Dear friends and partners,
Last week, it was announced that I was named to the 2026 TIME100 Philanthropy list. I am still in shock to see my name among so many larger-than-life philanthropic leaders from across the globe.
This is an incredible honor, but it’s not all mine. This is really for the rural, remote, and Indigenous communities and partners that we work with across Oregon––those we have gotten to know and those with whom we are continuing to build relationships.
The recognition is for all of you who dedicate your time, talent, and energy working to ensure your own communities are as successful as they can be. You fill hungry bellies, steward the landscape, teach kids, create cultural experiences, and so much more. You all are the true rural advocates.
As so many of you know, rural people and places are interconnected with our urban and metro neighbors. When we work alongside our urban peers, we notice shared challenges and shared opportunities for solutions. Things change when urban and rural folks show up for one another, learn and lead together––after all, it’s hard to hate up close.
A special thank you to my mom, Kathy Deggendorfer, our founder who had a vision to support creative problem solving in our rural community of Sisters. Kathy’s belief in this work laid the groundwork for the Foundation’s incredible growth.
And, of course, thank you to our wonderful Roundhouse Foundation staff. They work tirelessly every day to elevate the voices of the communities, artists, scholars, neighbors and others that we work alongside. Their dedication to supporting the Foundation’s vision is unending.
Please join me in commending the hard work that we collectively contributed to ensure that rural gets a voice at the table. And thank you for believing in the Foundation enough to be by our side the whole way. We see you and we appreciate you.
Erin Borla
Executive Director & Trustee
