David and Patricia Nierenberg Give to Build a Shining Community

A new mom rests easy while a neonatal incubator cradles her child at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center. An innovative high school teacher receives a grant for classroom supplies from the Evergreen School District Foundation. A loving family adopts a senior dog after a life-saving journey to the Humane Society for Southwest Washington.

These are moments that David and Patricia Nierenberg have helped make possible by contributing to Clark County causes for nearly three decades. While their major gifts make headlines—like a $20 million pledge to PeaceHealth for an emergency department expansion and Community Health Hub—David and Patricia’s behind-the-scenes service is just as bold.

The Camas couple rolls up their sleeves for the causes they support. Patricia has served on the Humane Society board for over two decades, helping the organization strengthen its governance and build a new facility. David has played similar roles, including an effort that helped reorganize the Evergreen School District Foundation and raise $1 million for classroom technology. Both have served as board members with the PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center Foundation, and Patricia has been a longtime advocate for early childhood learning and development.

While giving seems to come naturally for this Camas couple, David describes philanthropy as a lot of trial and error. That’s why he and Patricia opened a Donor Advised Fund at the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington early on. Beyond providing a convenient way to give, the organization has become their hub for local impact, connecting them with like-minded people who want to address community issues at scale.

“I believe that the Community Foundation enables southwest Washington to be that proverbial city on the hill,” David said. “A giving community, a connected community, a compassionate community.”

The biblical reference is no coincidence. The Nierenbergs are also deeply guided by their faith. David is Jewish; Patricia is Roman Catholic. Their views on the afterlife may be worlds apart, but the one heaven they both aspire toward is creating one here on Earth—a healthy, flourishing community in southwest Washington.

For David and Patricia, this means a place where people of all circumstances work together to solve problems and create opportunities, and they believe the Community Foundation is building this future.

“It's so gratifying to see the impact that so many donors and the staff of the Community Foundation are having on people in this community, particularly those who are at the greatest risk of being left behind," David said. "That may be heaven on earth, or the closest we can come to it.”

To fuel our efforts, they have supported the Administrative Endowment Fund for more than 15 years. This year, they provided a $40,000 matching gift in honor of our 40th anniversary. This critical fund sustains the organization’s work to build community resiliency, guide strategic giving and elevate local solutions. You can learn more about the fund and double your donation by visiting cfsww.org/flourishing-future.