Chief Joseph Parent Teacher Association

The Dawn R. Balch MemorialDawn with her two daughters, about a year before the diagnosis Dawn Balch moved to North Portland with her husband in the Summer of 1990. She soon began volunteering in the community, becoming active in several service organizations. When her older daughter started kindergarten at Chief Joseph in 2002, she joined the PTA and began helping at the school. Her job at Borden in St. Johns was only part-time, so she spent Fridays in the school library shelving books, which she especially enjoyed. In the Fall of 2003, she was unexpectedly diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, and she passed away the following Spring. A large donation from her estate was given to the PTA, where it was used to create the Dawn R. Balch Memorial. For the last several years, the PTA has been able to use this fund to bring a travelling exhibit from OMSI to the school.

 

A donation in her name was also made by Borden (now Hexion), which was used to purchase the rocking chair in the school library.

 

It should be noted that the staff and volunteers at Chief Joseph have been very supportive to Dawn’s family over the years. Thanks to that support, Dawn’s older daughter managed to continue to prosper in her schooling despite the disruptions and grief, and at the end of 5^th grade she received a Presidential Award for Excellence in all three subjects tested that year.

 

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