Category: Uncategorized

Be water-safe this summer

Summer in the Pacific Northwest is something special. Hiking, cycling, running, boating, horseback riding, fishing, open water swimming…we really do live in a place with an embarrassment of riches when it comes to getting outside.

And with all that outdoor abundance comes an important reminder: enjoying our waters means being water-safe. More than 4,500 people drown each year in the United States. These are deaths that are both predictable and preventable. Even confident, strong swimmers can get into trouble.

It’s also worth knowing that drowning risk isn’t evenly distributed. Males face higher risk than females across all age groups. Young children under age 4 face the highest overall drowning rates, and drowning is the leading cause of death in that age group. Race is also a factor: Black people, historically denied access to swimming pools and lessons, are consequently less familiar and comfortable in the water and drowning death rates for Black people have been rising at a disproportionate rate.

How to be water-safe

The following water safety tips come from the American Red Cross, Water Safety USA and Families United to Prevent Drowning, who share a vision of a world where not one more drowning fatality or near-fatality ever occurs.

Learning to swim is the #1 recommendation for water safety.

Teach your children to swim and, if you haven’t already, learn yourself. For children ages 1 to 4, formal swim lessons are associated with an 88% reduction in the risk of drowning. At a minimum, children and adults should achieve the skills of water competency: being able to enter the water, get a breath, stay afloat, change position, swim a distance and get out safely.

Know before you go. Check the weather forecast and water conditions ahead of time. Cold water can be dangerous even on warm days.

Plan and prepare. Lifeguards aren’t always present, so find out if they’re on duty and try to swim when they are. If you’re heading out on the water, bring essential gear like navigational devices and paddle floats.

Wear a life jacket. Always wear a properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket when on a boat and if in a situation beyond someone’s skill level.

Build a safe and inclusive environment. People have different comfort levels with water, and we’re safer together. When recreating with young children or in groups, designate a water watcher.

Know how to respond. If someone is in trouble, call 911 and get help. Do not go in the water after them.

• To assist others: reach for them or throw something to them. Don’t go in after them.
• If you’re in trouble: flip, float and relax (like a starfish).

Prevent unsupervised access to water. Fence pools and spas with adequate barriers and keep a watchful eye on any water hazards, including portable splash pools, slides, buckets and bathtubs.

Respect the water. Water can be powerful. Always tell someone your plan before heading out solo. Obey posted safety signs, learn to read water conditions and stay alert. Whitewater can be especially unpredictable. Learn about responsible paddling.

Take action

• Be an ambassador for water safety by taking a free online water safety course through the American Red Cross.
• Looking for swim lessons? Try the American Red Cross lesson finder or the USA Swimming youth lesson finder.

Make it better. All water sources are connected and home to fish and other life. Help protect our waters by leaving your environment cleaner than you found it.

Support

Through the UW Combined Fund Drive (UWCFD), you can support nonprofit organizations working to keep our lakes, rivers and waterways safe, clean and accessible, or to help all kids and adults learn how to swim. Make a one-time gift or set up an ongoing payroll deduction by searching for a charity by name or cause. If you don’t see the organization you’re looking for, reach out at uwcfd@uw.edu and we’ll work to get them added.

Your gift makes a difference.

Why playing outdoors is important for kids

We all have a sense that being outside is good for us but pinning down exactly why can be surprisingly tricky. Here’s a look at what’s really going on when kids spend time outdoors and why it matters more than you might think.

Fresh air

There’s something unmistakably restorative about throwing open the windows on the first warm day of spring or taking a long, slow breath on a forest trail. But why does fresh air feel so good?

For starters, the air quality outside is likely better than what you’re breathing indoors. The EPA notes that indoor air has the potential to be more polluted than outdoor air – a result of heating and cooling systems, things we burn (oil, gas, tobacco) and the materials our buildings are made of.

There’s also a mood connection. Spending time outside means more exposure to natural sunlight, which boosts the brain’s production of serotonin, the hormone linked to feelings of happiness and calm. Higher serotonin levels are associated with reduced anxiety and depression. So that lifted feeling after an afternoon outside? It’s real and it’s backed by science.

Physical activity

Kids are bundles of energy and that energy needs somewhere to go. Experts recommend that children get at least 1 hour of physical activity every day. Outdoor play is one of the most natural ways to make that happen. Regular movement supports:

• Healthy growth and development
• Better self-esteem
• Stronger bones, muscles and joints
• Better posture and balance
• A stronger heart
• A healthier weight range
• Learning new skills while having fun
• Better focus and concentration

Physical activity is also a powerful stress reliever for kids. It gives their bodies a productive outlet and helps them show up calmer and more focused in other parts of their day.

Stimulation without a screen

Most parents and caregivers have seen what too much screen time can do – the overstimulation, the meltdowns, the wild behavior that can follow. But not all stimulation is the same. Young kids actually need stimulation to develop critical neural networks in the brain and the question is what kind.

The outdoors delivers the good kind in abundance. Natural environments offer open-ended, ever-changing sensory experiences that engage kids’ curiosity without overwhelming them. Sticks, mud, wind, bugs – nature invites exploration on a child’s own terms.

Imagination + creativity

Without a predetermined script, kids outdoors get a blank canvas. A stick becomes a wand. A pile of rocks becomes a city. This kind of unstructured, imaginative play is fertile ground for creativity and creativity is foundational to success in just about every area of life. It supports self-expression, emotional intelligence and the kind of flexible thinking that helps kids (and adults) solve problems.

Psychologists have found that make-believe play also builds self-regulation, including reduced aggression, the ability to delay gratification and greater empathy. Those are exactly the qualities we hope to cultivate in the next generation of community leaders.

Attention spans

Nature doesn’t ask anything of you. It doesn’t quiz you, prompt you or demand your focus. It just exists and that low-demand environment turns out to be deeply restorative for the brain.

Researchers have found that children with ADHD who take a 20-minute walk in a park can improve their symptoms as effectively as a dose of prescription stimulant medication. Even for kids without ADHD, time in nature gives the brain a chance to rest, reset and return to focused tasks with more ease.

Support

Through the UW Combined Fund Drive (UWCFD), you can support nonprofit organizations working to make outdoor recreation accessible and equitable for all. Make a one-time gift or set up an ongoing payroll deduction by searching for a charity by name or cause. If you don’t see the organization you’re looking for, reach out at uwcfd@uw.edu and we’ll work to get them added.

Your gift makes a difference.

Wildfire Smoke and Your Health: What You Need to Know

Wildfire season is here, and while air quality in the Pacific Northwest is safe most of the time, many of us still remember October 2022, when Seattle briefly ranked as the most polluted city on Earth. That kind of event is a good reminder that a little preparation goes a long way.

Know When to Stay Inside

Your senses are often your first warning system. If the air smells like a campfire, if you notice a haze outside your window or if the sky has taken on an eerie orange, yellow or red tint, it’s time to head indoors and stay there.

What Wildfire Smoke Actually Does to Your Body

Wildfire smoke is more than just an unpleasant smell. It contains tiny particulates, far smaller than the width of a human hair, that can travel deep into your lungs and enter your bloodstream, where they worsen inflammation and put extra strain on your heart and lungs. The smoke also contains harmful gases, including carbon monoxide, that add to those health risks. According to a 2021 study from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the particulates in wildfire smoke may be up to 10 times more harmful to human health than similar fine particles from other combustion sources.

UW Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences research notes that wildfire smoke doesn’t cause entirely new diseases, but it can make existing conditions significantly worse, particularly asthma and cardiovascular disease.

Who Needs to Be Extra Careful

While no one benefits from breathing smoky air, certain groups face a much higher risk and should take precautions earlier and more seriously:

• People with lung diseases like asthma or COPD
• Those with respiratory infections
• Anyone with a history of heart attack or stroke
• Older adults and children
• People with lower incomes, who are more likely to face greater exposure and have less access to healthcare or protective measures

The Center for Disease Control also notes that symptoms of smoke exposure to watch for include coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, stinging eyes, scratchy throat, runny nose, headaches, fatigue and a fast heartbeat. If you or someone around you experiences these, take them seriously.

How to Protect Yourself

Outdoors: Limit the time you spend outside and avoid strenuous activity. If you must go out, a well-fitted N95 respirator mask provides meaningful protection. (A loose surgical mask doesn’t offer the same benefit against fine particulates.) For guidance on outdoor activity thresholds, check the Air Quality and Outdoor Activity Guidance for Schools, a resource from AirNow, a program of the EPA.

Indoors: Keep all windows and doors closed. If you have central air conditioning, run it, but make sure the fresh-air intake is closed and the filter is clean. In the car, switch your ventilation to the recirculate setting so you’re not pulling in outside air.

To further improve indoor air quality, consider running a HEPA portable air cleaner, using your HVAC system’s filtration, or building a DIY box fan filter (a furnace filter taped to a box fan is surprisingly effective). In the meantime, avoid anything that adds more particles to the air inside your home: candles, incense, wood fires, essential oil diffusers, aerosol sprays, broiling or frying food, heavy use of gas stoves or smoking indoors.

Understanding the Air Quality Index (AQI)

The AQI is a 0-500 scale that tells you how clean or polluted the air is on any given day. Here’s a practical breakdown:

• 0-100: Generally safe. (Note: 0-50 is “Good”; 51-100 is “Moderate.” Most healthy adults won’t notice effects, but very sensitive individuals may.)
• 101-150: Unhealthy for sensitive groups. People with heart or lung conditions, older adults and children should reduce outdoor activity.
• 151-200: Unhealthy for everyone. Most people will begin noticing symptoms like a scratchy throat, runny nose or eye irritation.
• 201-300: Very unhealthy. Health risks are elevated for all people, not just those with underlying conditions.
• 301 and above: Hazardous. At this level, everyone is likely to experience health effects. Move all activities indoors if at all possible.

How to Check Air Quality

For current and forecasted conditions in Washington, the Washington Smoke Information website (also known as the Smoke Blog) and the WA Ecology Washington Air Monitoring Network are your best local resources. You can also check airnow.gov or most smartphone weather apps, which display AQI in real time. The Washington Air Quality Guide for Particle Pollution provides a helpful color-coded summary of health recommendations for each AQI level.

The bottom line: smoky skies don’t have to mean a health crisis if you know what to watch for and how to respond. A few simple steps, staying informed, filtering your indoor air and limiting time outside during poor air days, can make a real difference for you and the people you care about.

Support the People Protecting Our Air

Wildfire season is also a reminder of the essential work done by firefighters and the environmental and public health organizations working year-round to reduce the impact of wildfires on our communities.

If this guide resonated with you, consider turning that concern into action. Through the UW Combined Fund Drive (UWCFD), you can make a one-time gift or set up a monthly payroll deduction to support a nonprofit doing meaningful work on wildfire mitigation, air quality or environmental health. Search by organization name or cause area to find one that feels right to you.

Can’t find the organization you’re looking for? Reach out to the UWCFD team at uwcfd@uw.edu and they’ll work to get them added.

Your gift makes a difference.

Donate Blood and Save Lives

Have you ever considered donating blood? There’s always a need and the impact is greater than you might think. Every pint of blood donated has the potential to save up to three lives.

Why your donation matters — especially right now

Summer is one of the most critical times of year for blood donations. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, trauma cases spike as warm weather brings more car accidents, recreational injuries and outdoor emergencies. Hospitals see increased demand just as donations drop by up to 20% as regular donors go on vacation and school and college blood drives pause for the season.

At the same time, blood has a very short shelf life (about 42 days for red blood cells), so even a healthy supply can be rapidly depleted by a single holiday weekend or unexpected crisis. Every donation truly counts.

The need is constant and urgent

The numbers tell a powerful story:

• Someone in the U.S. needs blood every two seconds.
• The American Red Cross collects approximately 13,000 blood donations every day just to keep up with patient needs.
• One in seven people who enter a hospital will need blood.
• Cancer patients alone account for more than a quarter of all blood used nationwide.
• Over 4.5 million lives are saved each year through blood transfusions.

Despite this incredible need, only about 3% of eligible Americans donate blood each year even though roughly 62% of the population qualifies. Spreading the word can make a real difference.

Expanding the donor community

There’s also a growing need for more diverse donors. Currently, only about 12% of whole blood donations come from minority donors, yet patients often benefit most from blood that closely matches their own type. Additionally, youth donations have fallen sharply. Donations from 16–18-year-olds dropped by about 60% between 2019 and 2021, largely due to fewer school-based drives during the pandemic.

If you’ve never donated before, now is a wonderful time to start. Someone who begins donating at age 17 and gives every 56 days could contribute up to 48 gallons of blood over a lifetime — a truly remarkable legacy.

Fun fact: Even dogs can donate blood! Healthy dogs that meet weight and health requirements can give at veterinary clinics. Check with your vet to learn more.

How you can help

Whether you give your time, your blood, or a financial contribution, every act of generosity helps keep life-saving supplies on hand.

• Donate blood — Schedule a one-hour appointment with the American Red Cross or visit a Bloodworks Northwest popup drive, hosted regularly on the UW campus and in neighborhoods throughout the region.
• Give financially — Consider a monthly gift through the UWCFD to support member organizations working to maintain a stable blood supply.
• Volunteer your time — Help organize local drives or assist at donation events in your community.

Blood is one of the most precious gifts one person can give another. It can’t be manufactured. It can only come from generous people like you. Your decision to donate could mean everything to someone you’ll never meet.

Schedule your donation today. Your gift makes a difference.

 

Nutritious, plant-forward meals help children grow, stay energized and make the most of their summer months. But when school is out, the reliable school meals that many families depend on disappear, and summer can quickly become a time of real uncertainty around food.

Understanding the need

Food insecurity and under-nutrition are closely connected challenges that continue to affect families across Washington state and beyond. Food insecurity means a household doesn’t have consistent access to enough food for a healthy life. Under-nutrition means the body isn’t getting the nutrients it needs to grow and thrive. For far too many families, both are an everyday reality.

In Washington, the number of people struggling to put food on the table more than doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many are still feeling that impact today. In Washington state, 1 in 6 kids face food insecurity. Nearly one-third of students in Seattle Public Schools receive free or reduced-price lunch, meaning a lot of children and teens face real uncertainty about where their next meal will come from.

Federal nutrition programs like SNAP help bridge the gap for some families, but many don’t qualify and rely instead on local food banks, pantries and community organizations. These challenges are not felt equally. Communities of color, migrants, Indigenous populations and refugees are disproportionately affected, with disparities rooted in poverty, systemic inequity and social injustice. Globally, the impact is profound: millions of children experience chronic malnutrition and too many lives are cut short due to undernutrition.

Why summer matters

Summertime puts added strain on families whose children receive free and reduced-price meals during the school year. Historically in King County, fewer than 20% of kids who access those meals during the school year are able to access free meals over the summer. That gap is significant.

To help address it, schools and community organizations can operate summer meal sites using federal funds from the Summer Food Service Program. The program provides free meals to all children ages 0 through 18 in areas where 50% or more of kids qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. Ensuring kids have access to nourishing food where they live, learn and play is a year-round goal, and it becomes especially urgent during the summer months.

Equitable access to nourishing food is a human right, and there are meaningful ways to support that through volunteerism and financial contributions.

Community spotlight: United Way’s Summer Meals Program

Over the past decade, United Way of King County has significantly expanded its summer meals program by partnering with organizations to provide meals and staffing support at more than 70 meal sites across King County. They also lead statewide outreach and marketing for the program.

Starting June 27, children ages 1 through 18 across Seattle will receive healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner meals throughout the summer.

You can be a part of this work. Volunteer with United Way to help alleviate hunger in our communities. Join the Backpack Brigade to deliver food to students in need or pack meals for children experiencing homelessness and food insecurity who need relief over the weekend.

Finding summer meals near you

Seattle’s Summer Food Service Program operates June 24 through August 18, 2026, at a variety of locations including parks, community centers and schools, serving kids ages 1 through 18 when school is not in session.

The United Way of King County summer meals search tool makes it easy to find sites near you, with sponsor, site and meal information alongside online mapping.

Additional resources:

• Find resources online, 24/7
• Locate a food bank near you
• Find meal programs for older adults (60+)

Support this work

Through the UWCFD, you can support nonprofit organizations working to provide equitable access to nourishing food in our communities. Make a one-time gift or set up an ongoing payroll deduction by searching for a charity by name or cause. If you don’t see the organization you’re looking for, reach out at uwcfd@uw.edu and we’ll work to get them added.

Your gift makes a difference.

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. Known by many names, including Freedom Day, Emancipation Day, Jubilee Day and Liberation Day, it marks the announcement made on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, that all enslaved people were free following the end of the Civil War. The name itself is a blend of “June” and “nineteenth.”

Although the Emancipation Proclamation had officially abolished slavery in Confederate states more than two years earlier, in January 1863, knowledge of it spread slowly across many parts of the South. Historians offer various theories for why, with most agreeing that the disingenuousness of enslavers played a significant role.

Juneteenth is sometimes called Independence Day for Black Americans or America’s second Independence Day, and that spirit of hard-won freedom is at the heart of how the holiday is observed and celebrated today.

A holiday long in the making

Texas became the first state to declare Juneteenth a state holiday in 1980, a fitting distinction given the holiday’s origins there. Washington state officially recognized Juneteenth as a state holiday in 2021. That same year, on June 17, 2021, it was designated a federal holiday by unanimous vote of the Senate and an overwhelming majority of Congress, making it the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established in 1983.

Read this opinion piece by LaNesha DeBardelaben, director of the Northwest African American Museum, on Washington’s newest official holiday.

Celebrating progress, acknowledging the work ahead

Juneteenth offers a joyful opportunity to reflect on and communally celebrate the progress made toward racial equality. At the same time, the historic and ongoing impact of slavery in the United States continues to shape our communities and our lives. The holiday holds both of those truths at once, as a celebration and a call to action.

Learn more about Juneteenth

There are many excellent resources for deepening your understanding of Juneteenth and its significance:

• BlackPast.org, created by the late distinguished UW historian Dr. Quintard Taylor, is an exhaustive resource charting the history of African Americans and more than a billion people of African ancestry worldwide. Dr. Taylor’s article Juneteenth: The Growth of an African American Holiday traces the holiday’s origins and evolution since 1865.
• In Juneteenth: A Primer, author Mitchell S. Jackson provides compelling historical context for the holiday.
• NPR’s How to Properly Celebrate Juneteenth in the Age of Commercialization offers thoughtful commentary on the increasing commodification of what was once a small, localized observance.
• The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture offers a wealth of information, including Juneteenth: A Celebration of Resilience, The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth and Celebrating Juneteenth.

How Juneteenth is celebrated

Historically, Juneteenth celebrations in Texas centered on family gatherings and reunions, public readings of the Emancipation Proclamation, sermons, singing and small festivals. People dressed in their finest clothes, a meaningful gesture given the deprivation of the enslaved, for whom nice clothing was rarely available.

The Juneteenth flag, created in 1997, features red, white and blue, intentionally echoing the American flag to affirm that formerly enslaved people and their descendants are free Americans too. In 2007, the date of the first Juneteenth, June 19, 1865, was added to the flag.

Food is central to the celebration. Red foods hold special significance, both to honor the bloodshed of enslaved people and because red foods were considered celebratory treats during enslavement, when most available foods were white, green or brown. Red soda, punch, hibiscus tea, red velvet cake, red beans and rice, hot sauce, strawberries and watermelon are all traditional. Barbeque has long been the centerpiece of the meal, with whole pigs, cows or goats historically roasted over open pits in a tradition rooted in African practice. In coastal communities, fish fries, crab boils and seasoned shrimp reflect the seafood-centered Juneteenth traditions of Southern Black communities.

Today, many people also celebrate with a trip to a ball game, rodeo, music festival or parade, while the day remains centered on family and community, especially in more rural areas.

One of the most meaningful ways to celebrate Juneteenth any day of the year is to support Black-owned businesses. Check out this directory from the Seattle Urban League and this guide to restaurants, bars and cafes from Seattle Met.

Local celebrations and events 

There is a lot happening in and around the Seattle-Tacoma area this summer:

• Northwest African American Museum (NAAM) kicks off Juneteenth on June 19 with its annual skate party and a full slate of activities featuring the Juneteenth Black Art Takeover.
• Tacoma’s Juneteenth Celebration, the largest in Washington state, takes place on June 19.
• Washington State Parks offer free admission on Juneteenth.
• Washington State History Museum presents the We the People Lecture Series on June 18 from 5:00 – 8:00. This program will feature remarks and a performance by Eva Abram of Rainwater Storytelling. Singer and musician Jason Turner, musician Naby Camara from Guinea, African dancer and drummer Baba Kauna Mujamal, and Kamau Ron Taplin will be performing.
• Atlantic Street Center hosts a family-friendly Juneteenth celebration with community organizations, Black businesses, food vendors and performances on June 18.
• Seattle Art Museum is hosting a community celebration on June 20 from 12 -4 featuring DJs, live performances and hands-on art making.

There are tons of great events in the Greater Seattle area. Check one – or more – out!

Support the Black community

Consider volunteering your time or making a financial contribution through the UWCFD to one of our member organizations actively working to remove systemic barriers to Black opportunity and strengthen Black communities.

You can make a one-time gift or set up an ongoing payroll deduction by searching for a charity by name or by the type of work they do. Can’t find the organization you’re looking for? Email uwcfd@uw.edu and we’ll reach out to invite them to join.

Your gift makes a difference.

Celebrate Pride Month 

June is Pride Month, celebrated in recognition of the Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, which was among the key catalysts for the Gay Liberation Movement. Pride Month celebrates the contributions of the LGBTQ+ community, honors those whose lives were lost to hate crimes and HIV/AIDS and serves as a catalyst for equity advocacy. 

A history rooted right here 

Seattle has deep roots in LGBTQ+ history and organizing. This June, Seattle Pride celebrates more than 50 years of Pride festivities in the city, established in 1974 as a rallying cry for gay rights and queer visibility in the years following Stonewall. 

Seattle is also home to the Pride Foundation, founded in 1985 in the midst of the HIV/AIDS crisis. A small but courageous group of people came together to create a source of light and hope during a period of profound darkness. Since then, the organization has invested more than $70 million in transformative community change, driven by the simple yet revolutionary belief that every person should be able to live safely, openly and genuinely in all the places they call home. 

At the University of Washington, organized support and celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community goes back even further. In 1967, UW Professor Nicholas Heer co-founded the Dorian Society, the first organization in Seattle to support gay rights and foster queer community. In 1969, Dorian House, operated by a UW counselor and staffed by UW students, began providing counseling services to gay and lesbian people, eventually becoming the Seattle Counseling Center. In the early 1970s, UW students organized both the Gay Student Association and the more radical Gay Liberation Front. 

The UW Pride Month Flag Raising took place on June 1st at UW Campus Flagpole on Memorial Way. The event kicked off Pride Month with speakers and music at the UW Seattle campus flagpole.  The University Advancement Queer Affinity Group  also hosting a Pride Kick-off prior to the flag raising. Flag raisings also took place at UW Medicine locations including South Lake Union, Montlake, Harborview, Northwest and Northwest OPMC. 

Pride in Seattle today 

More than half a century on, Seattle Pride Month is one of the city’s largest and most beloved annual events. Beyond the Pride Parade and Seattle Pride in the Park, Seattle Pride offers year-round community engagement activities designed to celebrate and uplift the many voices in its community, connecting a storied past to a vibrant present. 

Below is a guide to events celebrating and resources serving LGBTQIA+ communities at the UW and beyond.

Show your Pride this June

Seattle Pride in the Park June 6 | Volunteer Park | Noon – 7 p.m. This kickoff festival is a full-on experience: thousands of people coming together to celebrate, dance, eat, shop, connect and just be. Don’t miss it. 

Lavender Graduation June 9 | 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. | A joyful celebration of the achievements and contributions of UW’s graduating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning students. Registration required. 

LGBTQ+ Leaders in Higher Education Happy Hour June 18 | Stoup Brewing, Kenmore | 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. Open to faculty and staff from all three UW campuses, this casual gathering is a great chance to connect with colleagues. You’re responsible for your own tab, but outside food and non-alcoholic beverages are welcome. Contact the QFSA for more information.

Run and Walk With Pride June 20 | 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Since 1983, Run & Walk With Pride has brought together LGBTQIA+ athletes and allies to compete and raise funds for local LGBTQIA+ nonprofits. Lace up and join the tradition. 

TransPride Seattle June 26 | Volunteer Park Amphitheater | 5:00 – 10:00 p.m. A free annual festival celebrating Trans life and community across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. 

PrideFest Seattle – Day 1 – June 27 | Capitol Hill | Noon – 8:00 p.m. Capitol Hill’s biggestent is back and 100% free. The festival spans five blocks of North Broadway, Denny and Cal Anderson Park, with three stages of entertainment for all ages. 

PrideFest Seattle – Day 2 – June 28 | Downtown Seattle | Noon – 8:00 p.m. One of the nation’s biggest Pride Festivals, also free. Follow the parade to Seattle Center for hundreds of vendors, food and drink and entertainment on three stages. 

Seattle Pride Parade June 28 | Downtown Seattle | 11:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Community-led, rooted in activism and unapologetically focused on LGBTQIA2S+ visibility, the Seattle Pride Parade draws 300,000-plus people marching for joy, justice and belonging. Join the Q Center and Q Faculty and Staff Association or UW Medicine contingents to march together. 

Tacoma Pride Festival July 11 | Tacoma | Noon – 6:00 p.m. An all-ages street festival featuring queer and BIPOC entertainment on the main stage, a beer garden, Makers Market and much more. 

Seattle Sounders Pride Night August 16 | 6:00 p.m. Cheer on the Sounders and celebrate community at the same time. Join UW faculty, staff, families, and allies for a special night of connection and celebration at Seattle Sounders Pride Night. Hosted by the University of Washington Queer Faculty and Staff Association (QFSA), this group outing is an opportunity to come together in a fun, inclusive environment and show support for the LGBTQ+ community. The group will be seated in Section 126. Tickets can be purchased at this link.  

Find many more Pride Month community events at the Seattle Pride website. 

Community and resources at the UW 

Whether you’re looking for connection, support or knowledge, the UW has a wealth of resources for LGBTQIA+ community members and allies. 

Q Faculty, Staff & Allies Association fosters a campus climate where all queer faculty, staff and allies are valued and respected, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. The association promotes education and dialogue, cultural diversity, leadership and advancement, social networking and the exchange of ideas and resources. 

UW Medicine LGBTQ+ offers a collection of resources, events and community building for queer members of the UW Medicine community. 

LGBTQ+ Resources at the UW supports a culture of inclusion and has provided protections from discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation long before such rights were recognized by federal or state law. 

UW Aging with Pride is a landmark federally funded research project designed to better understand the aging, health and well-being of sexual- and gender-diverse midlife and older adults, led by Professor Karen Fredriksen-Goldsen since 2009. 

UW Libraries offers a wealth of LGBTQIA+ literature and resources, including the LGBTQ History Research Guide with new additions such as the Archives of Sexuality & Gender and Queer Pasts. Special Collections houses oral histories from the Northwest Lesbian and Gay History Project and the LGBTQIA+ Archival Pride Resources. The UW Tacoma Library also has an excellent Gender and Sexuality subject guide and broader community resources list. 

Rainbow Book Month showcases LGBTQIA+ book awards and bibliographies from the American Library Association. 

Support LGBTQ+ communities through the UWCFD 

Consider volunteering your time or making a financial contribution through the UWCFD to member organizations actively working to support the lives and well-being of LGBTQ+ people. You can make a one-time gift or set up an ongoing payroll deduction by searching for a charity by name or by the type of work they do. Can’t find the organization you’re looking for? Email uwcfd@uw.edu and they’ll work to get them added. 

Your gift makes a difference. 

Summer is almost here! With warmer days ahead, there’s no better time to get outside and enjoy everything the Pacific Northwest has to offer. Hiking, cycling, running, boating, horseback riding, fishing, open water swimming. When it comes to outdoor recreation, we live in a place worth celebrating. Just make sure you’re celebrating safely so you can do it again tomorrow.

Getting outside is good for you

The science backs up what most of us already feel: time in nature improves mental clarity and creativity, supports physical health and reduces the risk of conditions like heart disease and depression, and deepens our connection to the environment we’re working to protect. It’s also just really fun.

This is just as true for kids. Outdoor play gives children powerful boosts to their mental, physical and emotional development. Researchers use the term “nature-deficit disorder,” coined by nature advocate Richard Louv, to describe what happens when kids lose that connection. Studies show that children who regularly play outside are more likely to stay active as adults, show better focus and creativity at school, have reduced ADHD symptoms and develop lifelong conservation values. Early exposure to plants, animals and soil also helps young immune systems develop properly, reducing vulnerability to allergies and asthma. Recent research from North Carolina State University found that nature-based activities are especially helpful for teens, helping offset some of the mental health impacts of the stressors young people face today.

How to recreate responsibly

The Washington Recreate Responsibly Coalition offers these simple guidelines to help protect yourself, others and the places you love:

• Know before you go. Check whether your destination is open and have a backup plan if it’s crowded.
• Plan ahead. Expect some facilities to be closed, pack your own lunch and bring essentials like hand sanitizer and sunscreen.
• Explore locally. Great parks, trails and public spaces are close to home. Be mindful of your impact on the communities you visit.
• Play it safe. Choose lower-risk activities to reduce the chance of injury.
• Go easy on alcohol. It’s generally prohibited in public parks, and in warm weather, it raises the risk of dehydration and heat stroke while impairing judgment.
• Don’t let the sunshine fool you. Warm weather is relaxing, but it’s not an invitation to leave common sense behind.
• Leave no trace. Respect public lands, waterways and Native and local communities. Take all your garbage with you.
• Build an inclusive outdoors. Help make outdoor spaces safe and welcoming for people of all identities and abilities.

Outdoor time is essential to health, wellbeing and happiness. Everyone deserves to experience the Pacific Northwest’s incredible outdoor spaces, in every season.

Support organizations making the outdoors accessible to all

Through the UWCFD, you can support nonprofit organizations working to make outdoor recreation equitable and accessible for all. Make a one-time gift or set up an ongoing payroll deduction by searching for a charity by name or cause. If you don’t see the organization you’re looking for, reach out at uwcfd@uw.edu and we’ll work to get them added.

Your gift makes a difference.

Wildfire season in the western U.S. has grown longer, more unpredictable and more devastating for people and wildlife in recent years. Smoky skies and poor air quality are increasingly the norm across the region and 2026 is already shaping up to be one of the more challenging years on record.

Widespread drought has fueled an early and intense start to the season. The Washington Department of Ecology declared a statewide drought emergency for the fourth year in a row – snowpack is sitting at just 50% of normal and rainfall has been below average. Unlike some recent seasons, where dry conditions were partially offset by healthy snowpack, Western Washington has been abnormally dry from the start. Above-average fire risk is predicted across the Pacific Northwest due to warm, dry conditions and high fuel loads. The first notable fire of the season, the 125-acre Libby Creek Fire, began in early May.

Climate change is amplifying all of these risk factors, and experts warn that fire season, which runs roughly from May through November, is only getting longer. These are real indicators that we may be in for another difficult, damaging and potentially deadly season.

Learn more about UW partnerships to foster disaster-resilient communities.

Understanding the health risks

Wildfire smoke is a serious concern, though it helps to understand exactly what we’re dealing with. According to Savannah D’Evelyn, a postdoctoral fellow with the UW Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, wildfire smoke doesn’t cause new diseases to develop. However, particulate matter in the air can worsen existing conditions like asthma and cardiovascular disease for some people. Learn more from UW experts on wildfires and smoke impacts.

How fires start

Natural fires, often sparked by lightning, play a role in ecological balance but can grow out of control quickly. Nearly nine out of ten wildfires nationwide are human-caused, whether from discarded cigarettes, campfires that weren’t fully extinguished, vehicle sparks or fireworks. The good news is that means most wildfires can be prevented.

How to stay safe this fire season

Being prepared is the best thing you can do for yourself and your family. Here are some important steps to take:

• Stay informed. Keep an eye on fire danger forecasts using tools from the National Weather Service and US Geological Survey.
• Clear your property. Remove debris, flammable materials like firewood and dead vegetation from around your home.
• Protect your air. Keep windows closed, use air filtration systems and limit time outdoors during smoky conditions. The Washington State Department of Health Smoke from Fires website has helpful guidance.
• Make an emergency plan. Know your evacuation route, locate nearby shelters, gather important documents and keep emergency supplies on hand. Even in Western Washington, having a plan can save lives.
• Recreate responsibly. Whether you’re camping or enjoying a backyard fire, always make sure flames and heat sources are fully extinguished before you leave.
• Use available resources. The Washington Department of Natural Resources offers tips on campfire safety and home landscaping in dry conditions. Wildfire Ready Neighbors provides risk assessments and in-home consultations to help create a wildfire protection plan tailored to your property, budget and lifestyle. And Ready.gov has a helpful guide to preparing for wildfires.

Support the people doing this work

Fire season is also a reminder of the incredible dedication of firefighters and environmental protection organizations across our region. Through the UW Combined Fund Drive, you can make a one-time gift or set up a monthly payroll deduction to support nonprofits working to reduce wildfire risk and make outdoor recreation equitable and accessible for everyone.

Search for a charity by name or cause to get started. If you don’t see the organization you’re looking for, reach out at uwcfd@uw.edu and we’ll work to get it added.

Your gift makes a difference.