SUPPORTERS

Paul G. Allen Family Foundation

Among the focus areas of the foundation is helping non-profit organizations meet growing community needs among the region’s most vulnerable citizens during the current economic crisis. United Way's Community Relief Fund received $100,000 from the foundation to respond to emergency food, housing and utilities needs in the four-county Portland-Vancouver area.

“This collaboration demonstrates that no one organization can do it all alone, and that more can be accomplished when we come together and work together in a united way,” said Marc Levy, president and CEO of United Way of the Columbia-Willamette. “We appreciate the Foundation’s recognition of this important effort, and the funding will make a significant difference across the entire Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area.”

Thanks to Kaiser Permanente for the $90,000 grant to provide immediate stabilization to newly unemployed individuals by promoting financial stability, supporting food security, and preventing individuals from becoming homeless. Part of the grant will support pharmacy assistance programs and Project Access NOW.

Bank of America Charitable Foundation

“Many of our neighbors and nonprofit organizations are challenged like never before and Bank of America’s strategy of providing meaningful and relevant support to the communities we serve has never been more important,” Bank of America Oregon and Southwest Washington market president Roger Hinshaw said.

“United Way’s leadership in creating the Community Relief Fund is exactly the right partnership to help deliver much-needed support in the four-county area. We’re especially pleased 100% of all donations will go to local agencies on the front lines of helping some of our communities’ most impacted citizens.”

Meyer Memorial Trust

Meyer Memorial Trust has approved a matching grant of $100,000 to support the Community Relief Fund to provide rent and utilities assistance for people in need. Read more

Oregon Community Foundation

The Oregon Community Foundation announced a $100,000 grant in April 2009 to
support the United Way Community Relief Fund. The Community Relief Fund is made up of agencies and programs on the front lines of responding to the needs of individuals and families in crisis.

Read the entire press release

An additional grant of $100,000 was received in March 2010 from The Oregon Community Foundation from the following donors:

Evelyn L. Jones Fund
William H. Hunt Fund for the Homeless, Hungry, and Poor
Milton Smith Fund
Martha Cake Fund
Amabel E. Hayward Fund
Vivian S. Abbott Fund

Read the entire release

Jewish Federation of Greater Portland

Owing to the urgent and growing local demand for vital human services provided by the Jewish Family and Child Service and the United Way Community Relief Fund in the ongoing world economic crisis, the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland has announced an additional fund-raising effort to run alongside its current ongoing Annual Campaign.

Providence Health & Services

Providence Health & Services provided a $50,000 grant to support the provision of emergency shelter and emergency prescription assistance to the neediest members of our communities residing in Southeast Portland, Lents, Overland Park, Milwaukie, Rockwood, Pleasant Valley, Parkrose and Gresham.

Enterprise Rent-a-Car Foundation

Thanks to Enterprise Rent-a-Car Foundation for providing $15,000 to support the Community Relief Fund.

Washington County Commissioners

The Washington County Board of Commissioners join with jurisdictions, foundations, and businesses across the four-county area in declaring its support for the Community Relief Fund. The proclamation recognizes the dramatic need for basic services that has resulted from the economic downturn, and the benefit that will result from a coordinated community-wide response to secure funding to help non-profit agencies rapidly respond.

Clackamas County Board of Commissioners

"Clackamas County Social Services, part of the Department of Human Services (DHS), will serve as an intermediary between the Community Relief Fund and area non-profits. It will receive funds for housing and utility assistance and work with non-profits to distribute these to households in need."

Read the entire press release

Clark County Board of Commissioners

"Today's economic crisis has been extremely difficult for many of Clark County's residents. We commend United Way for establishing this four-county partnership to bring much-needed resources to our communities."

Read the letter from County Commissioner Marc Boldt

Multnomah County Board of Commissioners

"The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners proclaims our support and gratitude to United way for establishing the Community Relief Fund.

Multnomah County’s Division of Community Services will work with United Way to determine which providers in the county deliver safety net services and participate in a regional steering committee to provide input and oversight of the process that is established for those funds.”

Read the entire proclamation

Help Us Help

At a time when even leadership in government and business are struggling to find solutions, we have the power as individuals to make a difference.

We face a time of great challenges, and we have the opportunity to step up and make change possible. The needs in our community are real, urgent and require immediate action.

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Giving to United Way of the Columbia-Willamette means helping your neighbors. Invest your time, money or resources in the building blocks of a good life.