big – Alliance for Pioneer Square

Neighborhood Hero: Jeff Lilley

Throughout Pioneer Square, there are heroes working to make the neighborhood a better place. GiveBIG and the Alliance for Pioneer Square honors our neighborhood heroes.

Jeff Lilley is the President of Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission. Most people only see the line outside the Union Gospel Mission in Pioneer Square, so here’s a snapshot of what is going on inside over the past year:

768,000 meals were served
21,000 counseling sessions
193, 242 nights of shelter
35 beds of medical respite working directly with Harborview and Swedish Hospital
7,728 blankets given out
1,500 individuals served in the dental clinic
608 individuals served in the legal clinic.

And these are only a portion of their services provided across Seattle. In addition to running this complex organization meeting basic human needs, Jeff has stepped up to serve on both the Pioneer Square BIA and Alliance Boards.

Thanks Jeff Lilley, for being our neighborhood partner in human services. What a hero!

You too can be a neighborhood hero on May 6th during the Seattle Foundation’s GiveBIG event. Make a donation to the Alliance for Pioneer Square on our GiveBIG page on May 6th and have it matched by a percentage of the stretch pool fund. You’ll help continue our revitalization efforts in Pioneer Square to make it welcoming to everyone.

Neighborhood Hero: Jane Richlovsky

Throughout Pioneer Square, there are heroes working to make the neighborhood a great place to be. GiveBIG and the Alliance for Pioneer Square honors our neighborhood heroes.

Jane Richlovsky is the founder of ’57 Biscayne, a 13-studio artist space on the corner of 1st Avenue & Cherry Street in Pioneer Square. Jane is a former tenant of the 619 Western art building which was shut down due to seismic safety concerns. The 619 Western was legendary for its contribution to Pioneer Square’s First Thursday art walk and many were sad to see it go, but Jane wanted to create something positive out of her eviction. She took her relocation funds from the Washington State Department of Transportation, gathered a few of her compatriots from the 619 Western and created a new space in the neighborhood that was safe for artists to work in. Best of all, she helped keep artists in the neighborhood.

Thanks Jane Richlovsky, for bringing ’57 Biscayne to the neighborhood and for keeping art and artists in Pioneer Square! In addition to running the art studios, Jane has stepped up to be on the Pioneer Square BIA Board. What a hero!

You too can be a neighborhood hero on May 6th during the Seattle Foundation’s GiveBIG event. Make a donation to the Alliance for Pioneer Square on our GiveBIG page on May 6th and have it matched by a percentage of the stretch pool fund. You’ll help continue our revitalization efforts to make Pioneer Square the place to be for everyone.

One Big Reason to GiveBIG to the Alliance on May 6th

The Seattle Foundation’s annual day of charitable giving – GiveBIG – is on Tuesday, May 6, 2014. If you plan to make a donation to the Alliance for Pioneer Square this year, please give on May 6th to make your donation stretch further. Any donations made through the Seattle Foundation’s website during this 24-hour period (May 6th, midnight to midnight) will be matched by a percentage of a stretch pool fund. That’s right; your donation during GiveBIG will be matched by stretch dollars! Bookmark our donation page on the Seattle Foundation website!

But why should I give to the Alliance for Pioneer Square, you might ask? If there is one reason to give to the Alliance, it’s this:

We are making progress.

Twenty-six new stores and restaurants have opened in Pioneer Square in 2013. Many of these new restaurants have been featured in the Puget Sound Business Journal, Seattle Met, Seattle Magazine, the New York Times, Bon Appetit, and GQ. There is a lot behind this transformation but the story of Pioneer Square is beginning to change, thanks in part to our advocacy, business development, marketing, and promotion of the neighborhood. Local media is calling us the burgeoning new hot spot of Seattle, while our work and partnerships in the built environment and public safety realm continues to move forward. We can’t stop now! Revitalizing Seattle’s historic neighborhood needs your help. Support progress in Pioneer Square by giving big on May 6th.