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2020-21 Dudek Scholarships

During the 2021 academic year, seven students from Pendleton received $13,200 in scholarships to attend Blue Mountain Community College or Eastern Oregon University as a result of the Lee Dudek estate gift to the Pendleton Foundation Trust. Baum Hunter is “very thankful” for his $3,000 award as he completes an AS Degree in Fire Science with BMCC, to prepare for employment in wildland fire control, with the BIA or US Forest Service. A 2018 PHS graduate, he plans to finish his degree spring term, 2021 and wants to live and work in eastern Oregon. Jessamy Lamont expects to receive her AAOT spring term, 2021 from BMCC, then will transfer to OSU to pursue a psychology degree to work as a childlife specialist in a children’s hospital. A 2019 PHS graduate, she thanks the Trust for the $2400 award and for investing in her education. “It is greatly appreciated and I will be sure to make good use of my education.” Other BMCC scholarship recipients include Ceisey Castaneda Martinez, Alorah Kaplanovic and Kyra Ford. Grants of $3,000 were awarded to two Eastern Oregon University students, Madison Parker, a senior completing a degree in elementary education and Drew Lunny, a 2018 PHS graduate pursuing his goal of teaching high school history. Madison plans to stay in the Pendleton community “to teach and provide her students the same positive opportunities I experienced.” Drew, a former BMCC student and ambassador, noted the award helps him in these difficult and troubling times as students complete degrees during the pandemic.

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Dudek’s Legacy Lives on Through Scholarships

Sometimes the simplest act of kindness can have the most profound long term impact on a community.

Clelan “Lee” Dudek was truly a renaissance man. Lee was a World War 2 Veteran, 1966 Las Vegas World Champion Gem Faceter, 1958 NRA 38 Caliber Short Range Champion, Private Airplane Pilot and much more. Regardless of what the project was, Lee was a person of many talents and knowledge. Lee and his wife Luella, built their dream home, refurbished his antique airplane to mint condition, grew his own vineyard, fashioned his own distillery and created his own unique wines and brandies. Lee and Lu often traveled to Baja Mexico to find gems, tile, and other materials to decorate their home. Lee truly could do it all.

Lee and Lu owned and operated Lee’s Refrigeration Company for over 50 years, serving countless businesses in the Pendleton area with expert service and instillation of commercial refrigeration and cooling systems. Lee had immense pride in doing any job right. Lee passed away at the age of 92, barely 3 months after losing his beloved wife. Lee and Lu decided that their worldly assets should be left to start a scholarship fund for young people in the Pendleton area. Lee was adamant that young people should learn a skill or trade. Lee often said “there was much satisfaction in learning how something worked and in how to fix it.”

Lee and Lu had no children, but that’s not the end of the story. The Dudek story will live on forever with the Dudek Scholarships through the Pendleton Foundation Trust. The Pendleton Foundation is honored to be the recipient of the Dudek’s generosity and foresight to provide several scholarships to Pendleton students that will make a lasting impact in our community.

One has to ask the question. What is our legacy, and how can we make a difference that will last forever?

Lee and Lu Dudek
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2019 Fall Grants Given

With great excitement, the Pendleton Foundation Trust board announces 2019 Fall grants

For Immediate Release (press release)

PENDLETON – The Board of Directors of the Pendleton Foundation Trust today announced that grants, memorial trust funds and scholarships given in 2019 will total $160,639.00. The seven-member Board of Directors recently met to consider applications at its semi-annual meeting final allocation of grants this year, reported David Blanc/Chairperson. The Pendleton Foundation Trust uses the earnings from money donated to the trust by individuals, organizations and estates for its semi-annual grant allocations. The board has awarded fall grants in the amount of $46,073.18 to the following recipients:

  • Sunridge Middle School, the sum of $10,890.00.00 for additional weights/ benches and support equipment more tailored to fit the needs of middle school students for the Training and Conditioning classes. 
  • Pendleton Early Learning Center the sum of $9,404.90 to purchase 30 iPads and 30 kid-friendfy cases for the computer lab. 
  • The Rivoli Theater Coalition the sum of $2,500.00 toward the Phase One construction costs of steel and concrete. 
  • Eastern Oregon Alcoholism Foundation the sum of $8,669.53 to renovate the kitchen, bathroom and laundry room at La Casa Vida/ the men’s transitional sober home in Pendleton. 
  • Pioneer Relief Nursery the sum of $11,861.79 to create a more extensive outdoor area with playground equipment for small children. 
  • Oregon East Symphony the sum of $2,746.96 to purchase fractional size instruments for instrument lending library to accommodate the OES “Symphony Strings” program. 

The Trust Board of Directors appreciates all contributions received by the Trust from individuals and civic organizations, whether given as a memorial, in honor of a birthday or retirement, a special occasion, or a general donation. Your gift gives back to the Pendleton community. A gift to the Pendleton Foundation Trust is a tax-exempt contribution and may be mailed to the Pendleton Foundation Trust, P.O. Box 218, Pendleton, Oregon 97801.

Board members are David Blanc, Pat Terjeson, Kevin Hale, Jerrod Spriet, Lonnie Read, Marie Half and Donna Biggerstaff. Jerri Bealer serves as secretary to the Pendleton Foundation Trust and can be reached at 541-276-3331. Please contact the secretary if you would like to be on the mailing list for our semi-annual newsletter.


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Biggerstaff Joins PFT Board

Donna Biggerstaff, Board Member

PRESS RELEASE — The Pendleton Foundation Trust recently welcomed its newest board member, Donna Biggerstaff. Mayor John Turner appointed Biggerstaff to fill retired member Kathy Houk’s position as the city of Pendleton representative.

Celebrating more than 90 years of supporting Pendleton, the board ensures a wide range of perspective and experience in order to serve the community in the most positive and influential way. As an administrative assistant and deputy city recorder, Biggerstaff is well versed in community partnerships and brings a strong skill set to the PFT board. Heavily involved in Pendleton, she currently volunteers for many organizations, including Young Life, Altrusa International of Pendleton and P.E.O. Chapter CM.

“Having grown up in Pendleton, I’m honored to be part of such an amazing organization that provides funds to support many diverse needs in our community from a Round-Up sign to library carpet,” Biggerstaff said. “The people of Pendleton are worth investing in and I’m thrilled to play a role in such an awesome cause.”