Our Story & Vision
Empowering Children, Transforming Communities
Our Mission
At the 47th Avenue Foundation, we are dedicated to empowering children and families in the greater Seattle area. We believe that transforming one life can spark a ripple effect, creating stronger and more connected communities.
Through partnerships with forward-thinking organizations, we champion proactive solutions to today’s challenges while fostering hope for a brighter tomorrow. Our mission is to set children on a path to success, equipping them to live their fullest, most vibrant lives.
With a lean and flexible approach, we value progress over perfection and prioritize building relationships rooted in curiosity, joy, and intentionality. Seattle is our home, and we are committed to creating lasting, meaningful change for generations to come.
Our funding pillars
Foundation Priorities
Education
We aim to advance equitable educational opportunities by supporting programs that foster academic, social-emotional, career readiness, and self-advocacy skills, empowering children to thrive in an ever-changing world.
Healthcare
Healthier children build healthier communities. We support organizations providing equitable access to medical care, therapies, and early interventions, ensuring every child can grow, thrive, and achieve a brighter future.
Child Wellbeing
To ensure family stability and child well-being by providing essential resources, reducing barriers to participation, and creating opportunities for all children to grow, thrive, and experience joy.
How 47th Ave Started
Our Story
Like so many stories, ours started in a garage. Upon graduating from Montana State University, Don and Phyllis Lindsey moved to Seattle. One afternoon while sitting in the Boeing lobby for a sales meeting, Don overhead some issues Boeing was having with a flange on the 727 airplane. He told Boeing he could make a superior product at a better price if they gave him a chance. When Boeing agreed, he went home and figured out how to do just that. Since that first flange, Don and Phyllis worked together for over four decades to build a successful aerospace manufacturing company. If you were to ask Phyllis why her company was successful, she would say it is the people. The people who worked with them, the members of their board who gave them great advice and their customers who trusted them with new opportunities.
It is in this spirit of innovation, partnership, and the power of possibility that the 47th Avenue Foundation was founded in 2019. We often say at the foundation that if we change one life because of our work then we have done our jobs. It is not lost on us that our ability to positively impact the children in our community is because of the incredible work our partners do each day. Our hope is to approach
Our family’s roots run deep in the Seattle community, and we are honored to have the opportunity to positively impact the next generation as they pursue their dreams.
The People Behind 47th Ave
Our Team
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Lindsey Wellmon
Co-founder & President
Lindsey is passionate about supporting children and families in the community she has been fortunate to call home for most of her life. With a background in operations management at an aerospace manufacturing firm, she brings a wealth of experience in optimizing processes and driving efficiency. Lindsey leverages this expertise to effectively support and collaborate with nonprofit partners, ensuring they can achieve their missions and make a lasting impact.
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Ozy Zebarjadi
Vice President of Operations
Ozy joined the 47th Avenue Foundation in October 2022 as a member of the senior leadership team. With over a decade of executive leadership experience in nonprofit healthcare, she has supported services across Primary Care, Pediatrics, and Surgical specialties. Ozy holds an MBA from Eastern Oregon University and is an active board member of Kindering and Hamlin Robinson School, driven by her passion for community service, family development, and fostering work-life balance for mothers.
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Lauren Bruck
Vice President of Strategy
Lauren, a Pacific Northwest native and University of Notre Dame graduate, is passionate about creating a more equitable future for children and families. With over a decade of experience in healthcare consulting, she is dedicated to fostering positive change and supporting initiatives that help communities thrive. As a proud board member of Boyer Children's Clinic, Lauren actively contributes to advancing services for children in need, aligning her professional expertise with her personal commitment to the community.
Our Guiding Principles