Jason and Patti Bell: Investing in Community, Inspiring Others to Give

Jason and Patti Bell have called Granite Bay home since 2002. It’s where they raised their two daughters, now 23 and 18, and where they’ve built a life rooted in family, community, and service. They’ve chosen to work with Placer Community Foundation (PCF) on their giving today, and through their estate plan to further a legacy of love for their community.

Patti, who once retired, found her way back to work in human resources at the Eureka Union School District. “I get to see the teachers our kids had growing up,” she said, smiling at the full-circle moment. Jason, meanwhile, serves as chief investment officer at a local investment firm. But it’s what they do outside of work that tells the deeper story of who they are.

Patti is a marathoner with an ambitious goal: to run all six of the world’s major marathons. She’s already completed New York, Boston, Chicago, Tokyo, and London. Next year, she’ll check off Berlin—the final race in her journey. Jason, for his part, found a passion for flying during the pandemic. “It really helped me find resilience,” he said. What began with a discovery flight in Lincoln has grown into training for his flight instructor certificate.

Their relationship thrives on that same sense of adventure. “It’s never boring—we’ve been together more than 30 years,” Patti said. Jason added, “She’s been such a great mom raising two amazing human beings, and I admire her courage to run around the world. When our nest emptied, she literally ran with it.”

The Bells’ passion for giving back grew from different experiences. Patti’s work showed her the impact of corporate and community giving. Jason remembers watching NFL players rally support after Hurricane Katrina. “That moment stuck with me,” he said. “It inspired me to do something too.”

For the Bells, philanthropy is personal. Every year, they sit down with their daughters to talk about causes that matter to them as a family. “We didn’t have that kind of example growing up,” Jason said. “So we want to make sure our girls see the importance of giving back.”

Their commitment extends beyond writing checks. Patti is a member of Impact100, a women’s group that pools donations to award $100,000 grants to local nonprofits. She also raised funds for Girls on the Run Boston. Jason serves as treasurer of Placer Community Foundation and is a member of the PCF Board of Directors. He also champions aviation at PCF, noting his involvement with PCF’s endowment fund supporting Auburn Aviation Association. Earnings on investment of this fund provides scholarships for up-and-coming local pilots. In fact, through PCF, Jason and Patti have included a future gift to this endowment fund in their estate plan.

When asked what they’d tell someone to consider giving through PCF, Patti’s advice is simple: “PCF is local, and the money stays local. Jason adds, “when you give local, you support yourself too. Think about the downstream effects of your contribution. It takes a village—but when you put money back in the village, everyone benefits.”

For Jason and Patti, giving isn’t about recognition. It’s about strengthening the place they call home, and inspiring others to do the same.

If you’re inspired by Jason and Patti’s story and want to make a difference close to home, learn more about Placer Community Foundation at placercf.org.