Seafair Foundation

THE SEAFAIR FOUNDATION, THE CHARITABLE PARTNER OF THE SEAFAIR FESTIVAL, EMPOWERS FUTURE LEADERS AND CONNECTS OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCES.

THE SEAFAIR FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR WOMEN REACHED OUT TO PROFESSORS OF LOCAL UNIVERSITIES FOR NOMINATIONS FOR MISS SEAFAIR. EACH NOMINEE WAS INTERVIEWED VIA PHONE AND GRADED ON HER SPEAKING ABILITY, PASSIONS, AND LEADERSHIP. THREE FINALISTS WERE SELECTED, AND EACH WAS INVITED FOR AN IN-PERSON INTERVIEW IN FRONT OF A THREE-PERSON PANEL WHERE MISS SEAFAIR WAS SELECTED. SHE WAS AWARDED A SCHOLARSHIP AND THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT SEAFAIR WHILE VISITING A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY EVENTS AND PARADES AND TO INTERACT WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF BUSINESS, CIVIC, PHILANTHROPIC, AND PUBLIC LEADERS IN THE GREATER SEATTLE REGION.

THE SEAFAIR COMMUNITY EVENTS PROGRAM SHOWCASES THE DIVERSITY, PERSONALITY, AND CULTURE OF THE PUGET SOUND REGION. WE SUPPORT OVER 30 LOCAL PARADES/FESTIVALS REPRESENTING ETHNIC AND GEOGRAPHIC INTERESTS AROUND THE REGION. EVENTS ARE CHOSEN THROUGH AN APPLICATION PROCESS AND SEAFAIR OFFERS PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS RESOURCES INCLUDING SUPPORT AND PROMOTION OF THEIR EVENTS THAT GIVES THEM AN INCREASED LEVEL OF EXPOSURE.

THE SEAFAIR HOLIDAY CRUISE TAKES PLACE ON THE WATERS OF LAKE UNION, LAKE WASHINGTON AND PUGET SOUND AS INDEPENDENT BOATERS AND CHARTER OPERATORS VOLUNTEER THEIR BOATS, CREWS AND TIME TO HOST OVER 1,500 INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED GUESTS, THEIR FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS ON A SPECIAL HOLIDAY PARADE OF BOATS. AROUND 200 BOATS ARE DECKED OUT WITH HOLIDAY LIGHTS AND DECORATIONS AND LEAVE FROM DIFFERENT DOCKS AND YACHT CLUBS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PARADE. WHILE ON BOARD THE BOATS GUESTS ARE TREATED TO SNACKS AND BEVERAGES AND ENJOY ENTERTAINMENT AS THEY CRUISE FOR TWO HOURS. AT THE END OF THE CRUISE SANTA AND HIS HELPERS ARE WAITING ON SHORE TO PASS OUT GIFT BAGS FOR EACH GUEST AND WISH THEM A HAPPY HOLIDAY. THE CRUISE GIVES EVERYONE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RELAX AND ENJOY THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

THE SEAFAIR AMBASSADOR PROGRAM NURTURES FUTURE LEADERS THROUGH A PROGRAM OF EDUCATION, MENTORSHIP, VOLUNTEERISM, AND CULTURAL EXPOSURE TO CREATE A FUTURE OF VIBRANT AND PROSPEROUS COMMUNITIES IN THE GREATER SEATTLE AREA. THE PROGRAM WORKS TO DEVELOP A PASSION FOR BUILDING INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH THE CULTURAL EXCHANGE WITH STUDENTS FROM KOBE, JAPAN. LOCAL AREA STUDENTS ARE SELECTED FROM AN APPLICATION ESSAY ON COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND PERSONAL INTERVIEWS WITH MEMBERS OF THE SEAFAIR BOARD OF DIRECTORS. SELECTED STUDENTS REPRESENT SEAFAIR THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THROUGH A VARIETY OF UNIQUE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES. THROUGH VOLUNTEERISM AND PARTICIPATING IN FESTIVAL EVENTS, AMBASSADORS LEARN JUST HOW "GLOBAL- AND "LOCAL" THEIR OWN COMMUNITY IS. THEY ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOST AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT FROM SEATTLE'S SISTER CITY, KOBE, JAPAN FOR A WEEK AND ARE AWARDED AN EXCHANGE TRIP TO KOBE WHERE THEY GET A CHANCE TO FULLY IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN ANOTHER CULTURE.