(From the March 2005 Newsletter)
Partner participation over the past six months has been strong. All of our new members are engaged in a variety of interesting projects and we continue to deepen our understanding of children's needs in the four county area. Four of our partners participated in the Principal for a Day program organized yearly by the Portland Schools Foundation. It was very enlightening and a highly worthwhile experience. Interested partners are encouraged to participate next year.
At our March 9 quarterly meeting, we announced our newest project, the Venture Scholars, which will provide scholarships to students in two Portland high schools. Dr. Preston Pulliams, President of Portland Community College, was the keynote speaker for the meeting. Dr. Pulliams addressed the importance of career-focused educational programs and their role in the community's economic development. He stressed the importance of partnerships between PCC and organizations such as SVPP. Dr. Pulliams speech was both informative and entertaining.
The Investment Committee has been meeting since early October to identify the investment direction for 2005. The group has made excellent progress and has identified two areas for focus: greater parental engagement in elementary schools and increased collection of tax credits for qualifying families. Our expectation is that both of these programs will have a direct and positive impact on children.
Social Venture Partners has had strong national and local media coverage in the past six months. Several of our affiliates were recently highlighted in a two-page spread in the March 7, 2005 issue of Business Week. The topic was "giving circles" and SVP was used as a successful example. The Portland Business Journal, who broke the news on Venture Scholars, gave us good coverage in the Portland Metro area.
We continue to work closely with Social Venture Partners International to tap into best practices across the SVP network, develop tools to share knowledge, establish policies and procedures and expand the scope of the network. New affiliates are planned for Asia, Europe and Latin America over the next year.
We look forward to seeing you at the Annual Partner Meeting on May 26 at the Wieden + Kennedy facility. More information about that event will be published soon. Mark your calendar now and save the date.
Please stop by the SVPP office at any time to discuss whatever is on your mind. I welcome your inputs.
SVPP News
The Venture Scholars team. Back row, left to right: Keith Brown (Counselor, Roosevelt High School), Andy Kelly (Principal, Roosevelt High School), Joe Barthmaier (SVPP). Front row, left to right: Barb Ward (Counselor, Benson Polytechnic High School), Sharon Barthmaier (SVPP), Kathy Fong Stephens (College/Career Center Coordinator, Roosevelt High School), Deborah Lockwood (SVPP).
(From the March 2005 Newsletter)
SVPP News
A new scholarship program was announced by SVPP at its March 9 quarterly meeting. The program offers scholarships worth up to $4,500 each to seniors graduating this spring from Portland's Roosevelt and Benson Polytechnic high schools. The awards will honor and support students who plan to pursue career-focused training at a community college or training institute. SVPP will administer the program.
The new School-to-Career Venture Scholars program, which will fund 11 scholarships this year, has been established to address a need in Oregon for greater recognition of professional/technical training. "A key goal of the Venture Scholars program is motivating more students to stay in school and graduate. These awards aim to heighten students' awareness of how education leads to opportunity", said Deborah Lockwood, Venture Scholars program manager.
The Venture Scholars awards will help prepare students for work in the two fastest-growing job categories. According to the U. S. Department of Labor, the number of jobs that require a post-secondary vocational award are expected to increase by 24 percent in the present decade; jobs requiring a community college associate's degree, by 32 percent. "So many of our students are unaware of all of the different training opportunities that are available in our community, and these scholarships will help shed some light and give kids more choices, " said Kathy Fong Stephens, coordinator of the College and Career Center and also school-to-work liaison at Roosevelt.
SVPP is able to launch the new scholarship program as a result of commitments from several donors, including SVPP partners. The commitments total $198,000, which funds the 11 scholarships per year for four years. The Venture Scholars program welcomes additional donors at various levels to enable more deserving students in our area to benefit from Venture Scholars awards. Please contact Joe Barthmaier or Deborah Lockwood to discuss how you can make a scholarship donation.
The Venture Scholars program is modeled after the Grove Scholars program of California. Started in 1998 by the family foundation of Intel Chairman Andrew S. Grove, Grove Scholars now serves 12 high schools, awarding approximately 150 scholarships each year. Hundreds of California award recipients are now trained and working as auto technicians, chefs, dental assistants, preschool teachers and other occupations.
SVPP Joins Grantmakers of Oregon and Southwest Washington
Grantmakers of Oregon and Southwest Washington is a nonprofit organization that includes foundations, corporations and individuals practicing philanthropy. Its mission is to inspire effective philanthropy. Grantmakers provides a series of professional development programs delivered locally focusing on core competencies of grantmaking and issues of interest to funders.
In the past, SVPP's member privileges with Grantmakers were through our association with the Oregon Community Foundation. As a formal member of GOSW, SVPP will be able to play a significant role in helping shape program content, policy and direction. It also furthers our goal to continue serving the Portland metropolitan area through partner education and participation in organizations committed to effective grantmaking. Grantmakers is also a member of the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, which links us to funders across the nation engaged in effective philanthropy.
SVPP and SVPI Receive Prestigious Awards
Two very significant awards were received late last year. The first award was given to our Portland partnership in October at the annual SVPI conference, for Outstanding Achievement in the Investment Process, recognizing the Kids Café investment. When SVPP learned that Oregon was the second hungriest state in the country, the investment team decided to partner with the Boys & Girls Club of Portland to increase their ability to feed hungry kids by adding/expanding kitchen facilities at each of four clubs. Kids Cafés provide free hot meals and nutrition education to children at Boys & Girls Clubs locations where children naturally congregate. Most of the kids served have hunger issues and qualify for free or reduced lunch programs. SVPP worked with BGCP to leverage the initial funding of $80K with other Grantmakers to secure the initial $130K needed for the first Kids Café in the BGCP Wattles Club.
The second award came in December when Fast Company magazine recognized Social Venture Partners International with the magazine's Social Capitalist Award. This award identifies organizations that are using creativity, business smarts, and hard work to invent a brighter future. This is the only award program that quantitatively measures a nonprofit group's innovation and social impact, as well as the viability and sustainability of its business model. Social Venture Partners exists in 23 communities to increase philanthropy by educating individuals and building the capacity of nonprofit organizations.
SVPP Sets Direction for 2005 Investments
Since October of last year, the Investment Committee has been meeting regularly to identify investment opportunities for 2005 while keeping our interest directed at children at risk and education. The goal of the team has been to identify specific programs for SVPP investment for a period of up to three years where SVPP would participate both with dollar funding support as well as skills expertise of our partners.
The Committee has decided to pursue two programs for 2005. One will focus on improving parental engagement in elementary schools in the Portland Public School District, and the second program will focus on increasing the collection of tax credits available to low income families in Oregon.
The subcommittee addressing the elementary schools presented the program concept to five principals of elementary schools in the Marshall High School cluster and has requested proposals from these principals by March 31st. The expectation is that SVPP will be able to fund up to two schools for the 2005-2006 school year for this program. The concept was very well received by these principals.
The subcommittee addressing the tax credits has been working closely with the Oregon Tax Credit Coalition to provide additional funding and management expertise to increase the effectiveness of OTCC and leverage the experiences of organizations in other states that have been successful in driving similar programs.
The committee is working on getting final approval for both of these programs with the goal of having the funding secured by June. These programs will allow SVPP to engage with new organizations in the Portland area and will provide ample opportunities for partners to participate.
From Our Investees
(From the March 2005 Newsletter)
Kids Cafe - Boys & Girls Club of Portland
The Wattles Kids Café is now fully operational and the kitchen is feeding an average of 200 kids per day plus snacks for an average of 75 more kids. This is up from zero last year! Nutritional education classes are held three times per week to teach members how to cook healthy meals and help design menus for the Club. These classes are called "The Power of Choice". An average of 50 youths participate each month in the nutrition programs. The Kids Café also works with the Athletics Coordinator to promote the importance of being active and showing how food and exercise work hand in hand.
Detailed plans for the construction of the Kids Café at Blazers, which will replace a current and outmoded operation, have been completed and will be out for bid this month. Construction is expected to begin shortly thereafter and the completion and grand opening is planned for July. The third Kids Café in Hillsboro, will be completed in conjunction with a significant expansion of the B&GC in that location. BGCP management and the Board are currently undergoing a fund raising effort for this project and hope to commence construction in late 2005.
Free Clinic of SW Washington
The new Executive Director, Paul Bollinger, was hired and he started on October 4, 2004. The focus in Q4 was integrating the new ED into the Free Clinic organizations and the Board of Directors. The Strategic Plan was completed and reviewed with the Board and its various subcommittees.
The redesign of the Free Clinic website is under way. We will also work with the staff to complete the marketing plan to improve education of the community on Free Clinic services and benefits. The Free Clinic will be holding a golf event fundraiser in June. Tee time anyone? If interested, please email Ed Mueller.
Metropolitan Family Service
SVPP has been instrumental in the success of the program "Make Parenting a Pleasure". The MPAP class is now offered in three languages and consists of a series of classes that focus on the basics of parenting. In addition, SVPP completed the development of a curriculum and activities program for young children whose parents are in MPAP.
SVPP has helped MFS determine appropriate technology for adding on-line donation capabilities to their website. We are also assisting MFS with their technology infrastructure assessment which will be followed by a formal implementation plan.
SVPP has assisted MFS in the interview process to hire an individual responsible for running the new "Ways to Work" Program. This Program helps low-income individuals maintain or own a car enabling them to drive to work. The program will offer low-interest loans for car repairs and purchases.
Morrison Child and Family Services
As part of the "Connections for Children" Information Technology project, all site upgrades have been completed as planned, merging databases for the School Based Services were completed and we are currently working on the Intakes database project.
Children Relief Nursery
After a three-year engagement with CRN, we have come to the end of our participation in further projects with this organization. Thanks to all the partners who volunteered their time with CRN projects over these last three years.
Kids Cafe - Boys & Girls Club of Portland
The Wattles Kids Café is now fully operational and the kitchen is feeding an average of 200 kids per day plus snacks for an average of 75 more kids. This is up from zero last year! Nutritional education classes are held three times per week to teach members how to cook healthy meals and help design menus for the Club. These classes are called "The Power of Choice". An average of 50 youths participate each month in the nutrition programs. The Kids Café also works with the Athletics Coordinator to promote the importance of being active and showing how food and exercise work hand in hand.
Detailed plans for the construction of the Kids Café at Blazers, which will replace a current and outmoded operation, have been completed and will be out for bid this month. Construction is expected to begin shortly thereafter and the completion and grand opening is planned for July. The third Kids Café in Hillsboro, will be completed in conjunction with a significant expansion of the B&GC in that location. BGCP management and the Board are currently undergoing a fund raising effort for this project and hope to commence construction in late 2005.
Free Clinic of SW Washington
The new Executive Director, Paul Bollinger, was hired and he started on October 4, 2004. The focus in Q4 was integrating the new ED into the Free Clinic organizations and the Board of Directors. The Strategic Plan was completed and reviewed with the Board and its various subcommittees.
The redesign of the Free Clinic website is under way. We will also work with the staff to complete the marketing plan to improve education of the community on Free Clinic services and benefits. The Free Clinic will be holding a golf event fundraiser in June. Tee time anyone? If interested, please email Ed Mueller.
Metropolitan Family Service
SVPP has been instrumental in the success of the program "Make Parenting a Pleasure". The MPAP class is now offered in three languages and consists of a series of classes that focus on the basics of parenting. In addition, SVPP completed the development of a curriculum and activities program for young children whose parents are in MPAP.
SVPP has helped MFS determine appropriate technology for adding on-line donation capabilities to their website. We are also assisting MFS with their technology infrastructure assessment which will be followed by a formal implementation plan.
SVPP has assisted MFS in the interview process to hire an individual responsible for running the new "Ways to Work" Program. This Program helps low-income individuals maintain or own a car enabling them to drive to work. The program will offer low-interest loans for car repairs and purchases.
Morrison Child and Family Services
As part of the "Connections for Children" Information Technology project, all site upgrades have been completed as planned, merging databases for the School Based Services were completed and we are currently working on the Intakes database project.
Children Relief Nursery
After a three-year engagement with CRN, we have come to the end of our participation in further projects with this organization. Thanks to all the partners who volunteered their time with CRN projects over these last three years.
Volunteer Spotlight - Valerie Ilsley
(From the March 2005 Newsletter)
Valerie has been a member of SVPP for two years and has been an active volunteer with three of our investees. Valerie took over the Lead role at the B&GC following the team's successful project management of completion/opening of the first Kids Café at Wattles. The team is now responsible for project managing the construction and completion of the Kids Café at Blazers B&GC (to replace a current, outmoded operation) and the Hillsboro Kids Café, expected to start in late 2005.
Valerie is a member of three committees for Metropolitan Family Service. The latest is the loan committee for the new MFS "Ways to Work" program, the first effort in Oregon to implement a program to address the transportation and related needs of low income working families with children. In addition, Valerie volunteers on an as needed basis in the pharmacy for the Free Clinic of SW Washington.
Now retired from her career in the corporate banking world, Valerie finds these activities extremely rewarding. With the "hands on" involvement, she has developed a significant new appreciation for the quality of SVPP investments, and the never ending care and dedication exhibited by the management, staff, and volunteers of the investees.
Partner Profile - Boyce Smith
(From the March 2005 Newsletter)
Boyce is one of the founding members of SVPP and he has dedicated considerable time over the past four years in helping shape the partnership. He has also worked closely with several of our investees.
He is currently chairing the Investment Committee which consists of 11 partners who have been meeting since early October to determine SVPP's direction for 2005. Since then, the Committee has made excellent progress in identifying meaningful new opportunities for SVPP investment and participation (see article "SVPP Sets Direction for 2005 Investments" in this Newsletter). His experience and exposure to investment decisions in previous years have provided excellent direction and guidance to the committee which have enabled the team to remain highly focused and efficient. In addition, his strong organizational skills have been very effective in having a very cohesive group with clear goals, clear deliverables and timely team communications.
Welcome New Partners
(From the March 2005 Newsletter)
Constance and Gary Edwards
Constance and Gary are long term residents of the Portland area residing in Beaverton. They both grew up in and are originally from Eastern Oregon/Milton-Freewater area. Constance is the Manager of Surgical Services at Salem Hospital in Salem. Prior to that she was Manager of Surgical Services for Meridian Park Hospital in Tualatin for many years. Gary is an Executive/Organizational Coach with a long term background as a Senior Healthcare Executive for different Healthcare Systems. The cornerstone of his work recently has been as a Partner and Area Director for "Best Year Yet", a transformational, strategic execution methodology for Business and Industry.
They are a blended family with five grown children who all reside in the area and they enjoy quality time with their four grandchildren. In their down time they enjoy time at their vacation townhouse in Seaside, Oregon. For many years the focus of their service work has been helping disadvantaged young people. They are long term sponsors in the Christian Children's Fund, CASA and other organizations. When they heard about SVPP they realized there was a natural fit with their interest and purpose. Both feel strongly that you can do right and do well in the world at the same time and leave a legacy of giving back to the world.
Pat and Joel Kaplan
Pat and Joel are long-time Portland residents. They have two daughters, Madison, a "first year" at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, and Taylor, a senior at The Catlin Gabel School. The entire family enjoys tennis, which they play on their home court. Pat and Joel are enthusiastic vegetable and flower gardeners and like to travel. Joel is an amateur woodworker, and makes baseball bats on his lathe.
Joel is a partner with Foster Pepper Tooze LLP, a Portland-based law firm, where he heads the firm's corporate law department. He splits his time between corporate finance and securities work and a sophisticated real estate acquisition and finance practice. He serves on the boards of directors of Portland Center Stage (a professional theater company) and Neighborhood House (a social service agency based in Multnomah Village).
Pat owns a real estate brokerage and consulting firm, Kaplan Real Estate Group, and is active in local, state and national professional organizations. She served as a national officer of the National Association of Realtors, the largest trade association in the world, for four years. She has spoken at several international real estate conferences, including an upcoming meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam. Pat is currently president of the Realtor Relief Foundation and serves as treasurer on the Board of the International Real Property Foundation.
Josh Kornblatt
Josh, former bakery/restaurant owner, has also joined SVPP.
Kieren and Bill Porter
Kieren and Bill have lived in Northeast Portland since moving to the city in 2000. They are the proud parents of a charming three-year-old, Evan, and enjoy camping, hiking, traveling and gardening. Both Kieren and Bill grew up in Colorado, where they met working for the governor of the state. Here in Portland, Bill directs "Grantmakers for Education," a national network of private, corporate and operating foundations that seeks to make education philanthropy more effective. Kieren plays a key role in strategic communications and corporate philanthropy at The Regence Group, the parent company for four Blue Cross/Blue Shield plans in the Northwest.
They are looking to the SVPP network to learn more about the region's nonprofit sector and which organizations are leaders and innovators. Since they are both working in philanthropy, they are hoping their experiences with SVPP will deepen their understanding of the "craft" of grantmaking. And, most important, they hope to join with others in strengthening Portland's support for families and children.
Constance and Gary Edwards
Constance and Gary are long term residents of the Portland area residing in Beaverton. They both grew up in and are originally from Eastern Oregon/Milton-Freewater area. Constance is the Manager of Surgical Services at Salem Hospital in Salem. Prior to that she was Manager of Surgical Services for Meridian Park Hospital in Tualatin for many years. Gary is an Executive/Organizational Coach with a long term background as a Senior Healthcare Executive for different Healthcare Systems. The cornerstone of his work recently has been as a Partner and Area Director for "Best Year Yet", a transformational, strategic execution methodology for Business and Industry.
They are a blended family with five grown children who all reside in the area and they enjoy quality time with their four grandchildren. In their down time they enjoy time at their vacation townhouse in Seaside, Oregon. For many years the focus of their service work has been helping disadvantaged young people. They are long term sponsors in the Christian Children's Fund, CASA and other organizations. When they heard about SVPP they realized there was a natural fit with their interest and purpose. Both feel strongly that you can do right and do well in the world at the same time and leave a legacy of giving back to the world.
Pat and Joel Kaplan
Pat and Joel are long-time Portland residents. They have two daughters, Madison, a "first year" at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, and Taylor, a senior at The Catlin Gabel School. The entire family enjoys tennis, which they play on their home court. Pat and Joel are enthusiastic vegetable and flower gardeners and like to travel. Joel is an amateur woodworker, and makes baseball bats on his lathe.
Joel is a partner with Foster Pepper Tooze LLP, a Portland-based law firm, where he heads the firm's corporate law department. He splits his time between corporate finance and securities work and a sophisticated real estate acquisition and finance practice. He serves on the boards of directors of Portland Center Stage (a professional theater company) and Neighborhood House (a social service agency based in Multnomah Village).
Pat owns a real estate brokerage and consulting firm, Kaplan Real Estate Group, and is active in local, state and national professional organizations. She served as a national officer of the National Association of Realtors, the largest trade association in the world, for four years. She has spoken at several international real estate conferences, including an upcoming meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam. Pat is currently president of the Realtor Relief Foundation and serves as treasurer on the Board of the International Real Property Foundation.
Josh Kornblatt
Josh, former bakery/restaurant owner, has also joined SVPP.
Kieren and Bill Porter
Kieren and Bill have lived in Northeast Portland since moving to the city in 2000. They are the proud parents of a charming three-year-old, Evan, and enjoy camping, hiking, traveling and gardening. Both Kieren and Bill grew up in Colorado, where they met working for the governor of the state. Here in Portland, Bill directs "Grantmakers for Education," a national network of private, corporate and operating foundations that seeks to make education philanthropy more effective. Kieren plays a key role in strategic communications and corporate philanthropy at The Regence Group, the parent company for four Blue Cross/Blue Shield plans in the Northwest.
They are looking to the SVPP network to learn more about the region's nonprofit sector and which organizations are leaders and innovators. Since they are both working in philanthropy, they are hoping their experiences with SVPP will deepen their understanding of the "craft" of grantmaking. And, most important, they hope to join with others in strengthening Portland's support for families and children.
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