Howard Hedinger
Howard Hedinger grew up in Portland and has been a MAC member for
more than 55 years. When considering organizations he’s given to through
the years, he mentions his commitment to the city. “Portland has been good
to me and my family and it’s time to give back,” he says. The Hedinger Family
Foundation also believes that every child has the right to health and to education;
and all animals have the right to health and service.
It’s not surprising then that Hedinger has contributed to prominent local
organizations such as OMSI, Oregon College of Art & Craft, Guide Dogs for
the Blind, Providence Center for Medically Fragile Children, Central Catholic
High School, Edwards Center, DoveLewis, Medical Teams International, OHSU
Foundation, Oregon Humane Society, Self Enhancement Inc., St. Mary’s Home
for the Boys, Wildcat Haven, Doernbecher Children’s Hospital and MAF’s Joe
Loprinzi Fund.
If his donations garner any influence with these organizations, Hedinger uses
it to suggest collaboration. The Hedinger Family Foundation has arranged for an
Oregon College of Art and Craft teacher to work full time with St. Mary’s Home
for the Boys, providing the young men with education and the freedom of expres-
Wildcat Haven, located in Sherwood, is one of the
sion through art. The Hedinger Family Foundation also provides scholarships for
many organizations Howard Hedinger contributes to.
fifth grade classes from five North Portland schools to attend OMSI for a day and
attend classes.
It cares for displaced, abused or neglected captive-born
Hedinger is also passionate about music and children. The Hedinger Family
wildcats. It is one of seven certified wildcat sanctuaries
Foundation supports Michael Allen Harrison’s Snowman Foundation, which
in the U.S.
promotes the musical arts in the Pacific Northwest. Hedinger often gives away
concert tickets to local non-profits, whose children can benefit from watching a
concert such as “Ten Grands,” which the Snowman Foundation performs annually.
The Hedinger Family Foundation is also excited about the leukemia research
currently being done by Dr. Brian Druker at OHSU’s Knight Cancer Institute.
“Brian and his team are what fires me up,” Hedinger says about seeing the
Bob Walsh is proud to
passion and progress being made by Druker. The research conducted by Druker
assist Mercy Corps’ mission
recently received a Lasker-DeBakey Award for clinical medical research on the
of alleviating suffering,
drug Gleevac. These awards often lead to Nobel Peace Prizes.
poverty and oppression
Bob Walsh through just communities
Bob Walsh focuses the philanthropic efforts of his family and business on and healthy people.
children in the community and specifically kids in need. “We are blessed with
a wonderful community,” says Walsh, who is president of Walsh Construction.
But he points out that because of life’s complexities, some are unable to enjoy it.
For these people, especially those with children, Walsh wants to provide help.
“Community is a cornerstone of our business,” he says.
Central City Concern and REACH Community Development are two
groups Walsh has partnered with to target some of the more vulnerable popu-
lations in the community. Central City Concern has provided housing and
drug- and alcohol-dependency programs for individuals and families in the
community since 1979. REACH Community Development began providing
affordable housing, and housing-related education programs in 1982. It even
provides volunteer-powered home repair programs to help seniors and disabled
homeowners make their homes safer, more livable and more energy efficient.
Walsh helps bright, deserving college students with his contribution to MAF’s
Loprinzi Fund. Foster children also benefit from his support of Bridge Meadows,
a planned community in Northeast Portland providing foster children with
adoptive homes, surrogate grandparents, mentors, and playmates. The structure
and education that Bridge Meadows provides is a developmental component that
foster children often miss out on.
Children and communities outside of Portland benefit from Walsh’s philan-
thropy through his contributions to Mercy Corps. He shares the relief and aid
agency’s approach to helping others. Looking forward, Walsh plans an ongoing
relationship with Oregon Food Bank, which contributes to a statewide network
of more than 900 hunger-relief agencies.
continued on page 43
DECEMBER 2009 | The Wınged M | 41
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