The Bridges Foundation Trustees (left to right):  Luke Fitzpatrick, Andy Fitzpatrick, Jake Fitzpatrick, Nancy Bridges, Jack Bridges and Kathy Bridges.

Appreciation is extended to past Trustees:  David Thompson, Blair Cummins and Karen Wassenberg.

Kathy Bridges, Executive Director
Kathy assisted Jack & Nancy Bridges since the creation of The Bridges Foundation in 1987. She was asked to serve as Executive Director in 2000 and has served as a Trustee since 2001.

Kathy has devoted most of her life working with and directing non-profit agencies. Her efforts include:

Directed intergovernmental Oregon Coastal Zone Management Association in Newport, OR (1975-1980)

Spearheaded creation of the Small Farmers Market in Newport, OR (1977-1980)

Directed The Mid-Valley Children's Guild, Salem, OR (1982-1994) which was later operated by Easter Seals until 2013

Served on the Board for the Autism Society of Oregon, Salem, OR (1996-2008)

Luke Fitzpatrick, Conservation Director
Luke graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Forest Management and a Minor in Wildland Fire Science. He worked for the Oregon Department of Forestry, the U.S. Forest Service and several private timber companies doing wildlife habitat analysis, fire management, and timber appraisal. During that time Luke spent five years on the fire line protecting Oregon forests. Luke worked three years for the U.S. Geological Survey studying amphibians and crayfish.

Served on the Board for Northwest Land Conservation Trust, Eugene, OR (2008-2015)

Served on the Board for Oregon Aquaculture Association, Stayton, OR (2004-2023). Kathy also served on the Oregon State University Sea Grant Extension Aquaculture Advisory Council and the Oregon Department of Agriculture Regional Strategies Committee on Aquaculture.

Continues to serve on the Board for Killingsworth Condominium Association, Portland, OR (2013-2015, 2017-present)

Continues to serve on the North Santiam Watershed Council, Stayton, OR (2021-present)

In 1991, Kathy was honored by Governor Barbara Roberts and Salem YWCA by receiving the Tribute to Outstanding Women for significant contributions and services as Executive Director for The Mid-Valley Children’s Guild. During her tenure, thousands of children received early intervention services including physical, occupation, speech/language, and music therapy, family services, mental health services, preschool program, summer camp and a two-year preschool program specializing in services for children with autism.

In addition to her work and volunteering with non-profits, Kathy worked as Manager for world-renowned bronze artist and oil painter, Lorenzo Ghiglieri, Aurora, OR (1998-2002).

Since 1980, Kathy owns and operates a 150-acre farm, Santiam Valley Ranch, LLC. Products have included aquaculture, lamb production and certified organic crops. Kathy is committed to using renewable energy systems and the farm generates up to 52.8 kW through wind and solar systems. Since 2012, 100 acres were restored to wetland prairie under the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service and working with US Fish & Wildlife Service. In 2014, Marion County presented the “Green Award” to Santiam Valley Ranch as its Sustainable Small Business of the Year.

Kathy holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology, with Minors in Chemistry and Political Science. She holds a Master’s Degree in Resource Economics from Utah State University.

An entrepreneur at heart, Luke lives adjacent to his family farm where he manages aquaculture operations in his business, "Santiam Valley Aquaculture." On addition, Luke manages several waterfowl hunting clubs and is active in restoring habitat back to native wetland. He works actively with the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service and has placed 89 acres of his farm into the Wetland Reserve Program.

As a teenager, Luke attended two Outward Bound programs that changed his life. Since then he has worked to share his love of the outdoors with as many people as possible and assists the Salem Audubon Society and Ducks Unlimited. He is an avid skier and kayaker.

Since 2014 Luke is pleased to serve on The Bridges Foundation as a Trustee and to ensure that Oregon remains an amazing place for all.

Jake Fitzpatrick, Technology Director
Jake graduated from Oregon State University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Speech Communications with a Minor in Multimedia. Jake’s expertise is in computer technology. He currently works for Comcast NBCUniversal as a Customer Account Executive.

Jake resides in Portland and is a "Blazermaniac." In addition, Jake enjoys Portland theatre and the Oregon Zoo.

Jake was asked to serve as Trustee in 2014. Jake is Technology Director and oversees the web page in addition overseeing financial accounting with Quickbooks.

Andy Fitzpatrick graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelors Degree in Natural Resource Management with a Minor in Environmental Policy. He spent four years working with the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife in The Dalles, Oregon and at E. E. Wilson Wildlife Refuge in Adair, Oregon. In 2016, Andy moved to the Island of Oahu in Hawaii, where he works as Project Manager for Cool Roof Hawaii. Since returning to Oregon in 2018, Andy works for Dalke Construction.

Andy is redesigning and rebuilding a rural home nestled within a ten acre grove of Oregon White Oak near his home in Oregon. His broad based interests and skills range from mechanical engineering, woodworking and welding to snowboarding, hiking and kayaking. Andy also breeds Labrador retrievers, "Willamette Valley Labradors."

Andy joined the Foundation as a Trustee in 2014 and in 2016 took leave of absence.

Jack Bridges & Nancy Bridges, Founders

Jack started a national annuity agency in 1973 after years as an insurance industry executive. In retirement, he concentrated on investment matters. Nancy was an avid gardener and gourmet cook. Together, they traveled extensively around the world and made their home in Tiburon, California. Jack Bridges passed in 2014; Nancy Bridges now resides in California.

The Trustees expressed heartfelt appreciation to Jack and Nancy Bridges for their effort to create The Bridges Foundation and for investing over $1 million dollars to assist non-profit foundations. With their goal to assist others, the Trustees honor their foresight and are committed to continue the mission of The Bridges Foundation long into the future.