Meet Our Team
Board Members
“We desire to invest into the lives of every person we serve, loving them as if they were and are a part of our own family.”
Jason & Tara Hood
(FOUNDERS and director)
We have been married for 32 years and every year, our family continues to grow. We have three adult children, a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law, two adopted elementary age kiddos, five grand babies and countless people we call family.
We have been mentoring families since 1991 and fostering children since 2011. Our “methods” have been greatly affected by the grace shown to us by others...believing that God is a God of judgment, and His favorite judgment is grace. While fostering the children, we found ourselves challenged by the words of Psalms 68:5-6, “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing. We desire to invest into the lives of every person we serve, loving them as if they were and are a part of our own family. We mentor in many ways, but most of all we love the parents and children, believing that love, consistency and trust are essential for healing and growth.
“Services that Hannah Grace Family provides is extremely important to the community. Helping HGF continue and expand their ability to work with broken families is paramount to the greater Portland area. I’m very pleased to be associated with HGF....”
Ed dewald
(treasurer)
I’m a retired banker with financial background, and 20 years working with non profit organizations, including some Board experience. My wife Judy and I have bern married 61 years, and have lived in Oregon since 1984. Services that Hannah Grace Family provides is extremely important to the community. Helping HGF continue and expand their ability to work with broken families is paramount to the greater Portland area. I’m very pleased to be associated with HGF, the Hoods, the Hills, the Eagles, and the heavily committed Board, Advisory Board, and volunteers.
“My parents were foster parents for most of my childhood and I've seen up close the trauma it has caused not only to the children, but also with the parents.”
LaRae EagleS
(Board member)
I was born and raised in Oregon and have worked in accounts receivable field for over 20 years. My husband and I have two amazing children, an incredible daughter in- law and son in-law, and four adorable grand-babies. My parents were foster parents for most of my childhood and I've seen up close the trauma it has caused not only to the children, but also with the parents. I support this ministry because of Jason and Tara's commitment and the passion they have to see families reunited and restored.
“After my first meeting with Jason and Tara I knew they were in this world changing the trajectory of families challenged by instability”
JULIE FRESN
(BOARD MEMBER)
I was born and raised in Montana moving to Oregon in 1987. I have 3 adult children, 2 daughters-in-law, one terrific son-in-law and 10 beautifully unique grandchildren. I worked in the newly emerging telecommunications field for 17 years starting in the mid-1980's as a pre-installation engineer and project manager. One of my passions when my children were younger was coaching youth basketball and I did so for 11 years. I co-founded Bellagios Pizza in 1996 and grew the company to over $13 million in sales annually before retiring in 2018. My other life experiences include volunteering at St. Mary's Home for Boys for 8 years and holding positions on the board of multiple non-profits serving young people struggling to navigate extreme challenges in life. It was while serving on one of those boards I was encouraged to meet Jason and Tara Hood. After my first meeting with Jason and Tara I knew they were in this world changing the trajectory of families challenged by instability. I am excited about the opportunity to walk alongside Jason, Tara and the rest of the Hannah Grace Family.
Non-Voting Board Members
“I grew up with parents that not only fostered countless children, but fostered the deep hurts of the bio families. Coincidentally, I too am a foster parent with a heart wanting and willing to extend grace to those needing it most”
Whitney Hill
(SEcretary)
associate DIRECTOR & Event COORDINATOR
Over the years I’ve found that when people are at their lowest, sometimes a little grace evokes more change than judgement. I am a foster parent, a mother of three children, a youth leader, an Executive Assistant and a dedicated advocate for helping people in their times of need.
I’ve grown up with a family that serves and helps others, as well as with a family that fosters children and bio parents. Fortunately, my family and I now get to serve and foster others as well. Being apart of Hannah Grace Family isn’t just another task to check off, it’s truly a deep love and commitment to seeing others reach their true potential, despite their mistakes; extending grace where condemnation is often given.
ADVISORY Board Members
Christian Hood
Shannon Ayuyu