Recognizing Grace Nordhoff's Legacy

Floor Speech

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Ms. JAYAPAL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Grace Nordhoff and her service to the writers, readers, and creative minds of the Pacific Northwest. Grace grew up in the Seattle area. She attended college and lived in North Carolina for 25 years. During her time in North Carolina, Grace worked on the publishing staff of an alternative newspaper, earned her Master of Social Work and founded a bakery cafe. Since moving back to Seattle, Grace has been involved in her family's legacy business, the Skinner Corporation. She has also been a dedicated volunteer with the Seattle Public Library where she worked at the Central Library's welcome desk.

Grace has spent decades championing literary causes. She served on the boards of the Durham Library Foundation, The Seattle Public Library Foundation and Hedgebrook. Grace has also served on the board and been a critical leader in ensuring the success of Hedgebrook, a literary nonprofit working to support visionary women writers whose stories and ideas shape our culture now and for generations to come. Hedgebrook, founded by Nancy Nordhoff (Grace's mother), has been the home to a host of storied women writers, offering a space of solace, welcome and nurturing for women to make their voices heard. Over the years, Hedgebrook has welcome a range of women writers, from Gloria Steinem to V Ensler to Naomi Shihab Nye and Sarah Ladipo Manyika.

Hedgebrook benefited immensely from Grace's dedication. Grace served on the Board for 15 years where she offered transformational guidance in organizational development. She played a pivotal role in the strategic planning process and helped to lead the Sustainability Campaign to renew the retreat. During her tenure. Hedgebrook's annual budget increased from $600,000 to $1.7 million, transitioned from a private foundation to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, created its annual fundraiser ``Equivox'' and expanded its donor base across the country.

Grace and her family have personified Seattle philanthropy. She has been a dedicated supporter of women's voices in the arts, literature, politics and education. Our region has greatly benefited from Grace's dedication to supporting her community.

On behalf of Washington's 7th Congressional District, I would like to commend Grace Nordhoff's work and her many accomplishments in service to literary causes and the Pacific Northwest.

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