Portland, OR. The 2021 Christmas Ships Parade season is upon us. It will launch on the Columbia and Willamette Rivers for 15 nights, beginning on Friday, December 3rd through Tuesday, December 21st. There are six nights when the ships have a combined fleet (all boats in one location). The privately-owned vessels come from Portland, Vancouver, McMinnville, Salem, and Hood River areas. Some of the ship owners have been part of the Christmas tradition for more than 30 years.
The boats range from 14 to 65 feet long and are brightly decorated for the holiday season. Up to 60-holiday boats are expected to make up the two fleets this year.
The Christmas Ship Parade started in 1954 with one lone sailboat from Portland Yacht Club. Bows of green with some ribbon were tied along the rails and they paraded on the rivers. The next year the parade started to grow and has become a beloved Portland area tradition.
Here’s a video about the Christmas ships parade from several years ago:
From The Christmas Ship Parade Organizers:
We are fully funded by the generous financial contributions of many waterfront businesses as well as individuals. If you enjoy seeing us out on the water, please consider supporting us by donating here: Make a donation.
The Christmas Ship Parade started in 1954 with one lone sailboat from Portland Yacht Club. Bows of green with some ribbon were tied along the rails and they paraded on the rivers
Many restaurants and hotels along the Columbia and Willamette rivers are already taking reservations with nights already booked for some evenings.
Each skipper is responsible for their own expenses, including fuel and insurance for their vessels over the two weeks. This can run into the hundreds of dollars, which in itself is a testament to the dedication and enthusiasm the Christmas Ship skippers bring to the organization and the community. The organization accepts donations to help cover the cost of maintaining, managing, and promoting the organization, but none of these donations go to the skippers, their crews, or their boats. Christmas Ships, Inc. is an all-volunteer organization, with no paid staff or officers, just a large group of friendly individual volunteers/skippers who give back to the community they love.
Portland, OR. Giving Tuesday is coming up on November 30th. It was launched in 2012 as a way to get people to donate on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving when people are already opening their wallets for the kickoff of the holiday shopping season. Charities and businesses use the hashtag #GivingTuesday on social media to spread awareness and seek donations. Besides contributions, GivingTuesday is also a time to engage volunteers, receive in-kind donations, and thank current supporters.
In 2020, nearly $2.5 billion was donated in the U.S. on Giving Tuesday, according to estimates by campaign organizers.
Oregon Humane Society is one of the many nonprofits taking hoping to benefit from Giving Tuesday.
Nonprofits like Boy & Girls Club are still serving kids in our area.
Below is a list of Portland Area nonprofits hoping for a boost on Giving Tuesday. Click on the name of the nonprofit for a direct link to its website.
GivingTuesday is a growing global generosity movement that drives giving and collective action in communities around the world.
GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past nine years, this idea has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity year-round.
GivingTuesday inspires generosity worldwide through a distributed network of leaders. There are official GivingTuesday national movements in 80 countries, led by a global network of passionate, entrepreneurial leaders. At a grassroots level, people and organizations participate in GivingTuesday in every single country in the world.
GivingTuesday creates global impact driven by local action. In the U.S. alone, 300 community campaigns rally thousands of nonprofits, foundations, grassroots organizations, small businesses, and generous individuals to give back. Through #GivingTuesdaySpark, youth are leading change and inspiring action around the world.
GivingTuesday is driving a net increase in giving. The movement continues to grow in year-over-year donation volume, reach and impact – driving increased donations and behavior change. In 2020, at least $2.47 Billion were donated in twenty-four hours in the U.S. alone, with 13% of the adult population participating by offering gifts of time, voice, skills, goods, and money, as well as countless acts of kindness inspired by the movement.
GivingTuesday is a global hub for data, learning, and ultimately, innovation around generosity. The GivingTuesday Data Commons works with partners across sectors and borders to understand the drivers and impacts of generosity, explore giving behaviors and patterns, and use data to inspire more giving around the world. With over 100 contributing partners and 50 global data labs, the initiative is the largest philanthropic data collaboration ever built.
People are inspired to give on GivingTuesday. 84% of those aware report that GivingTuesday inspired them to be more giving. A 2019 Horizon Media study reported that 52% said that they want to donate on this day because it allows them to be a part of a bigger group of people doing good.
GivingTuesday inspires collective action and generosity all year round–and in times of crisis. $503M in online donations were contributed in the U.S. alone on May 5, 2020 during #GivingTuesdayNow a global day of giving and unity created as an emergency response to COVID-19.
People can show their generosity in a variety of ways during GivingTuesday. Whether it’s helping a neighbor, advocating for an issue, sharing a skill, or finding virtual volunteer opportunities with their favorite causes—everyone has something to give and every act of generosity counts.
Portland, OR. Wy’East Mountain Academy is an outdoor-oriented, action sports academy designed to develop students in the classroom as well as in the outdoors. The organization is launching a nonprofit foundation to help offer financial aid to students who otherwise would not be able to attend.
Most students attending Wy’East Mountain Academy are enrolled in Edgenuity, an accredited online elementary and secondary school. The school’s web-based curriculum meets Oregon state standards while licensed teachers provide the instruction online.
The academy enrolls students ages 12 to 19 who want to combine a rigorous academic setting with skiing, snowboarding, skateboarding, mountain biking, and other outdoor recreation sports.
Wy’East Mountain Academy offers sport-specific coaching that facilitates athletic progression at all levels, from just starting out to competing professionally. Its first annual Good in the Woods fundraising celebration will be held on Friday, December 17th, 2021. The goal is to bring families and supporters together to celebrate the new 501c3 not-for-profit status and to raise $50,000 in scholarship funds so administrators can extend the Wy’East Mountain Academy experience to more students. To help reach the goal, there is a Penny for Penny match on all proceeds raised.
Student at Wy’East academy on graduation day.
The school holds a parent’s weekend each year.
Kevin English, Academy President, explains the plan to raise $50,000. “The goal of Good in the Woods is to help raise funds for tuition assistance. When you look at any of these sports we’re talking about, they’re incredibly resource-intense, these are not inexpensive sports in the first place, and then you couple that with a boarding school, it really limits the number of people who can afford to do something like this.”
Unique silent bid items include fun items like snowboarding & skiing gear, IKON pass, renowned action sports photography, and airline tickets. “Adversity is nothing new to this school,” English said when talking about challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our team, coming from this action-sports world, is really all about risk mitigation. When you’re a high-performance athlete, that’s all you’re doing, you’re never eliminating risk, but just learning to mitigate existing risks and I think that’s what we’ve done with the school and we’ve navigated it rather well.”
From Wy’East Mountain Academy:
Wy’East Mountain Academy (formerly Windells Academy) is a world-class outdoor-oriented, action sports academy designed to develop driven and talented students in the classroom as well as in the outdoors. Wy’East enrolls students ages 12 to 19 who want to combine a rigorous academic setting with skiing, snowboarding, skateboarding, mountain biking and other outdoor recreation sports. To this end, we offer sport-specific coaching that facilitates athletic progression at all levels, from just starting out to competing professionally. We enable students to learn, train and participate in sports year-round while attaining high school or college credits that are transferable in or out of any US accredited school, national or international.
The meaning of Wy’East.
“Wy’East” is the original name for Mt. Hood, given by the Multnomah people who first inhabited its nearby lands. That this mountain draws us together is central to our spirit of adventure and achievement. It is this special place we call home and to which we pay homage.
What we believe.
Our mission is life improvement through people, place, and passion. We believe that if you put the right people in the right place, with shared passions and college preparatory academics, you’ll not just improve the life of young person, but change the world by helping to create driven and compassionate citizens.
Our vision is to be a top ten globally rated outdoor academy with alumni who are helping to improve the world.
Portland, OR. Jesuit High School held its “Financial Aid LIVE” benefit and raised over $339,330. The emcees were a current senior, Theron Abel, and alumna and KATU reporter Genevieve Reaume who graduated in 2011. Before the pandemic, the annual financial aid benefit drew approximately 600 people. In 2020 it was completely virtual. On November 18th, the event was a hybrid of in-person and virtual with supporters watching a LiveStream. Raising funds for financial aid is a serious priority for administrators; during the current school year, $3.8 million in financial aid is being awarded to 352 students.
The Jesuit High School choir was featured in the program.
Jesuit High School, located in Portland, Oregon, was founded in 1956 by the Society of Jesus and is part of a 450-year Jesuit educational tradition. Jesuit High School is a non-profit, coeducational college-preparatory school for grades 9-12 that serves students of all religious faiths. It’s located at 9000 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy. Portland, OR 97225.
Jesuit’s curriculum is founded in the educational philosophy of Jesuit founder, St. Ignatius of Loyola, and takes a holistic view of adolescent education, which includes nurturing the spiritual, physical, emotional, intellectual, and aesthetic gifts each student brings to campus. Jesuit hopes to accomplish this development by demonstrating a personal concern for individuals, an articulate wisdom, enthusiasm, and a sense of community. In so doing, we hope to graduate leaders who are committed to serve God and their fellow men and women through a profound sense of justice founded in love, i.e. leaders who are “men and women for others.”
The operation of Jesuit High School is overseen by a Board of Trustees. The board ensures and provides the spiritual tone and direction of the school, consistent with the purposes and traditions of Roman Catholic and Jesuit education. The board also monitors Jesuit High School’s business affairs.
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Challenge Gift Sponsors
The Scott/Daniel Family
The Halton Family
Circle of Hope Sponsors
Anonymous
Rebecca & Arthur Armour
Minnie Bautista & Mark Cooper
Tricia & Patrick Heffernan
Circle of Faith Sponsors
Desiree Baldocchi
Lisa & Guy Pope
Carl & Terry Spitznagel
Danielle & Charles Wallace
Westside Concrete
Tracy & Mark Williams
Gold & Arrow Salon
The Mulflur Family
Julie & David Brands ’73
Jeanelle & Todd Lindsey
Circle of Caring Sponsors
Sharon & Keith Barnes
Christie Luxury Real Estate, Brad Golik & Terry Sprague
Hotchkiss-Agostinelli Family
Jeff Jenne ’89 & Miles Rusth ’89
Summit Mortgage
Carey & Lance Killian ’89
Mimi Lettunich & Kris Wigger
Pamela & Bernie Pliska
Quach Family Law
Melissa & Jeff Rippey
Mary & Steve Rolph
Sumner Street Home Hardware
Marcia & Bob Walsh
Wine Sponsors
The Schwab Family: Marcus ’07, Cameron ’08, Connor ’10, Josef ’15
Paper Moon Shop: Mary Martinez
Portland, OR. In its latest round of community grant funding, the Umpqua Bank Charitable Foundation awarded 77 community grants to local nonprofits across its five-state footprint totaling $305,500. Employees also work “hands-on” like those seen above during the tenth annual #StandTogetherWeek.
“We’re honored to invest in the important work of local nonprofits who have continued to provide critical community services and programs during challenging times,” shared Randy Choy, Managing Director of the Umpqua Bank Charitable Foundation. “Our gratitude goes out to these nonprofits who are essential partners with us to improve access to economic opportunity for all community members.”
Children’s Healing Art Project (CHAP) is one of the recipients.
In total, the three rounds of community grants contributed $1M to community organizations across Ore., Wash., Idaho, Calif. and Nev. and are part of Umpqua Bank’s overall foundation and corporate giving program that has invested $12.8 million since the Foundation was formed in 2014.
These nonprofits were selected from hundreds of applicants who demonstrated a steadfast commitment to serving low-to-moderate income populations in at least one of eight categories: family engagement and resiliency; financial competency; housing stability and homeownership; college, career or technical readiness; entrepreneurship and business expansion; vibrant and equitable neighborhoods; technical and digital connectivity; and small business support and financial guidance.
Third-round community grant recipients received between $3,000-10,000 and are listed below. The next deadline for community grant applications will be announced soon. Learn more at www.UmpquaBank.com/Community.
OREGON Boys & Girls Club of Corvallis Turning Point Community Service Center Kor Community Land Trust Boys & Girls Club of the Umpqua Valley Phoenix School of Roseburg Umpqua Community Development Corporation (Neighborworks Umpqua) Boys & Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley Wildlife Images Rehabilitation and Education Center Boys & Girls Club of Albany ACE Mentor Program of Oregon Bridge Meadows Catholic Charities of Oregon Financial Beginnings Oregon Girls, Inc. Sarah Bellums Bakery & Workshop Saturday Academy United Negro College Fund Youth Rights & Justice Gilbert Children’s Museum Desert Rose Ministries Impact Pendleton Josephy Center for Arts and Culture Wallowa Business Angels for Angels Centro Cultural De Condado De Washington Community Action Organization Community Partners for Affordable Housing Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum
WASHINGTON Second Harvest Inland Northwest
Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington Northwest Association for Blind Athletes Vancouver School District No. 37 Foundation Family Promise of Cowlitz County YWCA North Central Washington Habitat for Humanity Inc. (Tri-County Partners) College Possible-WA Financial Beginnings Washington Powerful Voices Maryhill Museum of Art Next Door, Inc. United Way of Lewis County Okanogan County Community Action Council Collaborative Effort, Inc. (RAIN Incubator) Pierce County AIDS Foundation Pierce County Library Foundation Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County Foundation Stevenson Downtown Association Foundation for Edmonds School District Housing Hope Senior Services of Snohomish County Washington Kids in Transition Latinos En Spokane Transitional Programs for Women Community Action Center
CALIFORNIA Indian Dispute Resolution Services Operation Care Calaveras Mentoring Foundation Family Action Centers of Colusa County Boys & Girls Clubs of Contra Costa Valley Small Business Development Corp. Community for Innovation Entrepreneurship Leadership & Opportunity Greater Sacramento Urban League Habitat for Humanity, Inc. Operation Innovate Teach for America, Inc. HISCEC Foundation, Inc. Centers for Equity and Success Karat School Project West Valley Community Services of Santa Clara County Improve Your Tomorrow Bridges to Housing Empower Tehama Sierra Repertory Theatre Inc.
IDAHO Second Harvest Inland Northwest Tesh, Inc.
NEVADA New West Community Capital, Inc. Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation, Inc.
About Umpqua Bank Umpqua Bank, headquartered in Roseburg, Ore., is a subsidiary of Umpqua Holdings Corporation, and has locations across Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California and Nevada. Umpqua Bank has been recognized for its innovative customer experience and banking strategy by national publications including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, BusinessWeek, Fast Company and CNBC. The company has been recognized for eight years in a row on FORTUNE magazine’s list of the country’s “100 Best Companies to Work For,” and was recently named by The Portland Business Journal the Most Admired Financial Services Company in Oregon for the sixteenth consecutive year. In addition to its retail banking presence, Umpqua Bank also owns Financial Pacific Leasing, Inc., a nationally recognized commercial finance company that provides equipment leases to businesses.
Umpqua Bank Charitable Foundation Awards 77 Grants to Nonprofits Across Five States
Write-up of the event, if available. You may also upload below.:
In its latest round of community grant funding, the Umpqua Bank Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) of Umpqua Bank, a subsidiary of Umpqua Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: UMPQ), awarded 77 community grants to local nonprofits across its five-state footprint totaling $305,500.
In total, the three rounds of community grants contributed $1M to community organizations across Ore., Wash., Idaho, Calif. and Nev. and are part of Umpqua Bank’s overall foundation and corporate giving program that has invested $12.8 million since the Foundation was formed in 2014.
“We’re honored to invest in the important work of local nonprofits who have continued to provide critical community services and programs during challenging times,” shared Randy Choy, Managing Director of the Umpqua Bank Charitable Foundation. “Our gratitude goes out to these nonprofits who are essential partners with us to improve access to economic opportunity for all community members.”
These nonprofits were selected from hundreds of applicants who demonstrated a steadfast commitment to serving low-to-moderate income populations in at least one of eight categories: family engagement and resiliency; financial competency; housing stability and home ownership; college, career or technical readiness; entrepreneurship and business expansion; vibrant and equitable neighborhoods; technical and digital connectivity; and small business support and financial guidance.
Third round community grant recipients received between $3,000-10,000 and are listed below. The next deadline for community grant applications will be announced soon. Learn more at www.UmpquaBank.com/Community.
OREGON Boys & Girls Club of Corvallis Turning Point Community Service Center Kor Community Land Trust Boys & Girls Club of the Umpqua Valley Phoenix School of Roseburg Umpqua Community Development Corporation (Neighborworks Umpqua) Boys & Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley Wildlife Images Rehabilitation and Education Center Boys & Girls Club of Albany ACE Mentor Program of Oregon Bridge Meadows Catholic Charities of Oregon Children’s Healing Art Project, Inc. Financial Beginnings Oregon Girls, Inc. Sarah Bellums Bakery & Workshop Saturday Academy United Negro College Fund Youth Rights & Justice Gilbert Children’s Museum Desert Rose Ministries Impact Pendleton Josephy Center for Arts and Culture Wallowa Business Angels for Angels Centro Cultural De Condado De Washington Community Action Organization Community Partners for Affordable Housing Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum
WASHINGTON Second Harvest Inland Northwest
Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington Northwest Association for Blind Athletes Vancouver School District No. 37 Foundation Family Promise of Cowlitz County YWCA North Central Washington Habitat for Humanity Inc. (Tri-County Partners) College Possible-WA Financial Beginnings Washington Powerful Voices Maryhill Museum of Art Next Door, Inc. United Way of Lewis County Okanogan County Community Action Council Collaborative Effort, Inc. (RAIN Incubator) Pierce County AIDS Foundation Pierce County Library Foundation Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County Foundation Stevenson Downtown Association Foundation for Edmonds School District Housing Hope Senior Services of Snohomish County Washington Kids in Transition Latinos En Spokane Transitional Programs for Women Community Action Center
CALIFORNIA Indian Dispute Resolution Services Operation Care Calaveras Mentoring Foundation Family Action Centers of Colusa County Boys & Girls Clubs of Contra Costa Valley Small Business Development Corp. Community for Innovation Entrepreneurship Leadership & Opportunity Greater Sacramento Urban League Habitat for Humanity, Inc. Operation Innovate Teach for America, Inc. HISCEC Foundation, Inc. Centers for Equity and Success Karat School Project West Valley Community Services of Santa Clara County Improve Your Tomorrow Bridges to Housing Empower Tehama Sierra Repertory Theatre Inc.
IDAHO Second Harvest Inland Northwest Tesh, Inc.
NEVADA New West Community Capital, Inc. Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation, Inc.
About Umpqua Bank Umpqua Bank, headquartered in Roseburg, Ore., is a subsidiary of Umpqua Holdings Corporation, and has locations across Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California and Nevada. Umpqua Bank has been recognized for its innovative customer experience and banking strategy by national publications including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, BusinessWeek, Fast Company and CNBC. The company has been recognized for eight years in a row on FORTUNE magazine’s list of the country’s “100 Best Companies to Work For,” and was recently named by The Portland Business Journal the Most Admired Financial Services Company in Oregon for the sixteenth consecutive year. In addition to its retail banking presence, Umpqua Bank also owns Financial Pacific Leasing, Inc., a nationally recognized commercial finance company that provides equipment leases to businesses.
A traditional meal will be served to-go on Thanksgiving Day.
Portland Rescue Mission started in 1949. Over 70 years later, it’s still known for compassionate care to homeless men, women, and children. The nonprofit has 4 different locations and also provides long-term recovery care.
US Bank Corp volunteers assemble snack bags at Union Gospel Mission of Portland
Other Thanksgiving Volunteer Opportunities:
Blanchet House does not serve meals on Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day so that its shelter residents who help to prepare and serve meals can enjoy a day of rest. The nonprofit has volunteer opportunities that you can do from home on Thanksgiving. See below.
From Blanchet House:
You can volunteer from home by doing one of the following meaningful activities.
Make Sack Lunches
Prepare 10-100 sack lunches and drop them off at Blanchet House. Review our Sack Lunch How-To for the details.
Donations can be dropped off Mon-Sat*, at 310 NW Glisan St. from 8 – 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 – 4 p.m. *We are closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Pull up to our entrance, knock on the door to get our attention, and a staff member will retrieve your donation from the car. If you’d like a donation receipt, we can provide one. You can also call us at 503-241-4340 or email [email protected].
If you would like to volunteer on-site at Blanchet House on a day that is not a holiday sign up here. Blanchet House is open Mon-Sat, except for New Years Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. We are open all other holidays.
McMinnville, OR. The Evergreen Museum has partnered with the non-profit Veterans’ Legacies and become the location of its new world headquarters in the Aviation Museum.
The headquarters marks the first-time family members, friends, caregivers, and veterans themselves have a physical space to share pictures, biographies, letters, and more. The headquarters includes:
The Mighty Endeavor oral history recording studio
Ben Cox Research Library
A free gathering space for museum visitors
Artifacts on display from the Evergreen Collection ranging from uniforms to helmets and patches
Personal photo albums donated to Veterans’ Legacies by service members and their families.
Veterans can schedule an appointment in the oral history recording studio to share stories that will be added to the Veterans’ Legacies online database.
Veterans’ Legacies World Headquarters in the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville.
Here’s a video about Veterans’ Legacies World Headquarters in the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville.
“Our goal is to preserve the histories of all of those who served, and the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum is the perfect partner for our center of operation,” said founder Gary Mortensen, an award-winning documentary filmmaker, and president of the Stoller Wine Group,
“Thanks to the Museum, we now have a place where these incredible stories can be recorded, researched, and shared in our ever-growing database that includes the stories of more than 9 million WWII veterans as well as those who served during peacetime,” Mortensen continued.
Another feature included in the library will be artifacts from the Evergreen Collection. These range from uniforms to helmets and patches, plus personal photo albums donated to Veterans’ Legacies by service members and their families.
The Veterans’ Legacies center will be open by appointment through the end of the year. Learn more at themightyendeavor.com.
Donations and volunteering opportunities can be made by emailing [email protected].
From Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum:
The Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum is located at 500 Northeast Captain Michael King Smith Way in McMinnville. It is the home of the iconic Hughes Flying Boat Spruce Goose and strives to promote scientific curiosity while empowering everyone to learn about the past and inspiring future use of innovation and technology. Its aircraft, exhibits, and artifacts — like the rare SR-71 Blackbird, Titan II Space Launch Vehicle (SLV) with its original launch room, and a MaxFlight full-motion interactive flight simulator ride — offer stunning examples of aviation achievement. All of this is done in an environment that teaches students of all ages how these once emerging technologies demonstrate the importance of human skills like mathematics, science, teamwork, determination, and perseverance.
As a 501(c)3, Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum is proud to partner with the Academy of Model Aeronautics, the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab, the Oregon Space Consortium, and the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program. The Evergreen Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. To make a reservation, buy tickets, or learn more, call (503) 434-4180 or visit evergreenmuseum.org.
Portland, OR. Oregon State University supporters celebrated the impact of philanthropy at the President’s Dinner on October 26th. It was a multi-access event for 150 in-person guests at the Portland Art Museum and additional 200 participants online. Alumni emcees Lamar Hurd from Trail Blazers Broadcasting and Cathy Marshall of KGW Television (pictured above) led the program filled with stories of students and faculty.
Organizers say, “With this year’s President’s Dinner, we were able to blend the best of both worlds and offer guests the choice of how they wanted to participate. Our in-person offering was designed with COVID safety in mind – vaccination required and a smaller number of attendees than in the past. We also got creative with ways to connect our in-person guests with those joining virtually. We had a live chat feature and placed iPads on each table to help make sure our in-person and virtual guests has a shared experience.”
The OSU Foundation hosted the event, celebrating a record 25 households and organizations that have recently joined the Milton Harris Society, which honors OSU donors for lifetime gift commitments of $1 million or more.
The OSU Foundation hosted the event, celebrating a record 25 households and organizations that have recently joined the Milton Harris Society, which honors OSU donors for lifetime gift commitments of $1 million or more.
OSU Foundation President and CEO Shawn Scoville said, “One silver lining of the pandemic has been finding new ways of engaging alumni and friends in the life of the university, regardless of where they live.”
OSU Interim President Becky Johnson discussed OSU’s work related to the pandemic and climate impacts, aided by donors who invest in faculty. “I’m proud that OSU is a leader in providing access to affordable higher education among top research institutions,” she continued. “This year’s entering class is the most diverse in our history. About one-fourth of Corvallis students and one-third of OSU-Cascades students are the first in their families to attend college. Much of this would not be possible without your support, and I’m profoundly grateful for your generosity.”
Here’s a video about the new members of the Milton Harris Society:
From Oregon State University Foundation:
Here’s a list of the new Milton Harris Society members:
Robin & W. Charles “Chuck” Armstrong, ’66
Todd A. Baker, ’94
Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization
Susan Hamm Fritz, ’69, & Dennis W. Fritz, ’64, M.S. ’67
Kristin Gilley Fritz, ’88, & Michael W. Fritz, ’88
Robert M. Goldstein, ’77
Sheila and J. Michael Goodwin
Eric H.I. Hoffman, ’79, & Janice Kelleher Hoffman, ’81
Marilyn & Ronald R. Hudson, ’69
Paula D. & Kenneth S. Krane
Marilyn K. & Russell V. Kuhns, ’68
Christine Pullin Levy, ’70, & Thomas H. Levy, ’70
Lone Rock Resources
David A. Montagne, ’87
Dixie L. & Kelly C. Morgan, ’79
Northwest Farm Credit Services
Gwendolyn A. & Michael D. Purdy, ’76
Roy L. Rogers, ’56, Family
Roundhouse Foundation
Kelly K. Douglas & Eric H. Schoenstein, ’88
Nancy Billingsley Searles, ’71, & V. Kent Searles, ’71
Linda K. & Murray L. Smith, ’59
Nancy M. & Edwin M. Squires
Sunderland Foundation
Unique Botanicals LLC
Watch videos from the 2021 President’s Dinner:
The Oregon State University Foundation seeks to create a better world by inspiring support of – and for – OSU. The OSU Foundation partners with OSU to engage the community, inspire investment and steward resources to enhance the university’s excellence and impact.
Portland, OR. If you access Amazon through the Amazon Smile portal, your shopping experience will be the same but you’ll also be donating 0.5% to the charity of your choice at no extra cost to you. As of August 2021, the program has donated over $285 million to U.S. nonprofits including many in Oregon and SW Washington.
Amazon Smile donations could add up this holiday season, because retail sales are likely to increase between 7% and 9% in 2021, according to Deloitte. The financial advisory firm also forecasts that e-commerce sales will grow by 11-15%, year-over-year, during the 2021-2022 holiday season. This will likely result in e-commerce holiday sales reaching between $210 billion and $218 billion this season.
AmazonSmile shoppers have supported the Oregon Food Bank (seen above before the pandemic) with donations totaling over $1,752.15, at no cost to shoppers.
The obvious downside of AmazonSmile is that 0.5% of your purchase most likely won’t amount to a substantial donation. In order to contribute just $25 to your favorite charity, for instance, you’d have to spend $5,000 on Amazon. So if you’re looking to make a big impact, using Smile probably isn’t your best bet
From AmazonSmile:
AmazonSmile is a simple way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. AmazonSmile is available at smile.amazon.com on your web browser and can be activated in the Amazon Shopping app for iOS and Android phones. When you shop with AmazonSmile, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added benefit that AmazonSmile will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to the charitable organization of your choice. You can choose from over one million organizations to support.
What is the AmazonSmile Charity Lists program?
AmazonSmile Charity Lists is a meaningful and easy way for you to shop and donate items directly to charities in need. Simply find the charities you’d like to support, add items from their lists to your cart, and check out – it’s that easy. To learn more, visit smile.amazon.com/charitylists or tap Charity Lists on the “Programs & Features” menu in the Amazon Shopping app on your mobile phone.
How do I shop with AmazonSmile?
To use AmazonSmile, simply go to smile.amazon.com on your web browser or activate AmazonSmile in the Amazon Shopping app on your iOS or Android phone within the Settings or Programs & Features menu. On your web browser, you can add a bookmark to smile.amazon.com to make it even easier to return and start your shopping with AmazonSmile.
How do I activate AmazonSmile in the Amazon Shopping app?
AmazonSmile is available for Amazon customers with the latest version of the Amazon Shopping app on their mobile phone, including Android devices with version 7.0+ or iOS devices with version 12+. To activate AmazonSmile in the Amazon Shopping app, simply tap on “AmazonSmile” within the Programs & Features menu or Settings and follow the on-screen instructions.
Do I need to renew AmazonSmile?
AmazonSmile renewals happen twice a year to help keep AmazonSmile on mobile app. AmazonSmile will notify you of these renewals via push notifications and through in-app notifications. If you miss a renewal you can reactivate at any time by repeating the steps to “turn on” AmazonSmile on your mobile device. There is no renewal period for browser shopping on AmazonSmile, which you can use anytime by typing ‘smile.amazon.com’ into your browser.
Which products on AmazonSmile are eligible for charitable donations?
Tens of millions of products on AmazonSmile are eligible for donations. You will see eligible products marked “Eligible for AmazonSmile donation” on their product detail pages. Recurring Subscribe-and-Save purchases and subscription renewals are not currently eligible.
Can I use my existing Amazon.com account on AmazonSmile?
Yes, you use the same account on Amazon.com and AmazonSmile. Your shopping cart, Wish List, wedding or baby registry, and other account settings are also the same.
How do I select a charitable organization to support with AmazonSmile?
On your first visit to AmazonSmile, you will be prompted to select a charitable organization to receive donations from your future eligible AmazonSmile purchases. We will remember your selected charity whenever you shop at smile.amazon.com or with AmazonSmile activated in the Amazon Shopping app, and then every eligible purchase you make through AmazonSmile will result in a donation for your selected charity. AmazonSmile will occasionally contact you about donation amounts disbursed to your chosen charity or about the program.
Can I change my charity?
Yes, you can change your charity at any time. Simply visit smile.amazon.com/change, or tap “AmazonSmile” within the Settings menu in the Amazon Shopping app on your phone and select “Change your charity”. Your AmazonSmile purchases made after changing your charity will count towards your newly selected charity.
What charities can I choose from?
You can choose from over one million eligible 501(c)(3) public charitable organizations.
What if my selected charity does not register to participate in the AmazonSmile program or becomes ineligible?
If your selected charity does not register to participate, becomes ineligible, or requests to be removed from the program, you will have a chance to select a different charity to receive the accrued donations that have not yet been disbursed to your charity. If you do not select a different charity, the accrued donations will be distributed to other organizations receiving donations.
If I represent a charitable organization, how can I learn more about registering my organization for AmazonSmile?
Go to org.amazon.com to learn how to register your organization to receive donations.
How much of my purchase does Amazon donate?
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Portland, OR. Oregon Ballet Theater (OBT) has returned to in-person performances. Above is a photo of Jessica Lind in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker by James McGrew. In October, OBT took the stage at the Keller Auditorium with a program called Face to Face. “After 18 months away from our home, we are thrilled to be coming face-to-face with our audience again,” says Interim Artistic Director Peter Franc.
FACE TO FACE featured three powerful ballets for OBT’s return to the stage.
Xuan Cheng as ‘Coffee’ in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker.
From Oregon Ballet Theatre:
Oregon Ballet Theatre seeks to inspire beauty and excellence in the hearts and minds of Oregonians through the creation and preservation of the highest quality classical and contemporary ballet performances. In addition to our 5-show main stage season, they train dancers from 4 years old to 80 years old through the professional and recreational classes at the Oregon Ballet Theatre School. Many of their students go on to successful professional careers at companies including the Joffrey, the Dutch National Ballet, and within our own organization.
With the understanding that this will be an ongoing process, staff, artists, and trustees of OBT wholeheartedly commit to the advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion at OBT. They commit to the hard work of introspection, and to becoming more representative of our entire community at all levels of the organization. OBT commits to creating a positive workplace culture that respects differences. And to continue outreach programming that bridges gaps in access and understanding and engages diverse and marginalized populations. By considering all we do through the lens of equity, OBT aims to be a leader in the field and to ensure the vibrancy and relevance of ballet for years to come.
OBT is the largest professional ballet company in Oregon, employing nearly 200 people and attracting artists from around the globe with a reputation for excellence. The company is rooted in the traditions of classical ballet, with a repertoire that ranges from the great classics to premieres from some of the most exciting choreographic voices in the field today. Its mission is dedicated to the vitality of, and access to, world-class ballet performance and training in the region.
For more information about performances, tickets, and all other information, visit; obt.org
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