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Oregon Community Foundation’s ‘Go Kids’ Initiative Surpasses $2M in Funding for Oregon’s Underserved Children and Families

Oregon Community Foundation’s ‘GO Kids’ Launched in Service to Community-Led Arts, Education, Literacy and Childcare Throughout Oregon

Portland, Ore. – November 30, 2022 – Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) announced today that it has granted $904,220 to 30 Oregon-based nonprofits that are working to close the ‘opportunity gap’ for children from low-income families, communities of color, and rural areas.  OCF research illustrates where and how place, race and family circumstances can determine the future success and mobility of Oregon’s kids - at home, in school, or in their communities. In total, GO Kids has distributed over $2 million in funding from 2019-2022.

“Oregon Community Foundation’s investment in arts, education, literacy and childcare programs for underserved children clearly affirms that we can work together to establish innovative, community-led solutions and build momentum to help close the opportunity gap for low-income families in Oregon,” said Ruby Buchholtz, Community Engagement Coordinator, Oregon Community Foundation.

Following is a snapshot of just a few of the community-based organizations that Oregon Community Foundation supports through GO Kids 2-year grant funding:

Families Connected/Familias en Conexion | The Arc Lane County (Parent Education and Support) $72,000 

To support The ARC of Lane County in providing parent support to 300 families raising a child with an intellectual and/or developmental disability in rural Lane County (including the more rural areas of Oakridge, Blue River, Cottage Grove and Florence), also known as the Families Connected/Familias en Conexion program.

“Oregon Community Foundation’s GO Kids grant allows us to do targeted outreach to parents living in rural areas of Oakridge, Florence and Cottage Grove,” says Nancy Berge, The Arc of Lane County’s program director for Families Connected/Familias en Conexion program. “We are bringing services and resources into these communities that are helping parents in their journey of raising children with a disability and helping families chart a course for a positive and possible future. With better access to supports and services for their children and the camaraderie of other parents, parents are feeling less isolated and less overwhelmed.”

Juntos Aprendemos | Better Together Central Oregon (Early Literacy) $45,000

To support Juntos Aprendemos, a culturally and linguistically specific program that invites Latinx parents and their children, ages 3-5, throughout Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook counties to work together on early literacy skills prior to entering kindergarten.

“Juntos Aprendemos is a program supporting families with 3–5-year-old children to help them prepare for Kindergarten in Spanish so they all have the fundamental skills to enter Kindergarten,” said Gabriela Peden, Juntos Aprendemos Program Manager. “Our model supports both the child and the participating adult (parent, guardian grandparent, etc.) Oregon Community Foundation GO Kids funding supports the growth and expansion of the Juntos Aprendemos program into Jefferson County and neighboring areas. Our goal is to reach all of the communities in Central Oregon so it can be more accessible to the Latinx- Spanish speaking families who live here.”

Ready for Kindergarten | McMinnville School District (Early Literacy and Out of School Time Activities) $20,000 

To support the Ready for Kindergarten (RK4) program of the McMinnville School District which provides teaching, learning, academic enrichment and family engagement for students and families in Yamhill County. RK4 engages with families historically underserved with children ages birth to five (60% native Spanish speakers).

“Our priority is to enable parents to become their child’s first and best teacher through child development instruction and materials resources,” said Laurie Fry, Communications Manager, McMinnville School District. “Using a research-based curriculum, the workshops teach age-appropriate activities that show parents how to talk, sing, read and play with their child in simple ways that foster essential pre-literacy, pre-math and social-emotional skills.”

See the comprehensive lists of current GO Kids grantees (organized by geography) in the OCF Press Room online at: https://oregoncf.org/press-room/.

About OCF’s GO Kids Project

Learn more about OCF’s GO Kids project: GO Kids, https://oregoncf.org/assets/PDFs-and-Docs/PDFs/go-kids-2020.pdf  https://oregoncf.org/community-impact/impact-areas/community-engagement/go-kids/

About the Opportunity Gap

Learn more about the opportunity gap: https://oregoncf.org/community-impact/opportunity-gap/ 

Also see: TOP Report 2020: ‘Cornerstones: Economic Mobility and Belonging in Oregon’, https://oregoncf.org/community-impact/research/top-report-2020/ 

About Oregon Community Foundation

Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) works with donors and volunteers to award grants and scholarships to every county in Oregon. From 2020 to 2021, OCF distributed more than $549 million, supporting more than 4,000 nonprofits and 6,000 students. With OCF, individuals, families, businesses, and organizations create charitable funds that meet the needs of diverse communities statewide. Since its founding in 1973, OCF has distributed more than $2 billion toward advancing its mission to improve lives for all Oregonians. For more information, please visit: oregoncf.org.

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Oregon Community Foundation Invests in Thriving Entrepreneurs with $600,000 in Funding to Advance Economic Vitality in Oregon

Minority and Women-Owned Businesses Prioritized for OCF Support

Portland, Ore. – November 15, 2022 – Today, coinciding with National Entrepreneur’s Day, Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) announced $600,000 in grant funding to support “Thriving Entrepreneurs” throughout Oregon. OCF grants to 26 Oregon-based nonprofit organizations will provide mentoring, technical assistance, and access to capital for under-resourced entrepreneurs. These nonprofit organizations will support entrepreneurs around Oregon, with a focus on rural entrepreneurs, women and entrepreneurs of color.

“At Oregon Community Foundation we believe that philanthropy should play a key role in supporting entrepreneurship for economic vitality in Oregon,” said Megan Loeb, Senior Program Officer, Economic Vitality and Housing, Oregon Community Foundation. “Owning a small business is often a pathway for individuals and families to propel out of poverty. Supporting entrepreneurs, particularly entrepreneurs of color, women and those in rural communities, is an investment with significant returns for all of Oregon.” 

With National Entrepreneurship Month underway, Oregon Community Foundation is calling attention to small business innovation, particularly women, rural and minority-owned business ventures. Following is a snapshot of some of OCF’s 2022 Thriving Entrepreneur grantees helping to deliver innovation in Oregon:

Latino Business Alliance | $25,000

To support culturally specific business development training and technical assistance. 

“This grant will provide invaluable startup capital for the Mid-Willamette Valley's working Latinx entrepreneurs, who have long been excluded from traditional lending options,” said Jose Gonzalez, Board Member, Latino Business Alliance.

Onward Eugene | $18,300

To support women entrepreneurs and a women-only pitch competition.

“The numbers don’t lie; female startup founders receive just 2% of all venture funding, 18% if you count mix gendered founding teams - even though women own 38% of all businesses,” shared Matt Sayre, Managing Director at Onward Eugene. “With the support of Oregon Community Foundation, Onward Eugene endeavors to address this inequity in funding for women entrepreneurs at a local level by eliminating gender bias in our annual pitch competition with a “female founders-only” category” Sayre added.

Portland Indigenous Marketplace | $25,000

To support Indigenous Community Circle programs.

"Receiving one of Oregon Community Foundation’s Thriving Entrepreneur's grant is especially important because that is exactly what we see in the amazing community of Indigenous and Black Entrepreneurs that this organization serves. We see thriving creativity and excellence,” said Lluvia Merello, Executive Director, Portland Indigenous Marketplace. “PIM serves over 100 artists and entrepreneurs and each one of them is thriving and breaking barriers, each one of them carry creativity and purpose in their work and we are so very honored and humbled to witness this all.”

XXcelerate | $25,000

To support coaching, mentoring, community, and education for rural Oregon female entrepreneurs.

"A Thriving Entrepreneurs grant allows us to provide relevant, gender competent coaching, mentorship and education to build the capacity of women entrepreneurs growing and scaling their businesses in Oregon,” said Amy Jermain, Executive Director, XXcelerate. “With this support, XXcelerate can help catalyze meaningful growth so women have a better shot at attaining economic freedom and financial independence. Partnering with Oregon Community Foundation is instrumental in helping women become successful contributors to their communities and local economy."

See a complete list of OCF Thriving Entrepreneur grantees (as of November 15, 2022) online in OCF Press Room: https://oregoncf.org/press-room/

OCF’s Thriving Entrepreneurs Fund is open for contributions online at:

oregoncf.org/thriving-entrepreneurs.

About Oregon Community Foundation

Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) works with donors and volunteers to award grants and scholarships to every county in Oregon. From 2020 to 2021, OCF distributed more than $549 million, supporting more than 4,000 nonprofits and 6,000 students. With OCF, individuals, families, businesses, and organizations create charitable funds that meet the needs of diverse communities statewide. Since its founding in 1973, OCF has distributed more than $2 billion toward advancing its mission to improve lives for all Oregonians. For more information, please visit: www.oregoncf.org.

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