06/19/2026
The Ford Family Foundation
Generosity brings Americans together.
By working together, we can transform good intentions into real change in our communities.
In our hometown of Roseburg, Oregon, The Longest Table began in 2024 with one simple idea: Bring neighbors together around one big table to share a meal, connect through stories and imagine what’s possible when we work together.
Generosity was at the heart of the work as community members volunteered their time and talents with Thrive Umpqua - A Certified Blue Zones Community to bring this vision to life.
That first dinner sparked more than 100 project ideas to strengthen the community — and thanks to strong partnerships and seed funding from Umpqua Health, the Trust for Civic Life and many more local funding partners, several of those ideas have already come to life. One example is the Vacant to Vibrant project, which is transforming downtown spaces with public art.
Now in its third year, The Longest Table continues to grow as a tradition of connection, creativity and community building.
This spirit of giving and of community commitment has strengthened our nation for the last 250 years — and it will continue to thrive for the next 250 years.
Learn more about America’s 250 Years of Charitable Giving at GenerosityBuilds.org.
Photo credit: Kevin Eckerman, Eckerosa Photography
