Recognizing Exceptional Volunteerism
The 2021 A.K. Guy Award was one for the ages, and it wouldn’t have been the same without you. Thank you for joining us to celebrate the YMCA of Greater Seattle’s 33rd A.K. Guy Award Event. We could not have done this without the help of our volunteers, interviewees, Y staff, our incredible partners, and the community of Y supporters. We hope you were inspired by Ballmer Group’s work and our work at the Y to learn more, engage, activate as a volunteer, and support to pave a better future for all. If you missed part of the evening or want to relive the most memorable moments, we’ve made the entire evening available here.
Take the next step with us now and commit to engaging all year long by living the spirit of A.K. Guy: to create a more just, fair, and healthy community every day. Here are a few ways to activate now:
- Get involved – See Y Volunteer Opportunities
- Take care of yourself and your family in spirit, mind, and body – Join the Y
- Bring resources to advance critical work for youth and families – Donate
- Share your feedback - Take event survey
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Champion the Cause
You can help further the efforts of Connie Ballmer and Ballmer Group! Invite your friends, host a virtual table as an event ambassador, or sponsor the event.
Spread the Word on Social
Share the A.K. Guy Award event on your social network to spread the word and advocate for the life-changing work of Connie Ballmer, Ballmer Group, and the Y.
Volunteer or be an Event Ambassador
There are many ways to get involved from volunteering to becoming an Event Ambassador. Our staff are at the ready to help you find a volunteer opportunity or successfully host the event as an Event Ambassador.
Become an Event Sponsor
Partner with the Y and Ballmer Group to support children by sponsoring the event. The tools needed for your business to champion the cause can be found in our sponsorship packet.
Learning About the Issues
There are many ways you can help make an impact for kids in foster care, improve Washington’s behavioral health system, and aid in removing systemic barriers to economic opportunity. Start by learning more about the issues below and then join us by volunteering your time, efforts or resources to enable solutions.
Causing Systems Change in Foster Care
There is a critical need in Washington for more foster homes, especially for BIPOC Foster homes and homes that care for teens and kids with higher needs.
Ballmer Group works to build collaborative solution in partnership with the community to help improve a system that provides children in foster care a safe and stable place to live and develop. Ballmer Group gives of their time and resource to support local agencies who are responsible for developing a pipeline of quality foster homes and services for foster youth. Learn More >
The YMCA of Greater Seattle has been licensing and supporting foster parents for nearly 35 years. We provide a continuum of care for parents and kids in foster care, as well as supporting young people as they age out of the foster care system. Learn More >
Strengthening and Improving Capacity for Mental Health
There is a crucial need for qualified mental health professionals from diverse communities across Washington. Improved capacity to meet the growing need for these services and opportunities for upstream, preventative treatment will create better outcomes for our community.
Ballmer Group is committed to improve our mental health system by adding significant resources to build Washington’s pipeline of mental health professionals – clinicians, therapists, nurses, peers, and more – to close the gap in services. Learn More >
For over 48 years, the Y has specialized in serving youth and young adults who have experienced trauma such as homelessness, foster care, exploitation, systemic poverty, and racism, and in 2020, we expanded our behavioral health outreach to all ages. Learn More >
Removing Systemic Barriers to Economic Mobility and Opportunity
We wholly believe that no child should be born with pre-determined, limited opportunity due to systemic barriers long rooted in America.
Much of the work Ballmer Group supports addresses barriers rooted in racial inequity and that cause disparate outcomes for Black and Brown communities. Further data also helped Ballmer Group to recognize the need of, and prioritize support for, Black men and boys, while still addressing the full spectrum of need. Learn More >
At the Y, our programs for youth and young adults offer wraparound services including employment training, educational support, shelter, counseling, and more with an over-arching goal of building stability, independence, and economic mobility. Learn More >
2021 A.K. Guy Award Sponsors
Thank you to the following organizations for supporting children by sponsoring our event.
Collective Impact Partners
Strengthening Families Partners
Community Solutions Partner
Opportunity Partners
Grassroots Partners
- Bayview Manor
- DLR Group
- GGLO
- Heartland
- Keithly Electric Company
- Lorenzini Family Foundation
- Love Her
- Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity, University of Washington
- PACCAR Parts
- Seattle Children’s Hospital • Research • Foundation
History of the Award
Established in 1983, the A.K. Guy Award has since been presented to individuals, couples, families, or groups who exemplify the ideals of the late Albert K. Guy through their outstanding volunteer service and dedication to social responsibility and equity and justice for all.
A lifelong Seattleite, A.K. Guy (1892–1983) graduated from the former Broadway High School in 1910. He served as President of G.O. Guy Drugs, was a 45-year member of the Seattle Rotary Club, a member of Queen Anne United Methodist Church, and a fellow of Seattle Pacific University. Guy held the Y close to his heart as a member of the YMCA Board of Directors and an enthusiastic volunteer and supporter of YMCA Camp Orkila.
Past Recipients
- 2015: Jeff & Tricia Raikes (United for Youth)
- 2014: Matt Griffin and Evelyne Rozner (Paving the Way)
- 2013: Dan and Nancy Evans (Serving Without Limits)
- 2012: Martha Choe (Leading for Good)
- 2011: Phil Smart, Sr. (Driven to Serve)
- 2010: Bill and Paula Clapp (Together for a Better World)
- 2009: “Four Amigos” – Larry Gossett, Roberto Maestas, Bob Santos & the late Bernie Whitebear (Seattle’s Fantastic Four)
- 2008: Colleen Willoughby (Dream Big. Act Together.)
- 2007: Hon. Richard A. Jones(Guilty as Charged…for Exceptional Volunteerism)
- 2006: Maggie and Doug Walker (Moving Mountains with Passion & Optimism)
- 2005: Constance and Norman Rice (Putting the C in Seattle)
- 2004: J. Shan Mullin (In the Building Game)
- 2003: Peter Horvitz (Extra, Extra, Read All About It!)
- 2002: Seattle Works (On the Line for Good)
- 2001: William H. Gates (Leading the March toward a Just Society)
- 2000: Anne Farrell (Leadership with Wisdom, Strength and Dignity)
- 1999: Tomio Moriguchi (Tradition Guides a Quiet Hero)
- 1998: Scott and Laurie Oki (Linking Passion to Action)
- 1997: Safeco and Roger Eigsti (Boomerang Giving)
- 1996: Rev. Samuel B. McKinney (Do Unto Others)
- 1995: Herb and Shirley Bridge (Building Bridges)
- 1994: Donald J. Covey (Seattle’s Good Fortune)
- 1993: The Junior League of Seattle (Celebrating Seventy Years)
- 1992: Jim and John Ellis (Picnic in the Park)
- 1991: John and Mary Ann Mangels (Partners for Change)
- 1990: The Boeing Company and Frank Shrontz
- 1989: Eddie Carlson
- 1988: Frances P. Owen
- 1987: Andy Smith and Pacific Northwest Bell
- 1986: Michael Dederer
- 1985: Kate and Holt Webster
- 1984: Hon. Joel Pritchard
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STAY ENGAGED WITH THE Y
Volunteer Today
Volunteering can be fun and fulfilling. Benefits include: improving mood, decreasing stress, exploring passions, and gaining new skills. Whatever your reasons for volunteering, it’s good for your mind and your body, and strengthens our communities.
More Ways to Give
There are many ways to make a difference through the Y: Make a pledge, donate stock, volunteer, or learn about planned giving and matching gifts!
Your Impact
Many hands help community at the Y, from staff who counsel youth experiencing homelessness, and volunteers who help give out meals, to donors who empower the Y to reach more people in need. Learn more about your impact as a Y supporter.
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