KOBI Spirit of Community Moment: The Ford Family Foundation

KOBI: Welcome back, The Ford Family Foundation has partnered with the Oregon Community Foundation for more than two decades. Together they've helped fund local economic and social development. The programs have made substantial positive differences that benefit our local communities. Here's another Spirit of Community Moment.

KOBI: Kenneth Ford and Hallie Ford owned a successful timber company that began in the 1930’s in Roseburg, Oregon. As the Ford's wealth accumulated, they created The Ford Family Foundation.

Anne Kubisch: They set up a foundation in 1957, to begin to give back and to be philanthropically minded in the Southwest corner of Oregon and Northern California.

KOBI: Anne Kubisch is the President and CEO of The Ford Family Foundation.

AK: We've given away about $810 million in charitable distributions. The foundation's focus I should say is on ensuring the vitality of rural communities and making sure that they are vibrant places for kids and families to thrive.

KOBI: That includes parenting education, connecting families with free parenting classes, resources and family events.

AK: Today there is a parenting education hub in each of the 36 counties of Oregon.

KOBI: This emphasis on community building is also helping victims of the devastating Almeda and open chain fires.

AK: After the Labor Day fires in September of 2020, our foundation, The Ford Family Foundation partnered with Oregon Community Foundation and The Meyer Memorial Trust to create a community rebuilding fund.

KOBI: To date that fund has distributed about $10 million dollars to help rebuild Southern Oregon communities.

AK: The recovery from the wildfires is a long-haul project, and we're in it for the long- haul.

KOBI: If you’d like to help make Southern Oregon a better place to live, visit Oregon Community Foundation at oregoncf.org.

This from KOBI TV's "Oregon Community Foundation: Spirit of Community" series.