Sandy Native Kole Pearson has Drive, Passion for Helping People

While as a teenager Kole Pearson might not have expected to still be living in his hometown of Sandy, now, at 40, he’s become an important part of the community in how he serves others. 

A lifelong mechanic, Pearson has worked for the Estacada School District for seven years, and previously worked at Les Schwab and then in trucking and brokerage. 

He caught the car bug in middle school under the tutelage of his friend’s father, Bill Napier. 

“(Napier) was one of those people who taught me to think outside the box about building something,” Pearson said. “And also that you can come from nothing and still do something great. As a mechanic, I get to make things and make things work.”

This is a philosophy that applies not only to Pearson’s professional life, but in his personal life as well. 

As a longtime Kiwanian and community volunteer, Pearson said: “I like making people happy.” Whether that’s by being there for them with a food box at Christmas or by fixing something in their vehicle that wasn’t working properly, he helps. 

Pearson has volunteered with the Kiwanis Club of Sandy for 12 years, acting as president three separate times; he is still currently on the board. He also serves with My Father’s House, and he and his wife are boosters for Gales Creek Camp for kids with type 1 diabetes. 

Pearson attended and was positively impacted by Gales Creek as a child. He has since served as a counselor and is happy to be able to give back with annual donations. 

“I always told myself that when I made enough money, I’d sponsor a kid to go to camp,” he explained. Now he sometimes sponsors multiple kids a year, and has inspired the Kiwanis Club to also participate in donating to the cause. 

The main theme in all of Pearson’s community service is a focus on helping and encouraging children. Though he feels he still had a good childhood, Pearson recognizes that his family struggled when he was growing up, and he aims to help children experiencing similar hardships now. 

“Every dollar we bring in (as the Kiwanis Club) goes right back into the community,” Pearson said. And he’s happy that he can make that impact in his own hometown.

“It’s really rewarding to spend my entire life in this town and use my contacts to be (the vehicle for other people to give back),” Pearson explained. “Sandy, although it’s growing, still has a small-town feel. The networking is still there, and people are still building things. My family has been here since 1977, and it just feels right.”