Lourdes "Lou" Reyes Schmitz Memorial Fund
Our Tribe has been blessed with many dedicated, incredible employees, and Lou was no exception. She first joined us in 1991, when I was just eight years old. From that day on, she was always there for me, encouraging me to stay on the right path, offering love, wisdom, and life lessons. A sign in her office read, “A hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove... but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.” Lou lived by these words, and her influence later extended to my children as well. Whether she was picking my girls up from the ECE for walks around campus during her breaks, waiting with them at the bus stop, or creating cherished memories on trips to the ocean, the zoo, and especially out on her boat, Lou was there whenever she could be.
Lou’s 20-plus years of service with PGST left a legacy. During her employment at PGST, she held the titles of Health and Human Services Planner/Grant Writer then Health and Human Services Manager. She was the epitome of kindness and positivity, inspiring many current leaders within our Tribe. Though her time with us ended, she continued her journey with the American Indian Health Commission, serving Indian communities statewide but always holding PGST close to her heart. Toward the end of her life, she told me, “I wish I hadn’t spent so much time working, but the work I did to protect and improve the health of beautiful Indian communities was always so important to me.”
- Excerpt from "A Tribute to Lourdes Reyes Schmitz", written by Amber Caldera, Chairwoman
Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe
Lou’s remarkable legacy will continue to serve Native communities. Your donation today will be placed in the Lourdes Reyes Schmitz Memorial Fund to provide support to Indian healthcare, as was one of her greatest passions and priorities in life. If you have any questions regarding your donation, please contact Andrea Dolan-Potter, Executive Director of the Port Gamble S'Klallam Foundation at (360) 297-9623 or via email: andreadp@pgst.nsn.us
háʔnəŋ cən Thank you for supporting this important fund in her memory.