Timbers Announce $40,000 In Community Fund Grants

PORTLAND, Ore.— The Portland Timbers today announced the awarding of $40,000 in grants through the Portland Timbers Community Fund (PTCF) to 10 youth-focused, non-profit organizations in the greater-Portland area.

In partnership with PTCF Founding Partners Alaska Airlines, Burgerville, JELD-WEN and PGE, the announced grants were given to Albertina Kerr Centers, Bienestar, Columbia River United, Columbia Slough Watershed Council, Elevate Oregon, Incight Company, New Avenues for Youth, Inc., The Shadow Project, The Mentoring Project and Tualatin Hills Parks & Recreation District.

The funding that Albertina Kerr Centers received will go toward The Kerr Games expenses, including sports equipment and supplies, t-shirts, transportation, awards, refreshments and a post-game lunch.

Bienestar will use their grant moneyto expand their soccer program from girls-only to co-ed, from summer-only to year-round, and from an insular program within apartment complexes to a program integrated within the community, thereby expanding the number of children served.

Columbia River United will use the dollars for expenses for training shirts, player participation awards and field rental fees and maintenance.

Columbia Slough Watershed Council’s gift will go towardExplorando el Columbia Slough, which encourages Latino families to be active outdoors, promotes sustainable and healthy lifestyles and connects Latino families with local resources.

Elevate Oregon received a grantfor their Athletic Adventure Program, which reinforces the values taught in core classes after school, weekends and summertime.

The money received byIncight Company will be used on the START Program, which works directly with students, parents and teachers by providing students with the tools they need to make successful transitions into post-secondary education or employment.

New Avenues for Youth, Inc., has received a grant for the New Avenues School for Homeless Youth, which works with the specific needs of street youth to help them complete high school and pursue academic and career goals.

The Shadow Project plans to use its fundsto pilot a reading project to help students with disabilities offset the "summer slide," when children can lose as much as 25 percent of skills developed during the school year.

The Mentoring Project will put its gift toward producing a series of short videos that will be used to recruit mentors for the program.

Tualatin Hills Parks & Recreation District has received a gift to improve the education, health and organized soccer opportunities for nearly 6,000 low-income children in 14 Portland public schools.

The Timbers and their Founding Partners are thrilled to have contributed to such amazing organizations in our community.

“We are delighted to be able to contribute to such great local causes through these grants,” said Timbers president Merritt Paulson. “Our commitment to community giving is a core principle of the Portland Timbers.”

The PTCF has set an aggressive goal to donate more than $100,000 to youth-focused initiatives each year. In March, the PTCF contributed $30,000 in spring grants to six deserving organizations.

An advised fund of the Oregon Community Foundation, the PTCF supports charitable, non-profit organizations that fall under one of the following areas of focus: Youth education, specifically the K-12 grade levels; youth soccer related projects; childhood obesity; environmental awareness and activism with youth and families.

For more information about the PTCF, visit http://www.portlandtimbers.com/community/fund