United Way of the Columbia-Willamette will be distributing $4.84 million in grant funding to projects in the Portland-Vancouver area on July 1, 2012. The grants will enhance education, reduce poverty, improve community health and meet families’ emergency needs.
“We are thrilled to be making these investments," said Keith Thomajan, President and CEO. "Each organization, in its own way, helps build stronger, healthier communities in our region. And each grant was made possible by thousands of generous donors -- people who give, volunteer and use their voice to create change in our communities."
In the four-county area, one-third of local high-school students do not graduate on time. Half a million people in the area live in poverty. At least 15% of people do not have health insurance. United Way’s funded projects aim to meet immediate needs while working to change systems so that all people have the support they need to succeed.
$3.22 million will go towards 48 one-year grants in the areas of education, income and health. Grants for direct-service programs range from $50,000 to $100,000 and capital project grants range from $2,000 to $40,000.
- Education projects support middle school success, high school completion and transition to career or college.
- Income projects reduce poverty by promoting family-wage employment and affordable housing.
- Health grants help to build healthy, non-violent family relationships and connect people in need with mental and oral health care.
- Capital projects help nonprofits whose overall work is in education, income and health better serve their clients through facilities improvements and equipment purchases.
In addition, $1.6 million will fund ongoing strategic initiatives that have proven results in supporting United Way’s focus areas of enhancing education, reducing poverty, improving community health and meeting families’ emergency needs.
In past funding cycles, United Way has given out three-year grants. This year, the organization is giving out one-year grants to give nonprofits a chance to access funds while United Way takes the time to research needs, engage with the community and sharpen its strategic focus for the next grant cycle.
The funding decisions were driven by a diverse pool of volunteers from corporate partners, community leaders, and United Way staff members who collectively contributed nearly 2,000 hours towards the process. “I was truly impressed with the rigor and thoughtfulness employed by our staff and volunteers,” said Thomajan.
In this year’s giving campaign, United Way of the Columbia-Willamette raised $22,005,560. That includes donations from more than 20,000 people as well as corporate and individual gifts. The funding that did not go to this year’s grants was made up of donations sent directly to the charity of the donor’s choice. This $11 million in general-purpose funding provides important sustaining support for hundreds of local non-profits. Importantly, thanks to the support of United Way’s Cornerstone Partners, 100% of overhead costs are covered and, as a result, 100% of every private donation goes directly back into our community.
More information about the funded projects is available online at bit.ly/uwgrants.
Funded Projects: Education
Adelante Mujeres |
Journey to College |
$97,000 |
Camp Fire Columbia |
From Surviving to Thriving |
$97,000 |
Concordia University Foundation |
Launch Pad |
$58,200 |
IRCO: Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization |
IRCO - School Success for Newcomers |
$97,000 |
Janus Youth Programs, Inc. |
Janus Youth - Food Works Academic Youth Leadership Program |
$97,000 |
Mt. Scott Learning Centers |
Transitions Program |
$97,000 |
Native American Youth and Family Center |
NAYA Family Center Early College Academy Enhancement Project |
$97,000 |
Open Meadow Alternative Schools |
Step Up |
$97,000 |
Self Enhancement, Inc. |
SEI - Youth Potential Realized |
$97,000 |
Todos Juntos |
Todos Juntos |
$97,000 |
Funded Projects: Income
Bridge Meadows |
Uniting Foster Youth, Families and Seniors |
$65,250 |
CASH Oregon |
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Tax Help |
$82,650 |
Community Housing Resource Center CHRC |
Financial Education & Counseling Program |
$69,600 |
DePaul Industries |
Finding Employment for Homeless People with Disabilities |
$87,000 |
JOIN: Connecting the Street to a Home |
JOIN: Leading from Home |
$87,000 |
Mercy Corps Northwest |
Reentry Transition Center |
$87,000 |
Northwest Housing Alternatives, Inc. |
HomeBase |
$62,640 |
Northwest Pilot Project, Inc. |
Housing Stabilization & Retention for At-Risk Seniors |
$87,000 |
Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. |
Constructing Green Futures - Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc |
$87,000 |
Second Step Housing |
Positive Steps to Community |
$69,600 |
Verde |
Let Us Build Cully Park! |
$84,349 |
Voz Workers' Rights Education Project |
Martin Luther King Jr. Worker Center |
$65,250 |
Funded Projects: Health
Asian Health and Service Center |
Tri-County Mental Health Connection for Asians |
$100,000 |
Cascade AIDS Project |
Youth HIV Education |
$98,000 |
Clackamas Women's Services |
Clackamas Women's Services A Coordinated Community Response |
$100,000 |
Free Clinic of Southwest Washington |
Adult Dental Access Program |
$50,000 |
Listen To Kids |
Parent Child Involvement Project |
$86,500 |
Luke-Dorf, Inc. |
Peer Supported Engagement |
$75,000 |
Lutheran Community Services Northwest (Portland Metro) |
Lutheran Community Services NW - Pathways |
$72,168 |
Northwest Family Services |
Access to Dental Care Program |
$100,000 |
The Wallace Medical Concern |
Lasting Smiles |
$49,144 |
Virginia Garcia Memorial Foundation |
Enhancing Access to Oral Health Care for Low-income Children and Families |
$100,000 |
Youth Contact, Inc. |
Rebuilding Family Alliance |
$100,000 |
Funded Capital Projects
Asian Health and Service Center |
Stay in Touch |
$28,000 |
Bienestar |
Receta para Exito (Recipe for Success) |
$33,349 |
Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare, Inc |
Prescott Terrace - Green Heat Upgrade! |
$24,000 |
Clackamas Service Center |
Food Services and Warehousing Job Training Program |
$10,200 |
CODA-Comprehensive Options for Drug Abusers, Inc. |
Fresh Start in New Housing |
$22,000 |
Columbia River Mental Health Services |
Improve Mental Health Therapy |
$40,000 |
Emile Fries Piano Hospital and Training Center |
HVAC Replacement Project |
$2,000 |
Friends of the Children - Portland |
On the Road to Success |
$30,000 |
IRCO: Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization |
IRCO: Africa House |
$40,000 |
Native American Youth and Family Center |
NAYA Family Center Early College Academy Enhancement Project |
$40,000 |
New Avenues For Youth |
Social Purpose Enterprise Initiative |
$40,000 |
Outside In |
IT/Communication Project |
$40,000 |
Peninsula Children's Center |
Family Services Expansion Project Peninsula Children's Center |
$32,500 |
The Salvation Army Cascade Division |
White Shield Center Independent Living Capital Project |
$33,210 |
YWCA Clark County |
Facilities Upgrade to Impact Survivors of Violence |
$13,120 |
Funded Strategic Initiatives
- Community Relief Fund: Helps families in need with emergency food, rent, utility and prescription assistance.
- Earned Income Tax Credit: Helps low-income working families get the tax credits they deserve through free tax preparation and filing.
- 211info: Provides free referrals to community resources.
- Project Access NOW: Helps low-income and uninsured people access free health care.
- Labor’s Community Service: Assists unemployed union workers with emergency rent and utility assistance.
