About Us
The Market Foundation was established in 1982 and has been serving the Market and the downtown Seattle community ever since.
History
The Market Foundation was established in 1982 to support the Market's services for low-income people, including the Pike Market Medical Clinic, the Pike Market Senior Center, the Pike Market Child Care & Preschool and the Downtown Food Bank. Thanks to the continued support of our donors, the Market Foundation can help fund these human-service agencies and keep the Market community strong.
Mascot
Rachel, our life-size bronze piggy bank, is the Market's most famous resident and also one of its best fundraisers. She's been "bringing home the bacon" since the Market's 79th birthday in 1986, when the Market Foundation decided that a piggy bank could help raise money for the community.
Rachel was created by Georgia Gerber, a sculptor living on Whidbey Island, Washington. Rachel weighs in at 550 pounds and was named after a real 750-pound pig of the same name, the 1985 winner of the Island County Fair.
Legend has it that if you rub Rachel's snout and make a donation, you'll have good luck. In that case, Rachel's brought good luck to visitors from across the United States, Canada, Mexico, South America, Europe, Asia and the rest of the world!
