Tom and Sonya Campion
Founder of Zumiez, Founders of Campion Foundation and Campion Advocacy Fund
Methow Valley, WA
8/28/21
Nestled at the base of a 1,500-foot tall wall of granite in the Methow Valley, WA sits a pristine property owned by Tom and Sonya Campion. The property was once under threat of being developed into a ski resort by an out-of-state corporation until concerned locals stepped in to stop development. The Methow Valley Citizens Council reached out to the Campions to see if they would be interested in purchasing the property, and after doing so the Campions placed it under a conservation easement, ensuring that the land will be protected from future habitat destruction and development.
The acquisition of their property is just one example of how Tom and Sonya have used their wealth and resources to support their community and protect the places they love. For Tom, one of those places is the Alaskan Arctic, a location he describes as “wider than any wilderness we have”. Tom founded the clothing company Zumiez in 1978, but in the years after his retirement he has shifted his focus towards building a non-profit and engaging in political lobbying for the protection of public lands. With his support, the Campion Advocacy Fund has successfully lobbied to prevent oil drilling on nearly one million acres of pristine wilderness along the costal planes near Prudhoe Bay, AK.
While protecting pristine wilderness is important to Tom, it is not the only focus of the Campions’ non-profit. Working with Seattle and Washington’s local governments, Sonya has aided in the creation of affordable housing, chaired committees focused on ensure access to mental health care and provided valuable insight to elected officials working across various social service agencies.
Commenting on the importance of engaging with our public lands and governments, Tom remarks, “we all have a stake in management based on how much we want to participate.” It is clear that Tom and Sonya embody this message in all of their work.
By Alli Shinn