The Martinez Foundation seeks to address one of the most critical needs in education here in Washington- improving teacher diversity. Washington has close to 65,000 teachers, but only 8% of those teachers are teachers of color (minority teachers). The retention of teachers of color directly impacts the drop-out rate of minority students. Research has shown that teachers of diverse cultural backgrounds can have a positive effect on the success of students of color. The Martinez Foundation is a public nonprofit with a mission to improve teacher diversity and the retention of teachers of color here in Washington State. Through scholarships, ongoing professional development, and early career mentoring, Martinez Fellows receive quality instruction and the community of support needed to be successful working in the teaching profession.

Camellia Network harnesses the power of new technology to connect youth “aging out” of the foster care system with a community of resources, opportunities, encouragement and support. Youth have profiles on the site, giving them a place to express themselves, share their goals for the future and articulate what they need to be successful. Individuals and companies from across the country are able to collectively provide the support these young people lack by offering up doses of encouragement, career advice, professional connections, and financial support to help them navigate their way into adulthood.

The Emilio Nares Foundation (ENF) was founded by Richard and Diane Nares after losing their only son, Emilio, to cancer shortly before his sixth birthday. ENF navigates families through their child’s journey with cancer and ensures no child misses a cancer treatment due to lack of transportation. ENF’s flagship program, Ride with Emilio, takes low-income, underprivileged families whose children have cancer and need transportation to and from their cancer treatment. ENF serves over 250 patients annually in San Diego and Orange County with plans to expand to provide transportation to other Children’s Hospitals.

Axel Project was created in honor of our son Axel who was killed in February 2013. Axel Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the fundamental principle that a productive, happy life begins with bikes. Our mission is to introduce and nurture a lifelong passion for cycling to children and their families. While our goal is broad, our first project is aimed at providing balance bicycles and instruction to Schools and children in need, ages 18 months to 5-years of age, to teach the basic skills necessary to get them riding on two wheels—with their friends, their family and forever.

The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation is the world’s largest nonprofit funder of research into one of the deadliest forms of childhood cancer. Their programs also include free educational resources, college scholarships for brain tumor survivors and mission-focused events such as Ride for Kids and Starry Night. More than 28,000 children in the United States are living with the diagnosis of a brain tumor, and 13 more cases are identified each day. To help cure the kids, call 800-253-6530 or go to www.curethekids.org.

Chrysalis is a nonprofit organization and social enterprise that provides homeless and low-income men and women with a second chance to rebuild their lives through employment. Offering a hand up rather than a hand out, Chrysalis empowers clients through a unique combination of job preparation classes, one-on-one counseling and transitional jobs designed to remove barriers to employment. From resume preparation and practice interviews to work attire and transportation assistance, over 4,000 people each year receive the support and resources needed to regain their confidence and reenter the workforce.