Jackson Foundation to fund UW chair

The Henry M. Jackson Foundation is honoring its chair, Helen Jackson, with a major gift in her honor to the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington.

The gift of $1 million will endow the Helen Jackson Chair in Human Rights.

The chair will be formally launched June 1 at the Jackson home in Everett. Present will be members of the Jackson family, UW President Mark Emmert and other dignitaries.

The endowment will create a position for a full-time professor who will teach and coordinate academic activities relating to human-rights issues.

"Helen in her own right has provided tremendous leadership, serving on hospital boards and playing a major role in many of the civic organizations in Snohomish County," said Lara Iglitzin, executive director of the foundation. "She has always opened her home for fundraisers and was often asked to speak and provide leadership."

Iglitzin said Jackson, 74, also has played an active role in board meetings, "carrying on the Jackson legacy in this area."

The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies is an interdisciplinary program with a faculty of more than 100. Based at the UW, it presents conferences, career workshops, speakers, training and other public events at several resource centers.

Over the years, the Jackson Foundation, founded in 1983, has offered $18 million in grants. More than $500,000 has been given to the Snohomish County community, to groups "in Helen's community and closer to home," said Iglitzin.

"That's where Helen's heart lay, supporting women and young people and helping them get ahead. She was a partner with Scoop [Henry M. Jackson's nickname] in many endeavors. She provided us with incredible leadership over the years.

"The Jackson School is a perfect place to link the two names, and the human-rights chair will be seen as a timely gift as study in human rights becomes more and more relevant," Iglitzin added.

Sen. Jackson, of Everett, became one of the more powerful members of Congress. In 1960 he was considered as a running mate by John F. Kennedy before Kennedy selected Lyndon Johnson.

Jackson twice ran for president himself. In 1972, he left the race early; in 1976, he lost the nomination to Jimmy Carter. Jackson died in 1983.

Diane Wright: 425-745-7815 or dwright@seattletimes.com