All Community Grant recipients submit progress reports, telling OCF about their projects. With some of the reports come stories that bring life to the project in a way that statistics do not. Below are some of the stories we have received.
Albertina Kerr Centers
The grant was awarded to Albertina Kerr in May 2008 to support establishment of a flexible fund to be used to meet the individual needs of children and families participating in Wraparound Oregon. The "flex" funds were to be used for expenses not covered by public support. Here is the story sent to OCF:
"John" joined the high school football team but had no money to pay for the equipment. He was an at-risk youth, having been in over 35 family placements since entering care at age 5. Several agencies had already expended funds for his clothing and were unable to cover additional expenses. Though he had been performing poorly in school, it was encouraging to see him interact with other members of the team who were motivated and received good grades. John received help from the flex funds at Wraparound Oregon and when his teammates helped him shop for gear, they saw his spirits soar. His participation in football has assisted with his academic performance and engaged him in positive after-school activity. Since his involvement with Wraparound Oregon, he has left residential care, lived in a stable foster home for over two years, and eaten his first Thanksgiving dinner in a family home – and made the football team.
Asher Community Health Center
In May 2008, OCF awarded a grant to help with construction of a medical clinic in Mitchell (Wheeler County), Oregon. The previous clinic no longer met state standards and much of the needed funds had been secured by the time the organization came to OCF for assistance. Here is the story the clinic shared with us nine months after the award:
Mitchell is a small town tucked into the rolling hills and canyons of Oregon's John Day River Valley. Deer and wild turkey roam the hillside behind the school. On February 28, 2009, a 1400 square-foot clinic celebrated its grand opening. Construction, including a two-chair operatory, was entirely supported by non-government donations. John Frachella, a pediatric dentist, had recently moved into a yurt in southern Wheeler County after serving as director of the Children's Dental Clinic in Bangor, Maine, for 32 years. His whole career has been devoted to a community health dental model. He was a perfect match for the clinic and even brought two truckloads of donated equipment across the county with him.
Children's Healing Art Project
OCF awarded a grant in May 2008 to help CHAP expand existing art services to patients in the oncology ward at Doernbecher Children's Hospital. Here is what they told us:
Austin Winters, a 10 year-old who recently passed away from leukemia, became well known for his creation of the super-hero Bacon Boy, who used his super powers to shoot hot bacon grease out of his left hand, bacon bits out of his right, and – as Austin often said – firing "really any meat product" at his arch-nemesis Fry Guy. Austin's parable of his battle with cancer came to life with the help of CHAP's teachers. His cartoon became animation, then a clay sculpture, a tee-shirt and a glass sculpture, and was featured on the front pages of The Oregonian and East Oregonian. Austin is now the face of Austrailia's International Bacon Day and t-shirts of Bacon Boy can be found in Buenos Aires and Berlin.
OCF would like to thank all of the donors who contributed to these grants – and to the other Community Grants awarded. Without our donors, these projects might not have occurred.