With the season of renewal just around the corner, we’re pleased today to announce that Senator Manka Dhingra will be the Master of Ceremonies for our 2020 Spring Fundraising Gala on Friday, April 17th.
A prosecutor and Northwest Progressive Foundation boardmember, Manka Dhingra was first elected to the Washington State Senate in 2017 to represent the 45th Legislative District, filling the unexpired term of the late Andy Hill.

Official portrait of Washington State Senator Manka Dhingra, D‑45th District
In 2018, after a remarkable first session in which she demonstrated great skill as a lawmaker, Senator Dhingra was overwhelmingly reelected to serve a full four year term. Her colleagues chose her to serve as the Deputy Majority Leader of the Senate Democratic caucus.
In addition, she is the Vice Chair of the Senate’s Law & Justice Committee, the Chair of its Behavioral Health Subcommittee, and a member of the influential budget-writing Ways & Means Committee.
It takes many new legislators years to develop clout in the statehouse and figure out how to effectively move bills from conception to the governor’s desk. Not so in Manka’s case. She has, as mentioned, proved to be extremely adept at legislating. Several bills bearing her name and influence have already been signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee and she’s got more in the pipeline.
Manka Dhingra’s highly effective, no-nonsense approach to representation is what we want to see more of in the State Legislature. She’s a superb role model and a person who understands the importance of the Platinum Rule (which, in a nutshell, is treat other people the way they want to be treated).
That’s why we’re so thrilled that she will be the Master of Ceremonies at this year’s Spring Fundraising Gala, taking place on Friday, April 17th, online.
The gala, which began in 2008, is now in its twelfth year, and has always been an incredibly successful event that both celebrates our research and advocacy and secures the resources necessary to ensure that it will continue. Past galas have empowered our team to research support for progressive ideas ranging from Medicare For All to presidential transparency to corporate tax accountability.
We hope you can join us on Friday, April 17th to build a stronger NPI.
Click the button below to buy a Virtual Gala Access Pass or a combined ticket to the Virtual Gala and to NPI’s FallFest on Saturday, October 3rd, where we’ll continue our in-person gala traditions. Combined Individual tickets to both events are $100, and combined Household tickets are $150.
Get tickets for NPI’s 2020 Spring Gala
We will be announcing additional gala speakers soon.
As in the past few years, we will be presenting a Lynn Allen Award to a distinguished progressive leader who has made indispensable contributions to progressive causes. Our past honorees include Sound Transit CEO Emeritus Joni Earl, attorney Paul Lawrence, Major General Paul Eaton (Retired), activist Alex Hendrickson, photographer Al Garman, and El Centro de la Gaza’s Estela Ortega.
Paul Lawrence and Joni Earl with their Lynn Allen Awards (Photo: Lincoln Potter/Samaya LLC for the Northwest Progressive Institute)
If you’d like to RSVP for the gala on Facebook, you can do so here.
We hope you’ll help us make this crucially important event a success by buying your ticket and committing to attend. See you online on April 17th!
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[…] Virtual Gala will have its own speaking program, anchored by State Senator Manka Dhingra, this year’s gala Master of Ceremonies. Additionally, everyone who participates in the Virtual Gala will receive the […]