Ville Magazine l Insider Access for City Lifestyle Nov/Dec / Holiday Issue 2016 | Page 34

SPOTLIGHT ON

Seattle Angels
written by Charity Mainvile

"It only takes one person to change the world."
In Seattle, there is a strong network of those “one persons” dedicating their lives to make other lives better. Here at
Ville Magazine, we strive to do our part by supporting nonprofits and bringing awareness to make their dreams a
reality. If it were up to us, we would help every single organization striving to make a difference – maybe someday
we will. Until then, here are a few people we wanted to introduce.
SUZANNE GWYNN

Founder of Ladybug House

photo Will Austin

For more than 30 years, Suzanne Gwynn has been taking care of patients—newborns
to the elderly—as a critical care nurse. As she witnessed families spending their last
days with loved ones and saying their goodbyes, she saw the need for an end-of-life
care outside the hospital setting. That need turned into her vision for Ladybug House,
a national palliative care leader for children and young adults with life-limiting illnesses
that will inspire similar homes in cities and towns across the country.
In July 2013, she set forth to achieve her goal and hasn’t stopped. She has been working
hard to build a team, spread awareness, and raise funds in between working full time at
Swedish Hospital. Today, they have raised a fourth of the $500,000 needed to hire a staff
to dedicate full-time hours to get the important project up and running. In addition, they
are seeking a donation of 3 to 5 acres of land where they can build a 25,000-square-foot
home with 12 family suites where the entire family can be cared for.
Find out the story behind the name Ladybug House, learn more about their mission, and
donate at www.ladybughouse.org.

JESSICA REASY

Executive Director of Redeeming Soles; Owner of Clean for a Change; Founder of
Young Nonprofit Leaders Organization
Jessica Reasy is committed to helping those in Seattle in multiple ways by supporting
multiple organizations. Jessica owns and operates Clean for a Change, a commercial and
residential cleaning service where a portion of each hired job goes to one of five local
organizations based on the client’s choice. Supported charities included are Seattle’s
Union Gospel Mission, Angels for Angels, Sponsor A Senior, Knowledge as Power, and
Redeeming Soles.
Redeeming Soles provides proper footwear for the homeless and underprivileged
throughout the area where Jessica serves as the Executive Director. She has helped the
organization create a sustainable business model and expanded footwear distribution to
thousands of people in Greater Seattle region. When she’s not busy assisting Redeeming
Soles or running her company, she heads up Young Nonprofit Leaders Organization
(YNLO) that she founded. Here, nonprofit leaders and organizations come together to
help build the community.
You can book a cleaning through Clean for a Change at www.clean4change.com and find
where you can donate shoes to Redeeming Soles at www.redeemingsoles.org.
34 l VILLE l THE HOLIDAY ISSUE