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Rick Steves Fund
Thriving Communities

Thriving Communities

In towns and cities across Europe, the piazza is more than a place. It's where daily life unfolds. Kids play, merchants hawk their wares, neighbors stop to chat. It's the community living room where neighbors come together to debate, celebrate, and rest…where citizens know what's going on and look out for each other…where children learn to ride their bike, where their grandparents savor their golden years, and where those in the middle comfort, cheer, and support each other in holding it all together.

This is not uniquely European. For centuries, communities around the world have depended on shared public spaces like this. Markets, town squares, and main streets are where people meet, exchange news, and stay connected.

That kind of vibrant public life doesn't just happen. It depends on the everyday supports that keep a community going — the services people count on and the institutions they trust. Without ongoing investment, these institutions can weaken, disappear, or lose the independence that makes them valuable. In an age of unprecedented isolation, the healthy piazza inoculates us from forces that would capitalize on our alone-ness.

A neighborhood center where someone can get help or lend a hand. A local, independent newspaper that keeps us informed. Arts organizations that bring people together to learn, experience, and see the world in new ways.

We support the people, places, and local institutions that help communities function, connect, and come to life.

rick-steves-wearing-a-hard-hat

Lynnwood Neighborhood Center

Rather than developing or selling land he had owned for years, Rick donated it to his church and began exploring how it could best serve the community. The Lynnwood Neighborhood Center is the result: a central hub of services where neighbors of all ages and backgrounds come to connect, learn new skills, and build community. Rather than having to visit multiple organizations in different locations, people can find a wide range of services, programs, and gathering spaces under one roof.

three musicians

Edmonds Center for the Arts

We've supported the Edmonds Center for the Arts (ECA) for decades because it's a beloved part of Edmonds' civic and cultural life. Housed in a historic 1930's concert hall that once served the town's high school (Rick attended classes there), it gives local groups like the Cascade Symphony Orchestra a dependable stage and brings a steady mix of performances and community events into the heart of town.

two ladies sitting together

Edmonds Waterfront Center

This multi-generational gathering place — located where the land hits the sea with views of the ferries and the mountains — provides affordable wellness services, meeting space, and a busy schedule of classes and activities. Inspired in part by the joy his own parents found at the creaky senior center this one replaced, Rick was one of the project's earliest supporters. Like the piazzas he's long admired in Europe, the Waterfront Center serves as a welcoming place where all can participate in community life…and "all" means all.

rick speaking at town hall sseattle

Town Hall Seattle

Town Hall brings people together to explore ideas through conversations, lectures, performances, and civic dialogue. We support Town Hall because we believe healthy communities depend not only on places to gather, but also on opportunities to hear other perspectives, ask difficult questions, and engage across differences. At a time when disagreement too often becomes division, Town Hall provides a space for curiosity and thoughtful exchange. Its commitment to affordable, sliding-scale pricing helps keep these conversations and experiences accessible to more people. (Photo: Dan DeLong)