Staff: Jack Zerr-Pierce

Jack was born in the desert of southern New Mexico and raised in the mountains of Montana. After spending the majority of his life in Missoula, MT, he followed childhood friends further west to try his hand at living in Portland, Oregon, where he worked as a cook at local restaurants. He enjoyed the art, food, and music in the city, but ultimately it was not a good fit. Craving to be closer to nature and away from the hustle and bustle, Jack moved to Bend, seeking a lively small-town feel. He loves the proximity to nature and the laid-back locals.
Inspired by his challenges during childhood and adolescence, Jack recognized the need for positive influences on youth and how important mentors and role models are in shaping their trajectory. He left the service industry where to pursue his dream of working with youth and took a job at the Boys and Girls Club. It was not long after this career change that he knew that this was the work he wanted to be doing. He continued to develop important skills at the Boys and Girls Club while also attaining a bachelor's degree in Psychology with a concentration on child and adolescent development.
Jack began work for Bend Parks and Recreation at Kids Inc after school program here in Bend upon arrival and also took shifts in the Therapeutic Recreation department where he thoroughly enjoyed working with people with disabilities. It was through a colleague in this department that he learned about Friends of the Children and was amazed at how closely the role and organization were aligned with his professional mission. He knew right away that he wanted to be a part of the team.
Outside of work, Jack loves to hike, bike, swim, and go camping and backpacking. He also likes to draw cartoons, play basketball, and is learning to surf the river. Becoming a mentor at Friends of the Children was like taking a dream job for Jack, and he is enthusiastic and excited to serve the youth in this community.