The Blake Pottle Foundation presents a check for $75,000 to the Oncology team at Swedish Medical Center
As the Blake Pottle Foundation enters its fifth year, 2025 marked our strongest year of fundraising and community impact to date.
This milestone was reached with less than 3% direct corporate or business financial contributions and with a continued commitement to financial integrity and mission-first giving. We have room to grow!
We are proud to say we were able to present a donation of $75,000 to the oncology staff at Swedish Medical Center in 2025. This donation funded the Kubtec GammaPro, an advanced surgical imaging system used during cancer procedures, and supported massage therapy for patients. The presentation brought together physicians, oncology nurses, philanthropy staff, and BPF Board members in recognition of this shared commitment to patient care.
After covering fixed event costs, such as venue and t-shirts, 100% of remaining funds were reinvested directly into projects that support cancer patients, caregivers, and the doctors and nurses who care for them.
The Foundation operates with no salaries and no compensation for board members. In fact, many board members contribute generously, not only their time, but also personal financial support. Our race participants and individual donors remain the heart of our success.
In celebration of our fifth year, the Blake Pottle Foundation is proud to have returned $86,000 directly to the community in 2025, funding programs and resources that measurably improve cancer care and quality of life. Five years in, our mission remains clear:
To turn community-driven fundraising into meaningful, human-centered support for those affected by cancer.
As the Blake Pottle Foundation enters its 5th year, 2025 marked our strongest year of fundraising and community impact to date.
The Blake Pottle Foundation seeks out projects to fund that create a direct and measurable impact. We do not invest in general funds or pooled resources; instead, we prioritize funding specific projects where we can clearly see how our support advances our mission. Our focus is on community-driven programs that provide resources to support treating cancer patients, caregivers, and medical professionals by funding unique projects.
After covering fixed event costs, such as venue and t-shirts, 100% of remaining funds were reinvested directly into projects that support cancer patients, caregivers, and the doctors and nurses who care for them.
The Kubtec GammaPRO was funded by the Blake Pottle Foundation for use at Providence Swedish Issaquah to support cancer care within the surgical unit.
The GammaPRO® is a wireless gamma detection (gamma probe) system used in the operating room to help surgeons locate radioactive tracers placed in or near tumors or lymph nodes. It’s often used in procedures such as sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer, melanoma, parathyroid surgery, and other oncologic applications where precise localization of radiolabeled tissue matters.
As part of our commitment to supporting comfort and quality of life during cancer care, the Blake Pottle Foundation funded 189 massage therapy treatments at Providence Swedish in Issaquah.
This support helped make massage therapy available to patients as part of their overall care.Massage therapy can be very beneficial for cancer patients as a complementary approach, helping to relieve stress, reduce pain, and improve overall well-being. While it is not a treatment for cancer itself, it can provide meaningful comfort.
Key Benefits Impact Include:
In November 2025, the Blake Pottle Foundation supported a three-day cancer retreat hosted by Cancer Lifeline at Harmony Hill.
The retreat brought together people navigating cancer at different stages and with different diagnoses for several days together at Harmony Hill. The program was organized and facilitated by Cancer Lifeline as part of its ongoing retreat offerings.
"A cancer diagnosis has a huge impact on the patient and family. Cancer and the treatments for cancer can cause life changing mobility issues. Transferring patients can cause patients pain, guilt, and shame when the appropriate equipment is not available. It can also cause staff injury and a feeling of helplessness for the family. Having this ceiling lift available to our patients and staff would eliminate access and comfort issues felt by some of our patients which would allow them to focus on fighting and healing." We cannot thank the Blake Pottle Family enough!"
Cancer impacts every aspect of life, but moments of kindness can provide strength and hope.
The Blake Pottle Foundation’s Moments that Matter boxes offer thoughtful comfort to patients and families during their hardest days. These boxes include meaningful items such as blankets, handwritten notes, and small gifts designed to bring care and compassion.
They have brought joy to children, eased recovery for patients, and reminded caregivers that they are not alone.
Through this initiative, the Foundation honors both the person and the journey.
The Blake Pottle Cultural Icon Award is a prestigious recognition given to Slalom Seattle team members who go above and beyond in contributing to the organization and making a meaningful impact.
IN LOVING MEMORY
This award is named in loving memory of Blake Pottle, a beloved colleague and friend who passed away from cancer. It stands as a tribute to his legacy and unwavering commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others.
HONORING IMPACT AND SPIRIT
Recipients of this award embody Blake’s dedication to community, his generosity of spirit, and his passion for paying it forward—carrying on the values he championed and the impact he made throughout his life and career.
Lisa has contributed over 1,000 hours of extra time this year to support AI learning, communities, sales efforts, and offerings. She has been instrumental in driving enterprise AI pilot programs and enterprise AI learning communities, helping the entire team understand and use AI effectively. Her efforts have been key to keeping Slalom competitive in AI.
Lisa's tireless dedication has been crucial to moving Slalom forward. Her leadership in the learning campaign has fostered a culture of continuous learning across the office. Lisa’s ability to simplify complex concepts has accelerated learning, delivery, and growth for Slalom and its clients.
Her passion, collaboration, and commitment have been inspiring, making her a worthy nominee for the Blake Pottle Cultural Icon award.
"Joy has been instrumental to not only my success in my first year at Slalom, but also my sense of belonging by helping me feel welcomed and connected to our Slalom community. We initially met at my ranger, and since then the has introduced me to 20+ other connections based upon my role, career interests and opportunities, brought me into pro bono opportunities with Springboard8-HCO200, identified multiple engagements I would work on (Boeing, BMS, etc).
Beyond all of this, Joy has been a true friend, listening when I needed a sounding board, offering guidance when I wanted to evaluate options, and shared my passion for a great meal! Joy is an exemplary member of Slalom who lives our values, bringing the best of out of our people, and delivering for our clients."
-Slalom colleague
Colon Cancer Stars is a Washington-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing colorectal cancer mortality through education, awareness, and patient support.
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common and deadly cancers in the United States.
It is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men and women combined. Each year, more than 150,000 people are diagnosed, and over 50,000 lives are lost to the disease.
Most alarming is the rapid rise in colorectal cancer among younger adults: diagnoses in people under age 50 have been increasing steadily, often detected at advanced stages due to lack of early screening.
Financial Realities of Cancer
The financial realities of cancer affect far more than the patient alone. Families and friends who step forward to help with treatment and care often experience significant hardship as well.
Equally important—and often overlooked—is the emotional toll: burnout, exhaustion, and sustained stress experienced by caregivers and even healthcare providers who support patients through prolonged and intensive treatment.
