PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers today announced the awarding of $43,370 in grants to six educational, environmental and community-focused nonprofit organizations in the greater-Portland area through the Portland Timbers Community Fund (PTCF). The recipients were selected by the Portland Timbers Community Fund Advisory Board, consisting of partners adidas, Alaska Airlines and Providence Health & Services.
Since the club’s inaugural MLS season in 2011, the Timbers have given more than $5.2 million in cash and in-kind donations, including their philanthropic work through the PTCF, the club’s field-grants program and various charitable activities.
The Portland Timbers Community Fund presented grants to 4 Worlds United Soccer Alliance, Active Children Portland, Adaptive Sports Northwest, Columbia Springs, Northwest Outward Bound School and Street Soccer USA.
Each of the six organizations will be recognized at Providence Park during halftime of the Timbers match against the Real Salt Lake on Saturday.
4 Worlds United Soccer Alliance, a nonprofit that works to bridge the gap between first and fourth world children by bringing them together on the soccer field, will apply its grant toward the programs Summer Soccer and Passport to Play for 120 immigrant/refugee and impoverished youth at various locations in Portland. Summer Soccer provides inclusive soccer for all skill levels, and Passport to Play financially supports players who seek to join local competitive and recreational soccer clubs. For more information, visit www.4worldsunited.org.
Active Children Portland, an organization that focuses on keeping children active in its club, classroom and community, will utilize its grant to expand programming to eight sites during the 2019-20 school year for 325 underserved youth in Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties. The funds will help cover the coach-mentor recruitment and training, as well as soccer and safety equipment for each school. For more information, visit www.acportland.org.
The grant awarded to Adaptive Sports Northwest, which helps provide adaptive sports and recreation opportunities to those in Oregon and Southwest Washington, will benefit its Power Soccer Push program to provide inclusive team sports opportunities to disabled youth and adults. Funds will allow for additional youth and adult participation in the program along with match promotion, equipment, facilities and registration fees. To learn more about the organization, visit www.adaptivesportsnw.org.
Columbia Springs, a nonprofit that strives to offer unique settings and educational experiences that foster a greater awareness of the natural world and inspire stewardship, will apply its grant to support onsite, science-based education programs to teach 6,000 students in Evergreen and Vancouver schools about ecosystems at a 100-acre outdoor classroom. For more information, visit www.columbiasprings.org.
The grant awarded to Northwest Outward Bound School, the premier provider of outdoor education and experiential programs for youth and adults in the Pacific Northwest, will be used to provide youth development and social and emotional learning opportunities to 450 students at three middle schools and two high schools in the Reynolds School District through the public schools program. Funds will support a semester-long progression of team-building activities and discussions around self-worth, teamwork, leadership and service. For more information, visit www.nwobs.org.
Street Soccer USA, a nonprofit that strives to improve health, education and employment outcomes for the most disadvantaged Americans by using sports to transfer the skills necessary to achieve those outcomes, will apply its grant to support free open-play soccer practices for 220 homeless and refugee youth in the David Douglas and Gabriel Park neighborhoods to help youth discover strengths and connect to social services. To learn more, visit www.streetsoccerusa.org.
Through the Timbers’ community outreach platform, Stand Together, the team is committed to furthering its community mission to harness the power of sport to improve the lives of children and families in the region through targeted programs, deep partnerships and philanthropic giving. For more on the Timbers community outreach programs and partners, visit www.timbers.com/stand-together.
