Tacoma Parks Foundation

In This Issue:



• Summer by the Numbers
• TPF Welcomes New Board Representation
• Shinto Shrine Arrival

Summer by the Numbers

Summer camps have come to an end and what an incredible summer it was!

Because of your generosity, every child who wanted to attend a Parks Tacoma camp this summer was able to do so. Together, we raised $95,000 toward summer camp scholarships, helping ensure that cost wasn't a barrier for children and families who needed financial assistance to participate.

This incredible support included $75,000 from three generous local foundation partners, along with nearly $20,000 raised by individual donors in just four short weeks.

We set out with an ambitious goal of raising $100,000 and our community showed up in an extraordinary way. Your support gave working families access to more than just summer camp. It provided stability, connection, new experiences, and a place for kids to belong all summer long.

These numbers represent thousands of individual moments: a child trying something new, a teen finding a place to belong, a family receiving a little extra support, or a young person discovering confidence they didn't know they had.

Thank you for making this summer possible, and for helping create a community where every young person has opportunities to play, grow, connect, and belong.

New Shinto Shrine Coming This October

For more than 65 years, Tacoma’s Sister City partnership with Kitakyushu, Japan, has reflected the power of cultural exchange, friendship, and connection across generations. A cherished symbol of that relationship is the Japanese Garden at Point Defiance Park, home to the original shrine and torii gate gifted by Kitakyushu.

This fall, a new chapter in that friendship arrives in Tacoma.

A newly carved Shinto shrine, handcrafted in Kitakyushu by master artisan Noritake Kondo, will soon make its home at Point Defiance Park. Mr. Kondo comes from a family of craftspeople who have created traditional Japanese shrines for generations, bringing extraordinary skill and tradition to this meaningful project.

In early October, Tacoma Parks Foundation will celebrate the shrine’s arrival with a special dedication ceremony, and we are honored that Mr. Kondo will travel from Japan to Tacoma to take part in the celebration.

Following the dedication, the shrine will be on display at the Pagoda at Point Defiance Park, giving community members an opportunity to visit, experience the craftsmanship up close, and learn more about the cultural significance of the shrine and the enduring friendship between Tacoma and Kitakyushu.

The new shrine will ultimately replace the original shrine, which has weathered more than three decades of Pacific Northwest seasons. Its arrival represents much more than a new structure in the Japanese Garden. It is a continuation of a shared story, honoring the past while carrying this remarkable international friendship forward for future generations.



We look forward to welcoming the shrine, and Mr. Kondo, to Tacoma this October.

TPF Welcomes New Board Representation

TPF Directors

Malachi Cabera he/him

Development Coordinator, Palmer Scholars

Malachi is a South End Tacoma resident and community connector who values the way parks and shared outdoor spaces bring people together and create a sense of belonging. As Development Coordinator at Palmer Scholars, he builds relationships and connects young people to opportunities that support their path toward meaningful careers.



Birud Jhaveri he/him

Director, Regulatory Affairs, Puget Sound Energy



Birud brings nearly three decades of executive leadership, corporate strategy, and governance experience to the Foundation Board, where he supports the Foundation’s long-term fiscal sustainability and strategic growth. A longtime Pacific Northwest resident, he is passionate about advancing Tacoma’s “City in a Park” vision and ensuring vibrant, accessible parks and recreation opportunities for the entire community.

Parks Tacoma Representation on the TPF Board

Matt Mauer he/him

Parks Tacoma Commissioner Liaison to the Tacoma Parks Foundation Board of Directors

The Foundation welcomed Matt as the new TPF Commissioner Liaison in July. Matt is the President of the Parks Tacoma Board of Park Commissioners and has more than a decade of experience building partnerships across government, nonprofit, and community organizations. Matt is passionate about strengthening the connection between philanthropy and Parks Tacoma to ensure all Tacoma residents have access to welcoming parks, recreation, and opportunities to connect with nature.

George Schaaf he/him

Parks Tacoma Staff Liaison to the Tacoma Parks Foundation Board of Directors

George is the Director of Parks & Recreation for Parks Tacoma. He joins us with an impressive background in parks and recreation leadership, bringing a wealth of experience and a passion for community engagement, environmental stewardship, policy development, innovative tourism and program management.

Do you have a Passion for Parks?

TPF is actively recruiting new board members. Are you interested in investing your time and talent to energizing TPF's mission and vision? We are looking for people with HR experience, fundraising passion or experience, and residents from the Eastside. Please click the link below to learn more.

Thank You Commissioner Smith!

Andrea Smith she/her

Former Parks Tacoma Commissioner Liaison to the Tacoma Parks Foundation Board of Directors



The Tacoma Parks Foundation thanked Commissioner Smith at our July Board Meeting for her many years of service to the Parks District and TPF. Andrea served as the Foundation's Parks Tacoma Commissioner Liaison for more than a decade, and rolled off in June to focus on her Commissioner responsibilities and life as a new retiree after an esteemed career in banking. Andrea was integral at the start of the Tacoma Parks Foundation and has been a long-time supporter and champion of the mission.

We are so grateful for Andrea's dedication and service to TPF.

The mission of the Tacoma Parks Foundation is to cultivate a community invested in providing parks and recreation access for all.

www.tacomaparksfoundation.org