Pacific Power Foundation awards $240K in grants to support Oregon education, STEM programs
PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Pacific Power Foundation is pleased to provide over $240,000 in grant awards to nonprofits and community organizations in Oregon, Washington and California that promote education and enhance science, technology, engineering and math learning opportunities.
They included grants ranging from $2,000 to $7,500 awarded to nine community organizations in Crook and Deschutes counties,
Through this funding, the foundation seeks to create opportunities both now and in the future by investing in programs that empower and support young people through education and skill development for an ever-changing world.
"We are privileged to support our local organizations in preparing both children and adults to thrive and succeed on their own terms through these educational, STEM and workforce development opportunities," said Ryan Flynn, director of the Pacific Power Foundation and president of Pacific Power. "We are truly inspired by the innovative approaches our communities are taking to nurture young minds for the future."
These education and STEM grants are made through one of four grant cycles offered by the Pacific Power Foundation each year. The foundation supports a wide range of organizations within the communities served by Pacific Power.
The following grants were given to local organizations supporting communities in Oregon:
Polk County
Acres of Hope Youth Ranch to support the Mentoring Services for Trauma-Impacted Youth program to provide free sessions for youth in the program.
Casa of Polk County to support training for volunteers who then help care for the community’s most vulnerable children.
Polk County Fire District No.1 to buy equipment to support the Willamette Valley Communications Center that provides 911 dispatch and call-taking services.
Benton County
Boys & Girls Club of Corvallis to support workforce development programs for teens in grades 10-12, creating pathways out of poverty and building a diverse and resilient workforce.
Marys River Watershed Council for the Compañeros en la Naturaleza – Peers in Nature – program, including supplies for activity kits and funding for staff time for program development and implementation of schoolyard and field science activities.
Oregon State University Foundation to offer scholarships through the Pacific Power Foundation Scholars program, connecting engineering students with potential future careers.
Oregon State University Foundation to provide scholarship awards for undergraduate Pacific Power Foundation Scholars at OSU’s Cascades campus studying energy systems engineering.
Clatsop County
AWE – Astoria to support science, technology, engineering, math and arts presentations within their community from summer 2024 through the end of the 2024-25 school year.
Seaside AAUW Scholarship Foundation for the Women Onward and Upward program that provides scholarships to women whose pursuit of higher education was disrupted due to family responsibilities or other factors.
Seaside School District Number 10 to purchase drones to help students learn about UAV technology.
Coos County
Bandon Community Youth Center for a STEM station that provides hands-on learning experience to kids.
Crook County
Prineville Lions Foundation for high school vocational scholarships for underserved students working to go into the trades.
Deschutes County
Bend-La Pine Education Foundation to support programs that provide a quality, equitable education for students in rural schools and low-income communities. The programs seek to challenge students and enhance learning in art, music, wellness and STEM subjects.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend to support their Academic Success program that nurtures long-term skills for youth behavior and academic performance.
Central Oregon STEM Hub for learning resources for educators and community members to borrow from the Central Oregon STEM Hub Lending Library, Central Oregon Community College Children's Literature and Equity Resource Center.
Children's Forest of Central Oregon to support the Camp Chica afterschool, a bilingual (Spanish/English) year-round adventure camp program for girls aged 7-12 who are in the Spanish Dual-Immersion program at Bear Creek Elementary and High Desert Middle School.
Desert Sky Montessori School to purchase supplies for science kits to provide hands-on learning opportunities to kids.
Family Access Network Foundation to support FAN Services in Central Oregon to reduce barriers to social services and provide school supplies, winter gear and food to kids regardless of their economic circumstance.
High Desert Fencing Club to support enhancing youth education, fitness and self-discipline through fencing.
Summit High School Robotics Booster Club to purchase parts, tools and supplies and increase manufacturing capacity for the 2025 Robotics season.
Hood River County
Oregon STEM to support the statewide strategic plan for STEM through an awareness campaign and partnership integration designed to engage learners of all identities, abilities, economic statuses and geographic locations by inspiring and empowering them to align their passions with future career opportunities.
Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum to support the SECRETS program that plays an integral role in the educational landscape, immersing fifth-grade students in a journey through the concepts of survival, ecological stewardship and ecosystems – including their cycles, relationships, energy and changes over time.
SafeSpace Children's Advocacy Center of the Gorge to purchase equipment to set up a second medical exam room to double their capacity and attend to kids in a timely manner.
Douglas County
Glide Revitalization to purchase Greenpower USA electric go cart kits and STEM curriculum for Glide and Riddle elementary schools.
Jackson County
71Five to provide materials for pre-apprenticeship, electrical and solar training, focusing on marginalized youth in Jackson County.
Beyond the Fence for uniforms, equipment or travel expenses given to low-income households and teams to facilitate participation in extracurricular activities.
ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum to support a two-week interpreter certification program and facilitate the participation of a Spanish-speaking staff member in programs.
Town of Butte Falls to create, frame and mount two large educational signs to be placed at the new viewing platform near the Butte Falls waterfalls.
Rogue Valley Family YMCA to help hire a program leader to offer STEM and enrichment activities at YMCA afterschool sites serving 250 school-aged children each week.
Josephine County
71Five to enhance education and workforce success through the VoTech program by integrating technical skills training and hands-on experience to overcome barriers for 75 priority older youth.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley to support programs that help with project-based activities and a youth-centered approach to learning to fit the strengths, needs, identities and experiences of local youth.
Project Youth+ to support summer STEM programs, offering academic, vocational and recreational experiences for participants.
Klamath County
Oregon Tech Foundation (Oregon Institute of Technology) to provide scholarships to Oregon Tech, Oregon’s Polytechnic University, helping make hands-on, professionally focused STEM education making it affordable and attainable.
Bonanza Park & Rec District for their Big Springs playground rehab and upgrade project, which includes expanding the park, adding new structures, incorporating ADA-compliant structures such as fitness stations and installing a safety rubber surface.
Crosspoint Christian School to support the upgrading of their gymnasium facilities, including the replacement of the existing score clocks and the addition of a centralized sound system to improve audio quality and functionality during events.
Klamath County Rotary Club to support their reading program, which focuses on reinforcing early reading skills.
Klamath County school district’s Mazama high school to support their health sciences program, which is dedicated to preparing students for essential careers in healthcare.
Lake County
Lake County Youth Mentor Program to support their Friends of the Mentor program to offer more STEM-based activities to students.
Lane County
Connected Lane County for the expansion of their Invention Club to Lincoln Middle School to provide an after-school experience that empowers youth to become inventors and create solutions for the community.
Oregon Trail Council, Boy Scouts of America to add three picnic shelters at three main campsites at the Marion Mooney Scout Ranch (Camp Mooney).
Creswell Clubhouse to support a diverse range of enrichment clubs, group and individual tutoring, and homework assistance facilitated by University of Oregon students, while also providing snacks and educational supplies and supporting the development of new programs designed for teens.
Linn County
Camp Attitude to streamline the training process for camp counselors, referred to as "buddies," to foster a more inclusive and engaging environment for campers and volunteers.
Boys & Girls Club of Albany to support programs that incorporate engaging workshops, interactive learning experiences, field trips and mentorship to foster a love of learning, creativity and critical thinking.
Linn-Benton Community College to support programs designed to ignite curiosity and enthusiasm for STEM fields and provide schools with comprehensive kits for engaging and interactive STEM events, creating dynamic learning experiences that inspire students and foster a deeper interest in science, technology, engineering and math.
Multnomah County
Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest to support the operation costs of their Lunch Buddies pilot program, designed to connect children in need of support with compassionate adult mentors, or "Bigs," from local businesses in their community.
Big Yard Foundation to support their camp which combines a STEM and arts classroom project with flag football training, encouraging positive life outcomes for underserved youth by promoting educational and creative endeavors through access to sports.
Bird Alliance of Oregon to support their green leaders program, which offers meaningful paid training and work experience for youth in Hacienda CDC developments to elevate them as leaders and mentors in their own community.
Black United Fund of Oregon to support their Post-Secondary Options program, designed to empower and uplift young individuals through a range of services, including personalized one-on-one mentoring, engaging career presentations and culturally congruent workshops.
Carpe Mundi to provide low-income college students with comprehensive support through a year-long mentorship program, featuring an enriching study abroad experience as part of the 2024-2025 academic year – offering both personal and educational growth opportunities while helping students thrive academically and professionally.
College Possible to purchase teaching materials for coaches, secure interpretation services for family engagement and fund staff time for a college access program for underserved high school students at McDaniel High School.
De La Salle North Catholic High School for their financial aid program to support high school students from low-income families in the Portland metro area.
Post 58 to support their outreach program and connect marginalized teens with character-building outdoor activities.
Saturday Academy to enhance their Career Explorations program, which empowers youth to take on various career opportunities with help from the Apprenticeships in Science and Engineering program.
Girls Inc. to support the Eureka program, a five-year mentorship for girls in grades 8-12 in Portland that provides engaging sessions, activities, field trips, paid internships, job shadows, guest lectures, STEM workshops and postsecondary education preparation.
Portland Rose Festival Foundation to support their 2025 Intern Education program, which offers college students valuable professional work experience at a nonprofit organization where they gain hands-on skills in event production, project management, volunteer recruitment and management, communications and event promotions to prepare them for future career success.
Portland Urban Debate League to support a two-week debate camp to enhance the public speaking skills of students at five of Portland’s most diverse high schools.
Portland Workforce Alliance to support their careers exploration and skill development program for high school students at McDaniel and Parkrose High Schools.
Project LEDO to support the expansion of a STEM education program that teaches engineering and other scientific subjects to marginalized students, focusing on immigrant and refugee children.
Reading Results to support their reading intervention program, which works to improve outcomes for struggling readers and address disparities among systemically excluded students, thereby promoting equitable literacy development.
Renewable Energy Scholarship Foundation to support a scholarship for a student studying renewable energy.
Schoolhouse Supplies to support the Tools for Schools program that provides back to school supply kits for disadvantaged kids.
St. Andrew Nativity School to support their STEM program and help their math team continue using iReady for instruction in the 2024-25 school year.
The Blueprint Foundation to support a mentoring program that primarily serves Black and Indigenous youth in Northeast Portland and helps them pursue green industry careers.
The Shadow Project to support expansion of the group’s reading tutoring program for elementary school children in Portland, including autistic kids and kids with ADHD, among others.
Youth, Rights & Justice to support programs that provide legal training and representation for diverse children in the education system.
Oregon Robotics Tournament & Outreach Program (ORTOP) to support qualifying teams to ensure continued access to and participation in the FIRST robotics programs across Oregon.
Umatilla County
Umatilla County Historical Society to support the remodeling project at the Heritage Station Museum.
Umatilla County School District 16R to upgrade the scoreboards in a gymnasium at Sunridge Middle School.
Wallowa County
Enterprise Education Foundation to replace the bleachers at the Enterprise School gymnasium.
