Portland, September 10th, 2015. If you couldn’t join the thousands who flocked to Pioneer Courthouse Square for The Standard’s Annual Volunteer Expo, you’re in luck. We’ve got all the information and website links to explore over 125 local nonprofits that could use your time.
A full list of links of nonprofits is at the bottom of our story.
R. Richard Crockett, (left) is the Program Operations Director & Volunteer Coordinator at Chess for Success.
Classroom Law Project is a non-profit organization of individuals, educators, lawyers, and civic leaders building strong communities by teaching students to become active citizens.
The Standard’s Volunteer Expo has repeat participants year after year, here’s a look at some nonprofits which continue to recruit volunteers:
Jenny Bedell-Stiles and Andy Meeks from Friends of Trees
talks with Casey Rhodes and Clark Hays.
Jenny Chu from Literary Arts
New Avenues For Youth volunteers are a hit every year because they dish out the free Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream!
Rachel Randles from Oregon Historical Society
The Volunteers of America recruited some new volunteers!
Special Olympics Oregon has room for coaches and event volunteers.
Newspace Center for Photography promoted its multidimensional photography resource center and community hub for students, working artists, professional photographers, educators, and photo-enthusiasts of all types.
Latino Network’s Edgar Ortega
Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metro Area had a colorful display.
The Work for Art’s Community Fund and Arts Education Fund support more than 80 arts and culture organizations every year—encompassing dance, visual arts, music, literary arts, media arts, theater, cultural arts, and arts education.
IMPACT NW drew prospective volunteers who learned that each year over 60,000 low-income children, youth, families, seniors, and adults with disabilities participate in Impact NW’s comprehensive anti-poverty programs.
The YMCA was handing out information about programs.
People who stopped by The Q Center booth were met with a friendly smile.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Oregon Chapter staffers promoted their many volunteer options.
Reps from the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon explained their work on behalf of local cats and kittens.
American Red Cross volunteer recruiters had the trademark red vests!
The mission of the Make-A-Wish Oreogn Foundation® is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.
Northwest Pilot Project began in 1969 as an all volunteer agency to provide basic supports for seniors at risk of losing their ability to live independently.
Miracle Theatre Group is The Northwest’s premiere Latino arts and culture organization.
Camp Fire offers opportunities for volunteers who like to work with kids.
Bridge Meadows is a multi-generation housing community serving Oregon’s vulnerable populations; foster youth, adoptive parents and elders (55+).
Here’s a list of links to charities at the The Standard’s Volunteer Expo. Please consider donating your time, and tell them PortlandSocietyPage.com sent you!
Portland, October 25th. The “It’s on The House” luncheon at the Benson Hotel raised funds for Human Solutions‘ programs and services that benefit low-income and homeless individuals and families. Multnomah County Commissioner Deborah Kafoury had a chance to catch up with Jo Ann Hardesty, a member of the Human Solutions board of directors. (Photo credit, Andie Petkus Photography)
Director of Housing, Human Solutions; Jan Laskey, Vice President of Community Development Lending, Bank of America Merrill Lynch; Gail Lannoy, Senior Vice President, Bank of America Merrill Lynch; Jean DeMaster, Executive Director, Human Solutions; Joan Cook, Director of Finance, REACH Community Development; Vincent Chiotti, Regional Advisor, Oregon Housing and Community Services; and Michelle Haynes, Housing Development Director, REACH Community Development.
An “It’s on the House” breakfast was held the day before at Persimmon Country Club in Gresham. A total of 300 people attended both events. The breakfast and the lunch raised $43,000.
Human Solutions’ mission is to help low-income and homeless families and individuals gain self-sufficiency by providing affordable housing, family support services, job readiness training, and economic development opportunities. As the largest provider of homeless family services in Multnomah County, Human Solutions currently provides shelter and/or housing to over 700 homeless people in 230 homeless households on any given night. All told, we touched the lives of more than 84,000 people last year with our wide array of services. This fiscal year, Human Solutions is celebrating 25 years of helping homeless and low-income families build pathways out of poverty.
Human Solutions’ 245-mile service area in outer East Portland and East Multnomah County includes some of the highest poverty neighborhoods in Multnomah County. Since 1988, we have worked not only to address the symptoms of poverty, but also to develop innovative programs designed to overcome the root causes of poverty. In other words, we are not simply a safety net providing emergency services to vulnerable families; we are also the ladder that families can use to build pathways out of poverty.
Our programs help break the cycle of intergenerational poverty that is so devastating for every member of the family, but is particularly damaging to children. We operate two emergency family shelters to give families a safe place to sleep and food to eat. Our goal is to quickly relocate homeless families, whether from shelter or another temporary location, into stable housing as the first step in their journey toward long-term stability. Our Family Advocates work directly with homeless families, providing critical case management services to help them permanently overcome their homelessness. We own and operate 16 high-quality affordable housing complexes containing 608 apartments. Last year, over 620 families, comprised of more than 1,800 people, resided in Human Solutions’ affordable housing.
The Bank of America Charitable Foundation announced that during the first six months of 2012, it awarded $274,200 in grants to Portland-area nonprofits. The grants focus significantly on neighborhood revitalization, with $158,000 going to local community development nonprofits focused on building and rehabilitating affordable housing facilities, foreclosure prevention services and homeowner counseling, and providing other services intended to help families with homeownership.
“Challenges in the housing sector such as lack of affordable homes can hinder economic recovery and vitality, so I’m pleased to see Bank of America’s leadership in focusing their philanthropic resources on building stronger neighborhoods,” said Steve Messinetti, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East. “The $75,000 grant we just received will provide enough funding to build an entire new house for a waiting family-in-need. And beyond the dollars, Bank of America’s employees will be helping build the home, too, with volunteering being a part of the partnership.”
The majority of funds are part of a recently announced $22 million in housing-related grants that will impact more than 650 nonprofit organizations serving low- and moderate-income communities in 34 states. Locally, Bank of America provided grants to 20 nonprofits in the Portland area, including: Innovative Changes: to provide operating support to reach 1,200 low-income individuals with financial education, credit building, coaching, asset building and small dollar loans in Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington Counties.
Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East: to sponsor one new house-build in Oregon’s largest Habitat development in the Centennial Neighborhood. Portland Housing Center: to invest in the HomeOwner Basics program and provide 1,300 individuals with homeownership counsel. Habitat for Humanity Willamette West: in support of a home in the new Hillsboro development of nine houses for local low-income, hardworking families.
The other grant recipients include Albertina Kerr Center Foundation, Clearpoint Credit Counseling Solutions, Friends of Tryon Creek Park, Grantmakers of Oregon and SW Washington, Japanese Garden Society of Oregon, Northwest Business Committee for the Arts, Oregon Children’s Theatre Company, Oregon Food Bank Inc., Oregon Opportunity Network, Portland Business Alliance Charitable, Portland Opera Association, Reach Community Development, Rebuilding Together Portland, Schoolhouse Supplies, Wy’East Economic Development Institute and Young Entrepreneurs Business Week.
“Bank of America is committed to strengthening Oregon’s communities by supporting local nonprofits that are effectively addressing critical community needs, and that are having the greatest impact in their reach and outcomes,” said Monique Barton, senior vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility for Bank of America in Oregon and Southwest Washington. “This latest philanthropic investment we’ve made will impact more than 3,000 individuals and families in the Portland metro area alone, and that’s something our local employees are proud to be a part of.” Supporting housing nonprofits is one component of the company’s three-pronged philanthropic focus on housing, jobs and hunger — three areas that are vital to stimulating the national economic recovery. Bank of America recently issued a request for proposals for nonprofits providing education, job training and workforce programs, and will issue a similar request related to critical needs and hunger later this fall. The company continues to focus on low- and moderate-income communities that have been hardest hit in the economic downturn. Learn more at www.bankofamerica.com/foundation. Bank of America Corporate Social Responsibility Bank of America corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a strategic part of doing business globally. Our CSR efforts guide how we operate in a socially, economically, financially and environmentally responsible way across more than 100 markets around the world, to deliver for shareholders, customers, clients and employees. Our goal is to help create economically vibrant regions and communities through lending, investing and giving. By partnering with our stakeholders, we create shared value that empowers individuals and communities to thrive and contributes to the long-term success of our business. We have several core areas of focus for our CSR, including responsible business practices; environmental sustainability; strengthening local communities with a focus on housing, hunger and jobs; investing in global leadership development; and engaging through arts and culture. Learn more at http://www.bankofamerica.com/about and follow us on Twitter at @BofA_Community. For more Bank of America news, visit the Bank of America newsroom. www.bankofamerica.com
Portland, August 4th. Volunteers from Advantis Credit Union rolled up their sleeves to help paint an elderly woman’s house in North Portland. They were among 250 community volunteers providing critical plumbing, electrical and carpentry repairs, as well as painting of exterior of homes for senior and disabled individuals. This is the sixth year Advantis employees have participated in the REACH Paint & Repair-a-Thon, pictured are: Caitlin Kellogg, Stephanie Woody, Maria Thorpe, Alisha Friedrich, Sheri Cameron-Mendes, and David San Pedro. The Paint & Repair-a-Thon revitalized 20 homes for REACH Community Development.
REACH – Siemens Workday 2012
“REACH is committed to helping Portland’s seniors be able to live safely in their homes,” says Dee Walsh, REACH Executive Director. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with the local business community, who are dedicating a very generous amount of their time, resources, and employees to help our senior citizens stay safe in their homes.”
Support for this year’s Paint & Repair-a-thon event comes from local business and civic partners, including major underwriting provided by: Almar Contracting, Miller Paint, Walsh Construction, Lifetime Windows, Bank of America, Bank of the West, LMC Construction, NW Natural, Advantis Credit Union, Affordable Home Remodeling, Interstate Flooring Company, NW Painting Specialist, Portland Housing Bureau, Milgard Windows, IBEW and the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus, Portland Chapter.
In 1982, REACH began revitalizing neighborhoods in southeast Portland. Today, REACH owns 1,400 units of affordable, safe housing and has changed thousands of lives. We couldn’t do this work without you. Your support and dedication has helped REACH in our efforts to provide quality, affordable housing and opportunities for individuals, families and communities to thrive.
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