Q&A with Board member, Pat Terjeson

We sat down with one of our longest serving Board members, Pat Terjeson who shared some insight into the amazing work we get to do and how she feels about our impact.

PFT: How many years have you lived in Pendleton?

PT: I was born and raised in Pendleton. I have lived in Eugene for four years, while I attended the University. Following my husband’s two years tour in the army on the east coast and Newfoundland, we returned to Eastern Oregon and farmed in the Helix County for 30 years. He raised wheat and cattle with his brothers.

PFT: What brought you to Pendleton?

PT: I moved back into Pendleton in 1983, and am living in the same house where I grew up.

PFT: How many years have you served on the PFT board? And what makes you so committed to our cause?

PT: I joined the Pendleton Foundation Trust (PFT) Board in 1996. Every time I leave a board meeting where we have made our grants, I feel happy because I know that we have helped so many others achieve their goals of improving their organizations’ projects. That is special.

Serving on the PFT Board has given me the most satisfaction of any of my other volunteer endeavors because of the good that is done to improve our community and its citizens.

PFT: Why is charitable giving so important?

PT: It is wonderful to work with the local people to help our students earn scholarships for their education following graduation from high school. Many of the same students benefited from our grants while they were attending school in Pendleton.

PFT: Why is charitable giving so important?

PT: Pendletonians gifts to our foundations are often a reason for them to celebrate or honor a friend. Some are matching gift donations with an employer. Others are memorials given in memory of a friend. Some choose to make an investment in Pendleton’s future with estate planning and bequests of stocks, bonds, cash, or other assets.

PFT: Why is the PFT so special?

PT: I am proud that the Pendleton Foundation Trust has made such a profound investment in Pendleton’s future for 92 years and counting. Our plan is to be Pendleton people helping Pendleton people.

PFT: Tell us a highlight during your service on the board.

PT: One of the highlights of my service on the Board took place in 2011, when the PFT received the Outstanding Philanthropic Foundation Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals of the Oregon and S.W. Washington Chapter. The 25th annual celebration and luncheon was held at the Portland Hilton Hotel and attended by most of our Board members.

(left to right) Pat with her granddaughter, Addie Corey and daughter, Jan Hoffman

Where are they now? Pendleton Foundation Trust scholarship recipient, Kelli McBee

We have the honor of giving funds to students from Pendleton High School, so they may further their education and make the world a better place. There are few things more inspiring than young people and so we like to check on our recipients to see what they’ve been up to since high school. Kelli McBee received the Jiggs and Maxine Fisk Scholarship of $5,000, ten years ago! See below for a Q&A with Kelli!

PFT: What year did you graduate form PHS?

KM: 2009

PFT: What clubs, athletics, extracurriculars were you involved in at PHS?

KM: I enjoyed staying busy between academics and extracurriculars, so there was never a dull moment! I was involved in ASTRA Club (President); Key Club (President); Varsity Track & Field, Volleyball, Cross Country; ACappella Choir (President) and Swing Choir member; Miss Oregon Teen 2009 & Miss Oregon Jr. Teen 2007 (National American Miss) and community event planning. I enjoyed anything creative and challenging, as well as opportunities to develop leadership skills! 

PFT: What type of job did you want to have growing up?

KM: I’ve always been very curious about all different things in life, so my career interests changed often while growing up! I wanted to be a landscape architect, then a hotel/restaurant architect, then a nurse, then communications and broadcast journalist. I ended up focusing the majority of my college applications toward public relations and communications and have served in industries that satisfy all those different passions and interests of mine in one way or another. 

PFT: Where did you attend college?

KM: Boston College

PFT: Where did you attend graduate school?

KM: University of Houston (MBA and MS in Hospitality Management dual degrees)

PFT: Do you believe growing up in Pendleton helped you succeed in life thus far? Why?

KM: Absolutely, and in many ways that I didn’t realize until adulthood! Living in a small town instilled in me the values of service for others, the importance of community involvement and the learning that even one person can make a profound difference in society. My awareness of these mindsets would not have developed in the same way if I had grown up in a big city without Pendleton’s small town values and charm. Our distinctive western way of life that is filled with genuine care and concern for neighbors, peace that comes from connecting with nature and wholesome perspectives toward life and business has helped me succeed by bringing that indescribable “extra element” to interactions in other regions of the country. Pendleton also enabled me to think creatively and innovate while appreciating what’s really important in life. 

PFT: Can you tell us how this scholarship helped you?

KM: Receiving the scholarship was truly an honor. In addition the Foundation investing in my education through financial assistance, for which I am so grateful, being selected as a high school student encouraged me to continue fighting the good fight and striving to make a difference in the world through college and beyond through their support. I was able to begin college knowing I had an invisible army of Pendletonian support as I ventured into new territory to explore new concepts and ideas, push myself to new heights and discover where I could create impact by empowering and leading others.

PFT: Tell us about your career!

KM: My career has been an evolving adventure that I never would have expected! I am blessed to have had doors open up that I’ve had the courage to say “yes” to, because taking those risks has ultimately led me down a very fulfilling professional path. 

After graduating from Boston College with a BA in Communications focusing on Public Relations, I moved to Houston, Texas, and began working at Edelman, the largest PR firm in the world. I honed my marcomm skills through B2B and B2C clients in industries ranging from oil and gas to consumer packaged goods and healthcare to hotels. While I dappled in all areas of PR and communications, media relations and securing spots on TV, radio and in newspapers for my clients became my specialty. Working with reporters, writing all sorts of copy for content, organizing and publicizing events and thinking outside the box to make stories come to life provided invaluable experiences.

I realized that I was thoroughly enjoying the hospitality, consumer packaged goods and food and beverage client accounts and decided to jump into in-house marketing with Landry’s, Inc., a major restaurant and hospitality group, where I marketed four Downtown Aquarium properties. Between handling the social media pages, websites and billboard and print promotions and event organization at the aquariums and restaurants, I was equipped to take on a bigger role.

Having agency and in-house experience, I made my way back to one of my favorite former clients, a Black Angus cattle and steaks producer, 44 Farms, and began as Communications Director. This was a blast as I oversaw all events, sponsorships, partnerships, design, media/social/public relations, customer branding, content creation, and essentially anything that had our logo on it. Working with hundreds of talented chefs using our product and trying to gain new business for both the steaks and cattle teams provided an exciting environment in a dynamic capacity.

I began my MBA and MS in Hospitality Management dual degrees last fall to hone my business skills and perfect my food and beverage knowledge. During this time, I interned at a foodservice consulting firm, during which I helped restaurateurs open their businesses and assisted with everything from site selection and interior design to menu development and grand openings.

PFT: Do you have any advice for this year’s senior class:

KM: This is not the end, it is a very exciting beginning! Throughout high school and my twenties, I felt like every single decision was a make-or-break for the rest of my life. Boy, was I wrong! Every decision only opened doors or led me in a different direction that then became my norm until I was ready to open another door. This is the time to take (smart) risks! Join the club you have absolutely no experience in. Ask the person who catches your eye on a date. Sign up for study abroad or something crazy out of your comfort zone. Push yourself, because it will only make it easier the next time around. The next time around, the stakes might be higher, so the more practice you can get pushing yourself, the easier the courage will come. 

My other advice is to take good care of yourself… not only physically, but mentally. I would put so much pressure on myself that I didn’t end up actually enjoying some experiences because I had psyched myself out or knew that I wasn’t already really good at whatever the task was. You’re about to walk into college or a job or a new situation that is unfamiliar to you. Be kind and gentle with yourself as you learn a new skill or take on something that is seemingly impossible. You’ll be amazed at what you’re capable of if you give it a shot! Over time, I’ve realized that when you’re in a healthy environment, both with others and within your own head, failure is welcomed as a learning experience instead of… failure. There are so many changes ahead of you for the next few years. Failure is absolutely inevitable, but what failure really means is that you put yourself out there and tried. Embrace every day for its successes and failures and endeavor to persevere! 

(L to R) Kelli with her brothers Brian and Patrick, at Brian’s wedding in Chicago, Aug. 2019

Ole Groupe Scholarship

Tiah Pahl was the 1999 recipient of the Ole Groupe Scholarship. She attributes her love of animals and animal welfare to her involvement with FFA throughout high school. Tiah was a 2002 graduate of Pendleton High School; she attended Oregon State University and graduated in animal science. In 2006, she was accepted into the College of Veterinary Medicine at OSU and graduated in 2010.

Tiah was a 2004 Pendleton Round-Up Princess. Tiah credits the Old Groupe Scholarship with opening doors and allowing her to see many aspects of agriculture in our area, our lives and our community. Tiah credits the Pendleton FFA chapter with giving her the opportunity to develop her leadership and communication skills that have prepared her for her future in small animal veterinary. Tiah values the networking and personal relationship she has developed through FFA. When she got to OSU, she already knew many of the facility, and already had established friendships with other students, thus making her transition much easier. Funding an experience is worth more than we know – a foundation for our youth. The Ole Groupe Scholarship, a wonderful example of how all of our donations to the Pendleton Foundation Trust help our local students, our community and our local heritage.

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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.


When you give to charity, everyone wins

Changes in income tax laws have reduced charitable giving. Most of us will not itemize deductions on our federal tax returns this year and therefore will not receive a federal tax benefit for our charitable contributions. Because of this it is projected that charitable giving will be down 4.6%.

It is important to continue to give to charities. Your donations make a difference in the lives of others and the community that you live in. Charitable giving increases your sense of gratitude and wellbeing. By knowing the best tax strategies and utilizing tax advantaged approaches, donors can maximize the benefit to the charity without increasing their cost. Smarter giving benefits all of us.

There are several ways that you can increase the tax benefits of charitable giving. For those donors over the age of 70 1⁄2, who have traditional IRA accounts, a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is a very good strategy. You contribute directly from your traditional IRA which qualifies for your required minimum distribution and you are not taxed on the withdrawal from your IRA. In effect, you are allowed a deduction for the charitable contribution without having to itemize your deductions.

Another good way to make a charitable contribution is to contribute property that has increased in value. This property could be real estate or shares of stock. The donor receives a deduction (within certain limits) for the full fair market value of the property without having to recognize the gain that would be taxable if the property were to be sold. Also, Donor Advised Funds (DAF) are becoming more popular. You can set-up an irrevocable charitable trust; donate to the fund; receive a current deduction on your tax return and choose to disburse the funds to a charity of your choice in future years. This works well where you could use a large deduction this year, but you want to spread out your charitable giving over several years. By making a large donation to your DAF in the first year, you could exceed the standard deduction and therefore receive a tax benefit that you would not receive if you made direct donations over several years.

There are a host of other strategies that work well in specific situations. A charitable gift annuity, a charitable remainder trust or a charitable lead trust may be a better fit in your circumstances. You can see that there are many ways to maneuver through the minefields of taxes and charitable giving. Oregon has lower standard deduction limits so many individuals will receive state tax benefits even though they may not receive federal tax benefits. Don’t let the new tax laws discourage you from giving to your favorite charities. Talk with your tax advisors to devise a giving plan that best fits your situation and remember, through charitable giving, we all win.

First Fisk Winner Sets High Goals

In 2013, Jacob Rickman received the Fisk Scholarship for $5,000.00 at his graduation from Pendleton High School.

Jacob is now in his fifth year at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. He is Majoring in Computer Science and is a member of the Cal Poly Track team. This last summer Jacob started working as a Software Developer for Tapestry Solutions, A Boeing Company in San Luis Obispo, CA and continues to work part time during this school year.

Jacob will complete his studies in the Winter Term of 2018 earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and a Minor in Math. Jacob has a special interest in Computer Graphics.

In the spring term of 2018 Jacob will compete in his final season as a Decathlete with the Track team. His goal is to complete the season with an improved showing in the Big West Conference Multi-sport Championships. Last season he placed 5th at the Big West conference championships. Highlights of his 2017 season are a PR in the Shot Put with a mark of 50’ 5.5”, breaking a meet record held by Ashton Eaton at the Sam Adams Invitational in Santa Barbara, CA and a PR of 10.81 seconds in the 100 meter dash earning him 903 points at the Big West Multi-sport Championships.

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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.”

A Foundation you can trust

*By Dr. John McBee, Guest Contributor 

With all the worthy places to donate your money in Pendleton, how do you select the right organization? You have to consider several important factors:

  • Where will you get the greatest satisfaction in giving to a certain charity?
  • Is this entity known for spending most of its income responsibly?
  • Will the organization honor your wishes as to how it will spend your contribution?

I have lived in Pendleton for 80 years and in that time, I have observed many charitable organizations. I can assure you that the Pendleton Foundation Trust treats each contribution with the utmost care and puts it to use to make this community a better place for its residents. Since its formation in 1928, the Pendleton Foundation Trust has built an impeccable reputation for wisely allocating its funds to improve the quality of life in Pendleton. With many charities, your funds are sent and you have no way of knowing how or where your contribution is spent. The Pendleton Foundation Trust thoroughly reviews and researches each request. If funds are granted, they may be used only for the specific purpose that was approved. If there are funds remaining after the project has been completed, the money is returned to the Foundation. You can be assured that your money is valued and carefully spent. Throughout this community, you will see the evidence of the grants the Foundation has made to make Pendleton a better place.

Dr. John Mcbee passed away in August of this year. He was a man of community in the truest form. We were honored by his service on our board for 43 years. His legacy will continue to inspire us all for years to come.