Why Families Give: Meet a Champion for Ducks Everywhere

There’s no single path to becoming a Duck. This is certainly true for Jamie Carr, a graduate of the University of California–Los Angeles. Her connection to the University of Oregon began in 2012, when her youngest son, Tyler, chose to pursue a business degree.  

“I guess you’d say I’m officially a Bruin, but unofficially, I’m a Duck,” Jamie said. “Oregon has become my focus and a big area of interest for helping programs get developed and move forward.” 

The San Diego family already considered Oregon their second home when Tyler was deciding where to go for undergrad. They’d spent every other summer in Sunriver, about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Eugene. So, when they toured the UO, everything clicked. 

“From the very second we stepped on the Oregon campus, it just felt like home,” said Jamie. “The size was perfect, the location was perfect, and it really spoke to Tyler.” 

Drawn by the UO’s strong academics and the energy of Oregon athletics, Tyler was all in. Before long, it was time for orientation. 

Finding Community as a New Duck

“Everybody I met at orientation was so welcoming and warm,” Jamie recalled. “I felt comfortable on campus, and it made me want to get involved.” 

In San Diego, she’d been active in parent-teacher associations while raising her children and continued to support local nonprofits. So, when a conversation with a UO Division of Student Life representative introduced her to the Parent and Family Association, she jumped in. She hosted events in San Diego, like Oregon Migration, to create memorable send-off celebrations for local first-year Ducks and their families.  

Her dedication soon led to an invitation to join what was then called the Parent Leadership Council, which has evolved into today’s Family Advancement Council. This small group is committed to advancing educational and career opportunities for students, enhancing campus life, and promoting the university’s culture of community, tradition, and innovation through leadership and philanthropy.  

“As a parent, it was fascinating to see what goes on behind the scenes,” she said. She learned about everything from disaster planning and the university’s bomb-sniffing dog to how the Leftover Textover program reduces food waste. 

Meanwhile, Tyler was making the most of his time at the UO, attending football games and forging lifelong friendships in the Sigma Nu fraternity—with Jamie finding ways to support him in memorable fashion. 

“When Tyler turned 21, I bought him a beautiful commemorative Oregon football helmet and asked if he wanted it autographed,” she said. His answer? Marcus Mariota, though he figured it would never happen. 

But during a Family Advancement Council meeting in Eugene, Jamie worked her Oregon mom magic, learning when she might catch Mariota outside the practice facility. One Thursday evening, she approached him with a polite request: “Excuse me, I’m a mama Duck, and my son turns 21 on Monday. Would you sign a helmet for me?” 

Mariota agreed, adding a personalized happy birthday message. 

Fostering the Value of Philanthropy

Tyler’s acceptance to the UO also marked the beginning of more than a decade of philanthropic generosity from Jamie—support that has helped Ducks flourish and set a powerful example for her son. 

Her first gift went to the College of Education after she read about a groundbreaking program to train new special education teachers. She told Tyler about the program and the opportunity to fund scholarships, but left the final decision to him, suggesting he might prefer to support the Lundquist College of Business, where he was majoring.

“Almost without hesitation, he said, ‘Well, you know, Mom, when someone graduates from business school, their earning potential is probably greater than that of a schoolteacher,’” Jamie recalled. “So, it was his decision that we donated our first chunk of money to the College of Education, and I was really proud of him.”

Meeting students who have benefited from that gift has brought Jamie great joy. Since then, her generosity has touched many corners of campus, including the Lylle Reynolds-Parker Black Cultural Center, the Portland Internship Experience, and the Ballmer Institute for Children’s Behavioral Health, among others. 

Helping Students in Crisis

Through her work with the Family Advancement Council, Jamie not only got an inside look at campus life but also learned about the serious financial hardships some students faced. 

“In one of our meetings, we heard about students who were dropping out their final semester because they couldn’t afford to stay,” she said. “Others were stealing textbooks or food, or living in their cars.” 

One story in particular stayed with her: a young student whose father died back east but who couldn’t afford the airfare to attend the funeral. 

“As a group, we said, ‘We’ve got to do something about this.’” 

Jamie partnered with another parent to launch the Students in Crisis Fund, which became a lifeline when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Students suddenly out of work, unable to pay rent, utilities, or even buy textbooks, turned to the fund for help. Thanks to Jamie and other donors, it raised $960,000 in its first year, helping 1,200 students weather the crisis. 

Today, the fund continues to provide emergency support for students facing unforeseen hardships—from illness or housing insecurity to extreme weather events—helping them stay in school and on track. 

The fund is so meaningful to Jamie that when she personalized the Oregon Ducks license plate on her car in Sunriver, she chose “SECF” for Student Emergency Crisis Fund. 

Once a Duck, Always a Duck

For Jamie, supporting the UO as a parent has been deeply personal. “I was so busy working and supporting myself when I went to UCLA that I didn’t have time to get involved in anything,” she said. “So, having the chance to immerse myself in a college atmosphere in such a meaningful way, even years after I graduated, has been special.” 

She continues to seek out opportunities to donate where she can make an impact and form a direct connection with others. “I handpick the things that make my heart happy, knowing they’ll also make somebody else’s heart happy as the recipient,” she said. 

Since graduating from the UO in 2016, Tyler has built a career in business development at a nonprofit vehicle and real estate donation program. He and Jamie still flock to Eugene at least once a year to take in a football game together. “It’s really fun to have that connection and share that experience with him,” Jamie said. 

Now, as an alumna parent, Jamie truly embodies “once a Duck, always a Duck,” helping with San Diego Duck alumni events, serving on the Family Advancement Council as its only alumni parent, and continuing to look for ways to give back. Along the way, she has built lifelong friendships through the UO community—ones she will always treasure.