Portland, OR –Today, the PGE Foundation, the corporate foundation for Portland General Electric, announced its 2020 giving of more than $1.68 million, a 50 percent increase from 2019, in response to the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and wildfires on Oregon communities.
The PGE Foundation committed $75,000 to wildfire relief and recovery efforts, $180,000 to help sustain community-based organizations through the COVID-19 pandemic, and $227,500 to support safe and stable families. The PGE Foundation is dedicated to helping families overcome barriers and improve their quality of life and recognizes many families have been hard hit by the pandemic and recent wildfires, especially those who are Black, Indigenous and people of color.
“Many Oregon families are facing the dueling economic and social challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and recent wildfires,” said Kregg Arntson, executive director of the PGE Foundation. “Through this difficult time, the PGE Foundation is walking alongside our longtime community partners as they assist families in need of access to housing, food, mental health services and other critical support.”
To support wildfire relief and recovery efforts, the PGE Foundation is awarding a total of $75,000 to:
Red Cross Cascades Region – $15,000
United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley Wildfire Relief Fund – $15,000
United Way of Columbia-Willamette Wildfire Response and Recovery Fund – $20,000
The Chúush Fund: Water for Warm Springs – $15,000
Oregon Food Bank – $10,000
Earlier this year, the PGE Foundation joined other foundations by signing the Council on Foundation’s pledge to act with urgency in supporting our nonprofit partners as well as the people and communities hit hardest by the impacts of COVID-19. In response, the PGE Foundation advanced more than $500,000 from its endowment for additional grantmaking and encouraged grant recipients to use the funds for unrestricted general operating purposes.
In addition to $325,000 in grants made earlier this year to the Oregon Food Bank, Partners for a Hunger Free Oregon, Marion Polk Food Share and the Oregon Worker Relief Fund, the PGE Foundation’s COVID-19 Recovery Fund is awarding $180,000 to the following organizations:
Chemeketa Community College Student Relief Fund
Portland Community College Student Relief Fund
Mt. Hood Community College Student Relief Fund
Clackamas Community College Student Relief Fund
Boys & Girls Clubs of Salem, Marion and Polk Counties
Constructing Hope Pre-Apprenticeship Program
Free Geek
Museum at Warm Springs
The Red Door Project
Yamhill Enrichment Society
Columbia County Child Abuse Program
Lines for Life
Latino Network
Friends of the Children - Central Oregon
Oregon Humanities
Heart of Oregon Corps
White Bird Dance Company
Oregon East Symphony
Youth Music Project
Artists Rep
Broadway Rose Theatre
Bag & Baggage
Ethos
Sisters Folk Festival
Cascade School of Music
Write Around Portland
IRCO
Volunteers of America Oregon
Proud Ground
Reach Community Development
Transition Projects
A total of $227,500 in grants will be awarded to the following organizations to help families overcome barriers and improve their quality of life:
Adelante Mujeres
BIENESTAR
Black Parent Initiative
Bradley Angle
Camp Fire Columbia
Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare
Central City Concern
Friends of Zenger Farm
Growing Gardens
Human Solutions
JOIN
Metropolitan Family Service
MountainStar Family Relief Nursery
Neighborhood House, Inc.
Northwest Housing Alternatives
Outgrowing Hunger
Salem Harvest
Trillium Family Services, Inc.
Virginia Garcia Memorial Foundation & Health Center
William Temple House
About the PGE Foundation The PGE Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Portland General Electric. Founded in 1997, the foundation was created through an endowment with the expressed purpose of improving the quality of life for Oregonians. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded more than $25 million to community organizations across the state. We champion values that embrace diversity, equity and inclusion. Working together with community members, partners and friends, we are committed to using our time and resources to help eliminate disparities and create an equitable society where all people can reach their full potential. To learn more, please visit pgefoundation.org.