Philanthropy
It starts in our backyard
Our commitment began at Francis Parker School in San Diego, where we made a deliberate investment in our children’s education, one of the most important decisions any family makes. We chose Parker not only for its academic excellence, but to actively strengthen a community we believed in. All three of our children graduated as “lifers” and went on to their colleges of choice, benefiting from a well-rounded experience that increasingly included athletics. This journey shaped a lifelong focus on education, from early childhood through advanced graduate study, and a sustained commitment to initiatives that inspire achievement, including meaningful philanthropic support for academics, facilities, and the growth of athletics as an integral part of student development.
Francis Parker School
Our children were fortunate to attend Parker during a period of significant campus transformation. As parents of three budding athletes, we saw a need for athletic facilities of the same caliber as the school’s academics and arts, and seized the opportunity to make a legacy gift to fund the construction of the new soccer/football field. Lauer Field remains to this day as a centerpiece of campus life at the Parker Upper School.
Family Building Blocks
As new residents of Salem, Oregon, we became increasingly aware of the work of Family Building Blocks, an organization that provides therapeutic pre-schools, home visits and parent counseling to more than 1,200 children to prevent child abuse and keep children with their families. We have since 2022 hosted the FBB’s annual two-day gala and live auction Uncorked, and we have made a multi-year commitment as Dream Builders. Kathy joined the Board in 2023 to further support our focus on early childhood education needs in our community.
Willamette University
As our family gradually relocated from San Diego to the Willamette Valley in support of our investment in the wine business, and as our daughter continued her academic and athletic career at Willamette U, we sought for opportunities to contribute to our new community. Once again, athletics was to us an obvious choice. We funded improvements to the soccer field and the construction of a dedicated locker room for the women’s soccer program.