Four in C.O. among PGE Foundation grant recipients

The PGE Foundation – Portland General Electric’s corporate foundation – is committing more than $330,000 to programs that prevent homelessness, address hunger and support mental health and parent engagement in Oregon, including four recipients in Central Oregon.

“Together with our community partners, we are working to find solutions to end the homeless crisis in Oregon,” said Kregg Arntson, executive director of the PGE Foundation. “People thrive in nurturing and inclusive communities, which is why creating equitable access to permanent supportive housing is critical.”

To combat family and youth homelessness, the Foundation will award almost $210,000 to nonprofit organizations focused on developing affordable housing, eliminating hunger and creating pathways out of poverty.

“The PGE Foundation’s support will enable Portland Homeless Family Solutions to expand programs to serve three times as many homeless families with children than ever before,” said Brandi Tuck, executive director, Portland Homeless Family Solutions. “We are thankful for the PGE Foundation and its commitment to supporting families in our community. Together, we are building dignity and empowering so many.”

In addition, as more individuals experiencing mental health crises face homelessness, the Foundation will grant more than $125,000 to fund supportive services, including mental wellness and parenting programs.

“We are grateful for the organizations in our region dedicated to providing valuable services that improve the well-being of our community,” said Arntson.

The four Central Oregon recipients:

Family Resource Center of Central Oregon: To provide parenting education in Madras. Central Oregon $5,722

KIDS Center: To add new medical examiner capacity to evaluate and triage physical abuse victims in Central Oregon. $10,000

Lines for Life: To support a program in Central Oregon providing mental health crisis intervention and prevention. $5,000

Mountainstar Family Relief Nursery: To support parent engagement programs in Prineville and Madras. $5,000

Other recipients of the 2018 PGE Foundation Safe & Stable Family grants include:

Adelante Mujeres, $25,000: To support educational opportunities for Latino families in a safe and stable environment. Albertina Kerr Centers Foundation, $10,000: To support hundreds of children and their families during times of mental health crisis. Columbia River Health, $10,000: To support the opening of a new food pantry in Boardman, Ore., that will serve around 80 families per month. Bienestar, $25,000: To support the development and preservation of 343 affordable housing units. Human Solutions, $25,000: To support individuals and communities building pathways out of poverty. Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon, $10,000: To increase access to healthy meals through school breakfast and summer meals for kids. Portland Homeless Family Solutions, $25,000: To support renovations of the new Lents Family Shelter, tripling service capacity.

Every year, the PGE Foundation awards more than $1 million to help improve educational outcomes, inspire critical thinking through arts experiences and strengthen family stability.

Here’s a complete list of the 2018 Safe & Stable Family grants. For more information, visit PGEFoundation.org.

About the PGE Foundation

The PGE Foundation, the corporate foundation of Portland General Electric, was established in 1997 as a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization with a permanent endowment. The Foundation’s giving is separate from the corporate giving of PGE. Grants are awarded to local nonprofits located in areas where PGE has customers or power generating plants. Since its inception, the Foundation has distributed more than $22 million to help improve the quality of life for Oregonians by funding programs and services that support safe and stable families, provide educational opportunities, and encourage arts and creative expression. The PGE Foundation is committed to helping provide equitable opportunities for all, so all Oregonians realize their full potential. Gwyneth Gamble Booth is chair and Kregg Arntson is executive director. To learn more about the PGE Foundation, visit PGEFoundation.org.