Building Trusting Relationships and Collective Healing in a Time of Disaster

Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022

Resilience requires constant contributions and care. Fostering a stronger, tighter-knit community does not happen with a single instance of support, but instead this type of resilience blossoms from continual introspection, interest and investment. That’s why United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, Oregon Health Authority, and Trauma Informed Oregon envisioned and put into action the Disaster Resilience Learning Collaborative.

Dialing In Distress

Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022

In an increasingly digital world, picking up your phone and calling an information line seems horribly outdated. However, a service such as 211Info – the free, confidential and life-saving call-line supported by United Way throughout the country – is still one of the most reliable and prompt ways of getting help from knowledgeable experts on a variety of issues in several languages.

Wildfire Response and Recovery Fund: Impact Summary

Monday, Mar. 8, 2021
In September 2020, Way of the Columbia-Willamette (UWCW) launched a Wildfire Response and Recovery Fund, to help families suffering devastating loss caused by the wildfires in our region. In times of disasters, we’ve heard from our nonprofit partners on the ground that vulnerable communities, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities are disproportionately affected.

Building Brighter Futures Through Childcare

Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021
Like so many families across our region, Tracy and Jeremy existed in a gray area where they made just enough to be disqualified from many safety net programs, but not enough to be able to pay for all their basic needs like rent, healthcare and especially childcare. 

Celebrate Black History Month

Monday, Feb. 1, 2021

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing the central role they played in U.S. history. Also known as African American History Month, the event was the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month.

End of Year Message from Our CEO

Friday, Dec. 18, 2020

This extraordinary moment we all find ourselves in requires that I am especially thoughtful in the reflections I share with you — our supporters, partners and community — about United Way of the Columbia-Willamette’s response to 2020 and what we learned in the process.

Critical Moments of the Year

Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020
This year saw an unprecedented number of challenges across our region. Here are some critical moments of 2020 that your generosity and support helped make possible.

Message from John Ewert, Board Chair and Cindy Adams, President and CEO of United Way of the Columbia-Willamette

Monday, Nov. 2, 2020

2020 has been an enormously challenging year. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and racial injustice against BIPOC communities, our region is also grappling with devastating loss caused by the wildfires.

Given all that we are facing, the lead up to the elections has been unprecedented in recent history. It has been heartening to see citizens in our region and across the nation take to the polls early and vote in record numbers to ensure their voices are heard during this critical time.

A safe place for my son

Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020

For most, home is a place of comfort, safety, and rest. But unfortunately for the 1 in 3 families in our region who are unable to pay for basic needs, and have to make difficult  choices between paying for rent, and other necessities, the reassurance of a safe place to call home becomes less attainable.