The Act of Giving Foundation
Maria is a life-long resident of the Pacific Northwest and has spent most of her working life in non-profits and public sector organizations in the area. She enjoys camping with her family, cooking for friends, reading just about anything, keeping up with the news, and playing with her kids (two young, active boys). She is passionate about public education and equality.
Matt lives in Seattle, where he works as a technical trainer for a corporate travel services company. He recently worked as a trainer for a local nonprofit organization, and before that taught high school social studies and adult computer classes. In addition to his involvement with Act of Giving's Communications and Grants Committees, he enjoys spending his time away from work playing soccer and volleyball year-round, dragon boating and snowboarding when the weather allows, and whipping up some kickin' low-fat cuisine.
Jean grew up in Washington D.C. and Washington state and has settled more or less permanently in Seattle with her husband Ted. Professionally she’s done export operations, finance management, French instruction, PR for a Napa Valley winery, and project work helping companies start or transition businesses in England, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic. She currently manages global sales operations for a Seattle-based software publisher. In the non-profit world she’s co-founded a farmers market, provided business assistance to low income entrepreneurs, led cultural exchanges, and done door-to-door voter registration. Yoga, gardening, and long walks with good company and no particular destination are high on her list of pastimes. Jean loves learning languages and knows enough to misunderstand and be misunderstood in 5 of them.
Traveling is one of Helena's interests, but lately just hanging out in her hometown of Seattle has been a fun adventure as well. For most of her life, it's been Helena’s passion to not only learn about different cultures but to experience them as much as possible. The most memorable trip she took in 2005 was visiting her dad’s birthplace, Indonesia. It was a trip she had dreamed about for many years. Aside from traveling, Helena enjoys hanging out with her adorable husband and doing art projects whenever possible. Helena has been fortunate to work for a variety of non profits. It's hard to connect the dots, but all are
related in some strange and wonderful fashion. Currently, Helena works for a non profit that is focused on training and education for youth, the unemployed, and workers needing professional or skill development to get ahead. Helena is thankful to be a part of AOG. Through this organization she is able to support and keep in contact with the positive things that are going on globally while at the same time staying connected to people who have made an impact in her life locally.
Earlier adventures studying in Germany, teaching English in Spain, and working on/with small expedition-style cruise ships led Dwight inexorably to marriage in Alaska, fatherhood, the Gates Foundation, and a tenuous approximation of responsibility. As husband to Lisa, father to Haden and Alpo provider to Flower, Dwight cherishes his community of family and friends, and enjoys debating the betterment of humankind and the good of the planet. Sometimes he actually takes action to those ends. Dwight’s fantasy best day ever would include lungfuls of clean Pacific Northwest mountain air under a cobalt blue sky, community building work with passionate colleagues, soaring trampoline acrobatics with Haden, a little kiss from Lisa, and a sumptuous laughter-filled dinner at day’s end. And maybe a cold beer. Maybe even two.
Kendra traded in palm trees for evergreens when she moved from Hawaii to Seattle to work as a trainer with the Gates Foundation over 7 years ago. What has happened to the time? She followed that up with a stint in Virginia and is now back in Seattle and working to help public libraries create technology plans and manage their technology needs. Whether for work or for fun, Kendra spends a lot of time figuring out where the next airplane will be taking her. Life is pretty simple and she feels lucky.
Kathleen Owens grew up in Reno, Nevada and now relishes life in the Great
Northwest with her husband Patrick, daughter Ginna born in April 2005, and trusted lab Louie. Since 1998, she has worked for a local software company, and currently enjoys her role in sales management there. Favorite activities include family walks and outings, marveling at her daughter's latest feats, and catching up with good friends over ND football or casual meals. Hidden talents (or those that should be) include busting out with creative raps and speaking in accents. The quality of people involved and potential to make a positive impact for worthwhile organizations attracted
her to become involved in the Act of Giving Foundation.
Hailing from Syracuse, NY and eventually recruited to Seattle by one of his closest childhood friends, Patrick Owens savors life in the Emerald City. He has a background in technology and is currently a project manager for a local bank. Outside of work he enjoys singing songs to his daughter, golf, working on his house and hanging out with friends. An opportunity to reconnect with a mission that inspired him, Patrick is grateful for his involvement with the Act of Giving Foundation. His famous dance moves include jumping through one leg and spinning himself into a silly frenzy.
For the past few years, Chris has worked for a nonprofit organization, teaching technology and answering technical support phone calls. Previously, he worked as an archivist and a bookseller. He has a Master's degree in Library Science from the University of Michigan. In his spare time, Chris likes to read, hike and travel. In addition to Act of Giving, Chris is interested in election reform.
With a background in engineering, Steve is a geek at heart and has enjoyed bringing technology into libraries working for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in the US Library Program. Working for such an inspiring organization and around such dedicated people motivated Steve to become more involved in the nonprofit community. As a founding member of Act of Giving, Steve looks forward to the potential impact he and his fellow “Givers” will have on innovative nonprofits. Born and raised in Syracuse, NY, Steve has lived in the Seattle area since 1996. He has adapted to the Northwest lifestyle with newfound passions for sushi, kayaking, snowboarding, and other outdoor activities.
Katie Toft began her career as a high school English teacher, but got a little sidetracked working for a number of non-profits, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Though she might one day go back to the public school system, for now she's content tinkering with technology, helping save the world through her work with the Act of Giving Foundation, filling her Ipod with Audio books, sampling every restaurant in Seattle, and helping to transform patient care by customizing the electronic medical record system at Group Health with yet another amazing group of mission oriented colleagues. After completing her work with the Gates Foundation, Katie traveled through Europe, enjoyed a brief stint wine tasting her way through California, and has plans to see the rest of the world bit by bit. In her spare time she coaches Special Olympics where she finds she learns something new every day from her athletes. She is always searching for inspiration and feels she has found a great deal of it working towards causes close to her heart with Act of Giving.
Joe Van Hecke is the founder and managing director of Grace Hall Capital an asset management company based in Chicago. Upon graduating from Notre Dame in 1996, Joe moved to Frankfurt, Germany to pursue a career in finance. After a 4 1/2 year stint working for Bank of America and CMT Securities, Joe moved to London for two more years of European living before returning back to America in 2003. Joe resides in his hometown, Chicago, with his wife Mindy and son Quinn.
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