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Pacific Power announces grants to support Willamette Valley safety, health and wellness programs 

Funding helps organizations deliver vital programs to families, youth and vulnerable communities

SALEM, Ore. (May 12, 2022) — Throughout the Willamette Valley, the safety and wellness of the community often begin with some of the hardest-working organizations, those focused on delivering services and programs that offer accessible food and housing, healthcare and mental health support, as well as disaster relief and public safety programs. Their work supports the region's most vulnerable communities, many of which have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As part of its quarterly grant-giving, the Pacific Power Foundation, a nonprofit arm of Pacific Power, has announced $314,952 in new funding to directly support community organizations across the three states it serves. These safety and wellness grants are one of four grant cycles offered by the foundation year after year.

"We're proud to collaborate with our communities to build a strong, resilient future together," said Cooper Whitman, Pacific Power regional business manager, Willamette Valley. "These organizations are our local heroes – working tirelessly to deliver safety, health and wellness programs to neighbors in our communities, and we're honored to support their work." 

The following 18 grants were given to local Willamette Valley organizations:

• ABC House to support child abuse assessment and intervention services for children in Linn and Benton counties, including medical exams, interviews, family support services and trauma counseling. 
• Albany Public Schools Foundation for the Basic Needs Resource Center, a pilot program to help meet essential health and wellness needs for students furthest from opportunity. 
• Boys & Girls Club of Albany to support the free children’s dental clinic to provide barrier-free access to dental treatment, prevention education for daily oral health habits, screening and an ongoing dental home for children in need. 
• CASA of Lane County to expand capacity to serve more children with court-appointed special advocates. 
• Community Outreach for the Transformation Housing Program that serves men, women and families in Benton County who need a safe and warm place to sleep by providing housing, medical and dental care, behavioral health services, childcare, case management, peer support and life-skills classes. 
• Family Building Blocks to support the Relief Nursery Therapeutic Classroom and other programs that ensures Polk County children considered at high risk for potential child abuse and neglect will receive the support they need to meet critical developmental milestones in a safe and nurturing environment. 
• Furniture Share for the Wildfire Furniture Relief program that provides gently used furniture and household items to 2,500 wildfire survivors who lost their homes and/or furniture.
• Harrisburg Fire/Rescue to help cover the cost of EMT or paramedic certification for community volunteers. 
• Liberty House to support a child abuse prevention coordinator and protect children in Polk County. 
• Lumina Hospice and Palliative Care for the Transitions program, which provides free assistance to community members living with life-limiting illness who are either not ready or not yet eligible for hospice care, helping them navigate the physical, social and emotional challenges so they can live fuller, healthier lives. 
• Marys Peak Search and Rescue – Region Three K9 Unit to increase wilderness safety in the Willamette Valley by training a canine unit to become the first nationally-certified water search and rescue unit in Oregon.
• Old Mill Center for Children and Families for emergency supplies and supports for the many families in Linn and Benton Counties who continue to experience hardships due to the impact of the pandemic as well as high housing costs or unexpected bills.
• PeaceHealth Cottage Grove Community Medical Center Foundation for the renovation of a swing bed and rehabilitation unit to better meet the acute-care health needs in the community. 
• South Albany High School Senior All Night Party to ensure that every graduating student can attend this sober event and celebrate safely, regardless of their ability to pay. 
• South Lane Mental Health Services to fund equipment and systems for COVID-19 safety, which will increase access to in-person mental health therapy services. 
• South Lane School District for equipment and supplies for a new health and wellness program, including fitness, cooking and other classes. 
• Volunteer Caregivers to help cover the costs of medical transportation services for seniors who no longer drive and need help reaching appointments.
• Willamette Community and Grange Hall Historic Building Foundation for the enlargement of a storage shed on the grounds of this historic building site that provides a location for the community to gather at outdoor events. 

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 by PacifiCorp, an electric utility serving 2 million customers in six Western states as Rocky Mountain Power (Utah, Wyoming and Idaho) and Pacific Power (Oregon, Washington and California). The foundation’s mission, through charitable investments, is to support the growth and vitality of the communities served by Rocky Mountain Power and Pacific Power. Since it started in 1988, the PacifiCorp Foundation has awarded more than $60 million to nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit www.pacificpower.net/foundation.

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