PULLMAN, Wash. — Douglas T. Picha, founding executive director of both the Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Children’s Hospital Guild Association, has received the Alumni Achievement Award from Washington State University. He was recognized Nov. 23 at the Apple Cup rally in the Compton Union Building.
The 1974 WSU graduate in history has overall responsibility for planning, managing and directing a comprehensive effort to attract volunteers and private financial support for Children’s Hospital in Seattle. Gifts in fiscal 2000-2001 totalled more than $36 million. With some 486 guilds and 8,400 volunteer members, the Guild Association is the largest hospital auxiliary in the United States.
The Children’s Hospital Foundation has been listed among The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s top 400 fund raising organization in the country since the listing began in 1991.
Picha began his career at Children’s Hospital in 1980 as director of community relations. He is a member of the national Society of Fund Raising Executives (NSFRE), a current member and past president of the Northwest Development Officers Association (NDOA), and the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP). In 1989 he was selected NDOA Development Officer of the Year. The foundation Picha oversees received the national “Excellence in Fund Raising Award” from NSFRE in 1997.
He is a Certified Fund Raising Executive, and for five years taught a course on Managing Non-Profit Organizations through the University of Washington’s Business Extension School.
The executive director of the Children’s Hospital Foundation is active in the Seattle Rotary Club, and is a member of the Board of Governors of the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN), representing more than 150 hospitals in North America.
He and his wife Cassie live on Bainbridge Island, where he volunteers in the school district and is active in various youth activities. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity at WSU.
