Portland, OR. The Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation is announcing a significant increase in funds that will be distributed to nonprofits throughout Oregon and Washington. The foundation, founded by Dave and Sally Bany in 1998, is named for Sally’s grandmother, Marie Lamfrom seen above. Marie Lamfrom, who lived from 1896 to 1982 was the mother of Columbia Sportswear Company Chairman Gert Boyle. The foundation received additional funds after the passing of Gert Boyle in 2019. Currently, the Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation has approximately $150 million in assets to support its mission and is on track to donate $9 million this year.
Marie Lamfrom’s Family: Sally Bany, Eva Labby, the late Gert Boyle and Rachael Bany Sneddon. Sally serves as the Chairman of the Foundation, while her daughter, Rachael Sneddon, is CEO. Additional trustees include Sally’s daughter, Annie Bany, and Sally’s son-in-law, Russell Sneddon.
With the increase in giving capacity, the Foundation will continue to support nonprofit organizations focusing on education and mentorship, arts and creativity, and health and well-being, with the majority of funds benefiting programs based in the Pacific Northwest. “I started this Foundation with my late husband, Dave, 23 years ago to honor the life of my amazing grandmother, Marie Lamfrom,” said Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation Chairman Sally Bany. “ At age 18, Marie served in World War I as a nurse on the Russian front, then returned to Germany, where she married and had three children. As the Nazis rose to power, Marie and her family fled to Portland, Ore.
After her relocation, Marie became known as Bluebird thanks to her support of the Girl Scouts, where she served as a troop leader at Shriners Hospital for Children.
“I feel so fortunate to come from a family of such strong, independent, and philanthropic women,” said Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation CEO Rachael Sneddon. “I grew up watching my mother and my grandmother continue the work of my great grandmother Marie, and I feel so honored to step into that role as we continue the Foundation’s support of so many important nonprofits. We want to encourage nonprofits doing work in education and mentorship, arts and creativity, and health and well-being to reach out. We would love to hear your story and explore ways we might be able to collaborate.”
For more information about the foundation’s grant process and to apply, please visit https://www.marielamfrom.org/grants.
Here’s a video about the life of Marie Lamfrom:
About the Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation:
The Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation was established by Dave and Sally Bany in 1998 to support nonprofit organizations throughout the Pacific Northwest. The Foundation now focuses on nonprofit programs that support education and mentorship, arts and creativity, and health and well-being. The Foundation was named for Sally’s grandmother, Marie Lamfrom. For more information, please visit marielamfrom.org.
The Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation, a local non-profit founded by Dave and Sally Bany in 1998. Named for Sally’s grandmother, Marie Lamfrom, the foundation has recently been granted additional funds after the passing of Marie’s daughter and Sally’s mother, Columbia Sportswear Company Chairman, Gert Boyle.
The current fund amount of $150 million will be used to support nonprofit organizations focusing on education and mentorship, arts and creativity, and health and well-being, with the majority of funds benefiting programs based in the Pacific Northwest. Past recipients of the Foundation include everything from Dress for Success and Girl Scouts Beyond Bars to Oregon Food Bank and the Pleasant Hill Community Theatre.
For decades, Marie gave to the people of her city and state through her numerous volunteer efforts and support of community causes. She served in World War I as a nurse, working on the Russian front at the age of 18. At the end of the war, she returned home to Germany and married Paul, then had three daughters. As the Nazis rose to power, Marie and her family fled to Portland, Oregon.
Marie (fondly known as “Bluebird”) was involved in Girl Scouts for over 44 years as a troop leader, board member and delegate to the national convention. She is lovingly remembered for her 20-year commitment to her Girl Scout troop at the Shriners Hospital for Children. She held an annual barbecue in the parking lot, and all the children attended, even wheeled down in their beds.
Perhaps her greatest legacy is the founding of a similar troop at Providence Hospital, a troop that continues today with 28 members. All the Girl Scouts are medically fragile, but–just as with Marie’s Shriners troop–they give back to their community by preparing and serving meals to the elderly.
Marie Lamfrom inspired countless young women. Girl Scouts is better because of her dedication, compassion, energy and commitment. Her long, rich legacy of Girl Scouting is now in its fourth generation.
The example that Marie set for all of us remains the goal even today. Since 2013 the Girl Scout Marie Lamfrom Women of Distinction Luncheon each year showcases the women who have followed her lead in choosing to make an impact with their work.
