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Camp Fire Columbia of Portland Honored For Business Ethics

Melissa McCarthy, MBA Program Director and Associate Director of Graduate Business Partnerships at the University of Portland; Mark Baylis, Camp Fire Columbia Grants & Communications Manager; Camp Fire Columbia President & CEO René Léger.

Portland, June 12th, 2013. Camp Fire Columbia, a co-ed youth development organization, is the recipient of this year’s Oregon Ethics in Business Award for a not-for-profit organization.

Camp Fire Columbia President & CEO René Léger accepts the Oregon Ethics in Business Award for a not-for-profit organization at a ceremony June 12 at the Portland Art Museum.

The Oregon Ethics in Business (OEIB) Awards honor those organizations and individuals who have demonstrated ethical business practice in its broadest interpretation: in the workplace, the marketplace, the environment, and the community. The recipients of these awards have, by act and example, gone beyond the expected to achieve excellence in ethical business practices.

Camp Fire was selected as this year’s recipient for a not-for-profit organization after a rigorous and comprehensive vetting process, said Kenton R. Hill, Chair of OEIB Selection Committee.

“This recognition honors not only Camp Fire’s exceptional after school and summer programs for youth, but also their quality treatment of people (employees, volunteers, students), commitment to environmental stewardship, and for maintaining high ethical standards in the face of adversity,” Hill said. “The overall performance of Camp Fire Columbia is clearly beyond the expected in ethical business practices and sets it apart from the mainstream of not-for-profit organizations.”

Camp Fire Columbia serves over 3,500 youth in grades K-12 each year. Camp Fire partners with 20 schools in and around Portland to offer before, during, and after school programs during the academic year. During the summer, the organization runs resident and day camps and a teen leadership program.

Youth in Camp Fire’s program are shown to improve their academics and school attendance while also developing fundamental skills and assets like confidence, motivation, and compassion for others.

“Ethical conduct is a core value that Camp Fire seeks to nurture in youth. As role models to youth, we strive to ‘walk the walk’ every day,” said René Léger, Camp Fire Columbia President & CEO. “As stewards of community resources, we are whole-heartedly committed to honoring the trust that our donors, volunteers, parents, and partners place in us and our mission.”

About Oregon Ethics in Business: The Oregon Ethics in Business Awards began in 2004 and developed as a partnership between Rotary Club of Portland, Atkinson Graduate School of Management at Willamette University, and the Portland Business Journal. Customers, co-workers and friends who witness exceptional ethical behavior nominate organizations and individuals for the awards. Willamette University/Atkinson MBA students research the finalists, and a selection committee of business and community leaders choose the award recipients based on their reports. For more information about the Oregon Ethics in Business Award, visit www.oregonethicsinbusiness.org

About Camp Fire: Camp Fire Columbia is a co-ed, non-profit organization that directly serves over 3,500 youth grades K-12 each year. Camp Fire partners with local kids, schools, and families to provide diverse, best practices programming that: Supports academic achievement, builds social and life skills, fosters community engagement, and develops career and college readiness. For more information about Camp Fire visit us at www.campfirecolumbia.org

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Elisa Klein

I’ve been a professional journalist and writer since 1987, (and long-time reporter for KOIN-TV.) As a nationally published reporter, with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I love to report positive news and information. Journalism has also connected me with another non-profit where I served as a leader; the Northwest’s biggest writer’s organization: The Willamette Writers.