This photo of Dugie Freeman and Bo Shindler was taken mid-July of 2019, less than a year prior to Dugie passing peacefully in his home on the morning of 9 June 2020. For many years, Dugie had worked tirelessly to help young people in Curry County and always felt it was important to give back to the community that a person calls home.
When he learned his cancer was terminal, Dugie worked to quickly establish a self-perpetuating endowment fund whose emphasis would be to assist young people as they strive to learn and gain skills in vocational trades. He also believed in investing in people who will return to Curry County communities after completing their education.
For several years, Dugie had admired the work of Jeri and Tim Tuttle, founders of a private non-profit organization focused on educational and vocational funding opportunities for youth. Their organization, Southwest Oregon Children’s Foundation (SWOCF), had been providing scholarships, CTE training, and encouraging students to return and contribute to Southwestern Oregon communities. Dugie turned to the Tuttles and worked with SWOCF to formalize and establish an endowment. During his working career, Dugie had made contributions to a retirement account and gifted resources from his account to fund the endowment. When SWOCF discontinued its philanthropic work, all Freeman Endowment assets were transferred to the Gold Beach Youth Fund, where the work could continue. Today, the Gold Beach Youth Fund is providing stewardship for endowment funds, donor-advised charitable gift funds, and other monies to the benefit of Central Curry County. The Gold Beach Youth Fund has other programs and forms of participation that may also be of interest to potential benefactors.
Though not entirely restrictive, Dugie preferred that the Freeman Endowment operate with an emphasis on vocational and trade skill sets. While community youth generally have been the primary applicants, it was important to Dugie that there would be no age limit for student eligibility. He also wanted recurring grants/scholarships throughout a student’s period of study to be made available, provided a level of consistency, performance, and proficiency could be demonstrated.
Any individual, corporation, foundation, or group may make additional donations at any time. To learn about the Freeman Endowment and other programs of the Gold Beach Youth Fund, visit the GBYF website for detailed and current information.
