FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 23, 2023
MEDIA CONTACT
Erika Tucci, Sr. Program Officer, erika@benbcheneyfoundation.org, (253) 572-2442
Ben B. Cheney Foundation Announces the Appointment of New Board Member
Robert T. Hall adds financial experience and deep community engagement
Tacoma, Wash., January 23, 2023 – The Ben B. Cheney Foundation announced today the appointment of Robert T. Hall to its Board of Directors. This brings the number of board members to eight.
Elected at the December meeting, Bob began serving his three-year term in January. In addition to his executive-level financial knowledge and experience, Bob also brings deep community connections formed through decades of service to nonprofit organizations in the Pierce County community.
“I’m more than honored to have been asked to serve as a member of the Cheney Foundation Board,” Hall said. “Over several decades of my own involvement, I’ve seen them consistently demonstrate a sincere and humble heart of support for the community, while gracefully shouldering the important responsibilities of stewardship. I very much look forward to helping their efforts.”
“The directors and I are pleased to welcome Bob to the Cheney Foundation Board,” said Brad Cheney, Executive Director of the Ben B. Cheney Foundation. “Bob brings tremendous value to the organization with his expertise managing financial portfolios for organizations, including ours, through his decades in the field. His leadership experience providing board level oversight to several sizable nonprofit organizations in Pierce County means Bob will strengthen the Foundation’s ability to partner with nonprofits, particularly around topics of sustainability and growth.”
Robert T. Hall, Retired VP, Senior Investment Strategist, Wells Fargo Bank
Bob Hall has had a 35+ year career in the investment management business, serving in a senior investment management role with Keycorp, the Laird Norton Financial Group and most recently with, and retiring from, the Wells Fargo Private Asset Management Group. Bob’s experience has centered on fiduciary asset management for individuals, trusts, and charitable organizations.
Bob and his wife, Tammy, are longtime residents of Tacoma where they raised their three children. Both are actively involved in serving the community. Bob has had long-standing roles with the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound, Habitat for Humanity, MultiCare, and Young Life. He currently serves as the Chair of the Boys & Girls Clubs’ Investment Committee and is a member of their Resource Development Committee, is a construction volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, serves on the Finance Committee for another local family foundation, and carries various duties with his church.
About the Ben B. Cheney Foundation
The Ben B. Cheney Foundation began grant making as a private foundation in 1975. At the end of 2022, after 47 years, the Foundation has made more than $112,600,000 in charitable grants. The Cheney Foundation makes grants in communities across Washington, Oregon, and California where Cheney Lumber Mills operated.
Ben B. Cheney formed the Cheney Lumber Company in 1936 and was involved with the lumber industry until his death in 1971. A tireless businessman and innovator, he is credited with standardizing the length of building studs at eight feet, a concept that reduced discarded and wasted wood.
Ben Cheney’s passion was athletics, especially the game of baseball. He helped to bring a Pacific Coast League franchise to Tacoma and contributed to the construction of Tacoma’s ballpark, Cheney Stadium. In the small logging communities of Washington, Oregon, and California many young people played on Cheney-sponsored athletic teams. More than 5,000 youngsters developed their skills while participating under Mr. Cheney’s sponsorship.
###