The West Seattle Grand Parade is thrilled to announce its 2025 honorees—community champions whose dedication, heart, and service have made a lasting impact on our neighborhood and beyond.

Lou Cutler Named Grand Marshal
Longtime West Seattle educator and beloved Make-A-Wish volunteer Lou Cutler has been named the Grand Marshal of the 2025 West Seattle Grand Parade. A former physical education teacher at Pathfinder K-8, Lou is best known for creating “Laps with Lou”—an annual birthday tradition that became a powerful fundraiser for Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington.

Since 2003, Lou has walked or run one lap for every year of his age, raising more than $100,000 to grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. With more than 275 wishes granted as a volunteer, Lou’s commitment has touched hundreds of lives and inspired an entire community.

“It is the honor of a lifetime to be selected as Grand Marshal,” Lou shared. “For many years, my Pathfinder Unicycle team rode in this Parade—we always loved the energy of the crowd. Nothing beats the community spirit and pride that West Seattle residents display. Being Grand Marshal makes my millennium!”

Lou will lead the parade down California Avenue SW on Saturday, July 19th, 2025, beginning at 11am from California Ave SW and SW Lander Street.

Orville Rummel Community Service Award: Dan and Joanie Jacobs

This year’s Orville Rummel Community Service Award honors Dan and Joanie Jacobs, a dynamic duo known for their lifelong dedication to community-building in West Seattle. Describing themselves as “neighborhood people at the core of our being,” the Jacobs are tireless volunteers, event organizers, and connectors.

From their early years supporting West Seattle Christian Church and launching the Ginomai artist space and West Seattle Art Walk, to their more recent roles with the Admiral Neighborhood Association, the Jacobs have helped bring to life countless neighborhood events including the AMP Summer Music Series, Admiral Block Party, 4th of July Kids Parade, Halloween Trick-or-Treating, and Winter Wonderland.

Their leadership, creativity, and compassion have shaped West Seattle’s civic and cultural identity for more than two decades.

Dan & Joanie Jacobs are fond of this quote by Mother Teresa: “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”

Join us on Saturday, July 19th to celebrate all three of these extraordinary West Seattle leaders and to watch the 2025 West Seattle Grand Parade which kicks off at 11:00am from California Ave SW and SW Lander Street.