Community Service Award Winner-Rick Friedhoff, '67
At Seattle University, students
are tasked with finding their vocation, something that they feel called to do.
This is not always what students expect it will be. Our Community Service Award
winner this year, Rick Friedhoff,
had just such an experience.
Friedhoff graduated with a BS
in commercial science from Albers in 1967. He returned to Seattle University 17
years ago to complete his MAPS degree, but after a year of STM courses he felt
drawn to a different path. He left the MAPS program and his successful law
practice to become Executive Director at the Compass Housing Alliance.
Since 1920, Compass Housing Alliance as provided much needed food, shelter and
support for the homeless community of Seattle. When Friedhoff joined Compass it
was still housed in the same tired old building from the 1920s. He saw the good
being done, and he also saw the needs that still needed to be met. He became
inspired to help Compass reach its full potential and meet the needs of
vulnerable who relied on its services.
With his legal skills, Friedhoff increased the number of facilities
serving the homeless all under the Compass Housing Alliance umbrella. According
to the organization, “Under Friedhoff’s leadership,
the 100 year old building at 77 South Washington became the foundation on which
Compass ushered in a new era of growth and a fresh approach to battling
homelessness in King County. Thanks to
his vision, Compass Housing Alliance now serves a
broad spectrum of individuals and families struggling with homelessness and
poverty, offering a range of services from meeting basic, immediate needs to
attaining permanent stability.”
Now, after 16 years as the executive
director, Friedhoff is retiring. He has led Compass through earthquakes,
mergers, rebuilding and economic uncertainty and his dedication to the cause
never wavered. He embodies the commitment of the Jesuit focus of providing for
those less fortunate, and it is for that reason we are happy to honor him this
year.
Register for the Alumni Awards Celebration today!