A woman with red hair playing an electric guitar outdoors on a dirt path with a blue sky and clouds in the background. There is a quote by Oprah Winfrey on the right side of the image.

Diane Stevens

A woman with a red cap and sunglasses smiling in a field of yellow flowers, with Mount Hood in the background.

Board Member, PR and Marketing Director

Diane Stevens has been one of the pillars of Furry Friends since 2014 when she retired from her job in the Printing and Publishing industry.

Her love for animals brought her to Furry Friends where she quickly jumped into performing a number of tasks. She started at the adoption center that Furry Friends once had and she also became the photographer, graphic designer, publicist, marketing person, videographer and more. She soon joined the Executive Board and also became the lead for the annual auction. In those early days she put in 30 to 40 hours a week of volunteer service to the kitties.

Fast forward to 2024 and Diane is still very much involved in the organization. Here are some of the tasks she takes care of:

·         Diane is an Executive Board member and the PR and Marketing person for Furry Friends

·         She used her photography to document the cats and other things going on with Furry Friends.

·         She creates the monthly volunteer newsletter and special newsletters that are emailed to volunteers and supporters.

·         She no longer is the fall auction lead but is still heavily involved in the auction.

·         Creates news releases and is the contact with the media

·         Oversees the Furry Friends Furever Adoption Stories, Volunteer, Leadership and VIP Spotlights.

·         Diane has an ongoing fundraiser for Furry Friends selling artist quality rocks, art prints and other art items.

A woman with brown hair styled in a ponytail, wearing a red and white patterned sleeveless dress, red jewelry, and holding a black and white electric guitar, standing in front of a red and black textured background.
A tabby cat sitting on a wooden chair at a red table with art supplies. There is a painting of a cat playing an electric guitar, and a printed reference image of the same cat in the background. The table also holds a painter's palette with mixed paints, paper towels, and a laptop.
A woman taking a photograph with a camera, dressed in a red and gold outfit with gold gloves, standing in front of a glittery gold backdrop.
Woman hugging a black and white cat indoors.
A young woman with red hair, wearing a green tank top, sitting on the floor with a blue electric guitar, smiling, next to an amplifier and cable, against a white brick wall.
A person holding a bouquet of pink flowers and berries behind a foggy or misted glass window, with a musical instrument reminiscent of a ukulele or small guitar partially obscured.

Tell us about other hobbies or interests that you have? I played ice hockey until I turned 60 years old. For many years I played on a men’s team. I enjoy gardening and hiking for my activity, and you can often find me in the gym. I am an avid nature photographer, and you can often see me with a camera slung around my neck.  

I hold a bachelor’s degree in art and had my own art business for several years. Currently I just create things for fun. I paint art quality rocks as a fundraiser for Furry Friends. All money from these gems goes to the kitties.  

My professional musician husband Mickey and I had a musical variety show for many years. I would change into assorted costumes and assume different personalities. We both played our guitars and sang. We used wireless equipment so we were free to run around the audience or climb on tables dancing and being wild.

A woman with long brown hair in a red and white patterned dress holding a guitar, and a man with gray hair and glasses in a yellow jacket kissing her hand, both smiling against a red and black textured backdrop.
Woman with chocolate brown hair smiling, holding a Starbucks mug, wearing a red Adidas sweatshirt, with a book balanced on her head and purple string lights draped around her neck, sitting in a green armchair.
A woman with dark brown hair, wearing a cowboy hat and a black Western-themed shirt with floral embroidery, standing in a decorated living room.
Two smiling musicians, a woman and a man, posing with electric guitars in front of a red and black backdrop, with a hat hanging from the man's shoulder.
A woman sitting on a rock by a river, looking at a waterfall in a forested area.

We asked Diane a few questions

Why do you volunteer? My life has been blessed in many ways and I am now in a position to give back to society. I have a passion for animals and it is up to us humans to help them out. I love horses and cats and made the decision to focus on a local cat rescue. There are so many cats out there living terrible lives. And so many people that are in need of someone helping with their cats. Furry Friends is always receiving distress calls from people with a cat problem. Such as an elderly person having to go into assisted living and they cannot take the cat with them, or a person that has to move into a place that does not take cats or the mom cat that shows up at your back door with a litter of kittens  etc. Payment for me comes in the form of knowing that I am making the world a better and safer place for kitties that wouldn’t have a fighting chance otherwise.

 Do you also volunteer for other organizations? If so, what are they and what do you do? Yes, I am a church musician for St John Lutheran Church in Vancouver, WA. I play guitar and sing every Sunday for the service. I also am the church photographer for certain events and the publicist for the Longest Night Service.

 What is your favorite part about volunteering for Furry Friends? Being around the kitties and helping them out is a highlight. Also my fellow volunteers are great, giving, loving people. It is such a pleasure to be around them and work on a common cause. I also love using all my creative and business skills for something I am passionate about.

 Do you have any pets at home? Yes two cats that were rescued. Benny and Emma are amazing and I love them so much. My husband Mickey and I have so much fun with our fur babies

A cat with green eyes dressed as a rock musician, holding an electric guitar.
Three ice hockey players in action during a game on the ice rink, with two players in blue and yellow uniforms and one in a black and blue uniform.
A woman riding a large black horse outside near a wooden structure and trees.

start where you are

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use what you have

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do what you can

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start where you are • use what you have • do what you can •