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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Ring of Honor Recipients

Gene Dolan 2019
Jon Halvorson 2019
The McGimpsey Family 2019
Sue Shannon 2019
Ken Parsons 2021
Ron & Carol Busche 2021
Bill Williams 2021
Carletta Garraway 2021
Dorn Barr 2022
Mike Jones 2023
Brenda McAferty 2024

FRIENDS OF THE FOUNDATION

1st Security Bank
Dorn Barr
Nick Barr
BECU
Benevity Community Impact Fund
Beverly J. Benner Estate
Larry Blume
Carol & Jim Brewer
Ron & Carol Busche
Cathleen & Charles Callahan
George H. Carl Trust
Chicago Title
Community Foundation
Cooper Moss Advanced Dentistry
Allan & Robin Corwin
Dawkins Foundation
Marie Demme
Dutch Bros. Coffee
Karen Eitreim Estate
Fisher Jones Family Dentistry
Fred Meyer – Lacey Store
Susan Gillis
Dr. John Gott
Lewis R. & Edna C. Hawthorne Trust
Help Us Move In
Heritage Bank
Sandra Hill Estate
Maryke Hines
Hops N Drops
Lisbeth Johnson
Dennis Johnston
Phil & Carol Juergens
Carolyn Keck
John & Gloria Kuula Estate
Lisbeth Lahaug
Mary P Dolciani Halloran Foundation
John & Opal McGimpsey
Molina Healthcare
Bob Mosebar
David & Linda Newsome
Jeff & Nancy Neyenhouse
Thorstrom-Smith Nishon
Nisqually Indian Tribe
Nobis Global Holdings
Norcliffe Foundation
NTEA
Olympia Choral Society
Charlotte Otto
Carol Porter
Claudia Page
Frank Parker Trust
Jane Parks
Ken Parsons
John & Nelda Patton
Nancy & Scott Peebles
Phoenix Holdings & Development
Carol Porter
PrimeLending
Puget Sound Energy
Paul and Carole Ressler
Rotary Foundation- Hawks Prairie
Rotary Foundation- Lacey
Seattle Foundation
Kristy Shanafelt
Dr. Sue Shannon
Heather Sweet
Priscilla Terry
True Responders
TwinStar Credit Union
U.S. Martial Arts Center
Umpqua Bank Community Foundation
Stuart & Carol Vannerson
Van’s Burger
Venture Bank
Washington State Taekwondo Foundation
Frank Wells Estate
John Williams
Windermere Foundation
Young Hak Lee, U.S. Martial Arts Center
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.