billion of generosity
Connie Kravas, vice president for advancement, interviews Campaign UW Chair Bill Gates Sr., ’49, ’50.
June 1, 2008
Family ties
When Malcolm Goodfellow, ’87, decided to give back to the University of Washington, his thoughts naturally turned to honoring someone who has given so much to him: his uncle.
March 1, 2008
Campaign success
The UW Foundation has raised $2.52 billion in student, faculty, program and facility support through Campaign UW: Creating Futures with five months remaining in the eight-year endeavor, the foundation announced Jan. 31.
December 1, 2007
Business school renamed
The UW School of Business is being renamed in recognition of gifts from the Foster Foundation totaling $50 million.
Buerk honored
For his tireless volunteer efforts, Artie Buerk received the Gates Volunteer Service Award at the Sixth Annual Recognition Gala on Sept. 7.
September 1, 2007
Engineering access
Clyde and Ursula Crawford, acting on their strong belief that education should be readily accessible to more students, established the Clyde L. and Ursula A. Crawford Endowed Scholarship Fund in the College of Engineering.
Largest-ever gift
The largest gift in University of Washington history has helped create the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, a new research center that will conduct independent, rigorous evaluations of health programs worldwide.
June 1, 2007
Partners for children
The University of Washington School of Social Work is playing a major role in an innovative new public-private partnership aimed at improving Washington’s child-welfare system.
March 1, 2007
Evans puts students first
At age 81, Dan Evans walked 13.1 miles in the UW Medical Center Seattle Half Marathon in November to raise money for a new student scholarship program at the University.
$2 billion raised
The University of Washington Foundation announced that it is raising its fund-raising goal by $500 million, to $2.5 billion.
December 1, 2006
Legacy of giving
Moments after Ellsworth C. “Buster” and Nancy D. Alvord received the Gates Volunteer Service Award at the Fifth Annual Recognition Gala Sept. 8, the couple made a surprise announcement. They will help create a Center of Excellence for Neuro-oncology at the University by establishing with their family six new endowed faculty chairs.
September 1, 2006
For kids' oral health
Thomas H. Morton, ’75, and Kyoko Awamura, ’87, ’91, ’96, share a passion for children’s oral health. They recently established the Pediatric Dentistry/Oral Biology Leadership on Children’s Oral Health Research Endowed Fellowship.
March 1, 2006
Gift honors Gates
The UW School of Law received a record $33.3 million gift from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for scholarships that will allow hundreds of talented students to pursue careers in public service law.
W. Hunter Simpson, 1926-2006
W. Hunter Simpson was a philanthropist, business visionary and former UW regent
Lasting gift
With a planned gift to forestry, Morten Lauridsen, 95, hopes to make the path toward graduation easier for future students. Proceeds from a trust he established will provide scholarships to students of forest management.
December 1, 2005
'Quiet leaders'
Two of the University’s “quiet leaders”—Anne Gittinger, ’55, and Wayne Gittinger, ’55, ’57—took an unaccustomed moment in the spotlight Sept. 9 when they were honored with the 2005 Gates Volunteer Service Award.
September 1, 2005
Scholarships for diversity
Costco Wholesale, Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery and Safeco Insurance have partnered with the UW in support of the Diversity Scholars Program, which was created in 2000 to recruit and support high-achieving underrepresented minority students.
June 1, 2005
Support for Education
Two new endowments are expanding the UW College of Education’s capacity to prepare and sustain teachers throughout their careers.
March 1, 2005
Donation for science
The philanthropy of Genome Sciences and Biology Professor Benjamin D. Hall and his wife, Margaret A. Hall, ’84, is creating future support for graduate students in biology and genome sciences at the UW.
June 1, 2004
New endowments
Two new University endowments will provide critical resources for students while paying tribute to the lives and careers of a respected aerospace engineer and his wife of 44 years.
Money multiplier
The University of Washington is launching a Matching Initiative that will add $120 million to its endowment.
March 1, 2004
Tradition of giving
Recent gifts from a distinguished alumnus will create an endowed chair in the Department of Construction Management and continue a family history of dedication to a range of University programs.
December 1, 2003
Paul Allen, unplugged
Paul Allen looms over Seattle and the nation as one of America's legendary entrepreneurs, computer visionaries and philanthropists.
Sarkowskys honored
Family and friends paid tribute to the contributions of two alumni at the UW's Second Annual Recognition Gala Sept. 5 at Suzzallo Library.
September 1, 2003
Gift backs business school
The brothers behind Milgard Manufacturing are creating opportunities for UW Tacoma business students to receive a world-class education in their own back yard.
June 1, 2003
Gift and grumbling
When the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced that it was giving a record $70 million to the University of Washington to further genetic research, everyone on the campus was ecstatic. But on the second floor of Gerberding Hall there was one senior official who felt that his job just got a little harder.
Gates gift for genomics
The University of Washington announced April 24 the largest gift in its 142-year history — $70 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to ensure construction of research space for the Department of Genome Sciences and to strengthen programs in global health.
March 1, 2003
Boost for entrepreneurs
Students enrolled in the UW Business School’s Center for Technology Entrepreneurship will receive a greater return on their educational investment, thanks to recent leadership gifts.
December 1, 2002
Lucile Thompson, 1912-2002
Lucile Thompson was the first president of the Alumnae Board, the most prolific scholarship fund-raising club of the UW Alumni Association.
Simpsons honored
Hunter and Dottie’s three children, Brooks, Anne, and Chris, were on hand when Regent Daniel J. Evans presented the Simpsons with the first Gates Volunteer Service Award.
September 1, 2002
Diversity awards
Two UW units, the Business Educational Opportunity Program and the Student Outreach Ambassador Program, received the 2002 Brotman Diversity Award.
Scholarship impact
Scholarship support is crucial to minority student recruitment and retention—on average, only 38 percent of underrepresented minority students who are not offered some form of scholarship or grant support enroll at the University of Washington.
June 1, 2002
Award for ARCS
In honor of its generous support, the Seattle ARCS chapter will be presented the 2002 University of Washington Recognition Award.
March 1, 2002
Building named for Allen
Investor and philanthropist Paul G. Allen has given $14 million to the University of Washington to ensure the completion of a new facility for the university’s nationally ranked Department of Computer Science and Engineering.
Giving counts
Columns Editor Tom Griffin spoke with Connie Kravas, the UW's new vice president for development and alumni relations, about the rising challenges of private support at a public university.
Tunnel vision
Although the tunnel he created is gone is gone, John Arthur Elliott’s legacy lives on through a scholarship in the UW Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
September 1, 2001
Microsoft gift
In a major departure from its normal giving practices, Microsoft Corp. has made a $7.2 million contribution to a new home for the University of Washington’s nationally ranked Department of Computer Science and Engineering.
June 1, 2001
Samuel J. Stroum, 1921-2001
Samuel J. Stroum was a self-made Seattle businessman and philanthropist who provided generous financial support for the University of Washington and served 13 years on the UW Board of Regents.
Philanthropist honored
For his unwavering commitment and service to the University and to the community, Neal Dempsey will receive the 2001 University of Washington Recognition Award.
Professor's gift
Howard Nostrand, professor emeritus of Romance Languages and Literature, and his wife, Frances, are giving the UW $500,000 for an endowed professorship in the Department of Linguistics.
March 1, 2001
Record gift
Don Matthews, retired chair of the UW’s political science department, donated $800,000 for an endowment in the Department of Political Science.
Largest alumni gift
A $10 million gift by Neal Dempsey, ’64, and his wife, Janet, to support academics and athletics is the largest alumni gift ever to the university.
December 1, 2000
Autism center funded
In what UW officials believe is the largest private gift ever made to the University for a specific disorder, Richard and Susan Fade have donated $5 million to endow a new center for the treatment of autism.
September 1, 2000
2 programs honored
The Department of Technical Communication and the Comparative History of Ideas Program won 2000 Brotman Instructional Excellence Awards.
Gift aids nursing
Bob and Jean Reid of Bellingham made a $5 million deferred gift to the University of Washington School of Nursing—the largest gift in the school's history.
June 1, 2000
Real estate launch
The Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies is being launched with the help of a $1 million gift from former Regent H. Jon Runstad, '65, and his wife, Judy, '74.
March 1, 2000
Bequest for Classics
As editor of the Washington Post's editorial page, Meg Greenfield helped shape public and private opinion. Few people knew about her private passion—classical languages and literature.
December 1, 1999
Gifts for computer science
A $3 million gift from the Gates Foundation will create two endowed chairs in Computer Science, the first in the department.
September 1, 1999
New UW awards
Three UW units have won a new award that recognizes collaboration across department lines to improve undergraduate education.