Councilmember von Reichbauer awards Martin Luther King Jr. Medal of Distinguished Service to Catherine Carlile

June 6, 2023

King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer on Tuesday awarded Catherine Carlile with the Martin Luther King Jr. Medal of Distinguished Service, an award that recognizes individuals whose work has answered the question asked by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “What are you doing for others?” 

Catherine Carlile has responded to Dr. King’s question, “What are you doing for others?” through her leadership at the Looking Out Foundation, which supports social justice and humanitarian causes across the United States and globally, including the promotion of LGTBQ+ rights, global maternal health and reproductive rights, and raising funds to help disaster-stricken communities recover from devastating natural events.

The foundation’s most recent campaigns include raising over $300,000 in seven days for earthquake victims in Syria and Turkey, as well as raising over $500,000 for LGBTQ+ communities as part of Nashville’s Love Rising benefit.

Named as one of People Magazine’s 2023 Women Changing the World, Catherine also serves as Creative Director for Phantom 309 Productions and co-hosts the “Somewhere Over the Radio” show on SiriusXM, celebrating LGBTQ+ Artists and Allies. Prior to her current work, Catherine worked with Sir Paul McCartney in coordinating his charitable interests and endeavors.

"Despite their international work and success, Catherine and her family have chosen to make South King County their home,” von Reichbauer said. “Although Catherine retains her British accent, she has adopted the Northwest value of looking back and giving back.”

This marks the eighth year that councilmembers have each selected someone from their district whose work embodies the spirit of King’s question.