Supporting student-athletes is a family affair for the Washburns
Generations of Huskies made an impact on the lives of Alex and Erika Washburn. Now, the couple is paying it forward for future generations.
More than a dozen of the Washburns’ relatives attended the UW. Erika’s Husky roots go back to her great grandfather, who founded Novelty Ironworks that crafted the original steel doors to the Suzzallo Library. Alex’s grandfather rowed for Washington and his father directed admissions for 35 years.
“It’s in our blood,” says Alex, who ran in fraternity charity relays from Seattle to Pasadena for the 1991 and 1992 Rose Bowls before graduating with a degree in finance. Today, he is managing partner and co-founder (with three other Huskies) of Columbia Pacific Advisors and Columbia Pacific Wealth Management.
Erika, who earned a degree in environmental planning and rowed for the women’s novice crew team, remembers the Athletic Department as “an anything-is-possible kind of place.” She and Alex cross their fingers that their two kids will one
day be Huskies, too.
Today, Alex is vice-chair of the Tyee Board of Advisors, the couple has supported scholarship funds and they have season tickets for basketball and football.
“Having experienced the UW as a student-athlete, I understand how important it is to feel supported with the resources you need to excel in athletics and academics,” says Erika.
“We believe that empowering young men and women to fulfill their potential on the field and in the classroom gives the University increased capacity to provide a spirited and dynamic educational experience. It’s an investment
worth making.”
When the Game Changer Campaign for Husky Athletics was launched, they stepped up to endow a scholarship for Men’s Golf and also made a generous contribution to The Competitive Edge Fund.
“It’s all about supporting the student-athletes,” Alex explains. “The Competitive Edge Fund provides the flexibility the Athletic Department needs to keep up the optimism and energy we all feel today about the UW’s athletic programs. We have the right kids, the right coaches, the right leadership. We are hitting our stride once again.”
