Portland, OR. Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest (BBBS) raised $475,000 at its “Impact of a Connection” gala. After a two-year Covid-prompted hiatus, the benefit was held at The Redd on Salmon Street on September 22nd. It raised funds to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that supporters say help to ignite the power and promise of youth. At the event, Nick Kristof, New York Times Columnist, and Artis Stevens, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters America posed for a photo together. (Photo credit, Adam Levy)
Artis Stevens, President, and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters America
Beach Pace, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest
Lindsey Murphy, event emcee, and Alumni Little Sister
Owa Odighizuwa, Former NFL Player and Alumni of Little Brother, and Artis Stevens, President, and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters America
From Big Brothers Big Sisters:
The sun shined bright as guests arrived to enjoy the cocktail hour, packed with entertainment featuring saxophonist Eldon “T” Jones, Finn the Magician, a 360 photo booth, and delicious cocktails from Tito’s Handmade Vodka. We were joined by a special guest speaker, Artis Stevens, President & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, who gave a moving speech about the importance of mentorship in the lives of youth. Alumni Little, Lindsey Murphy, celebrated her 30th year in contact with her Big Sister, Melissa, a science teacher that inspired her to start her wildly popular Youtube show, the FabLab.
The night concluded with a celebration of the 2022 Bigs and Littles of the year highlighting the matches of Big Brother Gus and Little Brother Jason and Big Sister Monica and Little Sister Jeni who took the stage to accept their awards. As a community, we were able to raise a record-breaking $475,000 in support of our one-to-one mentoring programs here in Portland and SW Washington. One of the best parts of the night happened among all the staff and event volunteers after the event when, Beach Pace, BBBSCNW CEO, rallied everyone together to take a moment to take pride in all the work we had all put into this event.
A sincere thank you to everyone who made this event a beautiful success. It takes a village, and we are so glad you are a member of our village. Our sincerest appreciation goes out to our 2022 Gala Committee led by co-chairs Suzy Alexander, and Lee Lenker. A BIG thank you to our Presenting Sponsors Twenty Four 7 and Concentrix Catalyst, our Ignite Sponsors The Standard, OnPoint Community Credit Union, Nike, M Financial Group, Cambia Health Solutions, Anderson Construction, our Inspire Sponsors KPMG, Moss Adams, Comcast, Baird, General Sheet Metal, Hillsboro Hops, M Science, Sheldon Warmington & Janel Warmington and Table Sponsors @ACME, Advantis Credit Union, Brown & Brown Insurance. Barran Liebman LLP, Natasha Elhaj-Hedinger, Kaiser Permanente, Moda Health, North Highland, owamagbe odighizuwa, Pacific West Bank, Parker, Smith & Feek, TM Rippey Consulting Engineers and Xenium HR!
Portland, OR. The nonprofit TrackTown Youth League kicks off its fifth season this April. The TrackTown Youth League was created to encourage Oregon youth from all backgrounds and income levels to become healthy and active members of the community, and inspire youth to participate in track & field and further Oregon’s position as the spiritual home for the sport in this country.
2017 Championship meet at historic Hayward Field.
The series of free all-comer track meets across Oregon is popular with both returners and newcomers. It’s open to all boys and girls ages 7-14 and provides a unique opportunity for youth of all experience levels, including adaptive athletes, to learn and compete side-by-side. The Roosevelt High School Track team will host a meet on April 20th. The 2018 schedule and registration are available at www.tracktownyouthleague.com.
Top finishers from each regional meet will advance to a Championship Meet at the University of Oregon. “The TrackTown Youth League provides an ideal opportunity for the next generation to be introduced to the sport of track & field,” said Vin Lananna, President of TrackTown USA. “In addition to the regional meets across the state, we are thrilled to present the TrackTown Youth League Championship in conjunction with the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at historic Hayward Field.”
Nearly 2,000 young athletes attended TrackTown Youth League’s 2017 meets and participation is expected to grow.
From The TrackTown Youth League:
The TrackTown Youth League is supported by: Providence Health & Services, Oregon Sports Action, Comcast, Willamette Valley Track and Field, NBC Sports Northwest, Youth Runner Magazine, Oregon Road Runners Club and the Clark Foundation.
The Oregon Sports Authority Foundation provides grants and conducts programs to support youth sports activities with an emphasis on both underserved youth and increased physical activity.
Track Town USA is a non-profit organization based in Eugene that has been instrumental in making Oregon the destination for track & field in the United States.
Events: Events include the 100m, 400m, 1500m, long jump and turbojav. No prior track & field experience is needed! Athletes of all abilities are welcome, including adaptive athletes.
Age is determined by the athlete’s age on the day of their local meet.
Registration: We encourage everyone to pre-register for your local meet. We will also offer day-of registration at each meet if space is available. Online registration will close one business day before the start of each meet. The deadline for day-of registration is 45 minutes prior to the start of the meet.
Championship Qualification: The top two competitors in each event will advance to the TrackTown Youth League Championship on June 10, 2017 at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. More information can be found on the TrackTown Youth League Championship meet page.
Portland, OR. The Comcast Foundation awarded $390,457 in grants to 33 nonprofit community partner organizations in Oregon & SW Washington in 2016. The grants invest in programs that expand digital literacy, promote community service, and build tomorrow’s leaders.
Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest was awarded $20,000 for its Eureka! program. This five-year program is focused on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) for girls beginning the summer of 8th grade. It is also designed to empower them to make healthy physical activity choices and to be involved in leadership and volunteer opportunities. (photo: Girls Council member, Hannah, with designer Becky Ross (left) and Purse-o-nality Angela Jackson.)
The Comcast Foundation awarded the Urban League of Portland $25,000 for its 2016 summer youth employment program. The four-week program prepares African-American youth for workforce demands, including technology and digital literacy training, and provides students with job-readiness training and interactive activities to learn about different careers.
The Foundation also awarded a grant of $20,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metropolitan Area (BGCP) to help expand the Club’s My.Future technology initiative, a technology training program to equip Club kids with the skills needed to compete in a 21st century economy. It provides hands-on experience and enables BGCP members to participate in a wide range of activities to help them understand how to safely and productively engage online, and to identify and develop digital interests – from internet basics to robotics, coding, game design, and online journalism for advanced learners.
“With all of the support that we get from Comcast and the technology support they provide, they’re changing the lives of these children,” said Erin Hubert, Chief Executive Officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metropolitan Area. “Our whole focus at Boys & Girls Clubs is creating great futures for children, and that’s what Comcast is about.”
“It’s so gratifying to be able to support these important community partners,” said Marc Farrar, Vice-President External Affairs for Comcast Oregon & SW Washington. “I know I speak for the 2,000 Comcasters who live, work, and play here when I say our community partners are critical to the fabric of our communities, and we are proud to help contribute to their success.”
Additional organizations receiving Comcast Foundation grants in Oregon & SW Washington include:
Comcast Digital Connectors with the Chicas Youth Development program
Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest – Beyond School Walls workplace mentoring program
Hacienda Community Development Corporation – Expresiones after-school program
Native American Youth & Family Center – NAYA College and Career Center
United Way of the Columbia-Willamette – employee giving campaign (cornerstone partner)
Including the support in Oregon & SW Washington, the Comcast Foundation has donated $19 million in 2016 to nonprofit organizations in the communities it serves nationwide. In addition to the grants from the Comcast Foundation, Comcast also responds to community needs through local sponsorships and in-kind support, such as airing public service announcements, employee volunteerism, and providing technology equipment and services to organizations across the country.
About the Comcast Foundation
The Comcast Foundation was founded by Comcast Corporation in June 1999 to provide charitable support to qualified non-profit organizations. The Foundation primarily invests in programs intended to have a positive, sustainable impact on their communities. The Foundation has three community investment priorities—expanding digital literacy, promoting community service, and building tomorrow’s leaders. Since its inception, the Comcast Foundation has donated $195 million to organizations in the communities nationwide that Comcast serves. More information about the Foundation and its programs is available at www.comcast.com/community.
Portland, May 31st, 2014. The Comcast Foundation honored 65 Oregon and SW Washington high school seniors with $82,000 in Comcast Leaders and Achievers® scholarships at the Portland World Trade Center. More than 150 guests attended including 48 students. Fourteen students are from the city of Portland and 30 students are from the Portland Metro Area.
Vanessa Dominguez, 2013 Comcast Leaders and Achievers and Founder’s scholarship winner, joins the celebration to share her first-year experience of college with the 2014 winners. While attending Oregon State University, Vanessa continues her work at Momentum Alliance as youth director with co-executive director Rebecca Shine.
Attendees have brunch at the Portland World Trade Center in celebration of winning scholarships. Photo by Andie Petkus Photography.
Students receive commemorative Comcast Leaders and Achievers medals. Photo by Andie Petkus Photography.
Mark Lewis, director of STEM for the Oregon Education Investment board, encourages students to continue exploring their roles in education and the community. Photo by Andie Petkus Photography.
Students were invited to bring parents and special guests to celebrate their accomplishments with Comcast and fellow Leaders and Achievers scholarship recipients. Photo by Andie Petkus Photography.
Comcast community investment manager Rebecca Brown and VP of external affairs Theressa Dulaney are anxious to unveil Comcast Founder’s scholarships—additional awards to the Comcast Leaders and Achievers scholarships.
Abigail Pasion from Roosevelt High School receives a total $5,000 award for college with a $1,000 Leaders and Achievers scholarship and a $4,000 Comcast Founder’s scholarship. Photo by Andie Petkus Photography.
Each student received $1,000 scholarships for higher education. Fifteen students also won iPads to help with their studies, including five from the Portland Metro Area, and three students received additional Comcast Founder’s scholarship. Abigail Pasion (Roosevelt High School, Portland, OR) and Morgan Baker (R.A. Long High School, Longview, WA) were each awarded $4,000 Comcast Founder’s scholarships which brought their total scholarships to $5,000 each. Jazmin Cruz (South Salem High School, Salem, OR) was awarded a $9,000 Comcast Founder’s Scholarship which brought her scholarship total to $10,000.
Abigail Pasion from Roosevelt High School has been involved in several activities including student government, theatre, and SUN Community Schools. After working with Global Citizens Corps in 2012, Abigail created the program RISE: Reaching Individual Success through Education. It is a peer-run group designed to increase and sustain the percentage of college-bound youth in the St. Johns area of Portland.
Honored students and guests heard from Rodrigo Lopez, Comcast Oregon & SW Washington regional vice president; Mark Lewis, director of STEM for the Oregon Education Investment Board; and Vanessa Dominguez, 2013 Comcast Founders’ scholarship recipient and Oregon State University undergraduate student.
Recognizing the exceptional academic commitment and community involvement of the students, Rodrigo Lopez joked, “I’d be embarrassed to tell you my community involvement when I was your age.” Mark Lewis commended their leadership and role-modeling in school, noting that “education is a collective responsibility.” Vanessa Dominguez reminded students, “when the going gets tough, just keep on swimming.” Citing her continued community involvement as youth director of Momentum Alliance, she encouraged students to keep up with community service despite possible challenges in adjusting to college life.
“These students are great leaders. They will surely continue to make change happen in their schools and communities by their own actions and the examples they set for their peers,” remarked Rodrigo Lopez.
The Comcast Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship Program provides $1,000 scholarships to students who strive to achieve their potential, who are catalysts for positive change in their communities, who are involved in their schools, and who serve as models for their fellow students. The philosophy behind the program is to give young people every opportunity to prepare for the future and to engage them in their communities. The program also demonstrates the importance of civic involvement, and the value placed on civic involvement by the business community.
To date, Comcast has awarded more than $21.6 million to nearly 21,000 Leaders and Achievers Scholarship winners.
2014-2015 OREGON AND SW WASHINGTON LEADERS AND ACHIEVERS® SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS – PORTLAND METRO AREA (*Asterisk notes iPad winner)
Student Name
High School
High School City
Jackilyn Ammons
Milwaukie High School
Milwaukie, OR
Emilia Anderson
Forest Grove High School
Forest Grove, OR
Enat Arega
De La Salle North Catholic High School
Portland, OR
Megan Barnes
St. Helens High School
St. Helens, OR
*Mitchell Booth
Sam Barlow High School
Gresham, OR
Abigail Bueno Penate
Centennial Park School
Portland, OR
Heriberto Chavez Bolanos
Hillsboro High School
Hillsboro, OR
Diana Delgado
Tigard High School
Tigard, OR
Max Denning
Parkrose High School
Portland, OR
*Valerie Huang
Southridge High School
Beaverton, OR
Tierra Johansen
David Douglas High School
Portland, OR
Emily Kimball
Scappoose High School
Scappoose, OR
Mai Le
Grant High School
Portland, OR
Sienna Li
St. Mary’s Academy
Portland, OR
*Justin Low
Oregon City High School
Oregon City, OR
*Ashleigh Miller-Hayes
Franklin High School
Portland, OR
Jacquelyn Nelson
Centennial High School
Gresham, OR
Phuong Uyen Nguyen
Benson Polytechnic High School
Portland, OR
Thony Nguyen
Jefferson High School
Portland, OR
Alicia Nunziato
Gresham High School
Gresham, OR
Abigail Pasion
Roosevelt High School
Portland, OR
Jennifer Pedro Miguel
The NAYA Early College Academy
Portland, OR
Zachariah Petett
Lincoln High School
Portland, OR
Hao Pham
Century High School
Hillsboro, OR
*Liam Reese
Wilson High School
Portland, OR
Beatriz Rendon Bautista
Reynolds High School
Troutdale, OR
Jesse Rojo
Glencoe High School
Hillsboro, OR
Kierra Rowan
Wilsonville High School
Wilsonville, OR
Kricia Ruano
Aloha High School
Beaverton, OR
Meuy Saechao
Madison High School
Portland, OR
Connect with the scholarship winners at www.facebook.com/ComcastLeadersandAchievers. Explore and “like” Comcast in the community at www.facebook.com/WePowerDreams.
The Comcast Foundation was founded by Comcast Corporation in June 1999 to provide charitable support to qualified nonprofit organizations. The Foundation primarily invests in programs intended to have a positive, sustainable impact on their communities. The Foundation has three community investment priorities—promoting community service, expanding digital literacy, and building tomorrow’s leaders. Since its inception, the Comcast Foundation has donated more than $130 million to organizations in the communities nationwide that Comcast serves. More information about the Foundation and its programs is available at www.comcast.com/community.
Portland, April 30th, 2014. On Saturday, April 26, more than 1,900 local Comcast employees and their families, friends, and community partners volunteered to “make change happen” at schools and nonprofits in Oregon and Southwest Washington as part of Comcast’s 13th Comcast Cares Day. Community volunteer Matt Hushbeck is joined my many who put in elbow grease at Baltimore Woods.
Community volunteer and Comcast Leaders and Achievers scholarship recipient Jennifer Pedro volunteers for a painting project at Native American Youth & Family Association which runs her high school, the NAYA Early College Academy. Photo by Aaron Hockley.
Elaysia Edwards, Comcast sales supervisors Kim Wood and Kevin Bailey, and Lexus Bailey clean up the Oregon Zoo grounds for Comcast Cares Day. Photo by Andie Petkus.
More than 300 Comcast Cares Day volunteers clean, paint, and spruce up the grounds of Parklane and Oliver elementary schools. Photo by Scott Cloud.
Comcast and community volunteers painted and cleaned Hacienda CDC’s Salon Communal. Volunteers also worked at the Los Jardines de la Paz building. Photo by Bernard Lorenzo.
Comcast employees Gary Yates and Kathy McGowan, and Hands On Greater Portland volunteer Mark Vanderyacht, bag apples at the Oregon Food Bank volunteer action center. Photo by Theresa Smith.
Arthur and Comcast employee Angelique King wipe down books to prepare for donation by the Children’s Book Bank. Photo by Wendy Rectenwald.
Community volunteer Pat and Comcast human resources manager Gina Fox sew blankets for children in need at Binky Patrol.Photo by Tracy Preston.
Comcast construction technician Brent Christiansen takes a break from working on the Oregon Humane Society’s walk path to greet Buffy the dog. Photo by Courtney Zerizif.
More than 300 Comcast Cares Day volunteers clean, paint, and spruce up the grounds of Parklane and Oliver elementary schools. Photo by Scott Cloud.
Comcast Cares Day, which takes place each April during National Volunteer Month, is Comcast and NBCUniversal’s signature day of service and the nation’s largest single-day corporate volunteer effort. Comcast joined with several community partners again this year to bring volunteers to more than 20 project sites throughout the region—including Hands On Greater Portland for the Portland metro area. Volunteers cleaned shelves, painted, removed invasive species, and did much more to help communities in need from Longview, WA to Eugene, OR.
More than nine projects were in Portland. Comcast returned to some Portland nonprofits such as NAYA, Children’s Book Bank, and Oregon Humane Society. There were also sites new to volunteers, such as a joint project with SOLVE at Baltimore Woods and the flagship Comcast Cares Day project at neighboring SE Portland elementary schools Parklane and Oliver which gathered more than 300 volunteers.
This year more than 80,000 Comcast and NBCUniversal volunteers participated in over 700 projects across the country and around the globe. To date, more than half a million volunteers have contributed over 3 million volunteer hours since Comcast Cares Day started in 2001.
“We are grateful for all of the participants who made Comcast Cares Day a success,” remarked Rodrigo Lopez, Comcast Oregon & SW Washington regional vice president. “The 1,900 volunteers from community organizations, Comcast, and their friends and families, made a lasting impact in dozens of communities in our region.”
The Comcast Foundation will also provide grants to local community partner organizations across the country on behalf of everyone who volunteered on Comcast Cares Day. The grants will help Comcast’s community partners continue their mission of serving the community throughout the year. To date, the Comcast Foundation has awarded more than $14 million in grants to partner organizations to match the efforts of our volunteers on Comcast Cares Day.
Comcast has been committed to serving local communities since our founding more than 50 years ago. For more information on Comcast’s volunteer and community investment initiatives, visit www.comcast.com/community.
About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) is a global media and technology company with two primary businesses, Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is the nation’s largest video, high-speed Internet and phone provider to residential customers under the XFINITY brand and also provides these services to businesses. NBCUniversal operates 30 news, entertainment and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, television production operations, television station groups, Universal Pictures and Universal Parks and Resorts. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.
About the Comcast Foundation
The Comcast Foundation was founded by Comcast Corporation in June 1999 to provide charitable support to qualified non-profit organizations. The Foundation primarily invests in programs intended to have a positive, sustainable impact on their communities. The Foundation has three community investment priorities—promoting service, expanding digital literacy, and building tomorrow’s leaders. Since its inception, the Comcast Foundation has donated nearly $140 million to organizations in the communities nationwide that Comcast serves. More information about the Foundation and its programs is available at www.comcast.com/community.
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