Samantha Hou - PAWS Fund

Celebrating Samantha’s Love for Animals and Community Service

The Samantha Hou – Peoria Humane Society / PAWS Fund was established in February 2017 by Jim Hou, in memory of his beloved wife, Samantha Hou. This designated endowment provides annual grants to support the needs of cats through the Peoria Humane Society’s PAWS program.

Funds from this endowment may be used to:

  • Support cat adoption efforts at Petco

  • Offset cat food and care expenses at PAWS facilities

  • Assist with the creation of a cage-free cat living area

Once these goals are met, the fund will continue to provide resources for the ongoing care and well-being of cats in PAWS programs.

Remembering Samantha

Samantha Hou passed away on August 19, 2016, at the age of 41—though she liked to joke that it was the “12th anniversary of her 29th birthday.” Known for her sense of humor, kindness, and devotion to family and animals, Samantha left a lasting impact on everyone who knew her.

She is survived by her husband Jim, sons Alex and Andrew, her cherished cat Periwinkle, her parents Stan and Barb Pope, her grandmother Pearl McMillan, sister Katrina, brother Bill, and many other loving relatives and friends.

Her Passions and Community Involvement

Samantha loved spending time with her family and organizing gatherings where everyone could share stories and laughter. Beyond her family, she was an active volunteer with numerous organizations, including:

  • FIRST LEGO League

  • La Leche League

  • Nonviolent Communication groups

  • Attachment Parenting International

  • Homeschool support groups

  • Peoria Humane Society PAWS Program

  • Tazewell County Animal Control Shelter

She also worked as a Teacher’s Aide at Lincoln Elementary School, where she delighted in supporting teachers and sharing stories of students’ antics at home.

A Heart for Cats

In her eulogy, many references were made to Samantha’s love for cats. Throughout her life, she cared for three cats of her own—Sasha, Nathan, and Periwinkle—but her volunteer work allowed her to care for countless others. She regularly helped at the PAWS Shelter and at Petco, preparing cats for adoption and making sure they received the love and care they deserved.

Her Legacy Lives On

Through this fund, Samantha’s compassion and generosity continue to make a difference for animals in need. Your donation helps carry forward her love for cats and her dedication to the community.

Thank you for helping us honor Samantha’s memory.

– The Hou Family (Jim, Alex, Andrew, and Periwinkle)

To make a tax-deductible donation to this endowment fund, you can:

  • Donate by check: Make it payable to Morton Community Foundation and mail it to 135 S First Ave, Morton, IL 61550. Please write “Samantha Hou - PAWS” on the memo line.

  • Make a tax-advantaged gift of stock…Visit our stock gifting page by clicking HERE.

  • Give online by clicking the button below.

Are you a Caterpillar Employee or Retiree?

The Caterpillar Foundation is proud to offer the year-round Matching Gifts Program to support their employees, U.S. retirees and board of directors in their contributions to worthy causes. Eligible Caterpillar participants may request an annual total maximum 1:1 match of $10,000 USD each calendar year to eligible charities to which contributions are tax deductible. The Morton Community Foundation is an eligible charity. So, if you are an eligible Caterpillar participant, you may submit any donations to this fund for an equivalent match, up to your total maximum of $10,000 per year. CLICK HERE to link to the Caterpillar Foundation’s Matching Gift website.