Oregon Community Foundation Grant to Community Relief Fund

The Oregon Community Foundation announced a $100,000 grant to United Way of the Columbia-Willamette to support the newly-formed Community Relief Fund. The Community Relief Fund is made up of agencies and programs on the front lines of responding to the needs of individuals and families in crisis.

Coalition members, including United Way, Oregon Food Bank, and Community Action Programs in all four metro-area counties, are urging people to support local families by giving to the Fund. United Way is coordinating donations to the regional campaign, with 100% of the donations going directly to local programs.

“Oregon Community Foundation’s generous support and endorsement of the united effort establishing the Community Relief Fund exemplifies the organization’s solid commitment to helping Oregonians in need,” said Marc Levy, CEO and President, United Way of the Columbia-Willamette. “Their gift will enable us to boost the capacity of local agencies who are at the frontlines of helping local families meet basic needs.”

“We are making a special effort to help communities across Oregon address the challenges they face in this time of crisis. The Community Relief Fund is a significant step towards maximizing and coordinating the response in the Metropolitan Portland area. We are privileged to be able to support this effort,” said Greg Chaille, President, The Oregon Community Foundation.

The mission of The Oregon Community Foundation is to improve life in Oregon and promote effective philanthropy. OCF works with individuals, families, businesses and organizations to create charitable funds to support the community causes they care about. Through these funds OCF awards more than $55 million annually in grants and scholarships.

Honor Dr. King's Legacy: Volunteer in Your Community

United Way of the Columbia-Willamette and Hands On Greater Portland are inviting community members to volunteer for service projects on MLK Weekend 2009, Jan. 17-19, 2009.

To celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's legacy of purposeful community engagement, volunteers will work on projects at area nonprofits throughout the four-county Portland/Vancouver metro area.

This is the second year in a row that United Way and Hands On Greater Portland have organized service projects to commemorate Dr. King's holiday. Last year, more than 400 people from across the region worked together to completed done-in-a day volunteer projects.

Volunteer today

United Way Honored Among Most Admired Nonprofits

For the second year in a row, United Way of the Columbia-Willamette joins the ranks of some of the most well-respected nonprofits in the region that were named among Oregon’s Most Admired Companies in the nonprofit sector in a survey conducted by the Portland Business Journal.

United Way ranked sixth among more than 120 nonprofits most admired by Oregon CEOs. According to Publisher Craig Wessel, the intent of the awards is to recognize Oregon and Southwest Washington companies “that CEOs deem to be the very best organizations in the region.”

2008 Intel Oregon United Way Campaign Sets Record

In the midst of very tough times for many Oregonians, Intel Oregon employees and retirees stepped up in donations to United Way of the Columbia-Willamette in 2008. Not only that, but they set a giving record.

Donations from Intel Oregon’s employees and retirees in the just completed Intel Community Giving Campaign totaled over $2.9 million. The Intel Foundation will match the employee and retiree contributions, bringing the total Intel contribution in Oregon to almost $6 million.

Read more

NW Natural and United Way Partner to Provide Gas Assistance Program for Low-Income Families

While many are cutting down on some of their luxury expenses in this tight economy, others are grappling with how to pay for the basics - like their utility bills. With winter fast approaching, NW Natural is asking the public to join forces with its shareholders and give to the company’s Gas Assistance Program (GAP).

GAP is an important initiative that aids low-income families in Oregon and SW Washington with their natural gas payments, so families can keep the heat on when state and federal assistance runs out. Every penny donated is distributed by local community action agencies with the help of the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette. read more

JCPenney Afterschool Fund Grant

United Way of the Columbia-Willamette recently received a $94,000 grant from the JCPenney Afterschool Fund to support afterschool organizations in the Portland/Vancouver metro area in the 2008-2009 school year. Each organization received a grant to provide scholarships for youth to attend the programs and a $50 JCPenney gift card for each student receiving the grant support.

The JCPenney Afterschool Fund is a charitable organization committed to providing children in need with access to high-quality after school programs that keep them safe and foster their academic, physical and social development. read more

Upcoming Events with United Way Young Leaders Society

The United Way Young Leaders Society (YLS) is a group of young professionals ages 21-40 in the Portland-Vancouver metro region that aims to develop the community's next leaders in both the business and civic arenas.

Members want to grow professionally and personally and are committed, compassionate and generous individuals who want to make a difference in our community.

Throughout the year, YLS hosts events through the YLS Leadership Education and YLS Community Connection programs. Each encompasses aspects of professional growth focused on leadership development and personal growth focused on community involvement.

More info: http://www.unitedway-pdx.org/YLS

NOVEMBER YLS EVENTS

Lunch with Leaders

Date: Wednesday, November 12
Place: 888 SW Fifth Ave., #1200 Portland, Oregon 97204
Time: 11:45 am - 1 pm

James Rudd, CEO of Ferguson Wellman Capital Management, will host our November Lunch with Leaders event. Rudd is a principal of the firm, portfolio manager and member of the equity team managing the industrials and materials sectors. Join us for this opportunity to meet one of the leaders of our local financial world.

To RSVP, contact Jose Ayala at josea@unitedway-pdx.org or 503.226.9373.


United Way Leadership Development Breakfast

Date: Friday, November 14
Place: United Way, 619 SW 11th Ave. Portland, Oregon 97205
Time: 8am-9am

United Way will be hosting its second Leadership Development Breakfast with Sabrina Rokovitz, CEO, Portland Area Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Sy Williams, CEO, ACS. Rokovitz will speak about her career and how she achieved the position of CEO. Williams will make a leadership presentation that he developed for University of Oregon Business students. They both will also share their thoughts on leadership and what they look for in promising employees.

To RSVP, contact Jose Ayala at josea@unitedway-pdx.org or 503.226.9373.

Volunteer Opportunity with YLS

Date: Sunday, November 23
Place: New Seasons - Arbor Lodge, 6400 N Interstate Ave. Portland, OR 97217
Time: 2-hour time slots all day

Come join us to help homebound seniors during the holiday season! We will be distributing "donate dinner" cards to shoppers. These cards allow customers to add the cost of a meal or two to their shopping bill. The seniors, who are unable to do their own shopping, will receive the meals by delivery. There are two-hour time slots all day and we will need one or two volunteers for each slot.

Call Tommy DeMarti, YLS Volunteering / Community Service Vice Chair, at 503.997.7015 to sign up.