Donor Recognition

Washington State Fair Foundation Founders

At the conception of the Foundation, a Founder's Campaign was conducted to allow people with a passion for the Fair and the Foundation’s mission to give in order to get the Foundation off the ground and support its initial projects. (April 2008 through December 2009.) Donors who made gifts ranging from $5,000 to $250,000 to the campaign are recognized as Founders. In total, the Founders raised over $2 million! In recognition of that generosity and faith, the Washington State Fair Foundation commissioned a Founder Recognition Wall on the grounds of the Washington State Fair in September of 2010. This recognition wall lists the names of the individuals, businesses, and private foundations of the Founder's Campaign. Look for the donor wall on the north side of the Sleep Train ShowPlex. It stands as proud testament to the faith of the Foundation’s founding friends and supporters for many years to come.

The donor wall itself, with a concept design by Teri Platt, was the beneficiary of the generous in-kind donations of many local businesses including Absher Construction, McGranahan Architects, Corliss Resources, AHBL, and Westmark Products, Inc.

White Hat Monument

Members of the Washington State Fair Foundation’s White Hat Club are those generous donors who have committed $1,000 per year for a 5 year term in support of the Fair’s programs. This giving club predates the Foundation, having started in 1999 in support of the Fair's scholarship program. In 2012, the Fair and Foundation partnered to create a lasting monument on the Washington State Fair grounds to recognize these generous friends. The monument stands proudly in front of the Pavilion, at the northwest end of the grounds and lists individuals, businesses and private foundations that continue to show their loyalty year after year. Donations to the White Hat Club ensure that the Fair’s rich tradition of supporting educational programming continues. And yep, donors really do get a white cowboy hat to show the world they're one of the good guys.