Serve Greatly, Love Deeply, Live Purposefully
- Amber Fowler
- Nov 5
- 3 min read
Recognizing the impact of philanthropy and the contributions of those who give their time and talent to strengthen our Wilsonville and Portland-Metro communities, The Fowler Family Fund (TheFowlerFamilyFund.com) enthusiastically spotlights four of our favorite nonprofit organizations, each of whom serve as inspiration, especially as we prepare to celebrate National Philanthropy Day on November 15th. Closing out 2025, your volunteer, in-kind, financial, and legacy support will help each of these and other IRS 501(c)(3) organizations to grow and thrive as they work to provide leadership and direct services to fellow Oregonians.
Elijah’s Heart House
Kimmee Auxier is the driving force for this important Canby-based nonprofit that was established in memory of Elijah Auxier, and she helps bring hope, encouragement, and housing assistance to support the needs of pediatric patients and their families in their quest for medical treatment.
Elijah’s Heart House provides resources for the cost of lodging to families whose child is undergoing treatment or a procedure in a medical facility. They also offer families the option of staying in Elijah’s Heart House, a beautiful retreat house located near the Portland area hospitals.
We encourage everyone to discover the heartfelt journey of the beloved Elijah, whose life, though brief, was filled with courage, love, and an unshakeable faith, by visiting their website to learn more.
The Heart Of It
When you support Elijah’s Heart House, your contribution will:
Provide a safe and welcoming respite for patients and their families.
Your financial support gives families hope and support during uncertain times.
Your attendance and proceeds at their special events go directly to the Elijah J. Auxier Foundation.
HomePlate Youth Services
Meeting Youth Where They Are
HomePlate Youth Services envisions communities where homelessness is a short-term circumstance, not a long term or chronic condition, and youth are supported in their communities.
HomePlate serves youth ages 12 to 24 who are experiencing any type of instability, and they strive to provide a judgement free and safer community to build relationships as they take the first steps towards finding stability.
Volunteerism At Its Finest
Ed Spradlin, a 79-year-old Vietnam Veteran remains our most favorite human being in the entire world! Always sporting his HomePlate Youth Services fluorescent safety vest, five days a week and in the early morning hours he can be found hoisting bags full of Oregon recyclable bottles and cans into the Gresham Bottle Drop Redemption Center. Having served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1970, Ed and his team have been supporting HomePlate since the Spring of 2025. Most recently, the team collected 74 bags of recyclables in a single day – a team record – that generated an estimated $750 in donations to HomePlate!
We also love and embrace Ed’s motto: “Kindness is one of the nicest things there is.”
Bradley Angle
Bradley Angle serves anyone affected by domestic violence. They value the dignity and personal stories of everyone who comes to them for support, and respect that survivors should have control over their own lives.
Recently, The Fowler Family Fund served as a sponsor to their 50th annual fundraiser of the year, in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This October 2025 inspiring event brought together a community of supporters to raise critical funds for their life-saving programs and the 600+ survivors and their children that they serve annually.
Dr. Anita Hill highlighted a memorable evening fueled by testimonies of survivor resilience rooted in celebrating their history, those that paved the way, and the thousands of survivors that Bradley Angle has served over the last 50 years!
Portland Dachshund & Friends Rescue
Addicted To Making A Difference!
Portland Dachshund & Friends Rescue Inc is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, no-kill organization, passionately committed to providing care and rehoming services to dachshunds and other small breeds that are in need, throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Just like our cover image reflects, Portland Dachshund & Friends envision a world where they not only save dogs that have been left behind or discarded, but also help educate the community about the opportunities: to transform each new volunteer and adoptive family into ambassadors for not only the Dachshund breed, but overall pet ownership. The organization is vigilant in teaching youth about pet ownership responsibility, helping foster empathy and compassion, promoting physical activity, and illuminating the value of pet companionship
Portland Dachshund & Friends Rescue’s core values include:
Care
Trust
Compassion
Commitment
National Philanthropy Day is celebrated on November 15th, and is an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the power of giving, whether it is through donations of money, time, or expertise. It serves as an occasion to recognize individuals, corporations, and foundations for their commitment to improving communities and addressing societal needs, and to highlight the vital role philanthropy plays in societal progress, encouraging continued engagement with the nonprofit sector.
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