Eight Local Nonprofit Organizations Selected to Receive Grants
The Portland Timbers today announced the awarding of $45,000 in grants to eight educational, environmental and community-focused nonprofit organizations in the greater-Portland area through the Portland Timbers Community Fund (PTCF).
The recipients were selected by the Portland Timbers Community Fund Advisory Board, consisting of partners Adidas, Alaska Airlines and Providence Health & Services.
Since the club’s inaugural MLS season in 2011, the Timbers have given more than $3.5 million in cash and in-kind donations, including their philanthropic work through the PTCF, the club’s field-grants program and various charitable activities.
The Portland Timbers Community Fund presented grants to Active Children Portland, Friends of the Children, “I Have A Dream” Oregon, Latino Network, Oregon Sports Authority Foundation, Parrot Creek Child and Family Services, Portland Tennis & Education, and Growing Gardens.
Each of the eight organizations will be recognized at Providence Park during halftime of the Timbers match against Orlando City SC on Sunday, Sept. 24.
Active Children Portland, an organization that empowers students to lead healthy lives, succeed academically and inspire positive community engagement, will apply its grant to increase the number of qualified coaches in each of the 31 schools it serves.
The grant awarded to Friends of the Children, an organization that provides over 450 youth with interventions to support them in leading healthy, successful and community-engaged lives, will be used to support its “Sparking Athletes Within” program to relieve the financial burden of its athletic programs.
“I Have A Dream” Oregon, an organization that empowers students from low-income communities to thrive in school, college and career to help break the cycle of intergenerational poverty, will apply its grant to support STEM programming for 550 students in the Dreamer School Project.
Latino Network will utilize its grant to fund a fall 2017 and a spring 2018 series of culturally specific soccer clinics for 138 boys and girls in the Portland area.
The Oregon Sports Authority Foundation, an organization that provides underserved youth throughout Oregon with opportunities to participate in sports to encourage healthy lifestyles and provide meaningful ways for youth to become model citizens, will utilize its grant to partner with Street Soccer USA to deliver a youth soccer development program to 200 refugee, homeless and at-risk youth in the East Portland Centennial neighborhood.
Parrot Creek Child and Family Services, an organization that helps families and youth identify strengths and skills that build stronger families and safer communities, will apply its grant to launch a year-round soccer program for 90 boys in the juvenile justice system.
The grant awarded to Portland Tennis & Education will be used to support its Eat Wise & Exercise program for 67 low-income youths in St. Johns neighborhood.
Growing Gardens will utilize its grant to cover costs of garden supplies, staff members and more for school gardens and hands-on STEM lessons at three low-income elementary schools in Portland.
Through the club’s community outreach platform, Stand Together, the team is committed to furthering its community mission to harness the power of sport to improve the lives of children and families in the region through targeted programs, deep partnerships and philanthropic giving.
Photo Credit: Portland Timbers
