2025 Art of Giving Awardees

YAKIMA, WA – November 13, 2025 – The Yakima Valley Community Foundation celebrated the philanthropic spirit of Central Washington at its inaugural Art of Giving event on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at the Harmon Center in Yakima. The evening recognized five exceptional individuals and groups whose generosity and leadership have transformed lives across the region.

"Tonight, we gather not simply as residents of Central Washington, but as witnesses to something profound: the enduring power of human generosity," said Sharon Miracle, President and CEO of the Yakima Valley Community Foundation. "Philanthropy isn't reserved for the wealthy or the powerful. It lives in every act that says: your struggle matters, your dreams matter, you matter."

The Foundation presented awards in five categories, honoring recipients who exemplify the full spectrum of philanthropic giving through their time, talent, resources, and leadership.

2025 Art of Giving Honorees:

Next Generation Leadership Award: Anthony "AP" Petersen, CEO of OIC Washington – Petersen leads Opportunities Industrialization Centers (OIC) of Washington serving 14 counties. Petersen demonstrates exceptional vision and commitment to empowering the next generation through education and workforce development. His leadership exemplifies how emerging leaders are shaping the future of community service in Central Washington.

Nonprofit Leadership Award: Madelyn Carlson, CEO of People For People – Under Carlson's nearly two-decade leadership, People For People has expanded essential services across Yakima, Kittitas, Klickitat, and Skamania counties. Her organization, founded in 1965, now manages more than $35 million in annual revenue while providing employment training, rural medical transportation, Meals On Wheels, and other vital programs.

Professional Advisor Award: Paul Larson – A partner at Larson Griffee & Pickett PLLC, Larson has practiced law in Yakima since 1976 and has been instrumental in helping clients create lasting legacies through planned giving. His volunteer leadership spans more than 40 years, including service on the boards of Yakima Family YMCA, Yakima Valley Community Foundation, Providence Yakima Medical Center, and Yakima Schools Foundation, among others. Many of his clients' estates have funded scholarships, arts programs, and nonprofits that enrich lives for generations.

Community Leadership Award: MLK Jr. Aquatic Center Neighborhood Fundraising Committee – Recognizing the extraordinary grassroots effort of residents from Yakima's eastside neighborhood who came together with determination and heart to raise over $3 million for the MLK Jr. Aquatic Center. This remarkable achievement demonstrates the transformative power of community members rallying around a shared dream to create lasting infrastructure that will serve generations to come.

Community Legacy Award: The John and Wauna Harmon Foundation – John and Wauna Harmon made their wealth in the Yakima Valley and established a private foundation that has funded numerous projects throughout the community, including the Harmon Center where the Art of Giving event was held. As the Harmon Foundation prepares to close, funds are being transferred to the Yakima Valley Community Foundation for long-term community benefit, including supporting a life-changing trades apprenticeship program at the Yakama Nation and providing annual support for the community's most vulnerable populations. Foundation leaders Julie Boudreau, John Carney, and Marisette Hasan traveled from California, Kansas City, and North Carolina respectively to accept the honor. The Harmon Foundation’s goal in giving back to the Yakima Valley is to provide positive benefits and to inspire others to keep their funds in the community or bring their funds back home.

"This is both a celebration and an invitation," Miracle told attendees. "As we honor these five extraordinary recipients, we also recognize that each of us has something to give, some way to contribute to the art of giving."

The Yakima Valley Community Foundation serves as a catalyst for community philanthropy, convening people, ideas, and resources to address challenges no single person or organization could solve alone. The Foundation brings together legacy makers and changemakers, advisors and advocates, and established and emerging leaders to strengthen Central Washington.

The Art of Giving event marks the first of what the Foundation hopes will become an annual tradition of recognizing and inspiring philanthropic spirit throughout the region.