In appreciation, the Foundation recognizes community and district partners who nurtured and supported the organization over the years:

Founders

Dr. Roy Pedersen, Dr. John Gott, and Dr. Sue Shannon conceived the idea of a non-profit educational foundation to serve students and schools in the North Thurston School District in 1986.

A Task Force conducted a feasibility study in 1988. Judy Bergvall, chaired the Task Force; members included Ken Balsley, John Brown, Karen Lundahl, Hertica Martin, Ken Parsons, Mike Pastore, Cam Sherwood, Earlyse Swift, Barbara Schneider, Ward Tappero, Judy Wilson, and students Amy Wusterbarth and Marta Lowe.

Original Board of Trustees

Judy Bergvall, president, Charles Boyns, John Brown, Barbara Dittrick, Gene Dolan, Nader Ghafoore, Lynda Heusman, Lela Kriedler, Gene Liddell, Ken Parsons, Barbara Scheider, Lloyd Stewart, Ward Tappero, Judy Wilson

Officers for the first year of operation, elected January 1990

Ken Parsons, President; Lela Kreidler, Vice President Resource Development; Gene Dolan, Vice President Awards and Disbursements; Duke Watson, VP Resource Management.

Foundation Presidents

• Judy Bergvall, Initial Board of Trustees, 1989
• Ken Parsons, 1990-1992
• Alan Corwin, 1993-1996
• Katie Collins, 1997-1999
• Judy Berg, 2000-2002
• Thelma Mosebar, 2003-2004
• Paul Garrett, 2005
• Jon Halvorson, 2006-2007
• John Mansfield, 2008-2010
• Carletta Garraway, 2011 to 2017
• Blake Knoblauch, 2018 to 2024
• Christine Forrey, 2024 to Present

Other long-term board members

Many long-time members and supporters have supported the Foundation from its beginning; others have served for many years.

Judy Wilson, Ken Parsons, and Gene Dolan provided guidance and support from the beginning. Members of the Board of Trustees are limited by the by-laws to three terms of three years each or nine consecutive years. The Foundation thanks the following Trustees who completed nine years of service (not necessarily consecutive): Judy Bergvall, Judy Berg, Katie Collins, Ian Edlund, Jon Halvorson, Sam Hunt, Robyn McLean, Carol Merritt, Thelma Mosebar, Ken Parsons, Judy Wilson, Alan Corwin, Cindy Coble, Tom MacRobert, Dorn Barr and Beth Utto-Galarneau.

A well-placed testimonial about the Foundation’s work pays dividends.

Unsung heroes Bill Bergquist, a local CPA, and Irene Clise, a retired high school librarian, deserve recognition for their help in identifying the Foundation to potential donors. They told colleagues and friends about the Foundation’s work, which resulted in major donations in 1994 and 2006: The Violet Davies bequest for $225,000 and the John and Opal McGimpsey donation of $700,000 for Student Assistance Grants, which contributed over three years.  

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FRIENDS OF THE FOUNDATION

BECU
Beverly J. Benner Estate
Ron and Carol Busche
Cooper Moss Advanced Dentistry
Alan and Robin Corwin
Dawkins Charitable Trust
Marie Demme
Dutch Bros Coffee
Fisher Jones Family Dentistry
Fred Meyer – Lacey Store
John Gott
Hawks Prairie Rotary Foundation
Lewis and Edna Hawthorne Trust
Heritage Bank
Maryke Hines
Hops n Drops
Phil and Carol Juergens
Carolyn Keck
John and Gloria Kuula Estate
Ken Parsons
Young Hak Lee, U.S. Martial Arts Center
John and Opal McGimpsey
Nisqually Indian Tribe
Norcliffe Foundation
North Thurston Education Association
Frank Parker Estate
John and Nelda Patton
Nancy and Scott Peebles
Puget Sound Energy
Paul and Carole Ressler
Rotary Club of Lacey
Sandra Hill Estate
Sue Shannon
True Responders
TwinStar Credit Union
Stuart and Carol Vannerson
Venture Bank
Washington State Taekwondo Foundation
WSECU

To recognize donors, in perpetuity, who made gifts of $2,000 or more in a single donation beginning in 2005. Thank you.

Individual and corporate donors are recognized in the annual report. Donors receive acknowledgment of their gifts for IRS purposes. Gifts to honor or in memory of anyone are recognized with acknowledgments to the family.