Vanessa Houk
Pay-It-Forward Awardee
A wildfire survivor who channels her experience into broader community recovery, Vanessa tirelessly supports unhoused and vulnerable residents as the unpaid volunteer executive director of a coalition of organizations called Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice (SOJWJ). She leads weekly Peace Meals, has coordinated a community‑wide Thanksgiving since 2015, and regularly mobilizes volunteers and faith groups to provide emergency shelter and supplies when the city falls short. Among her proudest accomplishments are her three daughters, Sierra, Madison and Grace, as well as being married to Jason for the last thirty years.
Ashland, Oregon
December 9, 2025
Pay-It-Forward
Award
Awarded to:
Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice
Individual award recipients are not eligible for a grant, but can “pay it forward” by recommending a values-aligned organization to receive a grant. When an individual receives a “Pay It Forward” award, they are invited to recommend a grant to a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in their community that is aligned with the values of the project. “Pay It Forward” recipients are typically awarded to one or several individuals for personal acts of courage








