By Jennifer Holzapfel-Hanson
The Multnomah Athletic Foundation (MAF) demonstrates that supporting young athletes goes beyond financial aid — it’s about creating communities where encouragement, mentorship, and making a lasting impact flourish. Through grant partnerships with organizations like Playworks PACNW, MAF champions the simple yet powerful act of cheering on others.
Playworks introduces a unique group version of rock-paper-scissors, where each game winner advances, while the other joins as their cheering squad, building a crowd that supports each player until the final round. This fun, interactive approach reinforces the idea that in life, much like in sports, every voice of encouragement makes a difference.
This concept reflects MAF’s core mission: to cultivate environments where mentors, coaches, and teachers can inspire young athletes, sharing deeper life lessons — like resilience, empathy and the importance of teamwork — that extend far beyond the field or classroom. For many students, these connections become the cornerstone of their development. It’s often only with time, however, that one recognizes how these pivotal relationships helped guide our lives in profound ways.
This season, three MAF board members reflect on an influential coach or teacher they had in high school, underscoring why expressing thankfulness is essential to carrying on their legacy. Now, as adults, they understand how these mentors cheered them on, and in doing so, helped shape their careers, personal values and approach to life.
Their stories are reminders that gratitude for mentors is more than acknowledgment; it’s a way to honor and carry forward the spirit of mentorship. Though a mentor’s impact may not always be immediately visible, its effects ripple forward — shaping lives, strengthening communities, and highlighting the enduring power of appreciation.
Professional Impact: From the Classroom to the Boardroom
For many Foundation board members, mentors played a key role in shaping their professional paths, offering wisdom that carried beyond technical skills or job advice. Jenny Todenhagen, Scholarship Committee chair, attributes much of her choice in embracing a chemical engineering degree to her now-renowned high school chemistry teacher, Jenelle Ball.
“She was so enthusiastic about chemistry, it was infectious,” Todenhagen recalls. “She even created an AP Chemistry class just for me and another student. Her passion for the subject made me realize I could pursue it seriously.” Todenhagen’s story is a reminder of how a teacher’s belief in a student can transform a young person’s career trajectory and lead to their own lifelong passion.
Similarly, Jacob Gamble credits his lauded high school wrestling coach, Chuck Karwin, for instilling a disciplined work ethic that has guided him throughout his career. “Coach Karwin was all about consistency and perfect practice,” Gamble shares. “He would say, ‘Perfect practice makes habit,’ and drilled into us the importance of repetition to build good habits, and doing things the right way.” Gamble says his coach taught him to approach challenges with perseverance — a mindset he carries with him into his leadership role as a management consultant, helping struggling companies find their footing.
Personal Growth: Building Confidence & Resilience
The impact of a mentor often extends beyond career decisions, touching a deeper personal inquiry into finding purpose. Jacqui Monahan, Communications Committee chair, and a ski coach at Lakeridge High School in Lake Oswego, says her coaches helped shape her understanding of accomplishment. “One of my ski coaches once told me, ‘Use your own ruler — success looks different for everyone,’” Monahan recalls. “This advice applies to a whole lot of things.”
This perspective has helped Monahan navigate both the highs and lows of her athletic and professional journey, instilling a sense of self-value that she now strives to pass on to her own athletes. She demonstrates gratitude by showing her team, “how to support every single person for exactly what they are bringing.”
Todenhagen, too, felt that her mentor’s enthusiasm extended beyond the subject of chemistry, influencing her broader outlook on life. “Ms. Ball wasn’t just a teacher; she was an example of how to live with passion,” she says, explaining how she noticed her teacher running around the park and continuing her own education, even while working. Seeing her teacher active and engaged, as she helped foster Todenhagen’s own enthusiasm for chemistry, taught her, “It was OK to be excited about something that wasn’t traditional. I learned to be comfortable with that in my own skin. For a 15-year-old girl, this was huge.”
Athletic Lessons: Beyond Wins & Losses
The lessons learned on the field or in the gym can often translate to broader life skills, and for MAF board members, athletic mentors have been a key source of inspiration. In her athletic career, Monahan is full of gratitude for the coaches who supported her journey, even long after their formal coaching relationship ended. “Last year at the state championship race, two of my most impactful coaches were there at the same time, watching me coach,” she recalls.
“It was a full-circle moment, where I felt I was continuing the legacy they had started in me, offering the same support to my own athletes.” At that time, one of the coaches told her that she inspired him in his own coaching career as he felt the fulfillment of watching her coach. This highlights how gratitude can come full circle, often influencing both mentor and mentee long after the initial connection.
Gamble’s experience in wrestling also provided more than just physical training. Growing up in a small Oregon agricultural town, his coach became a role model in discipline and efficiency. He says even Coach Karwin’s communication was simple, kind and meaningful. “He would ask, ‘What can we learn from this moment?’ He would turn it into something worthwhile. I always felt good after talking with him, with a better-rounded perspective.”
The Power of Thankfulness: Keeping the Legacy Alive
All three board members agree that expressing appreciation is a vital part of honoring the influence of their mentors. Monahan reflects on the importance of closing the loop with her own mentors, reaching out to her coaches years later, to thank them for how they supported her. “It’s not like there was not gratitude in the moment. But there is a different perspective — there is an added layer of gratitude looking back at it; it was such an important experience for both of us to go through.” Keep in mind, “It doesn’t have to be this huge thank you gift,” she says. “It is the easiest thing in the world to shoot them a one sentence text to say, ‘I appreciate you because of this; they made a difference in your life.’”
Todenhagen experienced the power of gratitude firsthand when she reconnected with her teacher after 30 years. “During COVID, I sent Ms. Ball an email to thank her for inspiring me in many ways,” she shares. “It’s so important not to take those relationships for granted. You never know how much it might mean to them to hear it.” For Todenhagen, expressing appreciation is not just a formality; it’s an essential way to acknowledge the chain of inspiration that mentors create.
Gamble’s reflections on gratitude are rooted in his coach’s emphasis on integrity. For him, gratitude is part of being a good person and doing the right thing — values that guide him in both personal relationships and community leadership. When Coach Karwin passed, Gamble was having a brain tumor removed and unable to see his coach in the hospital or give his condolences. The inability to express his thankfulness in person at that point, “is harder when I think of it, and still fresh,” he says.
Reflect, Reach Out & Keep the Legacy Alive
The stories shared by these MAF board members highlight a powerful truth: mentors, whether they are teachers, coaches, or community leaders, leave lasting imprints on people’s lives. Through their guidance, those they mentor gain skills, insights, and confidence that shape their paths forward. But just as important is the lesson they teach about gratitude.
As readers of this article reflect on their own journey, they may consider who cheered them on to help them become who they are today. Consider taking a moment to reach out to those individuals, whether through a heartfelt letter, a simple text, or a visit. Continue the cycle of inspiration. After all, mentorship is more than just advice or training — it’s about the connections made, the support offered, and the gratitude shared by all. And that is a beautiful thing.
Heartfelt Ways to Show Appreciation
Expressing gratitude is a powerful way to acknowledge the positive impact others have had on one’s life. These small but meaningful actions can deepen connections and spread positivity:
- Write a Letter or Email: Highlight specific moments when someone made a difference in your life. Being detailed helps make your gratitude more meaningful. As Jacqui Monahan shared, “Two years ago, my team gave me a photo with handwritten notes on the matting. Some people got very specific, and that sticks with you a little bit more.”
- Reach Out with a Call or Video Chat: A direct, personal conversation can make all the difference. It’s a chance to express your appreciation in real-time and to share how much their support has meant to you.
- Share a Public Post: A social media post is a great way to publicly acknowledge the influence someone has had on you. It can also inspire others to reflect on their own mentors.
- Meet Face-to-Face: Sometimes, the best way to express gratitude is in person. Take the time to arrange a coffee or visit to share your appreciation and catch up.
- Pay It Forward: Acknowledge a mentor’s impact by giving back to others. Whether it’s mentoring someone else or contributing to community programs, this is a powerful way to keep the cycle of gratitude going.
Take a moment to think about the teachers and coaches who made a difference in your life. Then connect: A simple “thank you” gesture can brighten their day and remind them of the influence they had. Let them know how important they’ve been in your journey; your words may be the encouragement you didn’t know they needed.
As an added benefit — “Receiving or giving gratitude makes you feel good, says Todenhagen. “It is good to let people know how thankful you are. With everything going on in world, it lifts you up.”
Published in the December 2024 issue of the MAC’s Winged M