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Pendleton Foundation Trust Welcomes Hegarty as Inaugural Executive Director

The Pendleton Foundation Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of Tiffany Hegarty as its inaugural Executive Director. This strategic move marks a significant milestone for the 96-year-old organization as it solidifies its commitment to enhancing the well-being of the Pendleton community.

Tiffany Hegarty brings to the Pendleton Foundation Trust a successful career history in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership. With a proven track record, Tiffany has consistently demonstrated a passion for creating positive change. As Development Director for the Pendleton Center for the Arts she helped secure approximately $500,000 in grants and contributions in two years with the local arts organization.

“I am honored and excited to join the Pendleton Foundation Trust.” Tiffany said. “This is an incredible opportunity to contribute to the betterment of Pendleton, and I look forward to working closely with the board and community partners to make a meaningful impact.”

Tiffany brings deep experience in philanthropy, with more than 30 years in the sector. In her role as a consultant, she has been instrumental in assisting numerous nonprofit organizations in achieving their missions through strategic planning and resource development. She has worked with several prominent statewide foundations including The Oregon Community Foundation and The Ford Family Foundation.

Beyond her professional achievements, Tiffany, along with her husband Mike, has been a proud resident of Pendleton since 2007, where they have raised two children, Morgan and Reilly. She is a board member of the Education Foundation of Pendleton and previously served on the Children’s Museum of Oregon’s Board of Directors.

As the inaugural Executive Director, Tiffany Hegarty will be instrumental in shaping the strategic vision of the Pendleton Foundation Trust. She will lead the organization in its commitment to fostering community well-being, supporting local initiatives, and building lasting partnerships.

The Board of Directors has expressed their excitement and confidence in Tiffany’s ability to lead the foundation into a new era. “Tiffany Hegarty’s exceptional leadership qualities and dedication to community philanthropy make her the perfect fit for the Pendleton Foundation Trust. We are thrilled to welcome her on board and look forward to achieving new heights under her guidance,” said Board Chair Lonnie Read.

As part of its commitment to sustained growth and impact on the Pendleton community, the Pendleton Foundation Trust is actively exploring opportunities to secure dedicated office space to establish a permanent home to further enhance its capacity for community engagement and collaboration.

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There are many ways to contribute to the Pendleton Foundation Trust!

— PLANNED GIVING —


The moto of the Pendleton Foundation Trust is “Pendleton People Helping Pendleton People.”
Established in 1928 the Pendleton Foundation Trust is the oldest community foundation in the State of Oregon and with over $6 million in assets the Pendleton Foundation grants tens of thousands of dollars yearly to organizations that promote the well-being of the citizens and inhabitants of Pendleton. Countless programs have been supported over the last 93 years.

Leave a legacy of your values and vision to the Pendleton Foundation through naming the Pendleton Foundation as a beneficiary of your will, retirement plan, life insurance policy or other planned giving vehicles. With a planned gift you can, enhance the livability of Pendleton, improve the lifestyle in Pendleton, and strengthen Pendleton for generations to come.

Contact the Pendleton Foundation Trust at 541-276-3331 – PO Box 218, Pendleton OR 97801 or contact your attorney and your financial advisor. Let them know you are considering a planned gift to the Pendleton Foundation. They can assist you in determining what type of gift best suits your personal and financial circumstances. Thank you for your support.


— CREATIVE GIVING —


Did you know there are many ways you can contribute to the Pendleton Foundation Trust? Your accountant or financial professional could help guide you to access funds that you may like to contribute. Most everyone knows they can write a check as a charitable donation to the Trust, but there are other ways that may be a benefit to you when it comes to tax time.

If you’re over 72 you are required to take Required Minimum Distributions from your Individual Retirement Account. Many times these distributions can be directly routed to PFT through your financial professional at distribution time. If you have a portion of your nest egg that you would like to use to offset a tax bill, a good way to do it is to make a charitable contribution to the Pendleton Foundation Trust.

How about proceeds from a well performing portfolio outside of an IRA? You can pay capital gains on the profit, or donate some of the proceeds to the Pendleton Foundation Trust. You can even gift actual shares of stock that you own. Make an appointment with your financial professional today for a consultation on how you can lower your personal tax liability and help your community at the same time, through a creative charitable contribution to Pendleton Foundation Trust!


— DIGITAL GIVING —


Did you know The Pendleton Foundation has updated its ability for offering digital giving? As we saw the growth of digital giving continue to grow, the Pendleton Foundation made an update to its website to make online giving convenient, fast, and secure options for your online donation considerations.

It’s as simple as clicking a button.

You will be able to choose how you support the foundation online with your donations as well. You have the ability to designate your gift as a general donation, a memorial gift, in honor of someone or to celebrate an occasion. And did you know that your donation supports community organizations in Pendleton, never leaving our community! Scholarships awarded through the Pendleton Foundation Trust are given to students who have attended and graduated from Pendleton School District. Your donations support local nonprofits and people right here in our community, leaving a lasting legacy.

Another way we have improved our website is by offering a convenient, fast, and secure option for those who are applying for grant funding. And again, it is as simple as clicking a button and following the prompts which walk you through the application process.

If you are a student or know a student you’ll find the scholarship application form streamlined as well. Just go to our website.

The Pendleton Foundation Trust is a non-profit, charitable organization that was founded in May 1928. Its purpose is to assist, encourage and promote the well-being of the citizens and inhabitants of the City of Pendleton, Oregon. In line with this purpose, it receives gifts of money and property from interested persons and organizations. In turn, it invests this money and property and receives and expends the income produced by this money and property annually for the benefit of the City of Pendleton and its inhabitants.
www.pendletonfoundationtrust.com

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Forever in Blue Jeans

I am often asked why I live in Pendleton. I usually respond that I prefer “the small-town feel” or “the slower pace of life,” but the question deserves a deeper, more thoughtful answer. For the most part, I am here because I was born and raised in Pendleton. According to the US Census Bureau, 72% of Americans live in or near the place where they grew up. Beyond the statistics, why do I choose to live in a small Oregon town, not lured away to the opportunities of the big city or the year-round warmth down south? If you Google the benefits of small-town living, you see reasons from brighter stars in the night sky to less traffic and fresh air. All these are good reasons, but I haven’t hitched my wagon to Pendleton to see brighter stars. For me, it’s a blue-jeans thing. You know, when you find that pair of pants that really fit you, you just want to wear them every day. Even though you can buy another pair the same size, it’s just not the same feel. With Pendleton, it’s about our unique identity.

We have a strong sense of community and history here in Pendleton. The story of the “Old West” is kept alive by our Pendleton Underground Tours, Umatilla Historical Society, and the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute; they remind us of where our town came from. The Pendleton Center for the Arts and Crow’s Shadow enrich our lives with world-class art and the Oregon East Symphony fills our ears and hearts with beautiful music several times a year. New events are being added every year including the Cattle Barons Weekend, Pendleton Whisky Music Fest, the Old Iron Show and Oktoberfest Pendleton. And, of course, you can’t hear the name “Pendleton” without thinking of the Round-Up and the Woolen Mills.

Even beyond these cultural attractions, we have a different approach to living here. The bonds between neighbors here are stronger and the sense of belonging is more profound than you might find in the big city. In Pendleton, people make the difference and volunteerism is at the heart of being a Pendletonian. If you are not finding Pendleton as enjoyable as you would like, get involved in our community. I urge you to volunteer your time and your talents and you can also volunteer by donating. Help out and contribute to your favorite non-profit organization or simply volunteer to help your neighbor. Pendleton has a plethora of causes and organizations to support. I guarantee that you will benefit just as much as those you serve and our community will be better for it.

Getting involved and staying engaged keep our community bonds strong and together we all make Pendleton a remarkable place to live. So, just like putting on that comfy pair of blue jeans, we can all get up every day, support our community, and be thankful we are at home here in Pendleton.

– Lonnie Read, Director, Pendleton Foundation Trust Board