This is the story of the kind and generous man who made it possible.
Fred Cornforth led an amazing, impactful life. Fred, who lived in Boise, Idaho until his untimely death earlier this year at 64, also had a home for some time on the north coast. Fred, his wife and family loved the area as so many of us do.
Over the course of his working life, Fred built a hugely successful non-profit company that he formed in the 1990’s to build affordable housing projects in nearly 20 states. And he gave back – in a very big way, funding food banks, dental clinics, homeless shelters and orphanages. When Fred learned about the Nehalem Bay Health District’s plans to upgrade health and senior care and address workforce housing here on the north coast he immediately wanted to help, and he certainly did.
Late in 2023, through his non-profit company, Fred committed $250,000 to the Health District to use to advance its projects, as Fred said, “in any way that will do the most good.” Fred’s pledge included donating half of his remarkable gift during 2024 with the remainder in 2025. Every dollar from an individual gift or a foundation grant directed toward the Health District’s priorities makes a huge difference, ensuring that projects to improve local health and senior care and develop workforce housing are fully funded and will be successful over the long term.
The impact of Fred’s generosity is extraordinarily valuable to the Health District’s projects because the unrestricted nature of his gift allows the District to stretch local bond funding even farther. Sadly, Fred Cornforth died in March 2024 after a courageous, inspiring battle with glioblastoma, a particularly awful form of brain cancer. His family and legion of friends continue to have the heartfelt condolences of all of us associated with the Nehalem Bay Health District, as well as our enduring thanks. True to his word and totally in keeping with his compassionate generosity, the first half of Fred’s pledge – a check for $125,000 – arrived right around Thanksgiving.
