Thank goodness Jake Warr likes to play basketball. He was introduced to Friendly House through his friend and fellow baller Aaron Lande, and they have both played here for years. Soon after becoming a member of our Community Center, Jake became a volunteer. He is passionate about marginalized people getting the support they need, which is what motivated him to become a board member. He’s been a Jake-of-All-Trades, filling roles as needed as a poutine judge, raffle ticket king, and event emcee. Currently, Jake is the board liaison to Friendly House’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee.

Chris lives just up the street from Friendly House and has been an integral part of our community for years. His legal expertise and insights into our capital campagin and other facilities projects have been invaluable to the success of Friendly House’s mission, and we are so grateful to have him and his amazing wife (former Board President Regina Hauser) in our neighborhood.

Senior Deputy City Attorney Wendy Hain brings a plethora of experience in legal, real estate and communications sectors to the Friendly House Board of Directors.

She has been involved with the FH community for over 13 years, and we are so pleased to have her passion and expertise in our corner.

None of us were quite ready for the level of insight and enthusiasm for FH’s role in the community that Val would bring to the table when she joined our Capital Campaign Task Force in 2019. While the pandemic put the campaign on hold, Val was able to continue helping FH find ways to better serve the community and spread the word about all the ways our services had adapted to meet the needs of our community in the midst of COVID-19. Now, as the co-chair of our Development Task Force and through her role on the board, Val is a guiding force for the future of FH.

Jason found Friendly House on Facebook! As a young gay man, he was looking for opportunities to support LGBT older adults and build his leadership skills. Jason attended a SAGE Metro Portland barbeque, and we saw in him great potential as a board member. Today, Jason is a thought leader on the board, has served as the secretary, vice-president, and president of Friendly House’s Board. He has also been active at the Human Rights Campaign as their Volunteer Engagement Committee Co-Chair.

A funny thing happened at ESCO Corp’s 100th anniversary celebration. Executive Director Vaune Albanese was in line waiting for an ice cream cone when Mike sidled up with his two adorable young children. They started a conversation during which Mike made it known that besides being the Vice President of the Global Supply Chain at ESCO, he was also a trained auctioneer. The following March, Mike debuted as our new auctioneer. Following his smash-hit performance, Mike was asked to join the board as our ESCO rep. He continues to be our favorite auctioneer of all time.

Gaby and her family live in Northwest Portland, and she was introduced to Friendly House while searching for a preschool for her son. Not stopping there, she later brought her talents as a fitness and dance instructor for older adults in the community as a beloved and respected teacher. Gaby joined the board with the knowledge of someone active in the Friendly House community.

As Senior Director of Marketing at Adidas, Paul brings much needed marketing expertise to Friendly House. The parent of two young children, Paul’s motivation for adding board member responsibilities to his already busy schedule serves as a shining example to his children of a volunteer actively giving back to the community.

Christy has been a part of the FH family for the better part of a decade and has given so much of her time and resources in support of so many facets of our community, from volunteering in our Children’s Programs, to helping prepare for our Annual Spring Auction, to supporting our Development Department with invaluable guidance and positive energy. Christy is the personification of community, and we are so lucky she’s part of ours.

We really don’t have adequate words to articulate how deeply Ruth Roth’s connection to Friendly House runs. She has given FH many years of leadership and guidance, both through her service on our Board of Directors (including serving as the Board President in 2004) and her countless hours spent chairing our Annual Spring Auction, among many other instances of indispensable wisdom and support. Through all these years, Ruth has been our rock.

Amy has been a part of the Friendly House community for decades, since she first entered our doors as a preschooler. She later attended as an elementary school day camper, then a day camp volunteer,  and finally became a teacher in our Friendly Chaps program and eventually a program director. She later moved on to Portland Public Schools, where she was a teacher for 25 years. She is closely connected with First Presbyterian Church, and she is a vocal supporter of FH’s ever-evolving programs to meet the needs of the community as they arise.