BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- President - Melanie Carlone, Eugene
- Vice President - Kim Davidson-Ruby, Eugene
- Secretary - Joy Straub, Cottage Grove
- Treasurer - Rodger Deevers, Eugene
- Member - David Wurts, Cottage Grove
- Member - Angie Burnett, Newburg
- Member - Cindy Rasavage, Veneta
STAFF
- Executive Director - Kristin Fay Venus, Eugene
Our Founder Blanche Fischer: HER WONDERFUL BEING AND LEGACY
Blanche in her youth
Blanche Scroggins was born on November 11, 1897 in Long Creek, Oregon (30 miles NW of John Day). Blanche graduated from Long Creek High School. She was a bold and bright young woman and personified independence by moving from her small town to the Willamette Valley. She lived much of her life between Portland and Lincoln City and generated her resources through her involvement in the real estate industry.
Later in life, Blanche retired to Lincoln City on the Oregon coast. She was one of five women that began the Lincoln County Art Association. In 1978, she donated the land and building to house the Driftwood Public Library, which until then had occupied a cramped, dusty storefront. The new library site, in fact, was next door to her home. When the library outgrew its quarters and finally moved in 1993, the former site was sold. Its proceeds continue to benefit the library through the Driftwood Library Foundation. (https://www.driftwoodlib.org/libraryfoundation.php) remained until it moved to its present site in 1993. According to Sue Jenkins, former Library Director, Blanche would drop in at the library with frequency. Not surprisingly, Sue recollected that Blanche was dedicated, pragmatic, “a bit irreverent” and very funny.
Blanche passed on May 8 1980. The Blanche Fischer Foundation was founded in 1981 from a trust Blanche established. Inspired by her one armed mechanic, Blanche created a Foundation which provides assistance to Oregonians with a permanent physical disabilities. The aid may relate directly to the disability or used to foster independence.
It is a little known fact that Blanche Fischer was instrumental in the formation of the Oregon Community Foundation (OCF). To this day, OCF operates behind a trust similar to the one that sustains the Blanche Fischer Foundation.
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