Rick Steves launches $1M match challenge for Lynnwood Neighborhood Center

Published 4:28 pm Monday, July 7, 2025

EVERETT — Travel writer and local philanthropist Rick Steves is challenging the community to match his $1 million donation for the Lynnwood Neighborhood Center project.

Steves is the lead donor of the $26.5 million project, which has been more than 15 years in the making, Volunteers of America Western Washington spokesperson Joel Feldman said in a press release Monday. The center will house several community spaces with the goal of serving local needs by bringing nonprofits and community groups together, he said.

This fall, Volunteers of America plans to open the center on 196th Street next to Trinity Lutheran Church.

Trinity Lutheran Church donated the land, and Volunteers of America Western Washington will own and operate the 39,000-square-foot center. So far, nonprofit partners include Medical Teams International, Center for Human Services, Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County, Korean Community Service Center, Cocoon House and Latino Educational Training Institute.

“With my initial gift, I thought I was tapped out,” Steves said in the release. “But seeing our dream of a Lynnwood Neighborhood Center becoming a reality, I’m inspired to dig deeper with this $1 million extra gift to challenge my neighbors to join in. When it comes to bang for my philanthropic buck, there’s no better investment.”

Volunteers of America Western Washington is accepting donations online at voaww.org/lnc those interested can also mail checks to LNC c/o Volunteers of America Western Washington, PO Box 839, Everett WA 98206.

Correction: A previous headline associated with this story misstated the cost of the Lynnwood Neighborhood Center project as $64.5 million. The project costs $26.5 million.

Jenna Peterson: 425-339-3486; jenna.peterson@heraldnet.com; X: @jennarpetersonn.