Several weeks after the tragic July 28th shooting at the Jewish Federation, the Board
and staff, after much soul searching, made the difficult decision to remodel our building and return to our home.

On July 30th, United Way invited the Federation staff to work out of their lower level for the next three weeks and could not have been more accommodating. Martin Selig then generously agreed to provide rent-free office space for the Federation, the JTNews, the Washington State Holocaust Education Resource Center and the Washington State Jewish Historical Society for an indeterminate period of time, which turned out to be six months.

We launched a Brick by Brick Building Campaign that raised more than one million dollars from
individual donors, foundations and corporations, in addition to significant in-kind contributions. This quiet campaign has not impacted our Annual Community Campaign, 70 percent completed and still running a 10 percent increase.

In the midst of the physical and emotional tumult of moving twice, and our staff beginning to heal, Marvin Stein and Associates drew up architectural plans and Chinn Construction began to remodel our space. Both businesses remarked that it was an honor to have been chosen to help make the Federation whole again.

Thanks to the remarkable resilience and perseverance of our courageous staff and the dedicated
volunteer leadership of the Federation, we continued producing successful campaign events, education and young leadership programs, while carrying on our day-to-day business.

Five months later, we were able to welcome the community back to our remodeled space with a celebration. Our building re-dedication ceremony last Sunday had a palpable sense of triumph over hate, anger and fear through hope, faith and acts of loving kindness. Community members milled about conversing. Mayor Greg Nickels, Seattle Chief of Police Gil Kerlikowski, and UJC National Campaign Chair Joel Alperson spoke, as did Federation Board Chair, Robin Boehler. Ron Leibsohn was especially singled out for thanks as the Federation board person responsible for leading much of the renovation. Becki Chandler and Amy Wasser-Simpson were also thanked for their work on the renovation project.

After the mezuzah hanging, staff members toured attendees through the building, sharing the beautiful new space and the generosity of local community members: Paintings donated by Dale Chihuly in memory of Pam Waechter, and lobby furnishings donated by Masin Furniture Co. Carl and Joann Bianco, who graciously retired the remaining mortgage on our building last spring and kicked off our Brick by Brick Campaign with a challenge matching gift, cut the ribbon to open the building to the public. In our new space, this central place for helping people find their connection to the Jewish community, it feels like we are really home.

We are still accepting contributions to our "Brick by Brick" building campaign. If you would like to contribute, please call the Jewish Federation at (206) 443-5400.

Pam Waechter was tragically killed at work at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle on July 28, 2006. She was the Federation’s Director of Annual Giving at the time of her death. Pam’s demise has been both a personal and professional loss to family, friends, co-workers, the entire Jewish community, and to people of goodwill everywhere.

In establishing the Pam Waechter Memorial Fund, Federation leaders met with Pam’s children to determine a fitting purpose for a fund to memorialize this remarkable woman and valued colleague.

Several ideas for a legacy fund were discussed; ultimately Pam's children selected two purposes for the fund that they felt would pay tribute to Pam and the things that were important to her as a Jewish professional.

First, the fund will used be to provide an annual award to recognize the contributions of a Jewish community professional in the greater Seattle area. The Pam Waechter Honoree will receive his/her award at the Federation’s Annual Meeting each June.

Second, the fund will help to cover the costs of the Federation’s Lion of Judah Event held each year—henceforth to be known as the Pam Waechter Lion of Judah Event. Pam herself was a Lion of Judah—a woman who donated annually in her own name at the $5,000 level or above—and she was proud of this distinction. One of Pam’s dreams was that people would come to endow certain aspects of the Federation’s operating costs so that even more of the money raised each year would be allocated to our partner agencies and would serve the needs of our community in Seattle, Israel and throughout the world. By establishing this fund in Pam’s name, event expenses will be defrayed in just the way Pam had envisioned.

To donate to the Pam Waechter memorial fund

Make checks payable to:
Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle –Pam Waechter Memorial Fund
Address: 2031 Third Avenue
Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 443-5400

To pay by credit card please go to: DONATE