In 2020, amidst the pandemic and isolation, Sachiko Matsunaga and Geoffrey Middlebrook left sunny Southern California to move to Hillsboro, Oregon. This was not an impulsive decision; Sachiko had spent her undergraduate years in Eugene, Oregon, and the couple knew they would return to Oregon for their retirement. When touring a house in Forest Grove, they asked a real estate agent there about Hillsboro, and the rest is history. To them, finding Hillsboro was akin to discovering a hidden gem. While adjusting to a new community during lockdown posed some challenges, they now feel at home in Orenco Station. “I know at least ten of the neighborhood cats and dogs by name,” says Sachiko, smiling.
Sachiko was born and raised in a small town in rural Japan where her father was a local businessman. From a young age, her parents instilled in her the importance of community connectedness. Her dad was always supportive of their community and did everything he could through his business to help it thrive.
Geoffrey was raised in Minneapolis by parents who were deeply involved in local politics. Geoffrey recalls his parents hosting meetings for the League of Women Voters in their house. They taught him not only to live in a community but also to be an active participant in it. “Parents are often where we learn these things,” Geoffrey states, “not necessarily by being directly taught, but by watching.”
Both were also raised with a deep connection to animals and the natural world. Sachiko was raised with many pets; the house was always full of dogs and cats, a bunny, and koi fish in the pond. Despite being raised in the city, Geoffrey always felt a kinship with nature and even the tiniest of critters. As a child, he recalls making friends with ants.
So, when they decided to start a fund with Hillsboro Community Foundation, there was no question about the fund’s uses. Throughout their lives, they have donated to parks and animal welfare, making the fund an easy and consistent way to contribute to the amazing efforts of the community that attracted them to Hillsboro. Since its inception in 2020, the Rosebay Fund has alternated annually between environmental groups and animal welfare groups. Each year Sachiko and Geoffrey hand-deliver the checks to the organizations, allowing them to thank the individuals doing the work personally. This year, they donated $2,584 to Oregon Friends of Shelter Animals.
To Sachiko and Geoffrey, having the Rosebay Fund makes them feel like they’re a part of something bigger. “When you’re out at a movie in the park, you sort of look around and think, ‘Yeah, I’m doing my part,” says Geoffrey. This is what community means: taking an active role in improving your community alongside like-minded people.
To contribute to the Rosebay Fund, click here.
In existence since 1986, the Hillsboro Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in Hillsboro by supporting local programs, services, and initiatives. Through community giving, grantmaking, and donor partnerships, the Foundation strengthens the social, cultural, educational, and civic fabric of the region.
To learn more about the Hillsboro Community Foundation, visit www.hcf-or.org.
