Seattle, WA-Juanita Garrison has accepted an appointment to the Development Committee of the Pacific Northwest Research Institute (PNRI, now PNDRI). Ms. Garrison has joined a distinguished group of community volunteers working to strengthen private support for the Institute's diabetes and cancer science.

Under the leadership of Dr. Paul Robertson, PNRI has undergone momentous growth in the past five years. Most of its current funding comes from federal, industry, and private research grants. The current challenge is to grow the Institute's endowment in order to recruit new scientists, fund new technology, support innovative research ideas, and provide operational support. The Development team has invited Garrison to help them communicate this challenge to the broader community.

Garrison has strong ties to the Northwest region and to PNRI's mission, as well as substantial experience in fundraising and philanthropy. She helped establish the Warren G. Magnuson Diabetic Research Fellowship, named after her father, the long-time Washington Senator who died of complications of diabetes. Schooled in Seattle, she has worked for KIRO TV, Senator Brock Adams, H.M.S.&Associates, and has campaigned for statewide political office as a candidate for Secretary of State. She has also developed three Latch Key programs and chaired the Board of Child Development Centers, a program used in Seattle Public Schools.

According to Stan Savage, President and CEO of Commerce Bank of Washington and Chair of PNRI's Development Committee, Ms. Garrison is a welcome addition to the Development Committee. "Juanita will bring great energy to our work. She will help us build private financial support for PNRI in important areas of the community we serve. And that will help us advance our scientific mission, to prevent and cure diabetes and cancer."