First Place:

Wild Salmon Center - Portland, OR

Wild Salmon Center (WSC) works to conserve the most productive and intact wild salmon ecosystems around the Pacific Rim—from the Pacific Northwest to Alaska to the Russian Far East. As a “keystone species” wild salmon support an expansive and diverse web of life, ranging from brown bears to orcas to eagles, and they are central to cultures and communities across the North Pacific. Where wild salmon runs are healthy, whole watersheds - and everything in them - flourish.

These funds will support WSC’s efforts to safeguard the Bristol Bay watershed in Alaska, one of the most important salmon fisheries on Earth. Up to 60 million wild salmon return to Bristol Bay each year, supporting 14,000 jobs, a $1.5 billion fishing industry, and Alaskan communities that have relied on salmon for generations. However, the Bristol Bay fishery is currently threatened by the proposed Pebble Mine, a project planned at its headwaters that could put this extraordinary ecosystem at risk. Learn more at: https://www.wildsalmoncenter.org/campaigns/bristol-bay/

Second Place:

Literacy for Environmental Justice - San Francisco, CA

Literacy for Environmental Justice (LEJ) is an environmental education and youth empowerment organization created specifically to address the ecological and health concerns of Bayview, Hunters Point and the surrounding communities of southeast San Francisco. LEJ is committed to  creating urban greening, eco-literacy, community stewardship and workforce development opportunities that directly engage and support local residents in securing a healthier future. The glassybaby baby grant will help support the Eco-Apprentice Program. This is a multi-track, paid internship for young adults, ages 18-25, in Bayview Hunters Point. The Eco-Apprentices are mentored to hone their career interests, develop professional skills, and seek future employment and academic objectives. They learn highly specialized skills, that can immediately translate to work and careers, in ecological restoration and community-based organizations.

Third Place:

The Arboretum Foundation - Seattle, WA

The Arboretum Foundation raises vital funds to protect and enhance Washington Park Arboretum, a 230-acre urban oasis of woodlands, wetlands, gardens, and walking trails in the heart of Seattle. The Arboretum has long been a place of respite and recreation for the region; during the COVID crisis, it has also become a tremendous source of solace. Here, students, volunteers, and visitors can engage deeply with nature and learn about the importance of protecting their natural resources—and about how biodiversity contributes to a healthier, climate-resilient planet. The Arboretum Foundation will use the baby grant to help fund the Arboretum’s horticulture, environmental education, and volunteer programs.

First Place:

Make A Chess Move - Denver, CO

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Using the game of chess, Make A Chess Move (MACM) has designed a research-based curriculum that identifies and targets positive youth protective factors and the reduction of youth risk factors. The curriculum is delivered to youth ages 8-24, in Northeast Denver, with an emphasis on developing staff and young leaders from program participants. Student Facilitators build trust and develop positive relationships that foster marketable team management skills, confidence, and positive community leadership. The baby grant funds will be used to meet the new COVID-19 delivery challenges. We are proud to learn about and support this innovative, proactive model of youth development. 

Second Place:

Snoqualmie Valley Shelter Services - Snoqualmie, WA

Snoqualmie Valley Shelter Services is dedicated to helping men, women and families, experiencing homelessness and poverty, connect with the care and services they need.​ The seasonal shelter is closed but the Resource Center has expanded services, in order to meet the growing needs of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The Resource Center offers food, drink, bedding, bathrooms, showers, laundry service, mail service as well as help obtaining housing, lifeline phone/minutes, enrolling in Apple Health and more. We are grateful for the support this organization provides for people during these challenging times.

Third Place:

A Silver Lining Foundation - Chicago, IL

A Silver Lining Foundation is committed to providing respectful and equal access to cost-free breast health testing through a network of partnerships with community, advocacy and healthcare organizations. By providing mammograms and access to follow up diagnostic testing and treatment, A Silver Lining Foundation ensures that socioeconomic status does not affect the individual’s ability to obtain timely breast health testing. This grant will support A Silver Lining Foundation's work, which is in even greater demand now, as more people find they are uninsured, underinsured and newly unemployed.

First Place:

FarmLink

Los Alamitos, CA

The FarmLink Project is a new grassroots organization committed to fighting hunger and restoring jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. This grassroots movement connects farms with food banks. They do this by acquiring surplus produce from farmers and paying transportation costs in order to deliver the fresh food to people in need. While farms are experiencing extreme surplus due to reduced commercial orders, food banks are facing soaring demand and shortages of donated food. Since its inception in March, FarmLink has rescued over 250,000 pounds of food.

Second Place:

Project Access Northwest

Seattle, WA

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Project Access Northwest’s mission is to work in collaboration with the health care community to open doors to medical and dental care for low-income individuals, with limited or no access to specialty care in King, Kitsap and Snohomish counties. They are committed to matching patients in need with caring volunteer providers and to developing innovative programs that improve health care access. COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of and the inequities in access to care and we are pleased to support the work of Project Access Northwest. 

Third Place:

PEN America

New York, NY

PEN America, based in New York City, is dedicated to uniting writers and their allies to celebrate expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. PEN America works to ensure that people everywhere have the freedom to create literature, to convey information and ideas, to express their views, and to access the views, ideas, and literatures of others. We are pleased to support this commitment and mission.