Case Study: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

Woodrow Wilson Award recipient at podium.

The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars is one of three special institutions created by congressional statute within the Smithsonian Institution.  The Center’s mission is to bring together business leaders, policy-makers, and scholars in a non-partisan setting for serious and informed discussion.  Half of the Center’s funding comes from the federal government and the other half from private donors – most as a result of the Woodrow Wilson Awards Dinners. 

The Woodrow Wilson Awards recognize individuals who have shown a special commitment to their communities — either through public service or corporate citizenship. The first Seattle awards dinner, held in April 2002, recognized former United States Senator Slade Gorton and Seattle Mariners’ CEO Howard Lincoln. The honorary 2002 chairman of the dinner was former Washington State governor Dan Evans.  Event chairman Mike McGavick, CEO of Safeco Insurance, led this inaugural event, which raised more than $150,000 for the Center. 

In 2003 the Center honored John Stanton, chairman and CEO of Western Wireless and chairman of T-Mobile USA; and Ambassador Tom Foley, former United States ambassador to Japan, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and Congressman from Washington State’s 5th Congressional District.  Former United States Senator Slade Gorton was the honorary chair and Peter Van Oppen, chairman of the board and CEO of Advanced Digital Information Corporation served as event Chairman.  This event doubled the fundraising goal, bringing in more than $385,000 for the Center. 

The third event held in Seattle took place in November of 2005 and honored four of Seattle’s most outstanding leaders – Scott and Laurie Oki and Bill and Jill Ruckelshaus.  The event was co-chaired by former Governor Gary Locke and Jim Sinegal of Costco Wholesale.  The evening was a great opportunity to honor these important members of the community and support the excellent work of the Woodrow Wilson Center.