Light a Fire 2018: Best New Nonprofit

Unloop Delivers from Incarceration into the Hopeful Hands of Computer Tech

Unloop wants to empower inmates with competitive skills in a high-wage industry and a support system after prison.

05/22/2018 By Hayat Norimine

Light a Fire 2018: Emerging Leader

Meet Wing Luke’s People Connector, Christina Shimizu

“I’ve developed a language to learn about my identity—and about my heritage and the history of my family and community here.”

05/22/2018 By James Ross Gardner

Light a Fire 2018: Extraordinary Volunteer

Ted Neill Is Wise in the Ways of Recovery

Neill found his place at Recovery Cafe in 2015: "At closing time he stacks chairs and mops floors so staff can leave—he remembers nonprofit burnout."

05/22/2018 By Allison Williams

Light a Fire 2018: Game-Changing Action

How Northwest Immigrant Rights Project Stopped a One-Way Ticket to a Death Sentence

“There’s always been this overwhelming need...but then you have the Trump administration upping the ante.”

05/22/2018 By Hayat Norimine

Light a Fire 2018: Extraordinary Executive Director

Kimerly Rorschach Helps Keep SAM Out of the Red and Into the Infinity Mirrors

Rorschach brought a new vision to the museum at a critical point in time.

05/22/2018 By Stefan Milne

Light a Fire 2018: Inspiring the Next Generation

PacSci’s Discovery Corps Takes Students to the Head of the Science Class

The program is open to all area high schoolers, but staff actively approaches groups underrepresented in scientific fields.

05/22/2018 By Allecia Vermillion

Light a Fire 2018: Acting Globally

VillageReach Goes the Last Mile

Blaise Judja-Sato's organization is breaking down barriers to basic health care.

05/22/2018 By Hayat Norimine

Light a Fire 2018: Extraordinary Board Member

Rachel Prusynski Is a Catastrophe Survivor with a Mission

One minute she was visiting a college friend who worked for a children’s charity in Port-au-Prince; the next she was semiconscious, buried under rubble.

05/22/2018 By Allison Williams

Light a Fire 2018: Nurturing Creativity

Fremont Arts Council Has Helped Seattle’s Freak Flag Fly for 30 Years

"It’s never easy to say we need $50 to make a giant beautiful elephant head.”

05/22/2018 By Stefan Milne

Light a Fire 2018: Lifetime Achievement

King County Sexual Assault Resource Center’s Mary Ellen Stone Has Always Fought for Survivors

To Stone, getting involved in KCSARC was a no-brainer: “I’m going to make our world better for my nieces and my grandnieces.”

05/22/2018 By Hayat Norimine

Light a Fire 2018: Promoting Health and Human Happiness

How Puget Soundkeeper Is Keeping Our Water Safe

Armed with hand nets and bags, 2,300 volunteers take to the water each year.

05/22/2018 By Rosin Saez

Light a Fire 2018: Most With the Least

At Facing Homelessness, Home Is Where the Hope Is

Rex Hohlbein left a successful career as an architect to educate local residents on the struggles of the region’s homeless population.

05/22/2018 By James Ross Gardner

Best Nonprofits

Introducing Our 2015 Light a Fire Winners

Our fourth annual celebration of organizations and individuals who make Seattle—and the world—a better place.

10/20/2015

Light a Fire 2015

Nurturing Creativity: Youth in Focus

Three hundred students a year participate in Youth in Focus’s quarterly classes.

10/19/2015 By Darren Davis

Light A Fire 2015

Lifetime Achievement: Donald “Donnie” Chin

Chin tirelessly served the International District community for more than 40 years, patrolling the streets, providing meals for the elderly, and helping raise neighborhood kids.

10/18/2015 By Josh Kelety