joe schindler (Founder/president)

Polly Schindler (founder/vice president)

Joe and Polly Schindler founded the Anna Schindler Foundation in 2011 in honor of their daughter, Anna Schindler, who passed away following a five-month battle with Hepatoblastoma (liver cancer) and Yolk Sac cancer.

Joe and Polly are the President and VP, but they prefer the term “Founders”. They have eight beautiful children: “7 with 1 in heaven,” ranging in age from 35 down to 16. This family’s experience enables a very real insight into the journey of childhood cancer.

Joe is a firefighter and enjoys helping others. He looks forward to the continued success and growth of the foundation so it can help more families in need.

“I consider it a privilege to serve with such amazing people who want to help these families battling cancer.”

Polly is a “stay at home” homeschooling mom who runs a home and oversees the foundation.

What she loves to do most is visit the pediatric oncology floor at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital to offer support and a listening ear to the families.

Maggie Plass (Schindler) - staff Anna’s Homes Property Manager & Events Coordinator

Maggie is the daughter of Polly and Joe Schindler and Anna's older sister.

Maggie is the property manager of all Anna's Homes properties. She coordinates all of our events such as our Annual Golf Tournament and oversees our Racing For Anna program.

She studied Business at North Idaho College for two years. Maggie and her husband Neil live in Post Falls. She enjoys spending time with family, running her photography business, and loves the opportunity to help childhood cancer families going through a similar journey as her family once did.

SHelby Schindler - staff Chief operations officer

Shelby Schindler is honored to serve as the Chief Operations Officer of the Anna Schindler Foundation.

As Anna’s sister-in-law and the wife of her big brother, JJ Schindler, Shelby has always felt a deep connection to Anna’s legacy, which began when she started volunteering in 2015. Inspired by Anna’s story and the Schindler family's journey, Shelby and her husband used their filming skills to create a film about Anna, capturing her legacy and where it all began. For over a decade, she has poured her heart into supporting the foundation’s mission of helping families navigate the challenges of pediatric cancer.

Shelby graduated from John Paul the Great Catholic University in Escondido, CA, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, emphasizing film, theater acting, and filmmaking.

She feels truly blessed to now serve officially as an employee of the foundation, dedicating her days to providing hope, care, and compassion to families. This foundation and family have inspired her life in countless ways and continue to motivate her to carry on Anna’s legacy with love and purpose.

“It’s an absolute privilege and joy of my life to be part of this amazing family and to help other families through their toughest times.”

Mary Savage - staff Philanthropy officer

Mary Savage joined our team in the fall of 2021.

She was born and raised in Southeastern Montana. As a resident of Spokane for nearly 40 years, she calls Spokane her home. Mary has spent more than two decades of her professional career raising money for medically fragile and at-risk children.

She’s a 2013 graduate of Leadership Spokane and has been an active member of EWI (Executive Women International) of Spokane since 2002. She served as the EWI of Spokane chapter president in 2016.  

Mary has one grown daughter who is married and lives in California, where she practices municipal law. In high school, Mary set and won a record at the Big Sky Drill Team Camp, earning the Spark Plug Girl Award and the nickname “Sparky” for rapid memory recall of the names of 120+ fellow campers, a very useful skill in her development career. 

Dick Teich (Chairman)

(Pictured with wife Teresa) Dick comes to the Foundation by way of family.

As Anna’s grandfather, he was closely connected to events surrounding the families of cancer children.

He is a retired dentist of 50-plus years, served in the military, was past chairman of the Idaho State Dental Board, and is a member of the Western Regional Exam Board.

Kelly Scott (BOARD MEMBER)

Kelly was born and raised in Southern California. After obtaining a Finance Degree from San Diego State University, she worked in the retirement planning industry for many years before joining the family business owned by her husband and his siblings.  

She relocated to the Northwest in 1995 with her husband and spent the last 26 years raising her two sons and working in the family business in accounting and finance.  

She was introduced to the ASF by a mutual friend of Joe & Polly and has been a supporter of the Foundation for many years. Kelly joined the ASF Board in 2021 after a 3-year tenure as Treasurer of the Rypien Foundation. Both foundations have similar missions, and she was thrilled to be able to continue to support families whose children are in treatment at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital.

Dan adams (treasurer)

Dan Adams is a recently retired commercial banker and joined the Anna Schindler Foundation at its inception in 2011.

He has been active as a board member in a number of community organizations including Boy Scouts of America, SUCCEED (a foundation for the support of urban elementary schools) and Habitat for Humanity.

As Treasurer of the Anna Schindler Foundation, his goal is to help the organization achieve its short and long term financial goals.

dr. tom detar (BOARD MEMBER)

Dr. Tom deTar is a medical physician in North Idaho running his practice of St. Joseph’s Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic, specializing in Otolaryngology and Pediatric Otolaryngology. Tom is very involved in the community and loves to give forward. 

Tom completed his first IRONMAN in 2014 raising over $27,000 for the Anna Schindler Foundation. Tom is the founder and ambassador of the IRONMAN for Anna program in which athletes race and raise money for the ASF

He is married, has nine beautiful children, several grandchildren and resides in the Post Falls area.

Michael and Debbie Bell (BOARD MEMBERs)

Michael and Debbie Bell live in North Idaho and have two awesome sons. Since their youngest son was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma (soft tissue cancer) at age 12, Michael and Debbie have been champions for supporting childhood cancer research and spreading awareness.

Michael Bell is an insurance broker at ALKEME/Robert Bell Insurance Brokers Inc. Insurance. Michael and Debbie enjoy spending time with their boys, cooking, and traveling.