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Our Story
A four-generation commitment.
The Reser Family Foundation was formed to honor the legacy of family values and community involvement cherished by the Reser Family. Founded by Al and Pat Reser, the Foundation was granted charitable status in 2010 and awarded our first grants in 2011.
Today, Pat Reser, along with her children and grandchildren, guide the work of the Foundation, partnering with diverse organizations across Oregon to strengthen the people and places that make our state so unique and inspiring
“When Al and I knew we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together, we came up with four pillars that were going to be our supports: I would continue school and graduate before we had children; I would not work in the family business — my passion was education; we would raise our children in our faith, and we would always give back to the communities in which we lived and worked.
That seed to give back was planted in 1957, and we’re not through yet.”
– Patricia Reser
In Their Own Words
Pat Reser, 2018 Honoree
Jessie F. Richardson Foundation, Ageless Award
Pat Reser, 2022 Honoree
Oregon State University, Lifetime Trustee Award
Join Pat Reser and her grandchildren as they
discuss the history and future of The Reser Family Foundation.
Al Reser shares the story of how he and his family achieved their American dream.
How a family potato company recipe became more than a billion-dollar business!
Staff
Mari Jo Prlain
Executive Director
Mari Jo Prlain is a long-time veteran of Reser’s Fine Foods, joining the company as Director of Human Resources in 1990 and becoming Corporate Director in 2002. She was also named Executive Director of The Reser Family Foundation in 2010.
An Astoria native and Oregon State University graduate, Mari Jo has worked across the nonprofit sector in ways that underscore the importance she places on family. She was treasurer of The Sauvie Island Elementary School, a PTA board member at Alice Ott Middle School and served on a variety of committees at David Douglas High School. She also provided leadership as a team parent, treasurer and president of the Tualatin Hills Water Polo Club. In 2013, she received her Masters Degree from University of Oregon. In both her Foundation role and personal life, she is committed to helping support and strengthen nonprofit organizations in neighborhoods and communities throughout Oregon.
Brooke Crews
Foundation Coordinator
Brooke Crews has worked in nonprofit development and event planning in the greater Portland metro area for the past 15 years. She is a Seattle native who fell in love with Oregon while attending Southern Oregon University.
Brooke is passionate about supporting her community and often volunteers at her favorite nonprofits and Sauvie Island School in her spare time. Brooke and her family enjoy their pets, traveling, horseback riding, and spending time at the beach. She is honored to play a role in supporting nonprofits across the state through her work at The Reser Family Foundation.
