Bio of Tom Schaefer
Tom lives with his wife, Mole, their five cats and adolescent dog near Pine Grove and Odell in Hood River County. Tom and Mole chose Hood River Valley as home for their family of three children over twenty years ago because of the area’s natural beauty and wonderful sense of community.
Tom received his BA from Pomona College, teaching certification at Pacific Oaks College, and his Masters in Counseling Education from the University of Southern California. He served Pacific Northwest communities as a VISTA Volunteer (predecessor to AmeriCorps) and educator.
His lifelong commitment has been to children, youth and community and he currently serves appointments on both the Oregon Commission of Children and Families and the Hood River County Commission on Children and Families. For the fifteen years since an early retirement, Tom has actively advised high school students in community service and college planning.
The Schaefer’s children began the Schaefer Family Fund, a Donor Advised Fund, as part of their commitment to giving back to community. The surviving children changed the name to the Laura Douglass Schaefer Fund to honor their younger sister after her sudden death in 2007. It is an endowment which will permanently support some of Laura’s passions – music performance and education and animal welfare.
Tom’s belief that we should include a look at local needs when deciding on charitable giving led him to be a founding member of the Gorge Community Foundation board. Tom and Mole made provision in their wills for a further legacy through the Gorge Community Foundation.