This is our annual award luncheon where we recognize emerging leaders in the community. Our speaker is Richard Woo, CEO of the Russell Family Foundation. Award winners will be announced shortly.

About our Speaker

Richard Woo is the chief executive officer of The Russell Family Foundation (TRFF) in Gig Harbor, Washington.  The Foundation supports grassroots leadership, environmental sustainability, and global peace.  Richard recently adopted another title: “CRO—Chief Relationship Officer” as he believes that emphasis is the most vital work of the Foundation.

Richard joined the Foundation in 2000, as the first executive director outside of the Russell Family.  He is a graduate of both the American Leadership Forum Tacoma/Pierce County, Class VIII and the mediation training of Pierce County Center for Dispute Resolution—useful experiences for community building.  Richard serves on the board of directors of Philanthropy Northwest—a six state regional association of foundations; and is a past national board member of the Council on Foundations.  Over the years, he has mentored students and colleagues from Tacoma Community College, Seattle University, and Native Americans in Philanthropy. 

Before arriving at TRFF, Richard worked for nearly a dozen years at Levi Strauss & Co. in San Francisco on community relations, corporate social responsibility and philanthropy.  He served for three years as executive director of the Levi Strauss Foundation—overseeing global grantmaking in 40 countries.  Richard earned a college degree in English—inspired by his elementary school teacher who encouraged him to write about his summer vacation.

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