Mariners’ Manager Don Wakamatsu made a special appearance at the Executive Development Institute’s (EDI) annual benefit dinner, Inclusion Fusion, May 20. EDI Board Members posing with Wakamatsu (center) at SODO Park (left to right) include: Chee-Tuck Wong, Ador Yano, Amy Hartlmueller-Torres, Starr MacDonald (EDI’s executive director), Wallace Greene, Charlene Grinolds, Valarie Kusuda-Smick, Vanna Novak, George Kikuchi, Colleen Yamaguchi, Ted Yamamura. - Courtesy photo
Courtesy photo
Mariners’ Manager Don Wakamatsu made a special appearance at the Executive Development Institute’s (EDI) annual benefit dinner, Inclusion Fusion, May 20. EDI Board Members posing with Wakamatsu (center) at SODO Park (left to right) include: Chee-Tuck Wong, Ador Yano, Amy Hartlmueller-Torres, Starr MacDonald (EDI’s executive director), Wallace Greene, Charlene Grinolds, Valarie Kusuda-Smick, Vanna Novak, George Kikuchi, Colleen Yamaguchi, Ted Yamamura.

EDI's benefit dinner raises funds for leadership programs


May 27, 2010 · Updated 9:27 AM 

  • 0
  • Print Story
  • Letter/Editor

Bellevue-based Executive Development Institute (EDI) held its annual benefit dinner and auction "Inclusion Fusion" at Seattle's newly renovated SODO Park on May 20. Over 250 guests participated in the silent and live auctions contributing about $90,000 in funds.

Mariners Manager Don Wakamatsu made a special appearance and mingled with guests.

As "Inclusion Fusion" conveys, EDI is embarking on a new chapter in its 16-year history. The non-profit leadership institute will be expanding its programs to additional ethnic groups.

Last year, EDI successfully introduced a leadership program tailored for Hispanic participants in addition to its long-established programs for Asian-Pacific participants. Over 500 participants have graduated from EDI leadership programs.

Funds raised will allow EDI to continue to expand its programs both in content and diversity. EDI's vision is to be the preeminent leadership institute where corporations and organizations seek diverse global leaders.

Major sponsors for this benefit dinner include Prudential, KeyBank Foundation, State Farm Insurance, Weyerhaeuser, Boeing, Nordstrom, and Wells Fargo.

Emcees for the event were Jaime Mendez, anchor for Univision and Marlee Ginter, anchor for KOMO. Laura Michalek, "Seattle's Fundraising Auctioneer," was the featured auctioneer.

For more information on EDI and its leadership programs, \ visit www.ediorg.org.

Comment on this story.

Community Blogroll

  • Cliff Mass Weather Blog
    Cliff Mass is a UW professor of Atmospheric Sciences. He blogs about the local in the Pacific Northwest.
  • Diverse|City
    A multicultural reporter's eye on race, traditions and lifestyles here together in the Northwest.
COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read.

So keep your comments:

  • Civil
  • Smart
  • On-topic
  • Free of profanity

We ask that all participants own their words by logging in with their Facebook account. It's a simple process that will take seconds and helps keep our comments free of trolls, cranks, and “drive-by” commenters. We reserve the right to remove comments from anyone using screen names, pseudonyms or false identities. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.

blog comments powered by Disqus