Pacific Power announces new grants to support Portland-area communities this spring

Grants were awarded to food security, safety and wellness initiatives aimed at strengthening the region as the COVID-19 pandemic continues

PORTLAND, Ore. (May 6, 2021) — Even as COVID-19 vaccines roll out across the country, many communities are still facing challenges from the pandemic and the organizations that support them are still seeing unprecedented demand.

In spite of the odds, local programs that address critical issues such as food insecurity, homelessness, domestic violence, child abuse, elder issues, mental health and community safety have continued to find creative new ways to deliver help quickly and safely, even while facing additional budget constraints.

As part of the company’s commitment to supporting its communities, PacifiCorp Foundation, a nonprofit arm of Pacific Power, is donating more than $525,000 across the six states it serves. The funding goes to support a total of 209 safety and wellness grants as part of the most recent round of quarterly grants provided by the foundation each year. The next grant cycle is now open through June 15; organizations may apply online.

“We celebrate these heroic organizations that have continued to reinvent and reimagine ways they can help our communities’ most vulnerable,” said Bob Gravely, regional business manager for the Portland metro area. “Although we see brighter days ahead, Pacific Power remains deeply committed to supporting the work of these organizations, helping to fortify our communities, so they are strong and resilient.”

The following grants were given to Portland-area organizations providing critical safety and wellness programs:

• Bradley Angle for support of The Kinship Project, which is designed to help children and address the impacts of domestic violence and intergenerational trauma disproportionately experienced by Black/African American families in the Portland area.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metro Area for food distribution to youth and families who have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially people of color.
• Boy Scouts of America Cascade Pacific Council for furthering diversity, equity and inclusion practices within the organization.
• De Paul Youth Residential Treatment Center for COVID-safe, single-use art supplies to help patients working toward healthy, successful lives in recovery.
• Friendly House to support LGBT+ seniors with case-management, informational and referral services, transportation assistance, essential supplies and virtual community-building programming during the pandemic.
• Friends of the Children to adapt programming for COVID that benefits children with mentoring, virtual activity supplies, school supplies, and weekly delivery of nutritious snacks.
• Growing Gardens to develop a community garden in the Parkrose area and provide virtual lessons to help low-income Spanish-speaking residents grow, cook and preserve their own food.
• Hollywood Senior Center for providing food boxes, personal protective equipment and supplies to vulnerable, low-income seniors so they can remain safely at home.
• Impact NW to support the growing need amid the pandemic for homelessness prevention services for families with children, including rent and utility assistance, food, clothing and transportation.
• March of Dimes Foundation to provide implicit bias training for 100 health care providers, which helps reduce disparities in maternal and infant health.
• Meals on Wheels People for food and food-service supplies for the 8,000 daily meals provided to homebound elderly in the greater Portland metro area, a need exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• Merry Heart Children’s Camp to provide camping experiences for children with heart conditions.
• Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp for supplies and equipment to ensure a safe, sanitary experience as children return for in-person camping experiences.
• Neighborhood House for in-school childcare and distance-learning support to help children from low-income homes adapt to COVID-19 impacts.
• National Urban Housing & Economic Community Development Corporation to support the COVID-19 virtual diaper drive for safe babies and safe moms.
• Partners for a Hunger Free Oregon to help provide emergency food assistance during the pandemic. 
• The Pathfinder Network for expansion of the children’s activities program that provides mental health support and activities for children of justice-impacted parents.
• Portland Rescue Mission for the New Life Wellness Program to improve the physical health of men participating in the long-term recovery program as they work toward success in sobriety and stability.
• Portland Street Medicine for COVID response and diversity, equity and inclusion training and planning so the organization can more effectively deliver medical care to the homeless population.
• Rose Haven to support modified COVID-19 operations, including meals, restrooms, showers, phone charging and other services for abused and homeless women and children.
• Store to Door for 16,500 grocery deliveries and friendly visits to 900 homebound seniors throughout the Portland metro area.
• Special Olympics Oregon for 2021 Winter Virtual Games which provides physical fitness opportunities and social connections for intellectually disabled Oregonians during COVID-19.
• Society of St. Vincent de Paul Portland Chapter for an ADA accessible ramp and associated energy repair to ensure food pantry access for disabled people.
• TherapyWorks NW for personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies so the organization can continue to safely provide vital therapy to medically fragile patients amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

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About the Pacific Power Foundation:

The Pacific Power Foundation is part of the PacifiCorp Foundation, one of the largest utility-endowed foundations in the United States. The foundation was created in 1988 by PacifiCorp, an electric utility serving 2 million customers in six western states as Pacific Power (Oregon, Washington and California) and Rocky Mountain Power (Utah, Wyoming and Idaho). The foundation’s mission, through charitable investments, is to support the growth and vitality of the communities served by Pacific Power and Rocky Mountain Power. For more information, visit www.pacificpower.net/foundation.