“OCF sees us as partners — experts in the field. They want to strategize together on how to best meet the needs of kids in Oregon.”
Lynn Thompson, CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Columbia Northwest
One of The Oregon Community Foundation’s key focus areas is underserved youth. That’s why partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters makes so much sense. This organization offers mentoring programs for 10- to 18-year-old kids, fostering caring and supportive relationships between adult volunteers and children.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest has received two multi-year grants from OCF. From 2003 to 2005, the first grant helped the organization expand into Washington County with a Latino mentoring program. In five years, the program has grown to serve more than 500 children in the Washington County area.
A second grant helped Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest offer more services in East Multnomah County. “It’s an area where there are not many social services,” said Lynn Thompson, CEO of the organization. “We’ve created culturally specific programs for African American and Latino kids in the area, and now we’re developing a program for Native American youth.”
With multi-year funding, grant recipients must apply each year to show that they are meeting their objectives. “From our point of view, multi-year funding is wonderful because it allows for planning,” Thompson said. “Our long-term goal is to add services in areas of the state that do not have a Big Brothers Big Sisters program, and we’ll most likely look to OCF to help fund this expansion.”
OCF has a collaborative relationship with Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest. “They see us as partners — experts in the field,” Thompson said. “They want to strategize together on how to best meet the needs of kids in Oregon.”