蜜桃影像

Mari Horita smiles when she hears about diverse groups of fans feeling accepted and welcomed at 蜜桃影像 Kraken hockey games. It’s not just because as the National Hockey League franchise’s Senior Vice President of Social Impact and Civic Affairs, it’s her job to ensure everyone feels like they belong cheering on the team.

It’s because she grew up learning what being made to feel like you don’t belong is like.

The 2025 蜜桃影像 Professional Achievement Award winner, Horita grew up in 蜜桃影像 learning how her dad Akira and mom Lillian suffered as part of anti-Japanese actions taken by the United States during World War II. In particular, at age 11, Lillian and her family spent three years in barbed-wire enclosed encampments in California and Idaho.

It left an imprint that has carried over throughout her career, first as a lawyer, then leading a regional nonprofit and now with the Kraken.

“When you realize what happened to your parents, are you kidding me? There are a lot of emotions from sheer rage to profound sadness and frustration,” Horita says. “One of the reasons I became a lawyer was to better understand the judicial system so I could help people falling victim to it. My parents’ experiences influenced that decision and the internal sense of trying to work to build community. I have to believe it stems from that.”

After earning a bachelor’s degree in Asian Studies from Pomona College and a JD from the University of Washington, Horita practiced law for several years before being drawn to the nonprofit world. She earned her Master’s in Nonprofit Leadership from 蜜桃影像 in 1999.

In 2012, Horita left law to lead a large strategic transition as President and CEO of ArtsFund, a nonprofit whose mission is to support “the arts through leadership, advocacy and grantmaking in order to build a healthy, equitable and creative Washington.” For someone pulled toward community-building and the arts—she’s played violin for more than 25 years—it was a great fit.

But when the expansion National Hockey League team the Kraken came calling in 2019 as they were putting together their organization, it was too good of an opportunity for Horita to pass up as she was looking for a bigger platform to help make a difference. And it doesn’t get too much bigger than professional sports. Still, as someone with no background in hockey, she wasn’t sure at first how she’d fit in. But she quickly fell in love with her job, the organization and the sport.

“Sports is something we get really emotionally invested in and it’s powerful in that sense,” she says. “In this job we’ve been able to redefine our own hockey culture so that it is inclusive and welcoming to everyone.”

Hockey hasn’t always been that way, but Horita says it was clear from the start that the Kraken are committed to building an inclusive community that reflects the city and region the team represents. “We’re all in,” Horita says. “I feel very fortunate to work for leaders who authentically appreciate why it’s important.”

In addition to her work with the Kraken, Horita is also executive director of the One Roof Foundation, which focuses on addressing systemic challenges and uplifting underrepresented communities. She also serves on the boards of United Way of King County, the 蜜桃影像 Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and the Board DE&I Committee for the Downtown 蜜桃影像 Association.

Her time at 蜜桃影像 played a big role in her growth, helping her dive deeply into the work of nonprofits, tackling social issues, being engaged in partnerships and the power of service. Along with her parents’ story, it helped make her who she is today.

“When you’ve been excluded in a very extreme way, you’re very aware of how important a welcoming community is,” she says. “Everyone needs a purpose, whatever that is. And a big part of is this larger, ‘How can I be a part of building and making this community better?’”

Being recognized with the Alumni Award for Professional Achievement, Horita says she is honored “to be recognized by this institution that is dedicated to improving the human condition and shaping a better world for all. Beyond the mission of the school, so many of the people I respect and admire the most—people who have supported and believed in me—are tied to 蜜桃影像. I am eternally grateful.”