Rainn Wilson put on one heck of a show to benefit the MONA Foundation. Complete with a marriage proposal, Phoenix Jones, Mindy Kaling and Colin Meloy performing. Check out the shots we captured from the evening and bank on being at next year's event. more ›

The Fremont Abbey is hosting a unique experience tonight and you will be missing a one-of-a-kind concert by not attending. Thirteen bands, one stage, one night. It's bound to be eclectic, beautiful and fun. more ›

Welcome to the Dress Code, where we celebrate, critique, commend and (on occasion) condemn fashion trends, shows, designers, boutiques, events and everything in between. From the couturiers and costumers to the retail clothiers and quirky DIY crafters, fashion--good and bad--is everywhere. The Dress Code is where we wear our hearts on our sleeves and write about it all. more ›

Join Seattle Net Tuesday tonight for another fun-filled social mixer. From 6-9 p.m. Tap House Grill in Bellevue will be filled with some of the area’s top mobile technology specialists. This “speed dating” event will help local nonprofits connect with tech savvy volunteers. more ›

On the heels of this year’s State of Volunteering in America report, which ranks Seattle as #4 in average volunteer rates for large cities, Seattle-based One Day’s Wages seeks to tap into that goodwill by raising funds through selling a fundraising album. Today, the local nonprofit organization, which describes itself as “an international grassroots movement dedicated to ending extreme global poverty,” has announced the release of 21-song compilation, Songs for a Cause, Vol. 1, which features 21 local and national musicians. more ›

33 people gathered at Tap House Grill in Bellevue last night for Seattle Net Tuesday’s Tech Volunteer & Non-profit Mixer. The crowd included a variety of local computer programmers, testers and IT support specialists. First time attendee, software tester Paul Wirsing came out because he was “curious and wanted to see what opportunities are available to help.” Representatives from non-profits like Olive Crest, KITH and Girls in Tech were also present to share their needs with these tech savvy volunteers. more ›

A Child Writes, the latest social media site to hit the web, is scheduled to launch today. Geared specifically towards children, the mission of the site is to provide a safe environment for kids to learn about important causes. It’s free to join and no personal contact information or details are ever made public. Kids simply enter a username, birth date, gender and brief bio. From there, they can participate in moderated “online parties” with others in their age group. Each party will feature a specific topic that incorporates age appropriate games and prizes. Members can also browse the profiles of those with similar hobbies and get matched with an online Pen Pal. Each month the site will feature one organization or cause. A Child Writes will then encourage members to get involved by making cards, craft projects or coloring pictures to send to those affected by the issue. For each contribution, participants will be entered to win one of three monthly prizes. April’s featured cause is Autism Awareness. more ›

Flash Volunteer is a website run by the local non-profit of the same name. The user-friendly online portal encourages volunteering by sharing opportunities in your neighborhood. Now, they’ve made it even easier with a free iPhone App, ideal for the busy Seattleite on-the-go. The Flash Volunteer App locates users in King and Pierce counties using the iPhone’s GPS capabilities. It then supplies a list of local community service projects in your area. After signing up for an event, participants may use the service to connect with managers and other volunteers on that project. Executive Director Brad Wilke hopes this will be “the first step in building a real-time volunteer network.” This platform is a great resource for non-profits as it allows them to recruit the help they need, even on short notice. Be sure to check it out to learn how you can get involved in your community. more ›

Having volunteered for nearly four years, Kemner has witnessed countless success stories including that of an 11-year-old cat whose owner had planned to euthanize her. Purrfect Pals stepped in, saving the cat's life and finding it a fantastic new home. Kemner believes volunteering is important because it allows you to give back to your community. "I would encourage everyone out there to volunteer, whether it's with Purrfect Pals or another organization, giving yourself to a good cause feels so great!" If you would like to get involved you may volunteer at one of the many local PetSmart or PetCo Adoption Centers as well as at the main shelter in Arlington. Financial contributions as well as donations of supplies like cat food and blankets are also greatly appreciated. more ›

TOP BRASS: The Rebirth Brass Band hails from New Orleans, and we're told by someone in the know that "they put on the most fun live show you will ever see in your life. EVAR." The 9-member ensemble features a trio of trumpets, two trombones, a saxophone, a tuba, a snare drum, and a bass drum. They're the only band on the bill and they're "playing all night"--which may not be hyperbole--so prepare to get brassed out. more ›

Warning: First-person singular follows. more ›

It is the kind of event for which cliche sayings like "it's the end of an era" were made. Today is Bill Gates' last day as the chairman of Microsoft, the software company he created and made into an all-encompassing empire. While Gates will remain the non-executive chairman of Microsoft, his full-time job will be with the Gates Foundation, he and wife Melinda's international health non-profit. One of his first stops after bowing out of day-to-day decisions at MS will be to China, where the Gates Foundation is launching a slew of new health initiatives. more ›

"What’s exciting about sitting at a resort somewhere? Where’s the living in that?” Travis Arket asks, and sets down his pho chopsticks. Matt Crabtree nods. “Not exciting.” Travis and Matt (pictured) are two of the three members of Team Robot House, a non-profit adventure philanthropy corporation based here in the Seattle area that takes on a few extreme challenges each year to raise money for charities such as Mercy Corps. more ›