Our Board
Cathie day, President, Gifting
A 25 year resident of the valley, Cathie is a graduate of CWU, a former teacher and Certified Librarian at Ellensburg High School and currently teaches in the Selah School District. As so many of us have, she has lost loved ones to cancer, and also helped friends who fought it and survived. A cancer diagnosis is scary, stressful, and expensive. She is glad to have an opportunity to help support families who are in this fight, and is dedicated to this special foundation that keeps local funds local. She and the Board strive to ensure that every family in our community living with cancer is supported. Cathie is a founding member of the Gretchen Weller Foundation.
lisa stowe, Vice President, Referral Coordinator
An Ellensburg resident for more than 30 years, Lisa is the Fiscal Specialist/Office Manager for the Chemistry Department at CWU as well as being an alum. Lisa is a former caregiver and a cancer survivor herself, she has lost loved ones to cancer, and is also connected with many survivors in this county. She was active as a team captain and survivor chair for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event locally for 10 years, and is excited to shift gears by joining this special foundation that keeps local funds local.
jen holmgren, Secretary
Jen has lived in Ellensburg most of her life and believes strongly in this supportive community that truly cares for one another. She and her husband Brian enjoy living and playing in this beautiful valley and love time and adventures spent with their two children, Leah and Leif. She also loves teaching kindergarten and is passionate about helping grow a sense of community and compassion in young hearts. It was in the classroom she first met the Wellers when their oldest son started school. She counts knowing and loving Gretchen and her family in friendship a huge blessing and is continually inspired by the ways they choose to live with hope while loving BIG. Like so many of us, Jen has felt the impact of how a diagnosis affects loved ones and understands the power of a kind word, generous act, or unexpected gift amidst the battle. She is grateful to be a part of the GWF and thankful for the opportunities to come alongside friends and neighbors living with cancer. She is excited to see the many beautiful ways our community will continue to be cared for and supported because of the generosity and kindness of people like you!
Christina Frye, Treasurer
Christina grew up in Eastern Washington and attended CWU where she earned degrees in Human Resources Administration and Accounting, and then furthered her education by completing the Certified Public Accountant certificate. She is joining us as Treasurer, where she will be in charge of financial processes, record keeping, reporting and the annual internal audit. Community service is an important part of Christina and her family’s lives and they have been involved in several local non-profit organizations in various capacities over the 20 years they have lived in Ellensburg. The Gretchen Weller Foundation is particularly special to her, as she recently supported her husband, Ryan, through his cancer journey and knows how important it is to have a strong support group. She is dedicated to helping ensure local community members feel support through their journeys as well. Christina lives in Ellensburg with her husband and two children.
barb goll, Graphic design, public relations
A proud mom of two grown children and central Washington native, Barb has made her home in Ellensburg for over 30 years. After enjoying two creative decades as a graphic designer she happily spent 15 years at Ellensburg High School—both as a design/photography/yearbook/newspaper teacher and as the Activities Coordinator/leadership advisor. Most recently, she retired from CWU where she was a graphic designer for the Public Affairs visual creative team. Raised by parents that instilled a lifelong love for community and service, Barb is grateful to join the GWF Board to lend her skills and help in any way possible to support and heartily “love big” on folks in our community living and dealing with cancer.
Mary Gordon, past president, Fundraising Chair, Website
Mary Gordon is a founding member of the Gretchen Weller Foundation. Raised in Ellensburg, Mary attended Ellensburg High School and Washington State University where she earned degrees in Physical Education and English. Mary returned to Ellensburg in 2002 with her husband Steve and three children and has been active in the schools and community with various volunteer activities. She is passionate about giving back to the community she loves, and also serves on the Ellensburg Education Foundation where she coordinates Caring Cupboard, a program that helps students with items needed to be successful in school.
penny hein, gifting, upper county liaison, Coin Vortex, follow up letters
Penny lives in Cle Elum with her husband and two children. She was raised in Kirkland, WA and then attended Washington State University where she earned a degree in communications. With her family having been involved for many years with the Ellensburg Rodeo, Kittitas County has always been dear to her heart. She is currently enjoying homeschooling her children and enjoys family time, boating, camping, and adventuring. She also serves as President of The Foundation at KVH board, helping to bring new tools and resources to enhance and grow KVH. Penny is glad to be a part of supporting and blessing those in Kittitas County on their cancer journey, helping to ease the burden and put a little joy in their hearts.
debbie rowden, Gifting, personal correspondence, social media, thank you letters
Debbie has lived in the Kittitas Valley for over 50 years. She retired from the Ellensburg School District in 2012 after teaching English for 37 years. Looking for a way to volunteer in the community, she agreed to work on the Gretchen Weller Foundation Facebook page, and recently became a board member. She sees firsthand how the foundation is helping families in Kittitas County, and she is so pleased to be able to help in the outreach to families facing a cancer diagnosis.
gretchen Weller, honorary board member
Gretchen is originally from western New York and after many years in Ellensburg, she and her family relocated to Wenatchee, WA. She has been married to her husband Nate for over 20 years and they are raising their three miracle kids after a long bout of unexplained infertility. Shortly after her daughter turned one, Gretchen was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. She has monthly treatments to try to control its progression. As a family they have committed to living life with hope and joy. Gretchen is the inspiration for the creation of the Gretchen Weller Foundation.