Volunteer during MLK Weekend of Service
Friday, Dec. 18, 2015
We know firsthand that nonprofits in our region rely on volunteers to meet their missions. What better way to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s legacy than to join more than 1,500 of your friends and neighbors and volunteer during United Way's MLK Weekend of Service.
Successful Families 2020 to Improve Graduation Rates for Kids of Color
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015
Dozens of community leaders gathered on November 9 to officially launch Successful Families 2020, a community partnership designed to improve graduation rates and college preparedness for kids of color in our region.
Five Ways We Can Work Together to Reduce Poverty in Our Region
Friday, Oct. 16, 2015
Over 100,000 kids live in poverty, right here, in our region. It's an issue we can't afford to ignore. That’s why we set an audacious goal - cut poverty in our four counties in half by 2025.
Community Collaboration Delivers Mobile Libraries to Child Care Providers
Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015
The evidence is resounding - early exposure to books is critical to a child’s long-term educational success. When kids start school behind, they rarely catch up. A unique partnership between Washington County Cooperative Library Services, Community Action and Early Learning Washington County - an initiative co-led by United Way - is working to close the gap.
Corporate Partner Spotlight: Wells Fargo
Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2015
You may see a bank. We see a philanthropic community superhero. For six years in a row, Wells Fargo has led the largest United Way workplace giving campaign in the United States. In 2014, employees donated a whopping $97.7 million to 30,000 nonprofits and schools across the nation.
Meet Petrona
Friday, Aug. 28, 2015
This fall Petrona will be the first member of her family to attend college, a future that she hadn’t considered until she received mentorship and support from Adelante Mujeres, a United Way Community Strengthening partner that provides education and empowerment opportunities to low-income Latina women and their families.
United Way Partners Transform the Sugar Shack into Community Space
Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2015
A neighborhood rallies to buy a derelict strip club, then turns it into community space. It’s not a movie plot - yet. It’s real life, and it’s happening in Portland.
United Way Organizes Nonprofit Partners into Powerful Regional Cohort
Friday, Jul. 31, 2015
When you fill a room with nonprofits who achieve outsized outcomes, the air takes on a special electricity. This scenario plays out regularly here at United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, and we’ve been working hard to harness the transformative energy.
Financial Education Classes Provided for Somali Bantu Refugee Families
Thursday, Jun. 11, 2015
On a warm June morning, a small community room in Beaverton is alive with chatter. A group of Somali Bantu women in vibrant dresses are pouring tea and coffee for one another, doling out small pastries and carrying on spirited conversation, laughing and speaking with waving hands and animated expressions.
Volunteers Transform Glenfair Elementary on Comcast Cares Day
Friday, May. 29, 2015
On April 25, over 350 volunteers applied a formidable amount of elbow grease to dozens of projects at Glenfair Elementary, one of 11 elementary schools in the Reynolds School District. At the end of the day, Glenfair had a new jogging path, eleven garden beds, black top murals, fresh paint, and every single classroom was cleaned and shined.
Is Breaking The Cycle of Childhood Poverty Really Possible?
Wednesday, May. 13, 2015
Before you read another word, let me confess that I don’t have the answer to the title of this post. You’re not going to find a magical silver bullet in these words that will heal a complex and systemic, yet very personal challenge, facing our community. There are those with far more expertise who can attempt to address that subject.
Early Literacy Kits Help Prepare Kids for Kindergarten
Monday, Apr. 27, 2015
Studies show that the development of early literacy skills through early experiences with books and stories is directly linked to a child's success in learning to read. But in low income neighborhoods, there’s an average of just one book for every 300 children.
