“I joined the Bridging the Wealth Gap steering committee because this program
uniquely blends a business lens—with its focus on sustainable, scalable solutions—
and my desire to address a deep community need, helping ensure that economic
opportunity extends to everyone in King County.”
― Jonathan Burks, Partner, PwC
“I believe that, in the long run, nothing is more important to the health of our society than closing the gap between our poorest citizens and families and basic financial security. Much of the gap was caused by the great injustices of the past, and continued by their less visible remaining effects, and closing the gap is thus a moral obligation of all of us fortunate not to have directly suffered from it.”
―David Burman, Partner, Perkins Coie
“As a Native woman, business leader, and nonprofit executive, I’ve witnessed how
historic injustices have created barriers to economic equity in our communities.
Coming from a potlatch culture, where wealth is measured by extravagant
generosity, I believe that building generational wealth is vital for the well-being of
our entire economy. By supporting United Way of King County’s Bridging the
Wealth Gap campaign, I aim to contribute my experience and cultural perspective
to foster shared prosperity, joy, and wellness for all.”
―Colleen Echohawk, Interim Executive Director, Seattle Indian Services Commission
“I have long believed that every entrepreneur with a dream of building a business
of which they can be proud, whether the dream is a single coffee stand or a
disruptive global enterprise, deserves the same level of support and access to
expertise and resources as historically advantaged groups. Local businesses run by
local owners reinvest in their local communities – it’s a virtuous cycle that can
scale. The combination of technical and ecosystem support grants and the leverage
created by offering guarantee pools for lenders to these historically marginalized
communities helps clear the way for a dreamer to become an entrepreneur that
builds something they can pass down to the next generation.”
―Steve Hooper Jr., President, Financial Services at Tiphaus
“UWKC does amazing work delivering critical support to our community in innovative ways that often combine meeting immediate needs with systems change. What’s exciting about Bridging the Wealth Gap is that it can prevent that dire need from developing in the first place and create generational change. We’ll do this by enabling small business development and home ownership in underserved communities. Leveraging a guaranteed investment pool to achieve those goals is an exciting innovation and enables us to scale our efforts and make a significant impact.”
―Scott Meden, Retired Chief Marketing Officer, Nordstrom, Inc.
“I joined the United Way King County Bridging the Wealth Gap campaign steering committee because this work is personal. As a lam committed to advancing equity and economic justice, I know we cannot talk about opportunity without addressing the persistent and intentional barriers to wealth for Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color. This campaign is about partnering with community and changing that narrative—through bold investments, collective action, and a shared vision for generational prosperity while leaning and leveraging United Way’s vast resources and access.”
―Michelle Merriweather, President & CEO, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle
“Nearly 100 years ago, my grandparents opened the first Uwajimaya in Tacoma
with the support of their community. After being wrongly incarcerated during
WWII, they rebuilt and reopened in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District in
the 1940s, again with the help and strength of those around them. Today, as the
third-generation leader of Uwajimaya, I’m committed to using my platform to
support small businesses and create opportunities for others to thrive through
business and home ownership.”
―Denise Moriguchi, CEO, Uwajimaya
“I joined this committee because I believe in whatever UWKC can do to lift up those in our community who are shut out by poverty from enjoying the blessing of our region.”
―Fr. Stephen Sundborg, Chancellor, Seattle University