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Foundation Staff
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Merris Sumrall, Chief Executive Officer
As the foundation's energetic leader, Merris has brought strategic vision and a passion for libraries, literacy, arts and culture to our work over the last seven years. She led the foundation board and staff in its highly successful children's literacy campaign and our work on the library's last levy campaign. Merris moved to Portland in the late-70's, founded two non-profits and then worked around the world with technology companies, helping them develop global design, marketing and branding strategy. Eventually, she landed in Manhattan but after 9/11, she decided to return "home" to Portland, bringing her business and non-profit experience to a library system, and community, that she loves. In her spare time, you can find her on the hunt for sumptuous treats at the farmer's market, dancing Cajun and Zydeco or more recently, realizing her lifelong dream of rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon.
Neighborhood library:
Central
Why the library:
"Self sufficiency is one of my core values. I have always believed that if we give people the tools, everyone has a desire to improve themselves, grow and understand the world around them. We would live in a more peace-loving world if reading was a part of everyone's daily life."
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Wes Breazeale, Director of Development
As the son of a reading teacher, Wes is well-versed in the importance of early literacy, student success and the richness that libraries bring to our lives. Wes' experience spans corporate and non-profit settings, including educational, environmental and clinical research-based organizations. Having lived in Portland for nearly two decades, Wes considers himself a "naturalized" Oregonian, despite growing up in New England. An avid outdoorsman, soccer player and film buff, Wes is rarely without a book nearby.
Neighborhood library:
Gregory Heights
Why the library:
"Libraries have been a friend and resource throughout my entire life. As a voracious reader, I use my 'holds' list to keep that next great read within reach. I hope to share my strong passion for libraries with everyone I meet."
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Jamie June, Fiscal Manager
A diehard non-profit devotee, Jamie has been actively involved for many years with arts, culture and educational organizations, including Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland Center for the Performing Arts and Conduit Dance. Her experience in event management, fundraising and volunteer coordination makes her well-suited to her varied role as the foundation’s fiscal manager. Jamie is a total foodie and is always in search of the best meal to be had in Portland. You may also find her knitting, working on an always-expanding list of house projects, reading, bicycling, walking, growing food, traveling, watching performance art and modern dance, playing scrabble, and—most importantly—entertaining her baby boy.
Neighborhood library:
Sellwood-Moreland
Why the library:
“I could give you a detailed description of every single neighborhood library that I ever called 'my own'- and there have been many of them over the years. Growing up, we moved often, and I always found the library to be the one safe, constant place that was full of promise and knowledge. Libraries have had a profound impact on my belief in the value of education and access of information.”
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Rachel Jagoda Brunette, Communications Manager
A refugee from the political grind of Washington, D.C., Rachel is both a scientist and a creative. Having spent many hours in her neighborhood libraries in the Bay Area as a child, she relishes the chance to boast about our region’s most treasured institution. Today, she is a frequent attendee at the library’s storytimes and finds herself sacrificing sleep to catch up on her newest finds from the Lucky Day collection. Rachel does make time to enjoy the changing seasons with her family while hiking or cross-country skiing on Mt. Hood. In what is left of her spare time, she plays the fiddle and volunteers as an educator in the physics lab at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.
Neighborhood library:
Belmont
Why the library: “One of my favorite childhood memories was walking home from the library with a bag of books stacked so high I could barely see over the top. Sitting down with a new library book is still such a joyful moment—it’s an entire universe of possibilities neatly contained between two covers.”
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Juli Bailey, Grants Manager
Juli came to the foundation from Chicago, where she worked as Development Coordinator at Facing History and Ourselves. Juli is the foundation's grants organizer, a great internal and external communicator and a key fount of foundation information. Juli is a great resource for tips on fermenting and cooking, beer and breweries. She also enjoys hosting backyard gatherings, as well as hiking and exploring our city and its surrounding spaces.
Neighborhood library:
Belmont
Why the library:
"The library is a great egalitarian organization. People can get whatever information they need across all topics, as well as have access to free research assistance from experts."
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Kristin Wallace, Development Associate
Kristin was the campaign field organizer for over 445 volunteers who worked to successfully pass the last library levy. She now spends much of her time raising more than 70,000 Summer Reading prizes a year, gratified in the knowledge that over 110,00 children took part in Summer Reading this past summer! Kristin is an avid accordionist and regularly treats the office to her baked delicacies.
Neighborhood library:
North Portland
Why the library:
"Libraries are a place where all are welcome, a place that expands minds of all ages—it's magic; it's democracy. What could be better?"
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Dale Favier, Database Coordinator
Dale is the foundation's database pro, cheerfully and precisely maintaining foundation records. A former computer programmer at IBM, Dale now splits his time between the foundation and his new career as a massage therapist. His passions outside his work include reading and writing poetry, and he recently collaborated on a limited-edition volume of poetry titled "Brilliant Coroners."
Neighborhood library:
Belmont
Why the library:
"All those wonderful books, all that learning and thinking, all those stories and songs—so much of what people have ever made that's worth keeping—all right there, free to all finders. That's amazing."
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Larissa Brown, Grants Consultant
One of our region’s finest grantwriting consultants, Larissa has written grants that have changed many lives—from securing dental care for children and adults who had no health insurance to seeing that toddlers across the community are read to daily. An accomplished artist, writer and trainer, Larissa has co-authored two published books: Demystifying Grant Seeking and Knitalong: Celebrating the Tradition of Knitting Together. When not writing grants and knitting, you may find Larissa hanging out with her son and riding their big townie bike with an Xtracycle on the back.
Neighborhood library:
Belmont
Why the library:
"As a reader and a writer, I'm proud of our community's long-standing devotion to libraries and reading. It's part of what makes our city unique."
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Tina Tam, Office Manager
Tina came to the foundation five years ago as a volunteer and now keeps our office on track as the Office Manager. Just before joining us, she landed in Portland after backpacking for seven months in Asia. One day, she hopes to make her way across Russia via the Trans-Siberian Railway. Until then, she is content to spend her time dancing her way around this side of the hemisphere.
Neighborhood library:
Central
Why the library:
“Because the library is a place of endless discovery! With such an extensive collection, I can easily find that book that I’ve been meaning to check out, and have stumbled upon many great films and even more music. I love popping in to my local branch just to browse all of the newest crafty books. I always leave the library feeling inspired."
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