Each year, Seattle Children’s hospital recognizes a financial advisor as a “Champion for Children’s,” for outstanding work as a volunteer, outreach partner, supporter of advances in pediatric medicine, and advocate of philanthropic planning. We are proud to announce that on Monday, September 17, this special award – 2018 Champion for Children’s – went to Jeanne Goussev, Managing Director of Fiduciary Services at Laird Norton Wealth Management.

“Jeanne has been a valuable volunteer, partner and supporter ever since she started her relationship with Seattle Children’s more than eight years ago,” said Andrew Welch, Vice President of Seattle Children’s Foundation, at the awards ceremony. “As a Legacy Advisor since 2009, Jeanne has helped us strategize on our charitable planning outreach efforts, she has introduced friends and associates to Children’s, and she has helped orient Advisors and friends about our mission. “

Andrew added: “Jeanne is brilliant in her own laid back, sophisticated and elegant way. Anyone who knows her would agree with me.” He also pointed out that this past June, Jeanne and her all-women sailing crew made history by winning the 750 mile Race to Alaska.

In photo, pictured from left to right: Dr. Wally Krengel (Seattle Children’s Chief of Spine Surgery); Michele Smith (Seattle Children’s Hospital Board of Trustee); Jeanne Goussev (LNWM); Andrew Welch (Vice President, Seattle Children’s Foundation); Doug Picha (President, Seattle Children’s Foundation).

Below are excerpts from Jeanne’s acceptance speech:

“Thank you so much to Seattle Children’s Legacy Advisors for this incredible honor. Thank you to all of those in the room who love this hospital as I do and are a part of the Legacy Advisors.

Medicine is in my blood. I am the daughter of a surgeon from New York and grew up thinking I will be a doctor. But then, I found my career as a trust officer, shepherding the beautiful and sometimes complicated stories and legacies of families.

Seattle Children’s has drawn me in since the day our daughter became very ill at the age of two and we didn’t know why. Checking into Children’s for the first time, she was handed a small beanie baby, and as a terrified parent I saw her smile and I breathed. Her life changed: she was diagnosed her with eosinophilic gastritis brought on by a life-threatening allergy to milk and beef. Not infrequently, we would have to rush her to Children’s, and I would hold her for hours until her swollen face became peaceful again and her breathing normalized.

Each day, parents come into Children’s waiting rooms holding the small hand of their most precious person. Each day, there is work for us to do to ensure they will have a well-researched solution presented by a compassionate and wise doctor, that their care will be paid for if they cannot afford it, and that there will be a cure.

To accomplish all this it takes a tremendous amount of teamwork. The power of a team coming together — with a common purpose, a passion for the process, balance between those with experience and learners who can ask the hard questions — is unstoppable. Supporting the health and wellbeing of all children in our region and providing life-giving treatments around the world is a worthy and lofty common goal. Parents need the hope and kids need the cure.

Seattle Children’s needs more warriors and super heroes. So, dream bigger than what you think is possible. Be brave. Take the first step, the hardest step. It starts with yes.”