Harriet Denison's love for volunteering, travel, and exploring exotic places began as a teenager, soon followed by her travels with the Peace Corps as a volunteer. From Antarctica to Madagascar, and New Guinea to Zanzibar, her world adventures have involved serving the local communities and studying, as well as birding, sailing, bicycling, and more.
Denison returns from her travels with astute observations, humorous stories, and exciting adventures to share. Her first book, Travels with Turtle, was published in 2003. Her writings have been published in numerous publications and on her web site.
As part of her philanthropic activities, Denison volunteered in the early formation of the Women's Funding Movement, which focused on women's leadership and causes. She founded the Women's Foundation of Oregon in 1989, which supported women's groups until 1996. Denison also served on the board of the National Network of Women's Funds, renamed Women's Funding Network (WFN) during Denison's tenure. For two years, she served as board chair of WFN and retired from that board in 1999.
During those ten years of national philanthropy, Denison learned hard-earned lessons about organizing for change and leading a diverse population toward a common goal. Denison's work with women's funds informed her local philanthropy as well.
Under her guidance for twenty years, the Oregon portion of The Ralph L. Smith Foundation in Oregon (RLS) evolved to promote equity, justice and sustainability. This was accomplished by supporting organizations that addressed the root causes of social, economic, and environmental problems.
In addition to her writing projects, Denison hikes, paddles dragon boats along Portland's Willamette River, and engages in serious bird watching internationally. She also sings in the Threshold Choir, a small group of singers who visit the bedsides of ill and dying individuals to bring them ease and comfort at the thresholds of living and dying. Dennison is presently writing on her next book on birding and international travels, which will be published in Spring 2015. To learn more about Denison's travels and work, visit her web site: www.travelswithharriet.org
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