The purpose of the Endowment is to honor a Northwest writer of notable talent, preferably on an annual basis. The fellowship will include a one-time monetary award.

Maxine Cushing Gray was a prominent Northwest critic and editor for nearly 40 years. The Fund was established in 1985 (at the Seattle Foundation ) to honor her wide-ranging contributions and to recognize future generations of established writers of exceptional merit.
Gray worked tirelessly to see that all artists, as well as writers, were given just recognition and financial compensation for their work.
As a music and dance critic for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and Argus, and founding editor/publisher of Northwest Arts, she not only nurtured the development of artists in the Northwest, but often acted as their conscience.
She sought to keep all public bodies accountable and was an advocate for artists seeking an individual voice. She set standards of criticism, fought acceptance of the mediocre and encouraged the young.

Her extensive papers reside at the University Libraries.

Founding members of the Endowment are R.M. Campbell, Meade Emory and Judith A. Whetzel.

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