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Feb. 01, 2007

PGE Foundation grants almost $900,000 to 96 Oregon nonprofits in 2006
Grants help promote healthy families, education and arts and culture

Portland, Ore. — The PGE Foundation, the corporate foundation of Portland General Electric, distributed a total $883,473 in grants during 2006 to 96 nonprofit organizations throughout Oregon, surpassing the amount contributed in 2005. Since the Foundation’s inception in 1997, it has contributed more than $10 million to Oregon nonprofit organizations.

“The PGE Foundation takes great pride in its commitment to Oregon’s diversity of nonprofit programs that are integral to our communities and the lives of all Oregonians,” said Gwyneth Gamble Booth, Foundation chair. “During the past 10 years, it has been a privilege to witness the achievements and successes of both larger, well-known organizations and smaller, essential programs.”

The PGE Foundation’s role in helping nonprofit organizations grow and thrive reaches communities throughout Oregon including the Portland metropolitan area, Oregon coast, Willamette Valley and central, eastern and southern Oregon. The PGE Foundation makes immediate and long-term investments in programs that support the following primary areas of Oregon life: healthy families, education and arts and culture.

In contributing to programs to promote healthy families, 50 organizations received a total of $360,900 to help create better lives for families and individuals. Grants focused on the homeless, substance abuse rehabilitation and services for grieving children. In 2006, major grants provided funding for a new family community center in Salem, a youth development center in Hillsboro and a home for those with HIV/AIDS in southeast Portland.

To improve education, 22 organizations received grants totaling $338,573. Two of the largest grants of $112,573 and $100,000 were given to Community 101SM (to provide tools for high school students to learn about philanthropy) and Oregon Independent College Foundation (to fund 39 college scholarships), respectively. Other education grants supported services aimed at educating at-risk youth, disabled children and ethnic populations and providing support for early childhood development, youth mentoring and environmental education programs.

In celebrating arts and culture, 24 grant recipients received a total of $184,000, which helped two arts organizations with major building projects and brought the arts to rural communities and at-risk youth.

Healthy families
Grants of $10,000 or more were distributed to the following programs to encourage healthy families:

  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metropolitan Area in Hillsboro received a $25,000 final payment on a two-year $100,000 grant for the expansion of the Hillsboro club. The Foundation grant helped the club double in size through renovation of an adjacent warehouse to create program space, a gym, a Kids’ Café and cafeteria and a fitness center.

  • Dougy Center in Portland received $25,000 to launch a children’s grief support group serving Washington County.

  • Illinois Valley Safe House Alliance in Cave Junction received $10,000 toward services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

  • JOIN (A Center for Involvement) in southeast Portland received $10,000 for the Community Circle program that provides support for homeless individuals and families as they transition into housing.

  • Lifeworks NW in Portland received $10,000 to support Project Network, a residential program in northeast Portland for African-American women and their children. Through counseling and education, the program helps women break the cycle of addiction.

  • Oregon Food Bank, a statewide program headquartered in Portland, received $20,000 to support Phase One of the Network Perishable Food Capacity Building Project. The project works with local and regional agencies to increase their ability to accept and distribute perishable food to Oregonians in need.

  • Our House of Portland in southeast Portland received $20,000 for the renovation and expansion of the residential care facility for people with advanced stage HIV/AIDS.

  • Salvation Army (Cascade Division) in Portland received $10,000 to support the Homeless Infirmary Project, a collaboration with Oregon Health & Science University to bring medical and support services to the homeless population.

  • Salvation Army Kroc Corps Community Center in Salem received $37,500 (the first half of a $75,000 grant, payable over two years) toward construction of the Kroc Corps Community Center, scheduled for completion in early 2009. The Center will include a competition-size swimming pool, gym, outdoor amphitheater, classrooms, childcare facility and fitness area serving the needs of more than 100,000 Salem/Keizer area children and families annually.

Grants of $500 to $9,999 were distributed to the following organizations for programs benefiting healthy families:

  • Better Dads in Gresham received $2,500
  • Camp Fire USA Portland Metro Council in Portland received $7,500
  • CARES Inc. in Portland received $2,500
  • CASA for Children in Multnomah and Washington counties received $6,000
  • CASA of Yamhill County in McMinnville received $2,500
  • Chehalem Youth and Family Services in Newberg received $5,000
  • Children’s Center of Clackamas County in Oregon City received $7,500
  • Clackamas Women’s Services in Milwaukie received $5,000
  • Columbia River Girl Scouts Council in Lake Oswego received $7,000
  • Domestic Violence Resource Center Inc. in Hillsboro received $7,500
  • Ecumenical Ministries (HIV Center) in Portland received $5,000
  • Essential Health Clinic in Hillsboro received $5,000
  • FolkTime Inc. in Portland received $7,500
  • Friends of the Children in northeast Portland received $5,000
  • Friends of Tryon Creek State Park in southwest Portland received $5,000
  • Hearing & Speech Institute in Portland received $5,000
  • High Desert Education Service District in Madras received $5,000
  • HIV Alliance in Eugene received $5,000
  • Insights Teen Parent Program in Portland received $2,500
  • Kids on the Block in Portland received $2,500
  • Kinship House in Portland received $5,000
  • Loaves & Fishes Centers Inc. in Portland received $7,500
  • Love I.N.C. in Benton County received $1,400
  • Lovejoy Hospice in Grants Pass received $4,000
  • Network for Reproductive Options in Eugene received $2,500
  • North Portland Nurse Practitioner Community Health Care in north Portland received $5,000
  • Open Door Counseling Center in Hillsboro received $5,000
  • Pearl Buck Center in Eugene received $5,000
  • Planned Parenthood of the Columbia/Willamette in Portland received $5,000
  • Portland Impact in Portland received $5,000
  • Portland Women’s Crisis Line in Portland received $2,500
  • Prevention and Recovery Northwest in Eugene received $5,000
  • Ronald McDonald House Charities Inc. in Portland received $5,000
  • Samaritan Counseling Center in Portland received $7,500
  • Scio Boys and Girls Club received $2,500
  • Sisters of the Road Inc. in northwest Portland received $6,000
  • Store to Door in Portland received $5,000
  • TryOn Life Community Farm in southwest Portland received $2,500
  • Umpqua Valley disAbilities Network in Roseburg received $4,000
  • Village Heritage Foundation in southwest Portland received $2,500
  • Women in Community Service/Lifeskills of Portland in Portland received $5,000

Education
Grants of $10,000 or more were distributed to the following education programs:

  • Community 101SM in Portland received $112,573 for the PGE Foundation’s student grantmaking program, which is currently operating in 36 Oregon high schools and alternative schools. A portion of the grant seeded 10 new programs throughout Oregon in collaboration with Oregon Department of Education. Community 101, which celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2007, has helped students learn about community needs through the process of philanthropy and volunteering. Since 1997, more than 5,000 students have awarded approximately $1.2 million to nonprofits in Oregon through Community 101.

  • Oregon Independent College Foundation in Portland received $100,000 in support of 39 PGE Foundation scholarships, continuing a 53-year PGE tradition of contributions to OICF. Scholarships went to high school seniors, providing them opportunities to study at Concordia, George Fox, Lewis & Clark, Linfield, Marylhurst, Pacific, Reed, University of Portland, Warner Pacific and Willamette.

  • Library Foundation of Multnomah County in Portland received $37,500 (the first half of a $75,000 grant, payable over two years) for the “Every Family Reads” pilot program of the Campaign for a Lifetime of Literacy, which targets families with children in kindergarten through fifth grades and provides special events, workshops, performances, book discussions and bilingual study guides to motivate families to strengthen or create good reading practices.

Grants of $500 to $9,999 were distributed to the following organizations for education programs:

  • ARCS Foundation in Portland received $5,000
  • Audubon Society of Portland received $5,000
  • Cedar Mill Community Library Association of Washington County in Hillsboro received $5,000
  • Centro Cultural of Washington County in Cornelius received $5,000 (final payment of a $10,000 grant awarded in 2005)
  • Children’s Institute in Portland received $7,500
  • Fishtrap Inc. in Enterprise received $7,500 (one-third of a grant totaling $22,500)
  • Neighborhood House in southwest Portland received $4,000
  • Open Meadow Alternative Schools Inc. in north Portland received $5,000
  • Oregon Trail Library District in Irrigon received $500
  • Peninsula Children’s Center in northeast Portland received $3,500
  • Portland Classical Chinese Garden in northwest Portland received $5,000
  • Portland YouthBuilders in southeast Portland received $2,500
  • reSource Sustainable Solutions in Bend received $4,000
  • ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum in Ashland received $5,000
  • St. Andrew Nativity School in Portland received $2,500
  • Stand for Children, a statewide program headquartered in Portland, received $5,000
  • Susannah Maria Gurule (SMG) Foundation in Portland received $5,000
  • Willamette University for Willamette Academy in Salem received $4,000
  • Youth Resources Inc. in Portland received $7,500

Arts and culture
Grants of $10,000 or more were distributed to the following arts and culture programs:

  • Contemporary Crafts Museum & Gallery in northwest Portland received $20,000 (the first half of a $40,000 grant) for renovation of the former Daisy Kingdom building in the Pearl District. At 15,000 square feet, the new facility will double the exhibition space, allowing for increased attendance, lectures, workshops and hands-on demonstrations. Opening of the new facility is scheduled for July 2007.

  • Homowo African Arts and Culture in Portland received $10,000 for the Cultures of Ghana tour to expose teachers, students and communities in southern Oregon to African dance and drumming through performances, demonstrations and classes.

  • Oregon Children’s Theatre in Portland received $10,000 to underwrite the world premiere of “The Giver” and the education curriculum that complements the production.

  • Oregon Symphony in Portland received $15,000 to support two Young Adult Concerts, which offer interactive music education opportunities for students from kindergarten through grade 12.

  • Portland Center Stage received $25,000 (a portion of a $100,000 grant awarded in 2005) for renovation of the historic 1891 Armory building in Portland’s Pearl District to house two performance spaces, rehearsal hall, gallery and other amenities.

  • Portland Children’s Museum received $15,000 for the Multicultural and Performing Arts Series in the newly renovated Dorothea Lensch Play It Again! Theater.

  • Portland Opera received $20,000 for the Studio Artists program designed to train the next generation of opera singers by awarding year-long internships with Portland Opera.

  • Profile Theatre Project in Portland received $10,000 for the Education Enrichment program that targets high schools without drama programs, culminating in the student production of Lanford Wilson’s ensemble play, “The Rimers of Eldritch.”

  • White Bird in Portland received $10,000 in support of the Education and Outreach Program for Portland Public School students in 2007. The program features the explorations of art, literature and history based on the life and works of African-American Jacob Lawrence. The program will culminate in a free matinee performance by the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in April 2007.

Grants of $500 to $9,999 were distributed to the following organizations for arts and culture programs:

  • Broadway Rose Theatre Company in Tigard received $2,500
  • CALYX in Cornelius received $1,500
  • Columbia Arts in Hood River received $2,500
  • IMAGO Theatre in southeast Portland received $5,000
  • Lake County Arts Council in Lakeview received $2,000
  • Literary Arts in Portland received $2,500
  • Mt. Hood Repertory Theatre in Gresham received $2,500
  • Oregon East Symphony and Chorale in Pendleton received $5,000
  • Oregon Jewish Museum in Portland received $2,500
  • Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland received $7,500
  • PHAME Academy in Portland received $1,000
  • PlayWrite Inc. in Portland received $2,000
  • Portland Youth Philharmonic Association in Portland received $5,000
  • Washington County Historical Society and Museum in Portland received $2,500
  • Young Audiences of Oregon Inc., a statewide program, based in Portland, received $5,000

# # #

The PGE Foundation, the corporate foundation of Portland General Electric, was established in 1997 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a permanent endowment. The Foundation’s giving is separate from the corporate giving of PGE. Since its inception, the Foundation has distributed more than $10 million to help improve the quality of life for all Oregonians by supporting statewide programs and services that encourage healthy families, provide educational opportunities, and encourage the arts and cultural diversity. Gwyneth Gamble Booth is Chair and Carole Morse is President. To learn more, visit the PGE Foundation Web site.

For more information, contact:
Carole Morse, PGE Foundation, 503-464-7620
Carol Reed, PGE Foundation, 503-464-7614