Late civic leader C. David Hughbanks leaves estate and proceeds from $2M Ballard home to Seattle students

Meghan Walker Ballard

C. David Hughbanks, a prolific civic leader who passed away earlier this year, directed to have the proceeds from his estate and $2 million Ballard home distributed to Seattle education foundations.

Hughbanks passed away on July 18, 2023, at the age of 87. Along with a major role in coordinating the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair and helping found Bumbershoot and Folklife, Hughbanks served in more than 50 civic organizations.

The home (6214 37th Ave NW), built in 1931, is listed at $2,050,000. It has views of Puget Sound and sits on a private alley surrounded by gardens that Hughbanks designed.

Now, it’s been announced that his entire estate, including the upcoming sale of his historic family home and gardens in Sunset Hill, will be donated to the Seattle Schools Scholarship Fund and the Ballard High School Foundation.

The Seattle Schools Scholarship Fund provides three $5,000 scholarships per year to students from each of Seattle’s 17 public high schools to attend any institution of higher learning.

Michael DeBell, Chair of the Seattle Schools Scholarship Fund, said the vast majority of awardees are the first in their family to attend college.

“Their life stories are quite moving and our scholarship is often the first time in their lives that their community recognized them and opened the door to the ‘American Dream,'” DeBell said in a statement. “I can state definitively that his is the largest gift we have ever received and will provide tremendous new possibilities for the scholarship fund.”

Hughbanks founded the Ballard High School Foundation 25 years ago. The foundation focuses its work on improving the school and providing funding for school facilities and programs, scholarships for graduating students, and coaching to help struggling BHS students who are not otherwise on track to graduate.

“David was passionate about making sure we helped all kids who attended have a chance to succeed and thrive,” Dick Lee, co-founder and current executive director of BHSF said in a statement. “Many kids are going to have a better place in our society because of the generosity of C. David Hughbanks.”

Tours of the Hughbanks home can be arranged through Andrew and Maria Hafzalla, co-listing agents with Kelly Right Real Estate of Seattle & Hafzalla Real Estate.

Photos: Courtesty Hafzalla Real Estate