Lawson F. Knight
Lawson joined the Foundation staff in August 2002 following a five-year stint at Oregon State University in development and university relations. His passions are philanthropy and community and can actually be said to enjoy fundraising. Active personally and professionally in the community, he is a Leadership Walla Walla alumnus, served on the Union-Bulletin Community Advisory Committee, the Leadership Prayer Breakfast Steering Committee and Walla Walla Public Schools Strategic Planning Committee. He is also active in Rotary of Walla Walla and his church. He is married to wife Cyndy and has three daughters. A graduate of Oregon State University and the University of Lyon, France in biology, Lawson began his professional career in winemaking and marketing.
Joan Aragone
Joan has served the Foundation since January 2003. She has 27 years of legal experience with specific expertise in Wills and estates. A primary function of Joan’s duties is managing the Foundation’s grant and scholarship programs. Her attention to detail, excellent oral and written communication skills and passion for the local non-profit community makes her ideally suited for the role. Joan recently moved to part-time status to spend more time working in her garden, reading and checking out estate and yard sales.
Mari Sanders
Mari joined the Foundation in October 2011. Since moving to Walla Walla in 2003, Mari has been involved in a number of community projects including the Menlo Park Playground development. She served as the Study Committee Chair for the Community Council Study on Value Added Agriculture. Other leadership roles have included the boards of the WWCC Parent Cooperative Preschool, Green Park PTA, and Blue Mountain Heart to Heart. At this time, Mari is a board member for the Carnegie Picture Lab Program. Mari has two boys, River and Eden who attend Sharpstein elementary. You might even see Mari roller skating at the YMCA with the Walla Walla Sweets Roller Girls!
Kate Bobrow-Strain
Kate joined the Foundation in 2005 as part-time Bookkeeper, and has gradually increased her work hours and responsibilities, becoming the full-time Director of Finance and Administration in April 2012. A resident of Walla Walla since 2004, Kate’s activities in the community have included volunteering in Spanish language classrooms at Green Park and Sharpstein Elementary, serving on the Board of the Housing Authority of Walla Walla County which runs the Farm Labor Homes, participating in the 2008-09 Community Council study on Enhancing the Educational Achievement of our Region’s Children, and being active with the local synagogue. She enjoys travel, dancing, and spending time outdoors.