Save the Date: 2010 MLK Weekend of Service

To honor the legacy of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., United Way of the Columbia-Willamette and Hands On Greater Portland are gearing up for another great weekend devoted to service and volunteerism.

For the third year in a row, United Way and Hands On Greater Portland are organizing volunteer projects throughout the four-county Portland-Vancouver metro area for the 2010 MLK Weekend of Service, to be held Friday thru Monday, Jan. 15-18.

Click here for more

KINK.fm Focuses on NW Natural Gas Assistance Program

United Way CEO Marc Levy and NW Natural's Jenna Cooper Gross were interviewed recently by KINK.fm about the NW Natural Gas Assistance Program, an initiative that helps low-income customers in Oregon and Southwest Washington keep the heat on. NW Natural shareholders cover all administrative fees so every single penny donated goes directly to the program.

Click below to listen to the convo:

Have a Great Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving ... and Thanks

We are especially grateful for your longtime support of our community.

Warm regards,

Your Friends at United Way of the Columbia-Willamette

Celebrating IKON Office Solutions

By Nia Gray, United Way Community Account Manager

Employees of IKON Office Solutions have been so generous in the past. To thank them, the IKON Office Solutions Downtown office hosted a delicious lunch and info session. Each employee wore a United Way T-shirt to show their support.

Front from left to right: Yun Choi, Gretchyn Duval, Robin Wolf, Sandy Duell, Julie Currier, Susan Bailey. In the back row are: Steve Fitzpatrick, Terry Wagner, Tony Delano, Doug Palmer, Jeremy Weed, Justin Ballweber, Casey Shields, Jared Hoisington.

Helping Survivors of Domestic Violence in Clackamas County

Thanks to Clackamas Women's Services for highlighting its Beyond Shelter Initiative program, funded by United Way of the Columbia-Willamette.

Survivors of sexual and domestic violence can face a variety of barriers to rebuilding a safe life. One of the most significant, unfortunately, is housing.

CWS's program brings together the expertise of NW Housing Alternatives, Clackamas County Social Services and faith-based groups to help survivors of domestic violence find or retain stable housing.

Click here to read more

Chili Cook-Off at Harris Group Inc.

By Steve Papp, United Way Community Account Manager

Harris Group, Inc. ran a fun and successful campaign by showing off their creativity. The employee team showed positive and creative energy by hosting three special events: a Chili cook-off, a pumpkin-carving contest and Change wars. These events brought the team together, infused fun in the workday and raised over $5,000 for the community.

More about the chili cook-off. There were six chilis in the cook-off, ranging from the traditional flavors (just like Mom made) to a meaty five-alarm chili that was packed with flavor and is a sure fire way to warm you up on those cold rainy days.



The winner, John Arscott (pictured above) made a chili with a variety of ingredients that made everyone wonder…what’s in this?!?! The flavors were familiar yet inventive and now he will own the traveling chili cook-off trophy for one year…until next year’s challenge.


From left: Chris Groskopf, Sean Duffy, Ian Townsend, Steve Papp (United Way), Shirley Veltkamp, and Sheila Stai

Harris Group has been a strong supporter of the community all year round. In addition to their United Way workplace giving campaign, they have been giving basic necessities (e.g. toilet paper, food, plates, toys and monetary donations) to a local women and children's shelter. Employees also collected blankets and other knitting items from friends and provided them to those in need.

NW Natural Gas Assistance Program

Most people across the Northwest have already turned on their furnaces this year. However, with high unemployment and a still-struggling economy, staying warm for many, will be a luxury over the 2009-2010 winter season.

“Oregon and Washington families have been directly impacted by the recession and unemployment is at an all time high in our region,” said Stephen Feltz, NW Natural Controller & Treasurer. “We hope our GAP campaign will provide some relief for our customers struggling in these tough economic times.”

NW Natural’s Gas Assistance Program (GAP) is an important initiative that helps low-income customers in Oregon and Southwest Washington keep the heat on. NW Natural shareholders cover all administrative fees so every single penny donated goes directly to the program.

“Last year, GAP provided just over $200,000 to help more than 1,600 NW Natural customers in need of assistance,” said Jenna Cooper-Gross, NW Natural spokesperson. “This year, we are hoping to exceed that number, so we’ve issued a challenge to our communities in the form of a matching campaign.”

Click here to learn more

Focus on Community Strengths

Did you know that the Portland area has the ninth largest Native American population in the country? NAYA Youth and Family Center released a report on the state of Native American youth and families (PDF reader required). An excerpt from the report:

Currently, Native people count disproportionately among the urban poor. We experience the highest rates of homelessness, poverty and unemployment of all ethnic groups; depression, addiction and diabetes impact us in numbers far exceeding the norm. We constitute 24% of all children in foster care in Multnomah County, and only 37% of our high school students living in Portland graduate on time.

United Way of the Columbia-Willamette is funding two programs that focus on building Native American community strengths:

Native Student Literacy Project: Native American Youth and Family Center seeks to provide Provides culturally specific literacy and social skills to Native American middle/high school age youth to increase literacy, reduce disciplinary referrals and increase high school completion. See complete list of partners

Discovering Our Story Project: Native American Rehabilitation Association (NARA) will utilizes audio/video oral history collection and tribal storytelling to create culturally specific and relevant multi-media health curricula for Native American rehabilitation and prevention programs. Learn more

Fun Times at Mulvanny G2 Architecture

If one has to come up with a theme for Mulvanny G2 Architecture's United Way campaign, one word comes to mind: blades. Which is quite fitting, since Mulvanny G2 campaign activities -- a pumpkin-carving contest and a moustache-shaving challenge occurred during Halloween week. Thanks to Kruger’s Farm Market at 17100 NW Sauvie Island Road for donating the pumpkins for the carving contest. It was a great event that showcased the creativity of staff.



Beyond the pumpkin artists, mucho thanks go out to Bob Kabusreiter, Senior Associate, for his important contribution to the campaign. Bob agreed to shave his moustache if employees would raise $300. Pictured with the newly shaven Bob is Shannon Blair, administrative assistant. Thanks to Mulvanny G2 Architecture for a fun campaign!

All for a Good Cause

Nothing brings employees closer together than a United Way campaign. Working toward a common cause, year after year, campaign events provide great team-building activities for workplaces throughout the region.

Pacific Continental Bank's pie-throwing fund-raiser is a case in point. Thanks to Caleb Johnson for sending us the pic. We look forward to "after" pics of Mr. Reese after the jar has filled up.

Go Campaign Red!

The Oregon Trail Chapter of the American Red Cross is running its first United Way campaign since 2006. "It's wonderful getting this campaign started," says Nia Gray, Community Account Manager. "We kicked off the 2009 with pumpkin pie and a candy gram fundraiser. Go campaign red!"

Pictured are Nia Gray and Darcie Spar, Grants Manager of the American Red Cross, Oregon Trail Chapter

The local chapter of the American Red Cross is the lead agency for the United Way Project Innovation Grant "Building Safety Skills Among Hispanic Families." Partnering with Hacienda CDC, Sacagawea Head Start, and the Mexican Consulate, the Red Cross is leading the initiative to pilot a series of training programs to ensure that Latino children and families have resources and skills to be prepared in an emergency.

Curricula will include training on first aid/CPR and disaster preparedness. Local youth will have access to "When I’m in Charge" Babysitter’s Training. The programs will be offered free or at reduced cost. Collaboration with culturally-specific organizations will ensure materials and presentations are culturally appropriate.

Click here for more info on programs currently funded by the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette.

Pacificorp Auction

Tanya Jewell (above), who works in the call center, was among Pacificorp employees who helped set up the auction benefiting United Way.



PacifiCorp's online auction drew wonderful prize packages, ranging from Seattle Mariners and Seahawks tickets, an OMSI birthday party, sun and ski packages, hotel stays at top-rated hotels in town, and even family and pet photography. To launch the auction, employees displayed a table of items along the Skybridge between the Pacificorp building and Lloyd Center Mall. Auction items were made available on an online portal, open to employees, their family and friends. The auction, concluded recently, raised $39,000 for United Way of the Columbia-Willamette and United Way Utah County in Provo, Utah.

Jacobs Enginering Group Supports United Way

Thanks to Jacobs Engineering Group for a great community campaign! A technical professonal consultancy, Jacobs' Oregon operations is headquartered in Lake Oswego. Sporting the LIVE UNITED t-shirt are (from left) Jacobs Human Resources Director Debbie Duka, United Way's Jayne Shaw, and Jacobs Engineering's Gil Hulden and Curt LaCount.