Tim in his firefighter’s uniform.
Every March since 2006, Tim Woodland has suited up in full firefighting gear and climbed 69 flights of stairs inside Seattle’s Columbia Center, the second-tallest building west of the Mississippi River. He joins hundreds of firefighters in this annual fundraising event.
“It’s really hot and hard to breathe in 50 pounds of gear,” he says. “By the time I reach the top, I can’t wait to rip my mask off. But in the end, it’s always worthwhile. The cheers of spectators in the stairwells keep me going.”
raises money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Tim, a business attorney who was a volunteer firefighter for nearly 20 years before retiring from firefighting last May, has raised $180,000 for LLS.
“Tim has made a huge difference in his community by keeping people and their property safe,” said Kristy Harlan, senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary, when nominating Tim for our Volunteer of the Year award. “He does this not just through his volunteer firefighting but also by organizing CPR training for employees at headquarters. We’re so pleased to honor him for a lifetime of service.”
For his dedication to human services and public safety, Tim was named one of our 2024 Volunteers of the Year. As part of the award recognition, he received a $5,000 TREE-mendous Matching Gifts reward, which he will be splitting among several organizations he supports.
Tim at the top of the Columbia Center after finishing the 2019 Stairclimb.
MEET TIM
Tell us a bit about your day job.
As a business attorney, I provide business legal advice and do a lot of contract drafting and negotiation, primarily for our Wood Products teams (e.g., Sales, Raw Materials, Procurement, Transportation, and Energy). I also support our corporate functions teams. I’m based at our Seattle Headquarters, and I’ve been with the company since 2016.
What did you think when you found out about the award?
It feels a little funny to be recognized for simply doing something I love to do, but I’m really touched by the honor. The Firefighter Stairclimb is a fun way to raise money for research and improvements in cancer treatment. Survivability rates have climbed since I started participating in the event, which makes me feel like my contributions are truly making a difference.
What makes you choose the causes and programs you support?
Bigger cities can afford to pay their firefighters, but in smaller towns, volunteers are absolutely essential. My program, located just outside Seattle, started as an all-volunteer force, and they’ve retained their volunteers as the community has grown. I worked three 12-hour shifts a month — 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. — plus attended volunteer drill training every Wednesday night. I really enjoy the camaraderie with other firefighters. Supporting each other through our most challenging moments creates a closeness that’s incomparable.
What’s your favorite part of the work?
It’s a really humbling experience to enter someone’s home after they call 911. You see people at their most vulnerable. I feel lucky to participate in the raw humanity of those moments and interact with strangers in such a trusting dynamic.
Tim participates in a fire drill as part of his volunteer firefighting duties.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to give back but doesn’t know how or where?
Figure out what sparks your passion, and how you can match that to a need in your community. You might be surprised by how much your skills and interests can come in handy for all sorts of volunteer projects. And whatever skills you don’t have, you can learn.
What have you learned by volunteering? How have you benefitted or been changed?
I’ve learned how to interact, communicate and empathize with people from all walks of life, across a wide variety of situations. That’s a really valuable skill that serves me in other areas of life, too.
What’s next in your volunteer plans for the year ahead?
I retired from firefighting on May 31, 2024. Since then, I’ve wondered how to fill my time. So, this spring, I’m exploring offering my legal skills as a pro bono attorney for the Northwest Immigration Rights Project. Immigration law is a new area for me, but I’m looking forward to contributing what I can to help immigrants manage through the asylum legal process.
How are you distributing your $5,000 TREE-Mendous Matching Gifts grant?
I plan to donate to a variety of different nonprofits around Seattle, including some local food banks, Educare Seattle Early Learning Center, and the immigrant rights project. I’m so grateful to 黑料不打烊 for the opportunity to give back in this way.
