We are thrilled to announce that the Washington Women's Foundation selected NAAM as the grant recipient of their 2009 Arts and Culture pooled fund award and will receive an operating grant of $87,500 over the next three years. Of over 260 non-profit organizations that submitted letters of inquiry, NAAM is one of five award recipients.

The $87,500 foundation grant will provide general operating support for the museum, including funding for educational programming, exhibits and lectures. The mission of Washington Women's Foundation is to educate and expand the number of women engaged in philanthropy, and to build and strengthen community through individual and large impact grants. At the June 17 awards ceremony, WWF President Carla Lewis emphasized: "These five organizations are doing vital work in our community, and they are poised and ready to do more. We are honored to support their future endeavors with large impact grants funded by our members."

NAAM's award was introduced by Susie Tull, WWF member who presented NAAM's award with these compelling remarks:

Our institutions haven't always told all our stories, though. The recipient of this year's Arts & Culture grant is sharing the richness of Northwest African Americans' history. The Northwest African American Museum (NAAM) is telling their stories and providing a community meeting place for all of us to learn, enjoy and celebrate the historical and cultural diversity of our area.

At NAAM, the stories of African American journeys to the northwest - from the days of slavery right up to today - and their myriad contributions to our region are presented in dynamic, hands on exhibits. During our site visit, the exquisite display of quilts was a spellbinding example of how women can tell their stories with their hands and their hearts. The power of these stories touches us all.