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Hoke Trust takes on Silverton Together programs

By James Day

The Elizabeth Ashley Hoke Memorial Trust, which has been active in a wide variety of causes since its founding in 2017, has added the programs of Silverton Together to its portfolio.

Namesdake for the Memorial Trust, the late Elizabeth Ashley Hoke.

Activities that Silverton Together was engaged in include a school supplies program, coats for kids, a holiday program and a reading program.

“When I read that Silverton Together was shutting down,” said Anthony Hoke, “I immediately thought that there were some programs there in need of a home. But I did not realize that Silverton Together was the umbrella for so many great programs. Silverton Together had a lot of partners, and we didn’t want to lose sight of that.”

Anthony Hoke is the father of Elizabeth Hoke, who died in the fall of 2017 in a car crash when she was on her way to start college at Western Oregon University. The trust was formed to honor the legacy and memory of Elizabeth.

“Initially part of it was in reaction to the incredible support of the community from the tragedy,” said Carson Lord, the trust’s executive director. “We didn’t want to lose that enthusiasm and love. We wanted to bottle it.”

Key programs the trust works on include college scholarships for students in the Silverton and Stayton areas as well as support for activities of school kids. The trust also donated to the expansion project of the Silverton skatepark.