The Thalden Foundation is a philanthropic not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation based in Ashland, Oregon, directed by Kathryn and Barry Thalden, who are both retired and moved to Ashland in 2012. Their lifelong commitment to building community is reflected in the careers and current volunteer roles:
Kathryn serves on the Board of Directors of Parker House, a transitional residential shelter for women and children in Ashland. Kathryn´s background includes founding and operating a city planning and landscape architectural firm in Kansas City, and, later, was founding minister of the Unity Church in Green Valley in Henderson, Nevada.
Barry serves on the Board of Trustees of Southern Oregon University and the Rogue Valley Symphony Orchestra. Barry´s background is as an architect that founded, and for 43 years led, what became a nationally known architectural firm, with offices in St. Louis, Tulsa, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. Barry´s experience includes designing tens of thousands of creative residential units from coast to coast.
Over the past 9 years, The Thalden Foundation has funded a wide variety of projects in the Rogue Valley. While the Thaldens prefer to support the community anonymously, some of their projects have been public by necessity, including: The World Peace Monument and The Thalden Pavilion on the Southern Oregon University campus, the establishment and annual support of the Flower Basket program in downtown Ashland, large murals at the Ashland Emergency Food Bank and along Calle Guanajuato in Ashland, as well as a large mural in Ashland´s Sister City of Guanajuato, Mexico.
The Thalden Foundation is interested in building this new community and providing charitable contributions that would fund portions of the project, such as: design costs, down payment reductions, community center, laundry, community kitchen, and a community park with playground and gardens.