(From the March 2004 Newsletter)
Not far from the east end of the St. Johns Bridge, in the compact setting of downtown St. Johns, is the renovated building that serves as the Portland Relief Nursery. The facility is spacious and attractive, housing classrooms that are bright and well-equipped. Their sturdy, down-sized wooden furniture seems to convey a message about this place and its focus on providing comprehensively for the needs of young children.
Since its opening in September 2001, Portland Relief Nursery has served more than 220 children ages 0-3 who are at risk of neglect or abuse, and their families. The Nursery is about to increase its outreach by opening an additional classroom, and its Board has begun planning for the next major phase in its development: establishing two more relief nurseries in the Portland area by the end of this decade.
Children in PRN classrooms may seldom or never have interacted with other children, been read to or taught a song, ridden on a swing or thrown a ball, explored the mysteries of scissors and paste, or used Playdoh; they may rarely have sat at a table to share a meal with others. The children come twice a week to PRN to have these and other experiences, in a safe and encouraging environment, with the aim of developing the skills and abilities they need to continue to learn and thrive.
Meanwhile, their parents benefit from other services provided by PRN. These include home visits, parenting classes, respite care, and referral to other agencies that can help with alcohol and drug problems, for example, or with finding work.
An SVPP investee since 2001, PRN has received over $100, 000 in grants as well as the volunteer efforts of over 12
Partners. These volunteers have found interesting and challenging opportunities both in the classroom and in such areas as software consulting and facilities management. For current volunteer needs check listings at SVPP and PRN.
On May 15 PRN will hold its Third Annual Portland Iron Chef gala fundraiser. This combination of a spectacular cooking competition and a gourmet dinner is best described as "Sumo wrestling meets Julia Child."
Welcome New Partners
(From the March 2004 Newsletter)
SVPP warmly welcomes these additions to our community of Partners:
Jon Ulsh
Jon has worked as an executive in health care development both in Oregon and California. Currently he is vice president for development at Oregon Health & Science University and president of the OHSU Foundation, where he's overseeing a $300 million private fund-raising campaign -- the largest such campaign in Oregon history. Jon is a member of numerous civic and philanthropic organizations.
Valerie Ilsley and Bruce Murray
Val and Bruce both enjoyed careers as real estate bankers, providing financing and other services to real estate developers of all types of commercial and residential projects. After living in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami, they retired to Portland in 2002. A son, daughter-in-law, and twin grandchildren also live in Portland. Interests include hiking, soccer (for Bruce), and urban activities generally.
Julie and Bill Young
Julie's background is as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. A longtime Portland resident, she volunteers with several social service organizations, and for civic and political causes, relating especially to children and families, education and health care. Bill is retired from hospice social work. He is a former Mayor of Lake Oswego and has served on a number of nonprofit boards. His interests include boating, working with frail seniors, and supporting a sustainable environment.
Bill and Julie have six children betwen them (including SVP Partner Sara Bernard), and four grandchildren.
Bill and Anne Lazar
Bill Lazar is President of The Lazar Foundation, a charitable foundation focused on environmental protection and the preservation of Biological Diversity in the Pacific Northwest. He also serves as a national trustee of the Alaska Conservation Foundation, and on the board of Catlin Gabel School.
Anne Lazar is a veterinarian and owns the Oswego Veterinary
Hospital in Lake Oswego.
Bill and Anne have three children. Her hobbies are reading, baking, and running; his are reading, cooking, gardening, and spending time in wild places.
Les and Martha Soltesz
Les is an operations manager at Intel, where he has worked for over 20 years. Martha retired from teaching after 22 years, working in a bilingual setting. She now works for Multnomah County as an on-call Spanish-English medical interpreter.
Les and Martha's interests are traveling, exercising, reading, theater, lectures, tennis, and family gatherings. They have two grown children.
Sara Allan and Clive Cook
Sara Allan and Clive Cook are Canadian transplants to Portland; they were raised in Ontario and Alberta, respectively. In her business career Sara was most recently a managing director with iFormation Group, a private equity and business development firm. She is now a stay at home mother to twins, Max and Sadie.
Clive is currently the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Elematics, Inc. a telecom networm management software provider. In their leisure time Sara and Clive enjoy skiing, climbing, reading, wine, and travel.
SVPP warmly welcomes these additions to our community of Partners:
Jon Ulsh
Jon has worked as an executive in health care development both in Oregon and California. Currently he is vice president for development at Oregon Health & Science University and president of the OHSU Foundation, where he's overseeing a $300 million private fund-raising campaign -- the largest such campaign in Oregon history. Jon is a member of numerous civic and philanthropic organizations.
Valerie Ilsley and Bruce Murray
Val and Bruce both enjoyed careers as real estate bankers, providing financing and other services to real estate developers of all types of commercial and residential projects. After living in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami, they retired to Portland in 2002. A son, daughter-in-law, and twin grandchildren also live in Portland. Interests include hiking, soccer (for Bruce), and urban activities generally.
Julie and Bill Young
Julie's background is as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. A longtime Portland resident, she volunteers with several social service organizations, and for civic and political causes, relating especially to children and families, education and health care. Bill is retired from hospice social work. He is a former Mayor of Lake Oswego and has served on a number of nonprofit boards. His interests include boating, working with frail seniors, and supporting a sustainable environment.
Bill and Julie have six children betwen them (including SVP Partner Sara Bernard), and four grandchildren.
Bill and Anne Lazar
Bill Lazar is President of The Lazar Foundation, a charitable foundation focused on environmental protection and the preservation of Biological Diversity in the Pacific Northwest. He also serves as a national trustee of the Alaska Conservation Foundation, and on the board of Catlin Gabel School.
Anne Lazar is a veterinarian and owns the Oswego Veterinary
Hospital in Lake Oswego.
Bill and Anne have three children. Her hobbies are reading, baking, and running; his are reading, cooking, gardening, and spending time in wild places.
Les and Martha Soltesz
Les is an operations manager at Intel, where he has worked for over 20 years. Martha retired from teaching after 22 years, working in a bilingual setting. She now works for Multnomah County as an on-call Spanish-English medical interpreter.
Les and Martha's interests are traveling, exercising, reading, theater, lectures, tennis, and family gatherings. They have two grown children.
Sara Allan and Clive Cook
Sara Allan and Clive Cook are Canadian transplants to Portland; they were raised in Ontario and Alberta, respectively. In her business career Sara was most recently a managing director with iFormation Group, a private equity and business development firm. She is now a stay at home mother to twins, Max and Sadie.
Clive is currently the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Elematics, Inc. a telecom networm management software provider. In their leisure time Sara and Clive enjoy skiing, climbing, reading, wine, and travel.
Strategic by Design
(From the March 2004 Newsletter)
Since January a group of SVP Partners has met bi-weekly to address two tasks: first, analyze the challenges we face as SVPP moves from start-up to the next phase of our organization; and second, advise the SVPP Board on the strategic opportunities we have to increase our service to our Partners and our community.
As source material, the Strategic Design Team used data from our own Partner survey of last fall, information from SVP International on the network at large, and several articles on strategy and organizational dynamics. Sub-teams are now working on these four key areas: our identity and values; our financial model; our organizational structure; and our connectedness as Partners.
The team will report at the SVPP Annual Meeting in May, and finish its work by fall.
This is vital work for SVPP. With so much to do, we are still looking for eager participants in this project. Join us! The meetings are enjoyable, frequently philosophical discussions of what SVPP is today and how we hope to see it evolve.
If you would you like to help chart SVPP's future; if you would like to effect change while getting to know some of your bright and energetic SVP colleagues better; or if you would or simply like more information about the project, please contact either Megan Leftwich or Leslie Trim.
Since January a group of SVP Partners has met bi-weekly to address two tasks: first, analyze the challenges we face as SVPP moves from start-up to the next phase of our organization; and second, advise the SVPP Board on the strategic opportunities we have to increase our service to our Partners and our community.
As source material, the Strategic Design Team used data from our own Partner survey of last fall, information from SVP International on the network at large, and several articles on strategy and organizational dynamics. Sub-teams are now working on these four key areas: our identity and values; our financial model; our organizational structure; and our connectedness as Partners.
The team will report at the SVPP Annual Meeting in May, and finish its work by fall.
This is vital work for SVPP. With so much to do, we are still looking for eager participants in this project. Join us! The meetings are enjoyable, frequently philosophical discussions of what SVPP is today and how we hope to see it evolve.
If you would you like to help chart SVPP's future; if you would like to effect change while getting to know some of your bright and energetic SVP colleagues better; or if you would or simply like more information about the project, please contact either Megan Leftwich or Leslie Trim.
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