Lifelong Among First Providers for Washington’s Groundbreaking Long-Term Care Program

SEATTLE, May 21, 2026 — Lifelong, a community health organization with more than four decades of experience making food and health accessible, today announced that it has been selected as one of the first providers selected for the WA Cares Fund, Washington state’s new, first-in-the-nation long-term care benefit program.  

“At Lifelong, we believe access to health and food is a human right, not a privilege based on affordability,” said Lifelong Chief Executive Officer James Shackelford. “We’ve proudly supported Washington’s aging and disability communities for over a decade, providing the support to ensure access to the in-home care, home safety modifications, home-delivered meals, transportation, and adaptive equipment that supports their ongoing independent living and care.” 

Lifelong’s aging and disability services team helps older adults, people with disabilities, and their family caregivers navigate long-term care systems, community resources, and medical benefits. The WA Cares Fund is a new and innovative resource that will enable Lifelong to better serve its current clients and expand its reach. As a contracted WA Cares provider, Lifelong will be able to connect eligible clients directly to their benefits and assist them in accessing covered services including in-home care, home safety modifications, home-delivered meals, transportation, and adaptive equipment.  

The WA Cares Fund helps ease the financial burden of long-term care for working Washingtonians as they age. The fund provides up to $36,500 in lifetime long-term care coverage; a benefit earned through small payroll contributions of 0.58% during workers’ earning years. For about a third of recipients, the benefit will cover all the long-term care they need in their lifetime. 

The fund addresses one of the most significant gaps in the American care system: seven out of 10 people will need long-term care to help with daily activities like bathing, eating, moving around, and managing medication, but won’t have a way to pay for it. Medicare and private health insurance do not cover long-term care, and Medicaid typically requires individuals to spend down their life savings to $2,000 to qualify for coverage.  

“At Lifelong, we have long recognized that no one organization closes these gaps alone,” said Shackelford. “Partnering with WA Cares allows us to further our mission and connect people to the services they need to live their healthiest lives.” 

To learn more about accessing WA Cares benefits through Lifelong, visit Lifelong.org.

About Lifelong

Lifelong is a community health organization on a mission to make health and food accessible to all. Born out of the AIDS crisis, Lifelong has spent decades delivering medically tailored meals, helping people navigate long-term care, ensuring access to life-saving medication, and connecting people facing housing instability to the support they need. For more information, visit Lifelong.org.

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Media Contacts:  
Margo Turley / Annie Sullivan  
ON Public Relations for Lifelong 
206-250-4056 / 206-856-5660 

Jake Shears to Perform at Inaugural Lifelong Pride Gala; Laverne Cox and Chris Olsen to Be Honored

Macy Gray and Miz Cracker to Perform; Brad Goreski to Host Seattle’s Inaugural Pride Celebration Benefiting Lifelong

SEATTLE — May 12, 2026 — Lifelong, a leading community health organization providing critical access to nutritious food, lifesaving medications, aging and disability services, HIV care, and stable housing, today announced that the organization will honor Laverne Cox and Chris Olsen during their upcoming Pride Gala, and Jake Shears will perform. The gala will take place on Saturday, June 13, 2026 in Downtown Seattle and raise funds for Lifelong and Seattle Pride.

Seattle-native Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters will deliver a special performance during the evening, joining previously announced performers Macy Gray and Miz Cracker. The evening will be hosted by celebrity stylist and television personality Brad Goreski.

“For me, queer joy is the definition of Pride, so I am thrilled to return to Seattle and support a hometown legacy nonprofit that is making a difference in the lives of over 8,000 Washingtonians,” said Jake Shears. “I’ve always tried to bring queer culture into the mainstream in a way that feels joyful and unapologetic, and I think a Pride event like this gives the community a chance to celebrate itself in a bigger, more elevated way.”

“Seattle has long been a city that champions inclusion, creativity and advocacy, and this event reflects the vibrancy and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community while also recognizing the urgent work still ahead,” said James Shackelford, CEO of Lifelong. “Lifelong has been a champion for equality and access for 43 years and we’re thrilled to welcome such an extraordinary group of talent, advocates, and supporters to help launch one of Seattle’s signature Pride celebrations and raise critical funds for  essential health, HIV, housing and food programs.”

The gala will honor Laverne Cox with the Lifelong Pride in Action Award, recognizing her trailblazing advocacy and cultural impact advancing LGBTQ+ representation. Lifelong will also honor Chris Olsen with the LGBTQ+ Changemaker of the Year Award, recognizing his leadership and work amplifying queer voices and advancing equality.

“Pride is about community, visibility, and collective action, and I’m honored to be part of a night that celebrates all three,” said Laverne Cox. “I’m grateful that my commitment to amplifying LGBTQ+ voices and stories resonates with my community, and I thank Lifelong for recognizing the impact this work has made..” 

“It’s amazing that showing up as my most authentic self to millions of people around the world has created space for conversation, visibility, and understanding among the LGBTQ+ community,” said Chris Olsen. "Pride has always been a celebration of acceptance and showing up for one another, and I think the work Lifelong is doing to support people in the community every day embodies that spirit in such an authentic way.”

The creative black-tie evening will feature a cocktail reception, a seated 3-course dinner, a live auction curated by Seattle Art Source Gallery, an award celebration, and performances celebrating Pride and raising critical funds for Lifelong and Seattle Pride.

Proceeds from the evening support Lifelong’s vision of Health For All, helping provide nutritious meals and food access, housing stability, medical case management, and essential support services for more than 8,200 people across Washington state. Lifelong is also proud to include Seattle Pride’s Youth Programs as a beneficiary, supporting opportunities for LGBTQIA2S+ youth ages 12 to 18 with access to affirming spaces and meaningful leadership.

About Lifelong Health For All

Lifelong is a community health organization on a mission to make health and food accessible to all. Born out of the AIDS crisis, Lifelong has spent decades delivering medically tailored meals, helping people navigate long-term care, ensuring access to life-saving medication, and connecting people facing housing instability to the support they need. For more information, visit Lifelong.org.

For ticket and table information, please visit PrideGala.org.

Event Produced by JWP

Media Contacts:

Margo Turley / Annie Sullivan
ON Public Relations for Lifelong
206-250-4056 / 206-856-5660For ticket and table information, please visit www.PrideGala.org

Event Produced by JWP

Media Contacts:
Margo Turley / Annie Sullivan
ON Public Relations for Lifelong
206-250-4056 / 206-856-5660

Statement from Lifelong on the President’s Fiscal Year 2027 Budget

Lawmakers must act to protect and strengthen investments across the full continuum of care 

Seattle, WA, April 8, 2026 - Lifelong, a leading community health organization on a mission to make health and food accessible, is deeply troubled by the President’s fiscal year 2027 (FY27) discretionary budget. The proposal targets the critical work of organizations with a history of supporting marginalized communities and places significant pressure on key programs that people rely on to meet their basic needs. 

“Programs that the President proposes to cut in his FY27 budget are often the difference between stability and crisis for the communities we serve across Washington State,” said Lifelong CEO James Shackelford. “Unfortunately, this proposal is reflective of the administration’s priorities. Even the possibility of such reductions creates uncertainty that directly impacts people’s ability to stay housed, access food, and remain engaged in lifesaving care.” 

Across Washington state, Lifelong works with people navigating the intersecting challenges of health, housing instability, food insecurity, aging, and disability. Federal investments in these areas form the foundation that allows people to stay well. When that foundation is weakened, the consequences are immediate and compounding. People miss medical appointments because they lose housing. They struggle to adhere to treatment because they lack reliable access to food. Providers are forced to stretch already limited resources to meet growing needs. If the cuts outlined in the President’s budget move forward, those challenges will only intensify and will impact all people regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, level of health, income, race or ethnicity.  

“Access to health care, food, and housing should not depend on your background or your resources,” said Shackelford. “At Lifelong, we believe health and food are human rights and we know these systems work together to keep people healthy. When one is weakened, the entire system and the health of our communities are put at risk.” 

As FY27 budget negotiations take place, Lifelong stands with our peers targeted in the proposed budget and urges policymakers to protect and strengthen investments across the full continuum of care—from prevention and treatment to housing and nutrition—so that individuals, families, and communities can live with dignity, stability, and health. 

Lifelong Applauds Washington State Lawmakers for Strengthening Local Medically Tailored Meals Programs

EHB 2211 Strengthens Community-based Medically Tailored Meal Programs Focused on Improving Health Outcomes and Investing in Local Communities

Seattle, WA, March 31, 2026 – Lifelong, a leading community health organization on a mission to make health and food accessible, applauds Governor Bob Ferguson for signing EHB 2211 into law, marking an important step forward in advancing equitable, nutrition-centered healthcare across Washington state. The bill’s sponsors, State Representative Kristine Reeves and State Senator T’wina Nobles, as well as the Washington Legislative Black Caucus, demonstrated enormous leadership in advancing the critical legislation.

“Lifelong has always believed that food is fundamental to health. Our Chicken Soup Brigade program has been addressing gaps in nutrition access since the 1982, when the organization was founded to help those living with HIV. Today, the fight continues and we stand up for those facing serious illness, working to ensure they can access nutritious meals and groceries,” said James Shackelford, Chief Executive Officer of Lifelong. “This legislation strengthens the quality and consistency of medically tailored meal programs while ensuring that services are rooted in the communities they serve.”  

The link between nutrition access, income inequality, and health disparities is clear and deeply felt throughout Washington communities. Data from King County and across the state show that communities of color, lower-income households, veterans, and pregnant and breastfeeding people are disproportionately impacted by diet-related chronic illness and food insecurity. EHB 2211 brings the state closer to a healthcare system that addresses needs upstream, improves outcomes, and reduces long-term costs.

With strong bipartisan support, EHB 2211 establishes clear standards for medically tailored meals and prioritizes Washington-based providers, creating a pathway to better health outcomes while strengthening local economies.

“By prioritizing local sourcing and production, we are not only improving health outcomes, but we are also investing in Washington’s farmers, small businesses, and regional food systems,” said Emily Hanning, Vice President of Food & Nutrition at Lifelong’s Chicken Soup Brigade.

As the state continues to operationalize nutrition benefits under its Medicaid 1115 waiver, this law positions Washington as a national leader in “food is medicine” innovation, ensuring more people can access the care they need.

About Lifelong
Lifelong is a community health organization on a mission to make health and food accessible to all. We stand up for communities facing illness and injustice, guided by the belief that everyone deserves the chance to live their healthiest life. Lifelong was founded in 1983 as a grassroots, community organization fighting for those living with HIV. Today, we continue that fight and we use our experience and determination to help others as we work to provide critical access to lifesaving medications and healthcare, stable housing, independent living, and food and nutrition.

Media Contact
Samantha Coria
SamanthaC@Lifelong.org