Today is National Non-profit Day, and with demand for healthcare, food, housing and other social support services in the community increasing this year, it’s more important than ever we honor the critical role non-profits play in protecting our region.
As COVID-19 infection rates go up in the community, so does the number of people who are facing significant hardship. Non-profit organizations across Oregon and Southwest Washington are tirelessly working to meet this growing need and adapt to new realities; however, they too are facing many difficulties.
Before COVID-19, non-profits already operated on razor-thin margins, with many only having 30, 60 or 120 days’ worth of cash reserves. New social distancing requirements have not only increased operating costs, but funding streams have been impacted as annual events are canceled, donors are stretched thin and volunteers are not able to provide the same levels of support.
“All of our classes went virtual this spring due to COVID, but this didn’t stop us from providing weekly Chicas sessions to 700 girls, Small Business Development Classes, Beyond Trauma sessions, Adult Ed classes, and family engagement programming for early childhood education and their parents,” said Bridget Cooke, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Adelante Mujeres. “Donations from our community are essential to ensure we can continue our mission of successfully engaging the Latina and immigrant community at such a critical time.”
One of the ways we are supporting our non-profit partners right now is by moving our annual Employee Giving Campaign up from November to August. Typically held around the holidays, this campaign donates $100 on behalf of each of our 810 employees to select organizations that are making a difference. This year, employees distributed their $100 among Urban League of Portland, Adelante Mujeres and the Oregon Zoo. Their last day to vote was August 14 and the results are in!
In total, OnPoint employee donations amounted to more than $91,000:
- $25,290 to the Urban League of Portland, which is one of the leading voices for African Americans and other people of color in the region. The Urban League offers a distinct blend of workforce services, community health services, summer youth programming, senior services, meaningful civic engagement opportunities and powerful advocacy. To learn more, visit https://ulpdx.org.
- $23,687 to Adelante Mujeres, which works to build a more just society by empowering Latinas to lead. They accomplish this by providing educational resources and acting as a forum for community advocacy. To learn more, visit https://www.adelantemujeres.org.
- $32,023 to the Oregon Zoo, which provides exceptional experiences to inspire visitors to create a better future for wildlife and learn more about the realities of the natural world. With a record of national and international commendations for its accomplishments in education, animal welfare and conservation, the zoo is a treasured community asset for learning and discovery. To learn more, visit https://www.oregonzoo.org.
To broaden our impact in the region, we have also distributed $10,000 across four employee-selected regional non-profits: Greenhill Humane Society (Eugene), Willamette Valley Cancer Foundation (McMinnville), Saving Grace (Central Oregon) and The Giving Closet (SW Washington).
Since we were founded in 1932 by 16 school teachers, OnPoint has remained committed to supporting those who are doing essential work in our community. Click here to learn more about our long-standing commitment to the communities we call home.
