LANE COUNTY BASED CLF NETWORK DONATES $38,500 TO 13 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS SERVING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (Photo) - 07/07/26

EUGENE, Ore. — The Children's Legacy Foundation Network (CLF Network) will award $38,500 in grants to 13 Lane County nonprofit organizations during its Grant Check Presentation Celebration TONIGHT at 6:00 p.m. at Public House in Springfield. The public and members of the media are encouraged to attend this special event recognizing organizations that are strengthening the health, education, safety, and well-being of children and families across Lane County.

The grants will support programs that provide education, mental health services, child abuse prevention and intervention, literacy, recreation, arts access, family support, and opportunities for children and youth throughout Lane County.

For nearly 100 years, the Children's Legacy Foundation Network, formerly Eugene Active 20-30, has brought together young professionals committed to improving the lives of children in our community through philanthropy, volunteerism, and service. In the last decade alone, the organization has awarded $505,000 to local nonprofits working to ensure children have the support and opportunities they need to thrive.

This year's grant recipients include:

·      #instaballet

·      Boys & Girls Clubs of Emerald Valley

·      Cascades Raptor Center

·      Connected Lane County

·      Eugene Education Foundation

·      Eugene Science Center

·      Family Relief Nursery

·      Head Start of Lane County

·      Kids FIRST

·      Lane County Diaper Bank

·      Ophelia's Place

·      Parker Learning Gardens

·      WOW Hall

Grant recipients were selected through a competitive application process focused on programs that directly improve the well-being of children in Lane County. Funded projects include trauma-informed mental health services, child abuse prevention and recovery, therapeutic early childhood education, scholarships for science education field trips, inclusive arts programming for youth with disabilities, literacy initiatives, and family support services.

"For nearly 100 years, the Children's Legacy Foundation Network has brought together generations of young professionals who share a common belief: that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive," said Mike Kingsley, President of the CLF Network (Children's Legacy Foundation Network). "That commitment continues today through the generosity, volunteerism, and leadership of our members. In fact, during the last decade alone, our network has raised and invested $505,000 in organizations serving children and families throughout Lane County. Every dollar awarded represents a community coming together to support children as they learn, heal, grow, and discover their potential. Whether it's helping a child recover from trauma, access educational opportunities, build confidence, receive critical support services, or simply experience the joy of belonging, these grants create meaningful change in young lives every day.

Our tagline says it best: 'Together we give, together they thrive.' These grants are a celebration of what becomes possible when people unite around the belief that every child matters and every child deserves a chance to succeed."

The grant recipients represent a broad cross-section of organizations working to address some of the most pressing challenges facing children today. From preventing child abuse and expanding access to mental health services, to creating opportunities for learning, creativity, exploration, and connection, these investments reflect the CLF Network's ongoing commitment to building a stronger future for Lane County's children.

About the Children's Legacy Foundation Network

The Children's Legacy Foundation Network is a volunteer-led organization dedicated to protecting and promoting the welfare of children in Lane County. Through fundraising, grantmaking, volunteer service, and community partnerships, CLF Network invests in programs that help children learn, grow, heal, and thrive. The organization has awarded $505,000 to local nonprofits during the past decade and continues a legacy of community service that spans nearly a century.
 

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CHILDREN'S LEGACY FOUNDATION NETWORK AWARDS $38,500 TO 13 LANE COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS SERVING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (Photo) - 06/22/26

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact Information:

Mike Kingsley, Incoming President

mikekingsley2030@gmail.com

www.clfnetwork.org

541-968-8450

Release Date:

6/21/2026

CHILDREN'S LEGACY FOUNDATION NETWORK AWARDS $38,500 TO 13 LANE COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS SERVING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

EUGENE, Ore. — The Children's Legacy Foundation Network (CLF Network) will award $38,500 in grants to 13 Lane County nonprofit organizations during its upcoming Grant Check Presentation Celebration at 6:00 p.m. at Public House in Springfield. The public and members of the media are encouraged to attend this special event recognizing organizations that are strengthening the health, education, safety, and well-being of children and families across Lane County.

The grants will support programs that provide education, mental health services, child abuse prevention and intervention, literacy, recreation, arts access, family support, and opportunities for children and youth throughout Lane County.

For nearly 100 years, the Children's Legacy Foundation Network, formerly Eugene Active 20-30, has brought together young professionals committed to improving the lives of children in our community through philanthropy, volunteerism, and service. In the last decade alone, the organization has awarded $505,000 to local nonprofits working to ensure children have the support and opportunities they need to thrive.

This year's grant recipients include:

·      #instaballet

·      Boys & Girls Clubs of Emerald Valley

·      Cascades Raptor Center

·      Connected Lane County

·      Eugene Education Foundation

·      Eugene Science Center

·      Family Relief Nursery

·      Head Start of Lane County

·      Kids FIRST

·      Lane County Diaper Bank

·      Ophelia's Place

·      Parker Learning Gardens

·      WOW Hall

Grant recipients were selected through a competitive application process focused on programs that directly improve the well-being of children in Lane County. Funded projects include trauma-informed mental health services, child abuse prevention and recovery, therapeutic early childhood education, scholarships for science education field trips, inclusive arts programming for youth with disabilities, literacy initiatives, and family support services.

"For nearly 100 years, the Children's Legacy Foundation Network has brought together generations of young professionals who share a common belief: that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive," said Mike Kingsley, incoming President of the Children's Legacy Foundation Network. "That commitment continues today through the generosity, volunteerism, and leadership of our members. In fact, during the last decade alone, our network has raised and invested $505,000 in organizations serving children and families throughout Lane County.

Every dollar awarded represents a community coming together to support children as they learn, heal, grow, and discover their potential. Whether it's helping a child recover from trauma, access educational opportunities, build confidence, receive critical support services, or simply experience the joy of belonging, these grants create meaningful change in young lives every day.

Our tagline says it best: 'Together we give, together they thrive.' These grants are a celebration of what becomes possible when people unite around the belief that every child matters and every child deserves a chance to succeed."

The grant recipients represent a broad cross-section of organizations working to address some of the most pressing challenges facing children today. From preventing child abuse and expanding access to mental health services, to creating opportunities for learning, creativity, exploration, and connection, these investments reflect the CLF Network's ongoing commitment to building a stronger future for Lane County's children.

About the Children's Legacy Foundation Network

The Children's Legacy Foundation Network is a volunteer-led organization dedicated to protecting and promoting the welfare of children in Lane County. Through fundraising, grantmaking, volunteer service, and community partnerships, CLF Network invests in programs that help children learn, grow, heal, and thrive. The organization has awarded $505,000 to local nonprofits during the past decade and continues a legacy of community service that spans nearly a century.

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Circle Of Friends Secured Federal Transportation Funding For Accessible School Bus (Photo) - 06/18/26

New vehicle will expand access to community-based learning and enrichment opportunities for youth with disabilities throughout Lane County

COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. — Circle of Friends School has secured federal Section 5310 transportation funding through the Lane Transit District (LTD), bringing the organization one step closer to purchasing a fully accessible school bus designed to serve students with significant disabilities.

The funding was unanimously approved by the LTD Board of Directors following recommendations from the LTD STIF Advisory Committee. The award includes $179,209 in federal funding toward the purchase of an accessible vehicle that will support student transportation to educational, recreational, cultural, and community-based learning opportunities throughout Lane County.

For Circle of Friends, the award represents far more than a transportation project.

"This is about access, independence, and belonging," said Michael Aguilar, Executive Director of Circle of Friends. "Our students deserve the same opportunities as any other child to learn in their community, visit libraries and museums, volunteer, explore future career interests, and participate in the world around them. For many of our students, transportation has been one of the greatest barriers to those experiences. This investment helps remove that barrier."

The future vehicle will be uniquely suited to the needs of Circle of Friends students and is expected to accommodate up to ten wheelchair positions, allowing students with significant mobility needs to travel safely and comfortably together.

Before the vote, Circle of Friends Board Chair Courtney Leonard addressed the LTD Board and shared the perspective of a parent raising a child with disabilities.

"As the stepparent of a daughter who uses a wheelchair, I know firsthand that transportation is never as simple as getting in a car and going," Leonard said. "For many families, transportation becomes the factor that determines whether participation in school and community enrichment is possible at all."

Leonard emphasized that meaningful learning extends beyond classroom walls and that community participation is essential to helping students build communication skills, independence, confidence, and relationships.

"For many of our students, transportation is not just about mobility," Leonard said. "It is about belonging."

The approval was supported by families who attended the LTD Board meeting to advocate on behalf of their children and share the importance of accessible transportation for students with disabilities.

Circle of Friends currently serves students with complex physical, medical, communication, and educational support needs. The school provides highly individualized instruction, nursing oversight, therapy collaboration, and community-based learning opportunities designed to help students build meaningful lives within their communities.

Federal Section 5310 funding requires a local funding match. While LTD will provide $179,209 toward the purchase, Circle of Friends must raise approximately $31,828 to complete the project. The organization has launched a community fundraising effort to help secure the remaining funds needed to bring the vehicle into service.

"This accomplishment belongs to our families, our staff, our Board of Directors, and the broader community that continues to believe in a future where disability is not overlooked but embraced," Aguilar said. "The Belonging Bus will help our students access experiences that many people take for granted, and we cannot wait to see where it takes them."

For more information about Circle of Friends or to support the Belonging Bus campaign, visit website or contact Michael Aguilar at michael@coforegon.org.

About Circle of Friends

Circle of Friends' mission is to advance equitable access to education, mental health, community, and opportunity for youth with disabilities and for those who love them. Based in Cottage Grove, Oregon, Circle of Friends operates a specialized school serving students with complex disabilities and is expanding services to support youth and families throughout Lane County. Guided by the belief that Every Person Has Value, Circle of Friends works to build a world where disability is not overlooked but embraced.

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