Roseburg, Ore. — The Ford Family Foundation recently announced four key hires to work across rural Oregon and Siskiyou County.
More than 6,000 residents of Oregon and Siskiyou County, Calif., have advanced their educations with significant support from the Foundation since its first scholarships were awarded in 1994. Founders Kenneth Ford and Hallie Ford always believed, as the Foundation still does today, that individuals better their lives and the lives of their families through education beyond high school. Marti McCausland, recently hired as manager of scholar and alumni engagement and a key member of the Foundation’s Postsecondary Success team, adds to the ability of the Foundation to support its alumni and nearly 1,000 scholarship recipients currently in college or university. McCausland joins the Foundation from her role in career planning and development at Willamette University College of Law where she has worked with students and graduates to develop individualized career development plans and pursue employment opportunities.
Rural Oregon and Siskiyou County leaders have demonstrated over and over that supportive families and communities are key to children’s success in school. Readiness for Kindergarten and productive learning experiences through high school ensure that children are far more likely to successfully transition to adulthood. Kelly Warner has joined the Foundation’s Children, Youth and Families team as an associate program officer to enhance support of grantees, caregivers and community builders in this essential work. Warner brings with her 20 years of public service experience in development, coordination and implementation of programming for students, including as career center manager and tribal council lead advisor for the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians.
Also joining the Children, Youth and Families team as a program officer is Lee Ann Grogan, who will focus on championing and supporting families so that children are healthy, well and free from abuse. In this role, Grogan, who holds graduate degrees in early childhood education and mental health counseling, works across the Foundation to develop and support initiatives in support of stable and attached families, especially in the first years of life. She joins the Foundation after leading a variety of Oregon-based coalitions such as Creating Community Resilience and the Healthy Start Program. Among her extensive professional and community service involvement, Grogan serves as a board member for Peace at Home Advocacy Center, Phoenix Charter School of Roseburg and the Douglas County Museum.
Sarah Moehrke has joined the Foundation to contribute to rural communities’ economic ecosystems, especially business start-up, retention and expansion and family wealth-building. As associate program officer in the Community Economic Development team, Moehrke works directly with those seeking grants as well as active grant recipients. She joins the Foundation after serving as senior economic development analyst for the City of Florence, Ore., including managing the city’s business relief efforts due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and coordinating business retention programs. Moehrke also served as a RARE (Resource Assistance to Rural Environments) volunteer for the Oregon Coast Visitors Association.
“As our partners know, The Ford Family Foundation’s commitment to rural communities is unwavering, and these new team members are key to growing our capacity just at the moment when communities and leaders are taking on new challenges,” said Anne Kubisch, Foundation president. “We are honored they have come alongside us and the community builders working tirelessly right now to support children, families and communities throughout rural Oregon and Siskiyou County.”
About The Ford Family Foundation
The Ford Family Foundation was established in 1957 by Kenneth W. and Hallie E. Ford. Its mission is “successful citizens and vital rural communities” in Oregon and Siskiyou County, California. The Foundation is located in Roseburg, Oregon, with a Scholarship office in Eugene. www.tfff.org
General media inquiries
Please direct to Mandy Elder, melder@tfff.org
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Photo 1: Marti McCausland JPG
Photo 2: Kelly Warner JPG
Photo 3: Lee Ann Grogan JPG
Photo 4: Sarah Moehrke JPG
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