The Russell Family Foundation

09/01/2026

Investing in the next generation means creating opportunities for young people to discover their passions, develop new skills, and see themselves as future leaders.

That's one of the reasons we've proudly supported Harbor WildWatch since 2007. Through hands-on environmental education, community science, and paid internships, Harbor WildWatch is helping young people build meaningful career pathways while fostering a lifelong connection to the Salish Sea. Today, the organization reaches more than 40,000 people each year across the Key Peninsula–Gig Harbor Islands Watershed through its community programs, partnerships with local schools, and Marine Life Center in Gig Harbor.

This short video highlights the impact of Harbor WildWatch's Paid Internship Program—and the difference it can make when young people are given the opportunity to learn, grow, and lead.

We hope you'll take a few minutes to watch.

How can hands-on learning experiences support career exploration fo...

08/27/2026

At Carnation Farms, regenerative practices like rotational grazing and pasture-raised livestock help support soil health, thoughtful land stewardship and a more resilient local food system.

Over the coming weeks and months, the farm is opening its doors with several new and exciting ways to learn, eat and experience the farm firsthand, including:

Rotational Grazing Workshop on August 29: Learn about regenerative grazing practices with the farm’s livestock team during this hands-on workshop.

Butcher Counter Grand Opening on September 5: Celebrate the opening of the new Farmstand Butcher Counter, featuring fresh cuts of Carnation Farms’ pasture-raised lamb and beef.

Woodfired Friday on October 2: Enjoy a casual, farm-to-table pizza night served alongside the fields where many of the ingredients are grown.
Learn more and explore upcoming events at https://events.carnationfarms.org/events/

08/25/2026

You're invited. Join us for our final Jane's Fellowship information session and learn more about a program that brings together people from across Pierce County who are committed to their communities and eager to learn alongside one another.

This in-person gathering is an opportunity to meet fellowship alumni, connect with program staff, and ask questions about the Class 14 experience.

We hope you'll join us.

📅 Saturday, August 29, 2026
⏰ 11:00 AM–1:00 PM
📍 Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound
3875 66th Street, Tacoma

Register here: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=Oz-bgnhBqU-SY-iGTz6_4Mj2tYHYv61IpzZ3gBXS77dUN1BaUzlQRE0xNDBVWElGVTRWTFExNElIUy4u&route=shorturl

08/20/2026

Who has access to environmental education, climate leadership opportunities, and outdoor experiences matters.

Organizations across Washington are working to expand participation and create more inclusive pathways into environmental learning and leadership, including:

• The Aspen Institute's Open Pathways Project, which expands access to green career pathways and climate leadership opportunities for young people

• E3 Washington, a statewide professional network advancing equitable environmental and sustainability education by supporting educators, practitioners, and leaders across Washington.

• World Relief Western Washington, which helps refugee and immigrant communities build connections to nature through outdoor and environmental learning experiences

Efforts like these help ensure environmental education is more accessible, community-centered, and inclusive.

08/18/2026

Every community has people who bring others together, advocate for their neighbors, and keep showing up when challenges arise.

Jane's Fellowship was created for those leaders.

Rooted in relationships, reflection, and shared learning, the fellowship brings together people from across Pierce County who are committed to strengthening their communities and learning alongside one another.

If you'd like to learn more about the fellowship experience and the Class 14 application process, join us for an upcoming information session on August 20.

📅 Thursday, August 20, 2026
⏰ 6:00–7:00 PM
💻 Virtual: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89589801369?pwd=flaa234tiAD6SbIj1Q2QHuXPzUXoxK.1

Register here: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=Oz-bgnhBqU-SY-iGTz6_4Mj2tYHYv61IpzZ3gBXS77dUN1BaUzlQRE0xNDBVWElGVTRWTFExNElIUy4u&route=shorturl

08/12/2026

Connection to nature often begins with experience - exploring a trail for the first time, learning outdoors, or spending time in places that inspire curiosity, confidence, and care for the environment.

Organizations like Wild Society and Shadow Lake Nature Preserve are helping create those opportunities for young people and communities across our region through outdoor education, environmental stewardship, and place-based learning experiences rooted in the Pacific Northwest landscape.

By helping people build meaningful relationships with the natural world, this work also helps strengthen community connection, stewardship, and long-term care for the places we call home.

08/06/2026

For many farmers, access to land remains one of the biggest barriers to starting and sustaining long-term agricultural work. Extreme weather events can make those challenges even greater, disrupting farms, livelihoods, and local food systems.

Following December’s flooding, PNW BIPOC Farmland Trust provided support to farmers and agricultural communities navigating recovery efforts. This work reflects the Trust’s broader commitment to expanding equitable access to land and supporting Black, Indigenous, and other farmers of color across the region.

Supporting both immediate recovery and long-term land access helps strengthen a more resilient and equitable food system.

Read more about their mission at https://pnwbipocfarmlandtrust.org/

08/04/2026

What have you learned from the communities you're part of?

Jane's Fellowship is built on the belief that leadership grows through relationships, shared experiences, and a willingness to learn from one another. Each year, Fellows from across Pierce County come together to reflect, connect, and explore new ways of supporting their communities.
Interested in learning more?

Join us for an upcoming information session on August 12 and hear about the fellowship experience, application process, and what participants can expect.

📅 Wednesday, August 12, 2026
⏰ 4:00–5:00 PM
💻 Virtual: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84518817308?pwd=b5nTcpzHaK65R8493WQ1o1U0mK3bOo.1

Register here: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=Oz-bgnhBqU-SY-iGTz6_4Mj2tYHYv61IpzZ3gBXS77dUN1BaUzlQRE0xNDBVWElGVTRWTFExNElIUy4u&route=shorturl

07/29/2026

Environmental education doesn’t happen in one place.

It happens across ecosystems.
Across communities.
Across experiences on the water, in forests, in gardens, and beyond.

A shoreline.
A forest.
A garden.
A classroom without walls.

Each experience builds on the next shaping not just what young people know, but how they see their role in the world.

That’s where lasting impact begins.

07/23/2026

Thriving communities depend on more than access to housing, healthcare, and education--they also depend on equitable access to capital, land stewardship, and economic opportunity.

That’s why we’re proud to support the Northwest Native Development Fund and its work advancing Native-led economic and agricultural initiatives across the region. Investments like these help strengthen local food systems, support community self-determination, and create long-term pathways for resilience and growth.

Learn more about their work: https://thenndf.org/