Portland, OR. A message from Editor, Elisa Klein. Portland Society Page is marking its tenth-anniversary publishing nonprofit news for free! 2,217 articles later, we’re still going strong with thousands of weekly readers. We’ve also launched society page websites in Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. One of the particularly gratifying roles I’ve enjoyed over the past year is mentoring dozens of interns from up and down the west coast. It has enabled me to share my enthusiasm for journalism with students from UCLA, Berkeley, U of O, University of Washington, and many more universities. Also, a huge thanks to my husband, Steven Klein who has been an enthusiastic supporter and terrific proofreader for the past ten years!
Elisa Klein, Editor
The indomitable Betty White who lived to be 99-years-old said, “It’s your outlook on life that counts. If you take yourself lightly and don’t take yourself too seriously, pretty soon you can find the humor in our everyday lives. And sometimes it can be a lifesaver.”
Your interest in the nonprofit community offers hope. Together, let’s look forward to a better and brighter 2022!
Thank you,
Editor and Publisher, Elisa Klein
2021 UPDATE: For a second year, necessary Covid-19 restrictions meant that many volunteers had to stay away from the charities they love. Supporters who usually flock to galas were often social distancing, some organizations moved forward with caution by holding hybrid events. Some sectors, like human services, have seen a surge of donations, while arts organizations have struggled mightily without the benefit of ticket sales.
The generosity of our community remains constant. Donations brought hope to thousands of our friends and neighbors. The thankful include the elderly living alone receiving hot meals, children with learning differences finding support through zoom, brilliant performance artists feeding their families with grant money, and bone-tired frontline workers using donated personal protective equipment.
Now, we’ll share the stories you read most this year in reverse order.
TOP TEN PORTLAND SOCIETY PAGE STORIES 2020
10. Portland knifemaker Alex Horn created commemorative knives from the rubble of the Twin Towers.
So there you have it, the most-read stories of 2021 on Portland Society Page! We look forward to providing our coverage of local nonprofit news in 2022. Upward on onward!
Portland, OR. The Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation has awarded more than $1,000,000 in grants to eight Oregon and Washington state nonprofits. Those selected, “are celebrating, promoting, advancing, and encouraging women’s participation and leadership in science, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics (STEM)”. ChickTech (seen above at a pre-pandemic event) is one of the grant recipients. The nonprofit works to build a pipeline for girls and women in technology.
‘Oregon Robotics Building’ (seen above at a pre-pandemic event) will receive some of the funds to help build participation of Girls in FIRST STEM programs in Oregon.
The Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation was founded by Dave and Sally Bany in 1998, “In honor of what would have been my grandmother’s 125th birthday, we are delighted to award eight $125,000 grants to nonprofits in the area working to promote women in STEM,” said Sally Bany, co-founder of the Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation. “These nonprofits are truly inspiring, from serving underprivileged areas and creating bilingual STEM programing to serving minority populations and creating summer programs, every nonprofit is on a mission to better the field of technology for women and girls.”
In April of this year, the Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation announced it would receive additional funds after the passing of Marie’s daughter and Sally’s mother, Columbia Sportswear Company Chairman Gert Boyle. As of today, the Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation has over $360 million in assets to support its mission and is on track to donate more than $10 million this year.
The sciences have always been an important part of the Lamfrom legacy. “My aunt, Hildegard Lamfrom, daughter of Marie and Paul Lamfrom, would have also celebrated her 99th birthday on June 19th,” continued Bany. Hildegard is remembered for her extraordinary contributions to scientific research as a molecular biologist and biochemist. Her research paved the way for evidence that helped with the mRNA-based breakthroughs used to combat COVID-19.
On October 11th, the finalists were announced. Those receiving a Women in STEM grant from Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation are listed below.
Eureka! is a 5-year STEM program for 8th-12th grade girls and gender-nonbinary youth, the majority of whom are youth of color and youth from underserved families.
The Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation was established by Dave and Sally Bany in 1998 to support nonprofit organizations throughout the Pacific Northwest. The Foundation focuses on nonprofit programs that support education and mentorship, arts and creativity, and health and well-being. The Foundation was named for Sally’s grandmother, Marie Lamfrom. For more information, please visit marielamfrom.org.
Portland, OR. The Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation is announcing a significant increase in funds that will be distributed to nonprofits throughout Oregon and Washington. The foundation, founded by Dave and Sally Bany in 1998, is named for Sally’s grandmother, Marie Lamfrom seen above. Marie Lamfrom, who lived from 1896 to 1982 was the mother of Columbia Sportswear Company Chairman Gert Boyle. The foundation received additional funds after the passing of Gert Boyle in 2019. Currently, the Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation has approximately $150 million in assets to support its mission and is on track to donate $9 million this year.
Marie Lamfrom’s Family: Sally Bany, Eva Labby, the late Gert Boyle and Rachael Bany Sneddon. Sally serves as the Chairman of the Foundation, while her daughter, Rachael Sneddon, is CEO. Additional trustees include Sally’s daughter, Annie Bany, and Sally’s son-in-law, Russell Sneddon.
With the increase in giving capacity, the Foundation will continue to support nonprofit organizations focusing on education and mentorship, arts and creativity, and health and well-being, with the majority of funds benefiting programs based in the Pacific Northwest. “I started this Foundation with my late husband, Dave, 23 years ago to honor the life of my amazing grandmother, Marie Lamfrom,” said Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation Chairman Sally Bany. “ At age 18, Marie served in World War I as a nurse on the Russian front, then returned to Germany, where she married and had three children. As the Nazis rose to power, Marie and her family fled to Portland, Ore.
After her relocation, Marie became known as Bluebird thanks to her support of the Girl Scouts, where she served as a troop leader at Shriners Hospital for Children.
“I feel so fortunate to come from a family of such strong, independent, and philanthropic women,” said Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation CEO Rachael Sneddon. “I grew up watching my mother and my grandmother continue the work of my great grandmother Marie, and I feel so honored to step into that role as we continue the Foundation’s support of so many important nonprofits. We want to encourage nonprofits doing work in education and mentorship, arts and creativity, and health and well-being to reach out. We would love to hear your story and explore ways we might be able to collaborate.”
The Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation was established by Dave and Sally Bany in 1998 to support nonprofit organizations throughout the Pacific Northwest. The Foundation now focuses on nonprofit programs that support education and mentorship, arts and creativity, and health and well-being. The Foundation was named for Sally’s grandmother, Marie Lamfrom. For more information, please visit marielamfrom.org.
The Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation, a local non-profit founded by Dave and Sally Bany in 1998. Named for Sally’s grandmother, Marie Lamfrom, the foundation has recently been granted additional funds after the passing of Marie’s daughter and Sally’s mother, Columbia Sportswear Company Chairman, Gert Boyle.
The current fund amount of $150 million will be used to support nonprofit organizations focusing on education and mentorship, arts and creativity, and health and well-being, with the majority of funds benefiting programs based in the Pacific Northwest. Past recipients of the Foundation include everything from Dress for Success and Girl Scouts Beyond Bars to Oregon Food Bank and the Pleasant Hill Community Theatre.
For decades, Marie gave to the people of her city and state through her numerous volunteer efforts and support of community causes. She served in World War I as a nurse, working on the Russian front at the age of 18. At the end of the war, she returned home to Germany and married Paul, then had three daughters. As the Nazis rose to power, Marie and her family fled to Portland, Oregon.
Marie (fondly known as “Bluebird”) was involved in Girl Scouts for over 44 years as a troop leader, board member and delegate to the national convention. She is lovingly remembered for her 20-year commitment to her Girl Scout troop at the Shriners Hospital for Children. She held an annual barbecue in the parking lot, and all the children attended, even wheeled down in their beds.
Perhaps her greatest legacy is the founding of a similar troop at Providence Hospital, a troop that continues today with 28 members. All the Girl Scouts are medically fragile, but–just as with Marie’s Shriners troop–they give back to their community by preparing and serving meals to the elderly.
Marie Lamfrom inspired countless young women. Girl Scouts is better because of her dedication, compassion, energy and commitment. Her long, rich legacy of Girl Scouting is now in its fourth generation.
The example that Marie set for all of us remains the goal even today. Since 2013 the Girl Scout Marie Lamfrom Women of Distinction Luncheon each year showcases the women who have followed her lead in choosing to make an impact with their work.
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