Hazel Miller’s generosity lives on

South Snohomish County has much to be thankful for, and much of that has come from the forward-looking generosity of the late Hazel Miller.

Summer concerts and Fourth of July fireworks in Edmonds, a writing program at Scriber Lake High School, Shakespeare plays in a Lynnwood park, CPR training through the American Red Cross, and back-to-school basics grants for Edmonds School District teachers are just some of the many programs funded recently by the Hazel Miller Foundation.

Miller, a longtime Edmonds resident, was 93 when she died in 2009. A native of Williston, North Dakota, she did not grow up with wealth. Her fortune came through marriage, and working with her husband, Morris Miller, in business.

Morris Miller, who preceded her in death, had inherited the Seattle Quilt Company from his father. The Seattle business, on First Avenue S., was started as Miller’s Dry Goods in 1915. The Millers sold it and moved to Edmonds in the 1970s. Hazel Miller had no children.

“Hazel didn’t know what to do with her money — to a point of maybe throwing a dart at the telephone book to give it to people,” said Dick Ellis, who is on the seven-member Hazel Miller Foundation board of directors.

A friend of the couple who knew Hazel Miller for 60 years, Ellis said it was with the help of Edmonds attorney Leigh Bennett that the Hazel Miller Foundation was established.

“She really, really took to that,” Ellis said. “Living in Edmonds, she really enjoyed the community. That’s where she wanted most of the help to go, Edmonds and south Snohomish County.”

The Hazel Miller Foundation was established in 2010 with a $12 million endowment. “It’s a pretty sizable amount, and it’s going to grow,” Bennett said.

Miller set up the nonprofit to be much like the Hubbard Family Foundation, a charitable foundation established in the 1980s to enhance the quality of life in Edmonds and south Snohomish County. “That was the model Hazel really liked, with a board of seven to help ultimately determine how the money is to be distributed every year,” he said.

Approximately $500,000 is distributed each year in Hazel Miller Foundation grants, with the money supporting nonprofit organizations in five areas: education and youth, the alleviation of poverty and hunger, civic and community services and amenities, environment, and culture and the arts. Bennett said capital projects are a sixth area of emphasis.

“We try to have a balanced effect on our community,” he said. “We’re always looking at the most impact, the greatest amount of need.”

Board members include a school board member, a former school board member, and people with ties to parks and community volunteerism, Ellis and Bennett said.

The foundation board’s chairwoman is Renee McCrae, recreation manager for Edmonds Parks, Recreation &Cultural Services. On June 12, 2012, the Hazel Miller Plaza was dedicated as a small park at Fifth Avenue S. and Maple Street in downtown Edmonds. This summer, the plaza was the venue for concerts sponsored by the Edmonds Arts Commission and funded by the Hazel Miller Foundation.

“It’s an absolutely beautiful gathering place in downtown Edmonds,” McCrae said.

Education was close to Miller’s heart, Bennett said, and Edmonds School Board member Diana White is on the foundation board. The foundation funds $30,000 in scholarships each year, and a school district panel helps identify areas of greatest need, Bennett said.

“She really enjoyed helping people. That’s probably why the biggest percentage of our help goes out toward kids,” Ellis said.

With all she gave to the Edmonds area, Miller also made significant gifts to Seattle Children’s Hospital, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, the Millionair Club Charity that helps provide jobs to needy people in Seattle, and other charities.

“She had a very good life, and she wanted to give back,” Bennett said. “Hazel was so generous to do this. And boy, it’s going to help a zillion people.”

Learn more

The Hazel Miller Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation that awards about $500,000 in grants each year to charities and other nonprofit organizations in Edmonds and south Snohomish County. Information: www.hazelmillerfoundation.org or 206-667-0300.

Coming soon

This story is part of Snohomish County Gives, a special section highlighting the spirit of philanthropy in the county. Look for more stories on HeraldNet throughout the week and the full section in the print edition of The Herald on Sunday, Aug. 31.

Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460; jmuhlstein@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Traffic idles while waiting for the lights to change along 33rd Avenue West on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood seeks solutions to Costco traffic boondoggle

Let’s take a look at the troublesome intersection of 33rd Avenue W and 30th Place W, as Lynnwood weighs options for better traffic flow.

A memorial with small gifts surrounded a utility pole with a photograph of Ariel Garcia at the corner of Alpine Drive and Vesper Drive ion Wednesday, April 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Death of Everett boy, 4, spurs questions over lack of Amber Alert

Local police and court authorities were reluctant to address some key questions, when asked by a Daily Herald reporter this week.

The new Amazon fulfillment center under construction along 172nd Street NE in Arlington, just south of Arlington Municipal Airport. (Chuck Taylor / The Herald) 20210708
Frito-Lay leases massive building at Marysville business park

The company will move next door to Tesla and occupy a 300,0000-square-foot building at the Marysville business park.

Everett Fire Department and Everett Police on scene of a multiple vehicle collision with injuries in the 1400 block of 41st Street. (Photo provided by Everett Fire Department)
1 seriously injured in crash with box truck, semi truck in Everett

Police closed 41st Street between Rucker and Colby avenues on Wednesday afternoon, right before rush hour.

The Arlington Public Schools Administration Building is pictured on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in Arlington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
$2.5M deficit in Arlington schools could mean dozens of cut positions

The state funding model and inflation have led to Arlington’s money problems, school finance director Gina Zeutenhorst said Tuesday.

Lily Gladstone poses at the premiere of the Hulu miniseries "Under the Bridge" at the DGA Theatre, Monday, April 15, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Mountlake Terrace’s Lily Gladstone plays cop in Hulu’s ‘Under the Bridge’

The true-crime drama started streaming Wednesday. It’s Gladstone’s first part since her star turn in “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

Jesse L. Hartman (Photo provided by Everett Police Department)
Everett man who fled to Mexico given 22 years for fatal shooting

Jesse Hartman crashed into Wyatt Powell’s car and shot him to death. He fled but was arrested on the Mexican border.

Snow is visible along the top of Mount Pilchuck from bank of the Snohomish River on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Washington issues statewide drought declaration, including Snohomish County

Drought is declared when there is less than 75% of normal water supply and “there is the risk of undue hardship.”

Boeing Quality Engineer Sam Salehpour, right, takes his seat before testifying at a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs - Subcommittee on Investigations hearing to examine Boeing's broken safety culture with Ed Pierson, and Joe Jacobsen, right, on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Everett Boeing whistleblower: ‘They are putting out defective airplanes’

Dual Senate hearings Wednesday examined allegations of major safety failures at the aircraft maker.

An Alaska Airline plane lands at Paine Field Saturday on January 23, 2021. (Kevin Clark/The Herald)
Alaska Airlines back in the air after all flights grounded for an hour

Alaska Airlines flights, including those from Paine Field, were grounded Wednesday morning. The FAA lifted the ban around 9 a.m.

A Mukilteo firefighter waves out of a fire truck. (Photo provided by Mukilteo Fire Department)
EMS levy lift would increase tax bill $200 for average Mukilteo house

A measure rejected by voters in 2023 is back. “We’re getting further and further behind as we go through the days,” Fire Chief Glen Albright said.

An emergency overdose kit with naloxone located next to an emergency defibrillator at Mountain View student housing at Everett Community College on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
To combat fentanyl, Snohomish County trickles out cash to recovery groups

The latest dispersal, $77,800 in total, is a wafer-thin slice of the state’s $1.1 billion in opioid lawsuit settlements.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.