the leadership legacy award
Created in 2005 in honor of Center founder Bill Grace, the Leadership Legacy Award celebrates Puget Sound leaders whose vision, commitment and unceasing efforts are significantly advancing social, environmental, and economic justice. The Center is particularly interested in bringing attention to those who recognize the importance of collective work and who are often out of the traditional spotlight.
2026 Legacy Event, Thursday, August 20!!
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Join us for a beautiful evening and great company! Celebrating leaders at the annual Leadership Legacy Event: Inviting the “Stranger” to Co-create Sustainable Change.
Date: Thursday, August 20, 2026 Time: 6:30pm - Program starts at 7:00PM-8:30PM PST Join us for refreshments at 6:30pm! Location: Wisteria Hall Terrace, Seattle, WA Address: 2300 Arboretum Drive E, Seattle, WA 98112 Free Parking! Evening attire recommended. Not able to join us, donations are welcomed! Here are ways to support the event: 
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August 21, 2025 Leadership Legacy Event: Strengthening Relationships to Advance the Common Good
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2025 Legacy Event, Thursday, August 21 - Celebrating 35 years of CEL!
 Pictured: Troy Christensen, PorchLight, Alice Fong, and Joe Hailey
Celebrating CEL’s 35th Anniversary & Leadership Legacy Event: Strengthening Relationships to Advance the Common Good UW Arboretum, Wisteria Hall Terrace, Seattle, WA 2025 Leadership Legacy Recipients, PorchLight |
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2024 Legacy Event, Thursday, August 15
 Pictured: Sean Goode, Kwesi Rollins, Alice Fong, and Dale Nienow
Leadership Legacy Event: Claiming Our Voice to Inspire Change UW Arboretum, Wisteria Hall Terrace, Seattle, WA 2024 Leadership Legacy Recipients, Sean Goode and Dale Nienow |
 2024 Leadership Legacy Event
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2023 Legacy Event, Thursday, August 17
Legacy Event: Acting with Courage for a Just Society Southside Commons, Seattle, WA Cindy Domingo Garry Owens International Leaders |
CEL is humbled to recognize Cindy Domingo and the late Garry Owens as 2023's recipients of the Bill Grace Leadership Legacy Award. |
2022 Legacy Event, Thursday, August 11
Virtual Leadership Legacy Event: Finding Hope in Challenging Times Gerald "Rocky" Donaldson, Seattle Public Schools |
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2021 Legacy Event, Saturday, November 6
Virtual Leadership Legacy Event: Celebrating the Past, Present, and the Future!
Steve Stapleton, Center for Ethical Leadership Keynote Speaker: Erin Jones |
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2017 Legacy Event, Thursday, November 9
Julie Nelson, Race Forward
Keynote Speaker: Glenn Harris
Keynote Speaker: Glenn Harris
2016 Center for Ethical Leadership 25th Anniversary, May 11
Celebrating 25 years of the Center
2015 Legacy Event, thursday, March 26
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Bob Anderson
CEO, Horizon House |
Shasta Cano-Martin
Council Member, Lummi Nation |
Jabali Stewart
Director of Intercultural Affairs, the Bush School |
2014 Legacy event, Thursday, March 27
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Tita Begashaw, Laughter Therapist, Community Activist
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K. Wyking Garrett, Founding Director, Umoja P.E.A.C.E. Center
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Linda Park, Co-Founder, Sustainable Path Foundation
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Keynote speaker -
Richard Woo, CEO, Russell Family Foundation |
2013 Legacy Event, Thursday, March 28
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Darrell Hillaire,
Treasurer, Lummi Nation |
Mary Jean Ryan,
Executive Director, Community Center for Education Results |
Shauna Yusko,
Director and Founder, Pantry Packs |
Keynote speaker -
Linda Nageotte, President & CEO, Food Lifeline |
2012 legacy event, Thursday, March 15
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Gregory Davis,
President, Rainier Beach Community Empowerment Coalition |
Erick Haakenson,
Owner, Jubilee Farms |
Dr. Jody McVittie,
Executive Director, Sound Discipline |
Keynote speaker -
James Whitfield, CEO, Leadership Eastside |
2011 Legacy Event, Thursday, March 10
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Alaric Bien, Executive Director, Chinese Immigrant &
Information Services |
Paola Maranan,
Executive Director, Children’s Alliance |
Judy Pigott, Executive Director, Personal Safety Nets
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Keynote speaker:
Raj Manhas, Superintendent of North Thurston Public Schools |
2010 Legacy Event, Thursday, March 11
Eric Liu, Guiding Lights
Mary Flowers, City of Seattle, Human Services Department
The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation
Keynote Speaker:
Francisco Guajardo, University of Texas - Pan American
Mary Flowers, City of Seattle, Human Services Department
The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation
Keynote Speaker:
Francisco Guajardo, University of Texas - Pan American
2009 Legacy Event, Thursday, March 5
Jon Ramer, Interra Project
Milenko Matanovic, Pomegranate Center
Mark Okazaki, Neighborhood House
Keynote Speaker:
Libba Pinchot, Bainbridge Graduate Institute
Milenko Matanovic, Pomegranate Center
Mark Okazaki, Neighborhood House
Keynote Speaker:
Libba Pinchot, Bainbridge Graduate Institute
2008 Legacy Event, March 6
Anne Stadler, Community Activist
Julia Sterkovsky, Seattle Human Services Coalition
Asian Pacific Islander Community Leadership Foundation
Julia Sterkovsky, Seattle Human Services Coalition
Asian Pacific Islander Community Leadership Foundation
2007 Legacy Event, March 1
Doreen Marchione, Hopelink
Rick Collette, Bellevue Art Museum Board Chair
Bookda Gheisar, Social Justice Fund Northwest
Rick Collette, Bellevue Art Museum Board Chair
Bookda Gheisar, Social Justice Fund Northwest
2005 Legacy Event, September 14
Dr. Bill Grace
Founder of the Center for Ethical Leadership
Recipient of the inaugural Leadership Legacy Award
Founder of the Center for Ethical Leadership
Recipient of the inaugural Leadership Legacy Award