(From the December 2006 Newsletter)
‘Tis the Season -- Transition Time at SVPP
December is a time to celebrate the holidays and spend time with friends and family. It is also a transition time for Social Venture Partners Portland. An all too familiar challenge for many non-profits is managing turnover of the Executive Director position. According to a number of recent national studies, the average nonprofit ED tenure is approximately three years. SVPP is not immune to this average as last month Jean Hart, our Executive Director, resigned after two-and-a-half years in the role.
Jean graciously stepped into the SVPP Executive Director role in 2004 after an extensive local search failed to find the right candidate. Jean has done a remarkable job of representing SVPP in the local community and in expanding our organization's profile. She has performed tirelessly in her recruiting of new partners to join us in our noble efforts. We are very grateful to Jean for her commitment to SVPP and will miss her incredible drive and her engaging wit! Although we are losing Jean as our Executive Director, she will remain an active partner. Jean has accepted a position with MercyCorps and we wish her good luck in her new role.
We are in the process of advertising for our open ED position. We would like to enlist your help in finding Jean's replacement. If you know of anyone that you believe would be interested in this position, please forward the link above. We are advertising this position in a number of places looking for qualified candidates. We will be accepting resumes until the end of December.
In the interim, we are very fortunate to have Deborah Lockwood, a former partner, helping us out until we find a new Executive Director. Thank you Deborah!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all the partners and friends of Social Venture Partners Portland!
Welcome Deborah Lockwood
(From the December 2006 Newsletter)
Deborah Lockwood, a former partner and one of the administrators of the Venture Scholars Program, has accepted a temporary position to fill in for Jean Hart, while we conduct the search for a new Executive Director. Deborah will be working half time and will ensure that all our office-related activities continue to be managed as before. In addition, she will be providing information on upcoming events and is available for accepting information on new SVPP prospects.
Deborah Lockwood, a former partner and one of the administrators of the Venture Scholars Program, has accepted a temporary position to fill in for Jean Hart, while we conduct the search for a new Executive Director. Deborah will be working half time and will ensure that all our office-related activities continue to be managed as before. In addition, she will be providing information on upcoming events and is available for accepting information on new SVPP prospects.
SVPI Holds Fifth Consecutive International Conference in Denver
(From the December 2006 Newsletter)
Six SVPP partners attended Social Venture Partners International's annual conference on October 20 and 21 held this year in Denver, Colorado. Feedback from our partners which included Dave Smith, Jean Hart, Rance Gregory, Drew Smith, Megan Leftwich and Ed Mueller, indicated that this was the best conference to date.
Bill Drayton, named by U.S. News and World Report as one of the 25 Best Leaders in America, was the keynote speaker for the conference. Mr. Drayton coined the term "social entrepreneur" which is often used to describe people who combine results-oriented methods of business with the goals of social reformers. This, in a word, is the mission of SVPP. Mr. Drayton, also the founder of the global nonprofit Ashoka, described the "Fellows" program whereby selected individuals are funded to focus full-time on implementing their vision and new ideas. Examples include providing cheap electricity to Brazilian farmers, helping kick-start the fair-trade coffee practice, and giving micro-loans to Bangladeshis.
Conference attendees also participated in two days of educational sessions ranging from tax policy, politics and philanthropy to participation in a poverty simulation where partners learned first-hand the dynamics of living in poverty. Partners also had opportunities for informal and unstructured get-togethers with peers, always the most beneficial part of any conference gathering.
Participants also welcomed three new affiliates to the network: Central Iowa, Tucson, Arizona, and Tokyo, Japan. The Japanese affiliate was represented by four of their nearly thirty new partners! The total number of world-wide affiliates is now 24 and a global partnership of more than 1,200.
Six SVPP partners attended Social Venture Partners International's annual conference on October 20 and 21 held this year in Denver, Colorado. Feedback from our partners which included Dave Smith, Jean Hart, Rance Gregory, Drew Smith, Megan Leftwich and Ed Mueller, indicated that this was the best conference to date.
Bill Drayton, named by U.S. News and World Report as one of the 25 Best Leaders in America, was the keynote speaker for the conference. Mr. Drayton coined the term "social entrepreneur" which is often used to describe people who combine results-oriented methods of business with the goals of social reformers. This, in a word, is the mission of SVPP. Mr. Drayton, also the founder of the global nonprofit Ashoka, described the "Fellows" program whereby selected individuals are funded to focus full-time on implementing their vision and new ideas. Examples include providing cheap electricity to Brazilian farmers, helping kick-start the fair-trade coffee practice, and giving micro-loans to Bangladeshis.
Conference attendees also participated in two days of educational sessions ranging from tax policy, politics and philanthropy to participation in a poverty simulation where partners learned first-hand the dynamics of living in poverty. Partners also had opportunities for informal and unstructured get-togethers with peers, always the most beneficial part of any conference gathering.
Participants also welcomed three new affiliates to the network: Central Iowa, Tucson, Arizona, and Tokyo, Japan. The Japanese affiliate was represented by four of their nearly thirty new partners! The total number of world-wide affiliates is now 24 and a global partnership of more than 1,200.
Partners Learn About Mississippi Street Revitalization Efforts
(From the December 2006 Newsletter)
SVPP partners had an opportunity to attend a stimulating partner conversation evening held at the Albina Community Bank on November 29. Albina Bank is an SVPP partner and the Bank's President and CEO, Bob McKean, made a presentation titled Economic Development: A Study of Portland's Newly Hip & Revitalized Mississippi Street. Bob provided the attendees an excellent perspective of the history and driving forces that shaped the economic development efforts of this Portland community which is enjoying considerable vibrancy and excitement. Many thanks to Bob and his staff at the Albina Community Bank for hosting this informative and enjoyable event.
SVPP partners had an opportunity to attend a stimulating partner conversation evening held at the Albina Community Bank on November 29. Albina Bank is an SVPP partner and the Bank's President and CEO, Bob McKean, made a presentation titled Economic Development: A Study of Portland's Newly Hip & Revitalized Mississippi Street. Bob provided the attendees an excellent perspective of the history and driving forces that shaped the economic development efforts of this Portland community which is enjoying considerable vibrancy and excitement. Many thanks to Bob and his staff at the Albina Community Bank for hosting this informative and enjoyable event.
From Our Investees
(From the December 2006 Newsletter)
Earlier this year, we announced our two new investments: the Child Care Improvement Project (CCIP) and the Forest Grove School District Latino Community Network (FGLCN). Both of these programs have children as their main focus and they will expand SVPP's involvement in the Portland metropolitan area providing many volunteering opportunities for our partners. We will provide a comprehensive update on these projects in our next newsletter.
PEP (Parental Engagement Program)
Kelly Elementary:
• Portland Impact, the organization administering the SUN before/after school program at Kelly Elementary, received just over $150,000 in a matching grant from AmeriCorps to fund twelve full time "community resource member" positions at Portland Impact's eleven SUN sites. The "community resource member" position is based in large part on the PEP Coordinator model developed by Kelly Elementary, Portland Impact and SVPP.
• Trisha Balicanta is the new PEP Coordinator at Kelly Elementary as of September 6, 2006. She continues to increase parental engagement at the school by organizing events for parents,facilitating the Family Stories program as well as the Latino Parents Group.
Clark Elementary:
• SVPP Partners Alan and Marissa Crouch are donating $500 toward the purchase of books for the classroom libraries, and a matching grant has been applied for to increase this $500 donation to $1,000.
• Clark Elementary has been chosen to participate in the SUN before/after school program, with Portland Impact serving as the administering organization. This program includes a parental engagement component which will likely incorporate the Parents and Partners for Reading Excellence workshop program.
• The Tech Committee continues work on a new website for Clark Elementary.
• The Parents as Partners for Reading Excellence evening workshops for the 2006-07 school year have begun, with the first evening workshop taking place on October 10, 2006. SVPP volunteers continue to provide literacy events for the children of the parents attending these workshops. Future workshops are scheduled for November 14, 2006, January 9, 2007, February 13, 2007, March 13, 2007, April 10, 2007 and May 8, 2007.
CASH (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope)
For last year's tax season, CASH Oregon opened a Tax-Aide site at the Lloyd Center Mall in Portland, and distributed through its coalition members more than 30,000 brochures, flyers and posters. Despite being open on weekends open, the super site processed 724 returns, the second highest number of returns processed at any site in Oregon. EITC claims at the site totaled $278,732 or an average in excess of $2,000 per family. For 2006, objectives include:
• Tax Preparation - expand Lloyd Center operations to six days per week and open two new super sites in Washington and Clackamas counties. In addition, support community partner tax preparation programs (e.g., the Rockwood Weed and Seed initiative in east Multnomah County)
• Community Outreach – expand efforts to target families eligible for EITC through community partners and employer programs
• Financial Literacy – implement a financial education program
• Volunteer Recruitment and Training – operation of three super sites will require up to: 100 volunteer tax payers, 6 site coordinators, 9 screening and intake individuals, 12 specialist tax advisors, IT support and tax training
• New Initiatives - Evaluate ONE Economy's program to teach low income taxpayers to prepare their own returns on tax software provided by them
Kids Café
• Kids Café at Wattles and Blazers served meals to an average of 361 kids per day during Q2 and Q3 2006, in addition to afternoon snacks averaging 308 kids per day.
• Between both programs, 62,816 dinners and 53,849 snacks have been served to hungry youth since January. As of the end of Q2, the project showed a net loss, but this was primarily due to the Clubs being closed for a total of four weeks at the beginning and end of summer for maintenance so no reimbursements were received while the Club continued to pay the two full time chefs.
• Nutritional education classes continue to be held at Wattles three times per week. An average of 71 members participate each month in the nutrition programs. The Wattles Club will work with Growing Gardens during the next school year to teach youth how to grow and tend for fruits and vegetables and how to incorporate these into their daily diets. The Blazers Club Kids Café Coordinator installed raised garden beds on the south side of the Club so that Club kids can begin to learn how to grow their own food.
• B&GC management have now acquired the warehouse adjacent to the Hillsboro facility which will house a new gym, Kids Café and eating area. Plans are now complete and construction is expected to commence in mid-November. To date, grants totaling $1.77 million have been secured for the project. On October 5th, the Club held a ground braking ceremony led by General Colin Powell. The General addressed the kids for nearly a half hour, taking questions and sharing from his own life experiences.
Earlier this year, we announced our two new investments: the Child Care Improvement Project (CCIP) and the Forest Grove School District Latino Community Network (FGLCN). Both of these programs have children as their main focus and they will expand SVPP's involvement in the Portland metropolitan area providing many volunteering opportunities for our partners. We will provide a comprehensive update on these projects in our next newsletter.
PEP (Parental Engagement Program)
Kelly Elementary:
• Portland Impact, the organization administering the SUN before/after school program at Kelly Elementary, received just over $150,000 in a matching grant from AmeriCorps to fund twelve full time "community resource member" positions at Portland Impact's eleven SUN sites. The "community resource member" position is based in large part on the PEP Coordinator model developed by Kelly Elementary, Portland Impact and SVPP.
• Trisha Balicanta is the new PEP Coordinator at Kelly Elementary as of September 6, 2006. She continues to increase parental engagement at the school by organizing events for parents,facilitating the Family Stories program as well as the Latino Parents Group.
Clark Elementary:
• SVPP Partners Alan and Marissa Crouch are donating $500 toward the purchase of books for the classroom libraries, and a matching grant has been applied for to increase this $500 donation to $1,000.
• Clark Elementary has been chosen to participate in the SUN before/after school program, with Portland Impact serving as the administering organization. This program includes a parental engagement component which will likely incorporate the Parents and Partners for Reading Excellence workshop program.
• The Tech Committee continues work on a new website for Clark Elementary.
• The Parents as Partners for Reading Excellence evening workshops for the 2006-07 school year have begun, with the first evening workshop taking place on October 10, 2006. SVPP volunteers continue to provide literacy events for the children of the parents attending these workshops. Future workshops are scheduled for November 14, 2006, January 9, 2007, February 13, 2007, March 13, 2007, April 10, 2007 and May 8, 2007.
CASH (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope)
For last year's tax season, CASH Oregon opened a Tax-Aide site at the Lloyd Center Mall in Portland, and distributed through its coalition members more than 30,000 brochures, flyers and posters. Despite being open on weekends open, the super site processed 724 returns, the second highest number of returns processed at any site in Oregon. EITC claims at the site totaled $278,732 or an average in excess of $2,000 per family. For 2006, objectives include:
• Tax Preparation - expand Lloyd Center operations to six days per week and open two new super sites in Washington and Clackamas counties. In addition, support community partner tax preparation programs (e.g., the Rockwood Weed and Seed initiative in east Multnomah County)
• Community Outreach – expand efforts to target families eligible for EITC through community partners and employer programs
• Financial Literacy – implement a financial education program
• Volunteer Recruitment and Training – operation of three super sites will require up to: 100 volunteer tax payers, 6 site coordinators, 9 screening and intake individuals, 12 specialist tax advisors, IT support and tax training
• New Initiatives - Evaluate ONE Economy's program to teach low income taxpayers to prepare their own returns on tax software provided by them
Kids Café
• Kids Café at Wattles and Blazers served meals to an average of 361 kids per day during Q2 and Q3 2006, in addition to afternoon snacks averaging 308 kids per day.
• Between both programs, 62,816 dinners and 53,849 snacks have been served to hungry youth since January. As of the end of Q2, the project showed a net loss, but this was primarily due to the Clubs being closed for a total of four weeks at the beginning and end of summer for maintenance so no reimbursements were received while the Club continued to pay the two full time chefs.
• Nutritional education classes continue to be held at Wattles three times per week. An average of 71 members participate each month in the nutrition programs. The Wattles Club will work with Growing Gardens during the next school year to teach youth how to grow and tend for fruits and vegetables and how to incorporate these into their daily diets. The Blazers Club Kids Café Coordinator installed raised garden beds on the south side of the Club so that Club kids can begin to learn how to grow their own food.
• B&GC management have now acquired the warehouse adjacent to the Hillsboro facility which will house a new gym, Kids Café and eating area. Plans are now complete and construction is expected to commence in mid-November. To date, grants totaling $1.77 million have been secured for the project. On October 5th, the Club held a ground braking ceremony led by General Colin Powell. The General addressed the kids for nearly a half hour, taking questions and sharing from his own life experiences.
Welcome New Partner
(From the December 2006 Newsletter)
Adam Youngbar - Adam has worked for CH2M Hill for over eight years and is currently Manager of Business Planning for their Electronics and Advanced Technology business unit. He previously worked in industrial development for the Oregon Economic Development Department. After growing up in Portland, Adam spent a couple of years drying out at Occidental College in Los Angeles and completed his study of international political economy at the University of Washington. His interests include travel, exploring the outdoors, skiing and fly fishing.
Venture Scholars Starts Its Third Year
(From the December 2006 Newsletter)
The Venture Scholars scholarship program is designed to honor talented high school students who plan to complete a career-focused program in a community college or training institute. The scholarship provides qualified students up to $4,000 to spend on tuition, books, and related educational expenses.
The third year of the Venture Scholars program is under way. The first year was devoted to establishing a scholarship program in the Portland area on the model of Grove Scholars, with the first group of award winners named in the spring of 2005. The second year was devoted to developing the systems needed to track and communicate with the students, along with recruiting a second group of winners. This year we will continue working with staff at Benson and Roosevelt high schools to recruit a strong 2007 class of Venture Scholars, and we will continue to work on improving the program.
In 2005, 11 students were selected for scholarships (seven from Benson, four from Roosevelt). One of the students has already completed his training and is preparing for the real estate license exam. Several other students are on track to finish their training in 2007 or, in the case of the nursing students, in 2008. A few of other students are either on leave for personal reasons or struggling academically. We are working with these students to help them reach their goals.
In 2006, 13 students were selected (nine from Benson, four from Roosevelt). Several of the students have impressed us with their diligence and follow-through. We have high hopes that this class will do well. Ten students have begun their studies this fall; the remaining three will begin in the winter term.
Venture Scholars is an unusual and valuable scholarship program, targeting students who are deserving but mostly overlooked for scholarship awards. Establishing the program has been both challenging and enjoyable. This year we plan to continue developing our methods of recruiting the students most likely to succeed with their plans, and also our understanding of what kinds of help they need to succeed.
Venture Scholars is a program funded by private individuals and administered by SVPP. If you are interested in learning more about this program please visit the Venture Scholars site, or contact Joe Barthmaier or Deborah Lockwood.
The Venture Scholars scholarship program is designed to honor talented high school students who plan to complete a career-focused program in a community college or training institute. The scholarship provides qualified students up to $4,000 to spend on tuition, books, and related educational expenses.
The third year of the Venture Scholars program is under way. The first year was devoted to establishing a scholarship program in the Portland area on the model of Grove Scholars, with the first group of award winners named in the spring of 2005. The second year was devoted to developing the systems needed to track and communicate with the students, along with recruiting a second group of winners. This year we will continue working with staff at Benson and Roosevelt high schools to recruit a strong 2007 class of Venture Scholars, and we will continue to work on improving the program.
In 2005, 11 students were selected for scholarships (seven from Benson, four from Roosevelt). One of the students has already completed his training and is preparing for the real estate license exam. Several other students are on track to finish their training in 2007 or, in the case of the nursing students, in 2008. A few of other students are either on leave for personal reasons or struggling academically. We are working with these students to help them reach their goals.
In 2006, 13 students were selected (nine from Benson, four from Roosevelt). Several of the students have impressed us with their diligence and follow-through. We have high hopes that this class will do well. Ten students have begun their studies this fall; the remaining three will begin in the winter term.
Venture Scholars is an unusual and valuable scholarship program, targeting students who are deserving but mostly overlooked for scholarship awards. Establishing the program has been both challenging and enjoyable. This year we plan to continue developing our methods of recruiting the students most likely to succeed with their plans, and also our understanding of what kinds of help they need to succeed.
Venture Scholars is a program funded by private individuals and administered by SVPP. If you are interested in learning more about this program please visit the Venture Scholars site, or contact Joe Barthmaier or Deborah Lockwood.
From Our Executive Director - Jean Hart
(From the October 2006 Newsletter)
Many of you know Paul Shoemaker, Executive Director of Social Venture Partners Seattle for more than eight years. Paul was a founder of SVP Seattle, the president of the SVPI board of directors and a source of inspiration and wisdom to all of us.
Paul wrote the following shortly after Bill Gates, Microsoft CEO until June of this year, transitioned to "full-time philanthropist", in his words. I want to share Paul's thoughts with you. He draws parallels between Bill Gates' move and the SVP partners.
"When asked by a journalist what effect Bill's move might have on the nonprofit sector as opposed to just funding his foundation, it strikes me that my description of his role, his potential, the assets he brings, his leadership, is very similar to how I would describe an SVP partner who was taking on an increased leadership role with a nonprofit or moving from a private sector position to a nonprofit career. Other than a few zeros and a bit more fame, I could just as easily have been describing any number of SVP people. Each of these partners, like Gates, is making significant life changes to apply their experience, skills, brains and heart to working on tough social problems.
"Don't get me wrong, money is absolutely necessary but it is almost always insufficient as well. It is the human capital that ultimately makes the difference. How much financial capital did Mother Theresa have? How much financial capital did Muhammad Yunus have 25 years ago in Bangladesh where he founded the concept of microfinance which has now spread across the globe, including SVP Seattle partner Mike Murray's Unitus locally. How much difference did the human (vs. financial) capital make in SVP Seattle partner Heidi Craemer's work with Roxanne Lyons back in the late 90's that helped enable New Futures to be where it is today?
"If we've learned anything over the last 8 l/2 years it is that our human capital is the true leverage point, the difference maker. I'm confident Gates would agree. A few months back I was at a conference speaking to a small group and suggested that in 100 years more people would know the name Bill Gates for his global health and/or education work than for Microsoft. Just as, I suspect, more people could now tell you the role Andrew Carnegie played in the public library system than know he founded U.S. Steel. Time will tell, but given Gates' decision last week, I think the odds just went up.
"When all is said and done, I can not help but believe that more and more SVP partners will also be known for their civic and philanthropic leadership than for their previous private sector careers. I see many such examples in SVP Seattle. Maybe our work with Athena Water will provide the funding that finally leads to a cure for breast cancer. Maybe our work with Grameen Village Phone Program in Uganda will help cut poverty there in half over the next 25 years. Maybe our work with the Seattle Biotech Legacy Foundation will help find a real solution to Puget Sound sprawl. Maybe…
"No matter how many zeros come with your name, your potential to change the world has a lot more to do with your brain, your heart, your commitment, your ingenuity. As each partner continues their work, I think it is nothing but exhilarating to know that someone like Bill Gates has decided to make the same kind of life transition that many SVP partners all across the network have already made. Welcome to our world, Bill."
Many of you know Paul Shoemaker, Executive Director of Social Venture Partners Seattle for more than eight years. Paul was a founder of SVP Seattle, the president of the SVPI board of directors and a source of inspiration and wisdom to all of us.
Paul wrote the following shortly after Bill Gates, Microsoft CEO until June of this year, transitioned to "full-time philanthropist", in his words. I want to share Paul's thoughts with you. He draws parallels between Bill Gates' move and the SVP partners.
"When asked by a journalist what effect Bill's move might have on the nonprofit sector as opposed to just funding his foundation, it strikes me that my description of his role, his potential, the assets he brings, his leadership, is very similar to how I would describe an SVP partner who was taking on an increased leadership role with a nonprofit or moving from a private sector position to a nonprofit career. Other than a few zeros and a bit more fame, I could just as easily have been describing any number of SVP people. Each of these partners, like Gates, is making significant life changes to apply their experience, skills, brains and heart to working on tough social problems.
"Don't get me wrong, money is absolutely necessary but it is almost always insufficient as well. It is the human capital that ultimately makes the difference. How much financial capital did Mother Theresa have? How much financial capital did Muhammad Yunus have 25 years ago in Bangladesh where he founded the concept of microfinance which has now spread across the globe, including SVP Seattle partner Mike Murray's Unitus locally. How much difference did the human (vs. financial) capital make in SVP Seattle partner Heidi Craemer's work with Roxanne Lyons back in the late 90's that helped enable New Futures to be where it is today?
"If we've learned anything over the last 8 l/2 years it is that our human capital is the true leverage point, the difference maker. I'm confident Gates would agree. A few months back I was at a conference speaking to a small group and suggested that in 100 years more people would know the name Bill Gates for his global health and/or education work than for Microsoft. Just as, I suspect, more people could now tell you the role Andrew Carnegie played in the public library system than know he founded U.S. Steel. Time will tell, but given Gates' decision last week, I think the odds just went up.
"When all is said and done, I can not help but believe that more and more SVP partners will also be known for their civic and philanthropic leadership than for their previous private sector careers. I see many such examples in SVP Seattle. Maybe our work with Athena Water will provide the funding that finally leads to a cure for breast cancer. Maybe our work with Grameen Village Phone Program in Uganda will help cut poverty there in half over the next 25 years. Maybe our work with the Seattle Biotech Legacy Foundation will help find a real solution to Puget Sound sprawl. Maybe…
"No matter how many zeros come with your name, your potential to change the world has a lot more to do with your brain, your heart, your commitment, your ingenuity. As each partner continues their work, I think it is nothing but exhilarating to know that someone like Bill Gates has decided to make the same kind of life transition that many SVP partners all across the network have already made. Welcome to our world, Bill."
SVPP News - Mercy Corps CEO Addresses Partners at Quarterly Event
(From the October 2006 Newsletter)
Mercy Corps CEO Addresses Partners at Quarterly Event
Neal Keny-Guyer, CEO of Mercy Corps, led a stimulating discussion on challenges facing the international relief and development agency on September 20 at Mercy Corps headquarters in downtown Portland. Mr. Keny-Guyer outlined five mega-forces which all NGOs will struggle with if not now, in the future. They are:
1. The level of absolute poverty in the world today -- 1.2 billion people live on less than $1.00 a day; 120 million children do not attend school; 42 million are suffering from HIVAIDS, and 30 million of those are in Africa. Poverty is a source of anger, frustration and despair.
2. The demographic shift in the world to youth -- 1 billion young people will be in the workforce in ten years and only 300 million new jobs will have been created. Where will these young people work?
3. The rise of Islam -- what will be the impact? There are 1.5 billion Muslims in the world and half are younger than 30.
4. Fragile, failing and failed states -- 2 billion people live in nations categorized as one of these. These nations include Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Congo, Afghanistan, Cote d'Ivoire, and others.
5. Climate changes -- what will be the impact of global warming on poverty, disease and geopolitical stability?
The question we must continuously ask ourselves is "How are we relevant to the solution?" "What is the root cause of the problem being addressed?"
He concluded his remarks with:
"Nonprofit organizations must struggle to be less bureaucratic, develop and exploit strong partnerships and alliances, work to be strong stewards of our organizations, and learn to be effective "social entrepreneurs". The improvements in nonprofit organizations over the past two decades have been enormous. In 1980 we didn't focus on measuring impact. The educational and skill level of employees was much lower than now. Partnerships and coalitions among nonprofits were much less common. Mercy Corps, for example, is larger than the UN and UNICEF in most of the 35 countries in which they work. Twelve years ago when Mr. Keny-Guyer took the reins at Mercy Corps, they were a small organization focused largely on relief efforts. Today they have more than 2,500 staff, an operating budget of $200 million and are as much an international development agency as a relief agency today".
Mercy Corps CEO Addresses Partners at Quarterly Event
Neal Keny-Guyer, CEO of Mercy Corps, led a stimulating discussion on challenges facing the international relief and development agency on September 20 at Mercy Corps headquarters in downtown Portland. Mr. Keny-Guyer outlined five mega-forces which all NGOs will struggle with if not now, in the future. They are:
1. The level of absolute poverty in the world today -- 1.2 billion people live on less than $1.00 a day; 120 million children do not attend school; 42 million are suffering from HIVAIDS, and 30 million of those are in Africa. Poverty is a source of anger, frustration and despair.
2. The demographic shift in the world to youth -- 1 billion young people will be in the workforce in ten years and only 300 million new jobs will have been created. Where will these young people work?
3. The rise of Islam -- what will be the impact? There are 1.5 billion Muslims in the world and half are younger than 30.
4. Fragile, failing and failed states -- 2 billion people live in nations categorized as one of these. These nations include Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Congo, Afghanistan, Cote d'Ivoire, and others.
5. Climate changes -- what will be the impact of global warming on poverty, disease and geopolitical stability?
The question we must continuously ask ourselves is "How are we relevant to the solution?" "What is the root cause of the problem being addressed?"
He concluded his remarks with:
"Nonprofit organizations must struggle to be less bureaucratic, develop and exploit strong partnerships and alliances, work to be strong stewards of our organizations, and learn to be effective "social entrepreneurs". The improvements in nonprofit organizations over the past two decades have been enormous. In 1980 we didn't focus on measuring impact. The educational and skill level of employees was much lower than now. Partnerships and coalitions among nonprofits were much less common. Mercy Corps, for example, is larger than the UN and UNICEF in most of the 35 countries in which they work. Twelve years ago when Mr. Keny-Guyer took the reins at Mercy Corps, they were a small organization focused largely on relief efforts. Today they have more than 2,500 staff, an operating budget of $200 million and are as much an international development agency as a relief agency today".
SVPP News - Colin Powell Speaks at the Boys & Girls Club
(From the October 2006 Newsletter)
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell was invited to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Hillsboro Club construction on October 9. The expansion of the Hillsboro Club will include a new state of the art gym and the third Kids Café in the Portland area. SVPP has been the lead investor for Kids Cafés and we have helped with program management of the construction of the kitchens.
Former Secretary Powell has a long affiliation with BG&C and has been a strong supporter of this organization. He related wonderfully to the kids and gave a short speech revolving around leadership with the strong message: value yourselves; value each other". The Q&A session was the most entertaining part of the event and lasted for more than 20 minutes. He asked each kid to come up front and ask their question with head up, eyes straight ahead. He threw out the first question which was "how old do you think I am" - one kid yelled out "80" which brought the house down!
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell was invited to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Hillsboro Club construction on October 9. The expansion of the Hillsboro Club will include a new state of the art gym and the third Kids Café in the Portland area. SVPP has been the lead investor for Kids Cafés and we have helped with program management of the construction of the kitchens.
Former Secretary Powell has a long affiliation with BG&C and has been a strong supporter of this organization. He related wonderfully to the kids and gave a short speech revolving around leadership with the strong message: value yourselves; value each other". The Q&A session was the most entertaining part of the event and lasted for more than 20 minutes. He asked each kid to come up front and ask their question with head up, eyes straight ahead. He threw out the first question which was "how old do you think I am" - one kid yelled out "80" which brought the house down!
SVPP News - Partner Gathering, New Website, New Report
(From the October 2006)
Partners Enjoy Summer Gathering
Picture a typical fantastic Portland summer day coupled with a superb view of downtown Portland, the Willamette River and the mountains. This was the setting for SVPP's summer gathering on July 29 at the home of Bruce Murray and Valerie Ilsley where partners and friends enjoyed excellent catered food and beverages. The event was well attended and provided an excellent opportunity to meet new people, catch up with each other's lives and just a have a relaxed Portland summer afternoon. Many thanks to Bruce and Valerie for hosting this event.
New SVPP Website
The new SVPP website was launched after extensive modifications to provide a much more exciting experience. A lot of effort was devoted to give the visitor "the SVPP story" with a better explanation of how SVPP works and the impact we have had on the organizations in which we have invested over the last five years. Visit SVP Portland to experience our new website if you haven't already done so. Special thanks go to Partner Megan Leftwich for her painstaking attention to detail during the review process of the new content and for managing the transition to the new website.
SVPP New Report Available
For the past months, Partner Valerie Ilsley led an effort to develop a comprehensive report on SVPP covering our mission, investments and performance. This report, titled SVPP Organization Summary – Investments and Performance, is being distributed to all partners and is an excellent vehicle to not only learn about SVPP's impact over the last five years and future direction, but also serves as a great tool to introduce SVPP to potential new partners. It will also be used to present SVPP to other local organizations and future fundraising efforts. If you would like additional copies of this report, please contact the SVPP office.
Partners Enjoy Summer Gathering
Picture a typical fantastic Portland summer day coupled with a superb view of downtown Portland, the Willamette River and the mountains. This was the setting for SVPP's summer gathering on July 29 at the home of Bruce Murray and Valerie Ilsley where partners and friends enjoyed excellent catered food and beverages. The event was well attended and provided an excellent opportunity to meet new people, catch up with each other's lives and just a have a relaxed Portland summer afternoon. Many thanks to Bruce and Valerie for hosting this event.
New SVPP Website
The new SVPP website was launched after extensive modifications to provide a much more exciting experience. A lot of effort was devoted to give the visitor "the SVPP story" with a better explanation of how SVPP works and the impact we have had on the organizations in which we have invested over the last five years. Visit SVP Portland to experience our new website if you haven't already done so. Special thanks go to Partner Megan Leftwich for her painstaking attention to detail during the review process of the new content and for managing the transition to the new website.
SVPP New Report Available
For the past months, Partner Valerie Ilsley led an effort to develop a comprehensive report on SVPP covering our mission, investments and performance. This report, titled SVPP Organization Summary – Investments and Performance, is being distributed to all partners and is an excellent vehicle to not only learn about SVPP's impact over the last five years and future direction, but also serves as a great tool to introduce SVPP to potential new partners. It will also be used to present SVPP to other local organizations and future fundraising efforts. If you would like additional copies of this report, please contact the SVPP office.
From Our New President - Dave Smith
(From the July 2006 Newsletter)
I am often asked why I joined Social Venture Partners Portland (SVPP). The first answer I give is that I am passionate about our current focus of investing in children and education. It is certainly a critical area of social need, and I have a special place in my heart for kids, having four of my own. The second answer I give is "the model". But what I really mean is that I like the leverage that my investment achieves when it is put to work with SVPP.
"SVPP is unique", I say. "I can leverage my investment in SVPP an average of five times. For every dollar I contribute, the organizations that we partner with, on average, leverage that dollar into $5 dollars of total benefit. You can't argue with that kind of payback, and I think this is unique to SVPP".
SVPP achieves these kinds of returns by using that dollar to attract additional financial and in-kind donations from a variety of other sources including our own partnership, foundations, community philanthropists and even the government. We also contribute significant volunteer hours to each non-profit partner that together with the financial contributions translate into real operational impact. Several of our non-profit partners have reported that the value of the operational impact, as a result of their relationship with SVPP, is in the six and even into the seven figure range. With this kind of total impact, it is easy to see why an investment in SVPP is so much more valuable than just the value of our direct financial investment.
SVPP is doing great work. In the five short years of our existence in Portland, we have contributed nearly $700,000 in direct financial contributions to seven area non-profits and had a total impact of well over $3 million! Let's focus our collective efforts this year on spreading the news about SVPP and what a compelling and leveraged investment it is. We can do even more good with more resources at our disposal. Let's get the word out!
I am often asked why I joined Social Venture Partners Portland (SVPP). The first answer I give is that I am passionate about our current focus of investing in children and education. It is certainly a critical area of social need, and I have a special place in my heart for kids, having four of my own. The second answer I give is "the model". But what I really mean is that I like the leverage that my investment achieves when it is put to work with SVPP.
"SVPP is unique", I say. "I can leverage my investment in SVPP an average of five times. For every dollar I contribute, the organizations that we partner with, on average, leverage that dollar into $5 dollars of total benefit. You can't argue with that kind of payback, and I think this is unique to SVPP".
SVPP achieves these kinds of returns by using that dollar to attract additional financial and in-kind donations from a variety of other sources including our own partnership, foundations, community philanthropists and even the government. We also contribute significant volunteer hours to each non-profit partner that together with the financial contributions translate into real operational impact. Several of our non-profit partners have reported that the value of the operational impact, as a result of their relationship with SVPP, is in the six and even into the seven figure range. With this kind of total impact, it is easy to see why an investment in SVPP is so much more valuable than just the value of our direct financial investment.
SVPP is doing great work. In the five short years of our existence in Portland, we have contributed nearly $700,000 in direct financial contributions to seven area non-profits and had a total impact of well over $3 million! Let's focus our collective efforts this year on spreading the news about SVPP and what a compelling and leveraged investment it is. We can do even more good with more resources at our disposal. Let's get the word out!
OHSU's Dr. Peter Kohler Speaks to SVPP About Oregon Health Safety Net
(From the July 2006 Newsletter)
The keynote speaker for SVPP's annual meeting this year was Dr. Peter Kohler, President of Oregon Health and Sciences University. Dr. Kohler was selected as OHSU President in 1988 and has become a leader in state health policy, research and education issues at the national level. He is noted for his advocacy for increased access to health care and quality of life for underserved populations. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia and Duke Medical School.
The topic of Dr. Kohler's speech to SVPP was "The Safety Net for Children: What is it and How do we Protect it?" According to Dr. Kohler, in health care, the term "safety net." refers to the process by which we "catch" those who would otherwise fall through the cracks – primarily those without health insurance. In addition to the uninsured, however, we also have the underinsured – frequently, this means Medicaid or OHP patients. They may have coverage, but the challenge is practitioner access. Generally, the safety net refers to primary and preventative care. OHSU Hospital and other health systems provide significant amounts of uncompensated care for low-income individuals each year, but the biggest issue is access to primary care practitioners.
There is one universal truth about safety net care, however. It does not exist unless a community creates it and supports it. Unfortunately, here in Oregon, the safety net has become badly frayed for adults as well as children. Children are especially vulnerable. Today there are 117,000 uninsured children in this state, a figure that will undoubtedly rise unless a statewide solution to health care access can be found. In addition, children make up 41 percent of Oregon's Medicaid population. The majority of children on Medicaid now get their care from safety net clinics. There are a number of safety net clinics in the Portland metro area, but not all provide health care for children.
As the state's only academic health center, OHSU has long been one of the primary providers of hospital care for low-income individuals. This has been particularly true for needy children. OHSU also treats low-income children through a number of outpatient venues, including the Richmond Clinic in SE Portland and OHSU pediatric clinics. Dr. Kohler also remarked on the major safety net role played by Doernbecher Children's Hospital throughout its 80 year history and the Child Development and Rehabilitation Center which treats children with disabilities or other special health needs.
OHSU is traditionally the state's leading provider of uncompensated care. However, as the state cuts support for both the Oregon Health Plan and for OHSU's base budget it leaves OHSU with an unsustainable burden of care.
Dr. Kohler concluded his speech by saying. "OHSU will continue to be the health care provider of last resort for Oregonians. We will continue to treat the state's sickest and poorest children. But we do need help – from our colleagues in the health care community, from our leaders in the state legislature, and from generous citizens such as you, who play an increasingly important role in funding social services such as health care and education for Oregon's most vulnerable children".
The keynote speaker for SVPP's annual meeting this year was Dr. Peter Kohler, President of Oregon Health and Sciences University. Dr. Kohler was selected as OHSU President in 1988 and has become a leader in state health policy, research and education issues at the national level. He is noted for his advocacy for increased access to health care and quality of life for underserved populations. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia and Duke Medical School.
The topic of Dr. Kohler's speech to SVPP was "The Safety Net for Children: What is it and How do we Protect it?" According to Dr. Kohler, in health care, the term "safety net." refers to the process by which we "catch" those who would otherwise fall through the cracks – primarily those without health insurance. In addition to the uninsured, however, we also have the underinsured – frequently, this means Medicaid or OHP patients. They may have coverage, but the challenge is practitioner access. Generally, the safety net refers to primary and preventative care. OHSU Hospital and other health systems provide significant amounts of uncompensated care for low-income individuals each year, but the biggest issue is access to primary care practitioners.
There is one universal truth about safety net care, however. It does not exist unless a community creates it and supports it. Unfortunately, here in Oregon, the safety net has become badly frayed for adults as well as children. Children are especially vulnerable. Today there are 117,000 uninsured children in this state, a figure that will undoubtedly rise unless a statewide solution to health care access can be found. In addition, children make up 41 percent of Oregon's Medicaid population. The majority of children on Medicaid now get their care from safety net clinics. There are a number of safety net clinics in the Portland metro area, but not all provide health care for children.
As the state's only academic health center, OHSU has long been one of the primary providers of hospital care for low-income individuals. This has been particularly true for needy children. OHSU also treats low-income children through a number of outpatient venues, including the Richmond Clinic in SE Portland and OHSU pediatric clinics. Dr. Kohler also remarked on the major safety net role played by Doernbecher Children's Hospital throughout its 80 year history and the Child Development and Rehabilitation Center which treats children with disabilities or other special health needs.
OHSU is traditionally the state's leading provider of uncompensated care. However, as the state cuts support for both the Oregon Health Plan and for OHSU's base budget it leaves OHSU with an unsustainable burden of care.
Dr. Kohler concluded his speech by saying. "OHSU will continue to be the health care provider of last resort for Oregonians. We will continue to treat the state's sickest and poorest children. But we do need help – from our colleagues in the health care community, from our leaders in the state legislature, and from generous citizens such as you, who play an increasingly important role in funding social services such as health care and education for Oregon's most vulnerable children".
SVPP Holds Annual Meeting
(From the July 2006 Newsletter)
Nearly 80 partners, investees, and friends enjoyed SVPP's Annual Meeting on May 24 at the Japanese Garden Pavilion. The setting was beautiful and the rain subsided long enough for our partners to enjoy the spectacular views. Our keynote speaker, Dr. Peter Kohler, President of OHSU, opened the session and challenged us to consider "The Safety Net for Children". We welcomed our two new board members Joel Kaplan and Drew Smith and thanked our outgoing board members, Joe Barthmaier and Megan Leftwich who were founding partners.
A major highlight of the event was the informative displays from retiring, current and future investees which included Morrison Child and Family Services, The Boys and Girls Club, The Free Clinic of Southwest Washington, Metropolitan Family Service, CASH Oregon, the Parental Engagement Program, and two newly announced projects for 2006: the Child Care Improvement Program and the Forest Grove Latino Community Network.
Three of our investees "graduated" at this event. Morrison, the Free Clinic and Metropolitan Family Service. All received recognition for their services to the community.
Partner Les Soltesz received the President's Award from Chairman, Jeffrey Grubb. This award is given for outstanding service to the organization. Les serves on the Board of Directors, chairs the Marketing and Communications Committee, publishes the newsletter, has been instrumental in helping build the soon-to-be-launched website, and volunteers with one of our investees, PEP.
Nearly 80 partners, investees, and friends enjoyed SVPP's Annual Meeting on May 24 at the Japanese Garden Pavilion. The setting was beautiful and the rain subsided long enough for our partners to enjoy the spectacular views. Our keynote speaker, Dr. Peter Kohler, President of OHSU, opened the session and challenged us to consider "The Safety Net for Children". We welcomed our two new board members Joel Kaplan and Drew Smith and thanked our outgoing board members, Joe Barthmaier and Megan Leftwich who were founding partners.
A major highlight of the event was the informative displays from retiring, current and future investees which included Morrison Child and Family Services, The Boys and Girls Club, The Free Clinic of Southwest Washington, Metropolitan Family Service, CASH Oregon, the Parental Engagement Program, and two newly announced projects for 2006: the Child Care Improvement Program and the Forest Grove Latino Community Network.
Three of our investees "graduated" at this event. Morrison, the Free Clinic and Metropolitan Family Service. All received recognition for their services to the community.
Partner Les Soltesz received the President's Award from Chairman, Jeffrey Grubb. This award is given for outstanding service to the organization. Les serves on the Board of Directors, chairs the Marketing and Communications Committee, publishes the newsletter, has been instrumental in helping build the soon-to-be-launched website, and volunteers with one of our investees, PEP.
Welcome New Board Members
We welcome our two newly elected board members Joel Kaplan and Drew Smith.
Joel joined SVPP in 2004 and served on SVPP's Investment Committee which led to the selection of CASH Oregon (Creating Assets Savings and Hope) as a project. He served as the team lead for this project from May 2005 through May of 2006 and has been involved with all significant decisions affecting CASH Oregon. Joel is a partner with Foster Pepper Tooze, a Portland and Seattle-based law firm. His practice includes real estate transactions and finance, corporate finance and securities, and general corporate counseling and contracts. In his career, he has worked with several Portland law firms and served in executive management positions with a financial services company. Joel and his wife, Pat, who is also an SVPP partner, have lived in Portland nearly 25 years. They have two daughters, both in college. Joel's hobbies include tennis, gardening and woodworking. His specialty is baseball bats.
Drew and his wife, Barbara Resnick, have been SVPP partners since 2002. He has served on an Investment Committee and is currently chairing the Partner Education Committee. His day job is making venture capital investments for Intel Capital and he is currently overseeing Intel's investments in mobile computing technologies. Prior to joining Intel, Drew was a strategy consultant with McKinsey & Company, as well as other semiconductor firms. He has an MBA from Cornell and a degree in Applied Mathematics from Brown University. Drew and his family have lived in Portland for 11 years. Barbara is a dermatologist in private practice in northwest Portland. They have two school-aged children, Ian and Lauren. They enjoy biking, hiking, skiing and other outdoor pursuits.
Joel joined SVPP in 2004 and served on SVPP's Investment Committee which led to the selection of CASH Oregon (Creating Assets Savings and Hope) as a project. He served as the team lead for this project from May 2005 through May of 2006 and has been involved with all significant decisions affecting CASH Oregon. Joel is a partner with Foster Pepper Tooze, a Portland and Seattle-based law firm. His practice includes real estate transactions and finance, corporate finance and securities, and general corporate counseling and contracts. In his career, he has worked with several Portland law firms and served in executive management positions with a financial services company. Joel and his wife, Pat, who is also an SVPP partner, have lived in Portland nearly 25 years. They have two daughters, both in college. Joel's hobbies include tennis, gardening and woodworking. His specialty is baseball bats.
Drew and his wife, Barbara Resnick, have been SVPP partners since 2002. He has served on an Investment Committee and is currently chairing the Partner Education Committee. His day job is making venture capital investments for Intel Capital and he is currently overseeing Intel's investments in mobile computing technologies. Prior to joining Intel, Drew was a strategy consultant with McKinsey & Company, as well as other semiconductor firms. He has an MBA from Cornell and a degree in Applied Mathematics from Brown University. Drew and his family have lived in Portland for 11 years. Barbara is a dermatologist in private practice in northwest Portland. They have two school-aged children, Ian and Lauren. They enjoy biking, hiking, skiing and other outdoor pursuits.
New Investees
(From the July 2006 Newsletter)
The Investment Committee concluded its efforts for this year and selected two new investments: the Child Care Improvement Project (CCIP) and the Forest Grove School District Latino Community Network (FGLCN). Both of these programs have children as their main focus and they will expand SVPP's involvement in the Portland metropolitan area providing many volunteering opportunities for our partners.
Child Care Improvement Project (CCIP)
One of the high leverage areas where we can make a difference in the lives of at-risk children is in early education and child care. Home-based child care centers, typically used by low income parents, are a weak link. The quality varies and is often poor due to few resources. Oregon provides no state support and the state has low subsidies.
CCIP, which works to improve the quality of home-based child care, is a well-regarded and effective program in Multnomah County. They currently coach and provide resources to nine networks in the county.
The objective of SVPP's investment is to create one to two additional home child care networks. SVPP volunteers will also help providers in CCIP networks to grow their child care businesses by providing technical assistance, marketing advice, business training, and expanding and strenthening CCIP's infrastructure and programs.
SVPP will also work with the City Club of Portland and others to advocate for improved early education and child care in Oregon.
Expected Investment = $40,000/year x 3 years = $120,000. Team leads are Bill Porter and Eli Lamb.
Forest Grove School District Latino Community Network (FGLCN)
The Forest Grove School District has seen more than a 200% increase in its Latino population growing from 800 students in 1993 to more than 2,400 in 2005 and now accounts for 25% of the total district population. At the same time, 95% of the local Latino population lives at or below the poverty level.
The educational results have been disappointing with 80% of the Latino students not meeting state standards in English/language arts, and 90% not meeting standards in math. Parents want their children to succeed in school but, with the average Latino parent educational level at the second grade level, they lack the ability to help their children.
FGLCN has four program objectives: 1) expand local interagency engagement (i.e. all agencies with a consistent strategic plan), 2) empower parents by connecting them to students and schools, 3) empower students using technology to reach beyond school-based learning, and 4) develop learning families by providing educational support tools and techniques for Latino parents, and by increasing technology and learning tools in the home.
SVPP will help with local outreach by providing technology support for in-home learning tools and by providing web development assistance.
The initial investment will be $40,000. The major challenge is that we are starting on the ground floor. The good news is that the Forest Grove School district is very committed to FGLCN and there are clear improvement measurement tools in place. The team lead is Constance Edwards.
The Investment Committee concluded its efforts for this year and selected two new investments: the Child Care Improvement Project (CCIP) and the Forest Grove School District Latino Community Network (FGLCN). Both of these programs have children as their main focus and they will expand SVPP's involvement in the Portland metropolitan area providing many volunteering opportunities for our partners.
Child Care Improvement Project (CCIP)
One of the high leverage areas where we can make a difference in the lives of at-risk children is in early education and child care. Home-based child care centers, typically used by low income parents, are a weak link. The quality varies and is often poor due to few resources. Oregon provides no state support and the state has low subsidies.
CCIP, which works to improve the quality of home-based child care, is a well-regarded and effective program in Multnomah County. They currently coach and provide resources to nine networks in the county.
The objective of SVPP's investment is to create one to two additional home child care networks. SVPP volunteers will also help providers in CCIP networks to grow their child care businesses by providing technical assistance, marketing advice, business training, and expanding and strenthening CCIP's infrastructure and programs.
SVPP will also work with the City Club of Portland and others to advocate for improved early education and child care in Oregon.
Expected Investment = $40,000/year x 3 years = $120,000. Team leads are Bill Porter and Eli Lamb.
Forest Grove School District Latino Community Network (FGLCN)
The Forest Grove School District has seen more than a 200% increase in its Latino population growing from 800 students in 1993 to more than 2,400 in 2005 and now accounts for 25% of the total district population. At the same time, 95% of the local Latino population lives at or below the poverty level.
The educational results have been disappointing with 80% of the Latino students not meeting state standards in English/language arts, and 90% not meeting standards in math. Parents want their children to succeed in school but, with the average Latino parent educational level at the second grade level, they lack the ability to help their children.
FGLCN has four program objectives: 1) expand local interagency engagement (i.e. all agencies with a consistent strategic plan), 2) empower parents by connecting them to students and schools, 3) empower students using technology to reach beyond school-based learning, and 4) develop learning families by providing educational support tools and techniques for Latino parents, and by increasing technology and learning tools in the home.
SVPP will help with local outreach by providing technology support for in-home learning tools and by providing web development assistance.
The initial investment will be $40,000. The major challenge is that we are starting on the ground floor. The good news is that the Forest Grove School district is very committed to FGLCN and there are clear improvement measurement tools in place. The team lead is Constance Edwards.
Partner Profile - Nathan "Than" Clevenger, Suzanne McGrath & Ryan Hildebrand
(From the July 2006 Newsletter)
Nathaniel "Than" Clevenger - In 2005 Than Clevenger joined SVPP and has touched
many aspects of our organization since then. He has helped us take an investee from a concept to an organization with identity (CASH Oregon), with branding, logo, and a website. He recently guided us through the creative aspects of a website redesign. And, he has helped us refine policies and procedures which will strengthen SVPP. He's done this with a sense of humor, enthusiasm and high energy.
Than is CEO of "3, the creative communications company" which he formed after leaving Fleishman Hillard--currently the largest public relations firm in the world--as Vice President and Co-Chair of the Global Technology Marketing Team. Prior to joining Fleishman Hillard, he spent the previous seventeen years toiling in a variety of positions with increasing buck-passing responsibility in agencies and organizations around the globe--mostly from offices in Washington D.C. (This is all from his web site!) He and his wife moved to Oregon in 1998 believing 17 years in D.C. is enough for anyone.
SVPP appreciates the experience, guidance and exuberance Than brings to the varied and sometimes messy tasks we ask him to unravel.
Suzanne McGrath - Suzanne was a 2006 winner of the Business Journal's Outstanding Oregon Women. Diversity and the joys of exploration have shaped Suzanne's career. She co-founded Vision Capital Management with her daughter, Marina Johnson, in 1999. It is the largest registered investment advisor firm, solely owned by women, in Oregon.
Suzanne grew up in Salem, Oregon and Alaska where she worked for the high school newspaper taking her own photographs and uncovering new stories. Then she went to OSU and studied mathematics. It was math that led her to teach at Newberg High School but the work was too inactive, as much as she liked the pupils. She found a coupon one day promising "you, too, can become a CPA". And so she did. This career morphed into the investment business in 1983 and she's loved it ever since. "Constructing a portfolio is an art," says McGrath. "It takes fine-tuning and creativity."
Another philanthropy Suzanne enjoys, in addition to SVPP, is her alma mater, OSU. She and her husband, Bernie, serve on the Beaver athletic scholarship board. She also serves on the Oregon Society of CPAs Educational Foundation Board. "I love handing out scholarships," she says. "I love helping people get more education."
OSU College of Business Honors SVPP Partners at Awards Event
Ryan Hildebrand, a partner and associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, and a 2004 graduate of Oregon State University, was the sole recipient of the Distinguished Young Business Professionals. This is an award given by OSU's College of Business at its annual Alumni and Business Partner Awards in Portland every spring. Ryan is involved in Portland area entrepreneurship organizations and is active in the college's Austin Entrepreneurship Program. He served on the Investment Committee for SVPP and actively helps us recruit younger partners.
Also recognized at this celebration was partner Jeff Jones, representing Stockamp & Associates, a national provider of performance improvement solutions for health care companies. Stockamp was given a Distinguished Business Partners award. The company has supported the college's management information systems program and hired several of the college's students as interns and employees.
Nathaniel "Than" Clevenger - In 2005 Than Clevenger joined SVPP and has touched
many aspects of our organization since then. He has helped us take an investee from a concept to an organization with identity (CASH Oregon), with branding, logo, and a website. He recently guided us through the creative aspects of a website redesign. And, he has helped us refine policies and procedures which will strengthen SVPP. He's done this with a sense of humor, enthusiasm and high energy.
Than is CEO of "3, the creative communications company" which he formed after leaving Fleishman Hillard--currently the largest public relations firm in the world--as Vice President and Co-Chair of the Global Technology Marketing Team. Prior to joining Fleishman Hillard, he spent the previous seventeen years toiling in a variety of positions with increasing buck-passing responsibility in agencies and organizations around the globe--mostly from offices in Washington D.C. (This is all from his web site!) He and his wife moved to Oregon in 1998 believing 17 years in D.C. is enough for anyone.
SVPP appreciates the experience, guidance and exuberance Than brings to the varied and sometimes messy tasks we ask him to unravel.
Suzanne McGrath - Suzanne was a 2006 winner of the Business Journal's Outstanding Oregon Women. Diversity and the joys of exploration have shaped Suzanne's career. She co-founded Vision Capital Management with her daughter, Marina Johnson, in 1999. It is the largest registered investment advisor firm, solely owned by women, in Oregon.
Suzanne grew up in Salem, Oregon and Alaska where she worked for the high school newspaper taking her own photographs and uncovering new stories. Then she went to OSU and studied mathematics. It was math that led her to teach at Newberg High School but the work was too inactive, as much as she liked the pupils. She found a coupon one day promising "you, too, can become a CPA". And so she did. This career morphed into the investment business in 1983 and she's loved it ever since. "Constructing a portfolio is an art," says McGrath. "It takes fine-tuning and creativity."
Another philanthropy Suzanne enjoys, in addition to SVPP, is her alma mater, OSU. She and her husband, Bernie, serve on the Beaver athletic scholarship board. She also serves on the Oregon Society of CPAs Educational Foundation Board. "I love handing out scholarships," she says. "I love helping people get more education."
OSU College of Business Honors SVPP Partners at Awards Event
Ryan Hildebrand, a partner and associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, and a 2004 graduate of Oregon State University, was the sole recipient of the Distinguished Young Business Professionals. This is an award given by OSU's College of Business at its annual Alumni and Business Partner Awards in Portland every spring. Ryan is involved in Portland area entrepreneurship organizations and is active in the college's Austin Entrepreneurship Program. He served on the Investment Committee for SVPP and actively helps us recruit younger partners.
Also recognized at this celebration was partner Jeff Jones, representing Stockamp & Associates, a national provider of performance improvement solutions for health care companies. Stockamp was given a Distinguished Business Partners award. The company has supported the college's management information systems program and hired several of the college's students as interns and employees.
Welcome New Partners
(From the July 2006 Newsletter)
Channing Bosler - Channing Bosler is an avid volunteer who chose Portland for its balanced lifestyle and sporty culture. She transferred from London two years ago and most recently served as President of the Junior League of Portland. She enjoys Portland's outdoor activities and has recently begun doing triathlons. Professionally, she brings to SVPP a background in marketing financial services. Channing worked in investment banking at JP Morgan before pursuing a Stanford University MBA. She now enjoys her role as a Sr. Marketing Manager for HSBC Card Services in Tigard.
Channing Bosler - Channing Bosler is an avid volunteer who chose Portland for its balanced lifestyle and sporty culture. She transferred from London two years ago and most recently served as President of the Junior League of Portland. She enjoys Portland's outdoor activities and has recently begun doing triathlons. Professionally, she brings to SVPP a background in marketing financial services. Channing worked in investment banking at JP Morgan before pursuing a Stanford University MBA. She now enjoys her role as a Sr. Marketing Manager for HSBC Card Services in Tigard.
From Our President - Megan Leftwich
(From the March 2006 Newsletter)
After serving for five years on the SVPP board, half of them as president, I'll be stepping down when my term expires in May. I can't help but reflect on how much SVPP has accomplished in these five brief years. Here is a brief summary of how it all started:
In the fall of 2000, a group of us with little to no experience in the nonprofit sector heard an inspirational lecture by Paul Brainerd, the founder and creative spirit behind the Social Venture Partners movement. We were energized, and after working with SVP Seattle and spending many months meeting in a partner's living room, we incorporated SVP Portland in December 2000 and were off and rolling. We borrowed heavily from Seattle, from our organizational structure to our investment processes to our marketing materials, adapting along the way to fit our local market. We had no office and no executive director for the first year and a half --- just a lot of very dedicated and committed partners who worked out of their homes and gave generously to this new organization. The biggest thrill that first year was distributing grants to our first two investees, Morrison Child & Family Services and Children's Relief Nursery.
Fast forward to today. We have grown to close to 100 partners and are on our fifth investment cycle. We have granted more than $700,000 and with each cycle our investments have become more strategic with broader impact. Our first four investees have "graduated" after successful completion of their programs. We have been designated a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and can now take contributions directly from partners. A redesigned website is in the works and will be rolled out later this month. We have an executive director who works tirelessly and arranges thought-provoking events with well-known speakers. We continue to attract committed and engaged new partners and have new members to introduce you to in this newsletter. And our most recent investees, CASH and PEP, are already making a measurable impact and receiving recognition from community leaders. You'll read more about them below.
Come October, I'll start my term representing Portland as a member of the SVP International board, so I will continue to stay active and involved. We are now the fifth largest affiliate out of the 21 across the US and Canada and I look forward to sharing our successes and challenges with the rest of the network. I hope you share my excitement about SVPP's progress and strong forward momentum. Thank you for continuing to be a part of the SVP Portland community.
After serving for five years on the SVPP board, half of them as president, I'll be stepping down when my term expires in May. I can't help but reflect on how much SVPP has accomplished in these five brief years. Here is a brief summary of how it all started:
In the fall of 2000, a group of us with little to no experience in the nonprofit sector heard an inspirational lecture by Paul Brainerd, the founder and creative spirit behind the Social Venture Partners movement. We were energized, and after working with SVP Seattle and spending many months meeting in a partner's living room, we incorporated SVP Portland in December 2000 and were off and rolling. We borrowed heavily from Seattle, from our organizational structure to our investment processes to our marketing materials, adapting along the way to fit our local market. We had no office and no executive director for the first year and a half --- just a lot of very dedicated and committed partners who worked out of their homes and gave generously to this new organization. The biggest thrill that first year was distributing grants to our first two investees, Morrison Child & Family Services and Children's Relief Nursery.
Fast forward to today. We have grown to close to 100 partners and are on our fifth investment cycle. We have granted more than $700,000 and with each cycle our investments have become more strategic with broader impact. Our first four investees have "graduated" after successful completion of their programs. We have been designated a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and can now take contributions directly from partners. A redesigned website is in the works and will be rolled out later this month. We have an executive director who works tirelessly and arranges thought-provoking events with well-known speakers. We continue to attract committed and engaged new partners and have new members to introduce you to in this newsletter. And our most recent investees, CASH and PEP, are already making a measurable impact and receiving recognition from community leaders. You'll read more about them below.
Come October, I'll start my term representing Portland as a member of the SVP International board, so I will continue to stay active and involved. We are now the fifth largest affiliate out of the 21 across the US and Canada and I look forward to sharing our successes and challenges with the rest of the network. I hope you share my excitement about SVPP's progress and strong forward momentum. Thank you for continuing to be a part of the SVP Portland community.
SVPP News - SVPP Recognized by Superintendent
(From the March 2006 Newsletter)
SVPP Recognized by Superintendent of Public Instruction
Susan Castillo, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, recognized SVPP in December for SVPP's efforts to help feed children in Northeast Portland with the opening of the Blazers' Kids Café in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club as well as other foundations and local businesses. She was also pleased in to see the courses offered to teach children how to prepare and shop for food.
SVPP Recognized by Superintendent of Public Instruction
Susan Castillo, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, recognized SVPP in December for SVPP's efforts to help feed children in Northeast Portland with the opening of the Blazers' Kids Café in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club as well as other foundations and local businesses. She was also pleased in to see the courses offered to teach children how to prepare and shop for food.
SVPP News
(From the March 2006 Newsletter)
SVPP Partners Celebrate Holiday Party
Once again, Jeff and Sandy Grubb opened their home in December for SVPP's annual holiday party where existing partners, new partners and friends had an opportunity to spend several hours together. Special thanks to partner and board member, Laurie Weiss, for contributing the wine for the annual holiday party. Vintner Bill Kelley, from ElvenGlade Vineyards, generously offered the wine to SVPP at a significant discount.
CASH Opens First Tax-Aide Supersite
CASH (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope) opened its first "Supersite" at Lloyd Center on Friday February 10. During the Supersite's first three days of operation (Friday, February 10 through Sunday, February 12), 25 tax-aide volunteers prepared a total of 95 returns for low-income families. CASH estimates that these returns generated about $150,000 of refunds, including over $54,000 of earned income tax credits.
A number of prominent individuals attended the grand opening including Sam Adams (City of Portland Commissioner), Lou Savage (representing the Governor's Office from the Department of Consumer & Business Services), and Jerry Cohen (Director of Oregon AARP). A number of SVPP Partners also attended, including Bob McKean, President of Albina Community Bank, an early supporter of the CASH program, and Jeff Grubb (Chairman of SVPP).
A number of businesses have made substantial in-kind contributions that will permit CASH to operate the Supersite for a very small cost. Of special note, Lloyd Center donated the use of a large office suite (third floor above the food court) for the entire tax season at no cost. Other contributors include: IRS (computers and tax software), Culligan (bottled water), Starbucks (coffee), Paradise Bakery (cookies), Doubletree Hotel (podium) and AARP (volunteer training, posters and more coffee).
Enlightening Session on Global Warming
On February 15, Lisa Adatto from Climate Solutions, a non-profit organization working on solutions to global warming, led a discussion on this important environmental topic with a number of SVPP partners and guests. The session included some basic education on global warming and was followed by a very lively discussion by all the participants who attended this SVPP Partner Conversation event. To learn more about this topic, you can refer to the Climate Solutions website, www.climatesolutions.org (click).
Education Survey Results
Many of you recently completed a survey aimed at helping SVPP focus its programs and efforts in educating SVPP partners. We had a very strong response with 37 partners providing feedback.
The key messages received were:
• Confirmation that providing quality programs and educating our partnership on philanthropy and community needs are important elements of your satisfaction with SVPP.
• You particularly want SVPP to continue to offer interesting and topical speakers at quarterly partner meetings. You not only want SVPP to offer speakers and topics that focus on children-at-risk and early childhood education, but many of you have asked us to branch out and occasionally offer events that deal with other pressing community issues such as the environment and affordable housing. SVPP is listening and there are plans to expand the scope and variety of programs offered to our partners.
• In addition, you want to limit the number of educational events and keep the quality high. There are plans to offer or to partner with other organizations such as Grantmakers and Oregon Community Foundation, to bring you one to two programs per quarter.
• When SVPP can offer an interesting program that may incur a nominal cost to deliver, most of you have indicated that you would be willing to pay up to $25 to attend. SVPP also plans to expand on the idea of having several more intimate/limited participation events either in partner homes or at a local eating establishment. The idea is to create opportunities to gather a smaller number of partners where SVPP can foster high social interaction.
New Monthly Installment Option
In light of SVPP's new status as a 501(c)(3) corporation, and as an added benefit to partners, SVPP will now be able to accept your partnership contributions in monthly installments rather than a single annual payment. This can be accomplished through automatic debits to the partners' checking accounts. If you are interested in pursuing this arrangement, please contact our Executive Director, Jean Hart, who can provide detailed instructions to accommodate this.
SVPP Partners Celebrate Holiday Party
Once again, Jeff and Sandy Grubb opened their home in December for SVPP's annual holiday party where existing partners, new partners and friends had an opportunity to spend several hours together. Special thanks to partner and board member, Laurie Weiss, for contributing the wine for the annual holiday party. Vintner Bill Kelley, from ElvenGlade Vineyards, generously offered the wine to SVPP at a significant discount.
CASH Opens First Tax-Aide Supersite
CASH (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope) opened its first "Supersite" at Lloyd Center on Friday February 10. During the Supersite's first three days of operation (Friday, February 10 through Sunday, February 12), 25 tax-aide volunteers prepared a total of 95 returns for low-income families. CASH estimates that these returns generated about $150,000 of refunds, including over $54,000 of earned income tax credits.
A number of prominent individuals attended the grand opening including Sam Adams (City of Portland Commissioner), Lou Savage (representing the Governor's Office from the Department of Consumer & Business Services), and Jerry Cohen (Director of Oregon AARP). A number of SVPP Partners also attended, including Bob McKean, President of Albina Community Bank, an early supporter of the CASH program, and Jeff Grubb (Chairman of SVPP).
A number of businesses have made substantial in-kind contributions that will permit CASH to operate the Supersite for a very small cost. Of special note, Lloyd Center donated the use of a large office suite (third floor above the food court) for the entire tax season at no cost. Other contributors include: IRS (computers and tax software), Culligan (bottled water), Starbucks (coffee), Paradise Bakery (cookies), Doubletree Hotel (podium) and AARP (volunteer training, posters and more coffee).
Enlightening Session on Global Warming
On February 15, Lisa Adatto from Climate Solutions, a non-profit organization working on solutions to global warming, led a discussion on this important environmental topic with a number of SVPP partners and guests. The session included some basic education on global warming and was followed by a very lively discussion by all the participants who attended this SVPP Partner Conversation event. To learn more about this topic, you can refer to the Climate Solutions website, www.climatesolutions.org (click).
Education Survey Results
Many of you recently completed a survey aimed at helping SVPP focus its programs and efforts in educating SVPP partners. We had a very strong response with 37 partners providing feedback.
The key messages received were:
• Confirmation that providing quality programs and educating our partnership on philanthropy and community needs are important elements of your satisfaction with SVPP.
• You particularly want SVPP to continue to offer interesting and topical speakers at quarterly partner meetings. You not only want SVPP to offer speakers and topics that focus on children-at-risk and early childhood education, but many of you have asked us to branch out and occasionally offer events that deal with other pressing community issues such as the environment and affordable housing. SVPP is listening and there are plans to expand the scope and variety of programs offered to our partners.
• In addition, you want to limit the number of educational events and keep the quality high. There are plans to offer or to partner with other organizations such as Grantmakers and Oregon Community Foundation, to bring you one to two programs per quarter.
• When SVPP can offer an interesting program that may incur a nominal cost to deliver, most of you have indicated that you would be willing to pay up to $25 to attend. SVPP also plans to expand on the idea of having several more intimate/limited participation events either in partner homes or at a local eating establishment. The idea is to create opportunities to gather a smaller number of partners where SVPP can foster high social interaction.
New Monthly Installment Option
In light of SVPP's new status as a 501(c)(3) corporation, and as an added benefit to partners, SVPP will now be able to accept your partnership contributions in monthly installments rather than a single annual payment. This can be accomplished through automatic debits to the partners' checking accounts. If you are interested in pursuing this arrangement, please contact our Executive Director, Jean Hart, who can provide detailed instructions to accommodate this.
From Our Investees
(From the March 2006 Newsletter)
CASH (Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope) -
Fundraising / Operational Update:
• CASH received a $121,000 three-year grant from the Ann and Bill Swindells Charitable Trust.
• CASH has secured SVPP as fiscal agent for CASH. Grant proposals had been on a hiatus pending resolution of the fiscal agency. CASH expects one or more grant applications to be submitted in Q1 '06.
• Multnomah County is in the early stages of developing its 06-07 budget. There is considerable effort and support to budget $75,000 to fund collaboration between CASH and the county-financed SUN (Schools Uniting Neighborhoods) school program. The collaborative effort would use SUN schools as the focus for volunteer recruiting, tax preparation and financial literacy training.
• The City of Portland Water Department included a CASH insert in a mailing to 6,800 low-income customers. The estimated cost of this in-kind contribution was $1,500.
• The CASH website is up and running. It now includes information on the EITC, downloadable brochures and handouts and links to appropriate partners, including SVPP. See www.CASHoregon.org (click).
• CASH will need a full-time volunteer coordinator next year. CASH's ability to recruit enthusiastic volunteers is exceeded by the capability to organize, train and deploy them.
Tax Preparation / Financial Literacy Services Update:
• Recruited approximately 70 new volunteer tax preparers and had to turn away six more because of training capacity limitations. Increased training capacity will be a priority next year.
• CASH is now listed on "211" phone service; callers can get questions answered and referrals to tax sites.
• Lloyd Center donated a large office suite that will accommodate up to ten volunteer tax preparers at a given time. The space is located on the third floor office above the food court area. The retail value of the space is $4,000 per month. CASH will have access to the space plus utilities for three months without charge.
• CASH hosted the grand opening of the Lloyd Center supersite on February 10 (story above).
• A CASH capabilities piece was translated into approximately 12 languages (including English, Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, etc.) free of charge by the State. The brochures are being printed at CASH's expense and distributed through coalition members. The brochures are into their second printing.
• The State has offered a Russian translator to assist in tax preparation on an as-needed basis.
PEP (Parental Engagement Program) - There has been significant progress in the engagement process of SVPP and the two elementary schools that are part of the PEP program. School Advisory Boards have been formed and are active at both schools, and performance metrics have been defined to allow SVPP and each school to measure progress with parental engagement efforts. Specific accomplishments are:
Kelly Elementary:
• The School Advisory Board has been launched with participants from Kelly, SVPP, SUN (Schools Uniting Neighborhoods), the community, businesses and school volunteers. The focus for this group is: 1) to improve the front entry area for the school, and 2) develop a marketing project to improve the effectiveness of the communications between Kelly Elementary and parents.
• Kelly's new coordinator continues to make progress in reestablishing the PTA and identifying parent volunteers for the school, having recruited 10 new parents for the PTA and 70 parents to volunteer for various school activities.
Clark Elementary:
• The School Advisory Board has been launched and is working on corporate sponsorship and fundraising through the local business community and recruiting additional Board members. In addition, SVPP will be providing assistance in Clark Elementary's efforts to embed technology in the school.
• Two additional "Parents as Partners for Reading Excellence" evening workshops were held on December 6 and January 10 with very high turnout. SVPP volunteers provided literacy events for the children of the parents attending the January workshop. Three more evening workshops will be held throughout the school year.
CASH (Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope) -
Fundraising / Operational Update:
• CASH received a $121,000 three-year grant from the Ann and Bill Swindells Charitable Trust.
• CASH has secured SVPP as fiscal agent for CASH. Grant proposals had been on a hiatus pending resolution of the fiscal agency. CASH expects one or more grant applications to be submitted in Q1 '06.
• Multnomah County is in the early stages of developing its 06-07 budget. There is considerable effort and support to budget $75,000 to fund collaboration between CASH and the county-financed SUN (Schools Uniting Neighborhoods) school program. The collaborative effort would use SUN schools as the focus for volunteer recruiting, tax preparation and financial literacy training.
• The City of Portland Water Department included a CASH insert in a mailing to 6,800 low-income customers. The estimated cost of this in-kind contribution was $1,500.
• The CASH website is up and running. It now includes information on the EITC, downloadable brochures and handouts and links to appropriate partners, including SVPP. See www.CASHoregon.org (click).
• CASH will need a full-time volunteer coordinator next year. CASH's ability to recruit enthusiastic volunteers is exceeded by the capability to organize, train and deploy them.
Tax Preparation / Financial Literacy Services Update:
• Recruited approximately 70 new volunteer tax preparers and had to turn away six more because of training capacity limitations. Increased training capacity will be a priority next year.
• CASH is now listed on "211" phone service; callers can get questions answered and referrals to tax sites.
• Lloyd Center donated a large office suite that will accommodate up to ten volunteer tax preparers at a given time. The space is located on the third floor office above the food court area. The retail value of the space is $4,000 per month. CASH will have access to the space plus utilities for three months without charge.
• CASH hosted the grand opening of the Lloyd Center supersite on February 10 (story above).
• A CASH capabilities piece was translated into approximately 12 languages (including English, Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, etc.) free of charge by the State. The brochures are being printed at CASH's expense and distributed through coalition members. The brochures are into their second printing.
• The State has offered a Russian translator to assist in tax preparation on an as-needed basis.
PEP (Parental Engagement Program) - There has been significant progress in the engagement process of SVPP and the two elementary schools that are part of the PEP program. School Advisory Boards have been formed and are active at both schools, and performance metrics have been defined to allow SVPP and each school to measure progress with parental engagement efforts. Specific accomplishments are:
Kelly Elementary:
• The School Advisory Board has been launched with participants from Kelly, SVPP, SUN (Schools Uniting Neighborhoods), the community, businesses and school volunteers. The focus for this group is: 1) to improve the front entry area for the school, and 2) develop a marketing project to improve the effectiveness of the communications between Kelly Elementary and parents.
• Kelly's new coordinator continues to make progress in reestablishing the PTA and identifying parent volunteers for the school, having recruited 10 new parents for the PTA and 70 parents to volunteer for various school activities.
Clark Elementary:
• The School Advisory Board has been launched and is working on corporate sponsorship and fundraising through the local business community and recruiting additional Board members. In addition, SVPP will be providing assistance in Clark Elementary's efforts to embed technology in the school.
• Two additional "Parents as Partners for Reading Excellence" evening workshops were held on December 6 and January 10 with very high turnout. SVPP volunteers provided literacy events for the children of the parents attending the January workshop. Three more evening workshops will be held throughout the school year.
Welcome New Partners
(From the March 2006 Newsletter)
Scott Collins - Scott has lived in the Portland area since 1984. He moved here from Arkansas to take a job with Andersen Consulting. After five years at Andersen and a brief time at a client, Scott joined a startup healthcare consulting firm, Stockamp & Associates in 1990 where he stayed until 2003. Since leaving Stockamp, Scott has enjoyed spending more time with his family and generally catching up on life after many years of travel. Scott and his wife Gaila have three children, ages 11, 9 and 6. He is currently working with the CASH project.
Judith A. McGee - Judith A. McGee has a distinguished career in financial planning, business and community service. In January 2006, Research Magazine recognized Judith as one of "America's Top-Ranked Advisors". Her financial planning career began in 1975 and she received her Certified Financial Planner designation from the College for Financial Planning in 1979, making Judith the first woman Certified Financial Planner in the ten western states. In 1989, Judith joined Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., a NASD/SIPC broker/dealer in St. Petersburg, Florida as branch manager.
Judith authors a bi-weekly financial column published in The Daily Journal of Commerce and contributes regularly to national business publications which have included the American Bankers Association Trust and Investment magazine. She has written consumer financial books published through Simon & Schuster (The J.K. Lassers' Personal Investment Annuals (1988-1992) and the J.K. Lasser Personal Real Estate Investment Guide). Her book, The Random House Personal Investment Management Guide (1993) with Andrew Tobias' Managing Your Money software, was listed by Money Magazine as one of the nine best money books of the year.
Judith has been a dedicated volunteer to social service organizations and currently serves as President of the Board of Directors of William Temple House in Portland. William Temple House is a 40-year-old social service and counseling agency assisting over 12,000 working poor each year. She is co-founder and member of the Board of Directors of Town Center Bank, Portland, Oregon, a community bank organized in 1997.
Family is the core of Judith's life. She and her husband, Charles E. Defoe, Jr., have three grown children and love being grandparents. Chuck and Judith share their love of the outdoors and Judith covets catching the biggest fish and delights in snowmobiling in the mountains.
Mark Waller - Mark Waller is the founder of BridgeWorks Capital, a Lake Oswego merchant bank that focuses on raising early stage capital for a variety of companies including companies active in medical technology, green energy, software, and mining and natural resources. Several of these companies have been spin-offs from universities and national labs.
Mark spends about a third of his time working with non-profits. He served on the Board of the National College of Naturopathic Medicine for ten years and raised the largest gifts in the school's history to establish their research department. He served as Board Chair of the local Tibetan community and was instrumental in bringing the Dalai Lama to Portland for three days in May 2001. He is an active member of the Board of Self Enhancement, Inc. which helps at-risk kids reach their fullest potential and become productive citizens. He is a director of the Lake Oswego chapter of Rotary and is the regional Membership Chair for 2005-2006. He was also co-founder of Kiddazzle Dental Network, which has provided pro bono dental care to over 200 underserved kids in Portland.
Mark was born in New York City and came west to attend Reed College in 1968. For fun, he plays copious amounts of tennis, patrols for the Mt. Hood Ski Patrol, cycles and tries to exhaust his Australian Shepherd Jake.
Scott Collins - Scott has lived in the Portland area since 1984. He moved here from Arkansas to take a job with Andersen Consulting. After five years at Andersen and a brief time at a client, Scott joined a startup healthcare consulting firm, Stockamp & Associates in 1990 where he stayed until 2003. Since leaving Stockamp, Scott has enjoyed spending more time with his family and generally catching up on life after many years of travel. Scott and his wife Gaila have three children, ages 11, 9 and 6. He is currently working with the CASH project.
Judith A. McGee - Judith A. McGee has a distinguished career in financial planning, business and community service. In January 2006, Research Magazine recognized Judith as one of "America's Top-Ranked Advisors". Her financial planning career began in 1975 and she received her Certified Financial Planner designation from the College for Financial Planning in 1979, making Judith the first woman Certified Financial Planner in the ten western states. In 1989, Judith joined Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., a NASD/SIPC broker/dealer in St. Petersburg, Florida as branch manager.
Judith authors a bi-weekly financial column published in The Daily Journal of Commerce and contributes regularly to national business publications which have included the American Bankers Association Trust and Investment magazine. She has written consumer financial books published through Simon & Schuster (The J.K. Lassers' Personal Investment Annuals (1988-1992) and the J.K. Lasser Personal Real Estate Investment Guide). Her book, The Random House Personal Investment Management Guide (1993) with Andrew Tobias' Managing Your Money software, was listed by Money Magazine as one of the nine best money books of the year.
Judith has been a dedicated volunteer to social service organizations and currently serves as President of the Board of Directors of William Temple House in Portland. William Temple House is a 40-year-old social service and counseling agency assisting over 12,000 working poor each year. She is co-founder and member of the Board of Directors of Town Center Bank, Portland, Oregon, a community bank organized in 1997.
Family is the core of Judith's life. She and her husband, Charles E. Defoe, Jr., have three grown children and love being grandparents. Chuck and Judith share their love of the outdoors and Judith covets catching the biggest fish and delights in snowmobiling in the mountains.
Mark Waller - Mark Waller is the founder of BridgeWorks Capital, a Lake Oswego merchant bank that focuses on raising early stage capital for a variety of companies including companies active in medical technology, green energy, software, and mining and natural resources. Several of these companies have been spin-offs from universities and national labs.
Mark spends about a third of his time working with non-profits. He served on the Board of the National College of Naturopathic Medicine for ten years and raised the largest gifts in the school's history to establish their research department. He served as Board Chair of the local Tibetan community and was instrumental in bringing the Dalai Lama to Portland for three days in May 2001. He is an active member of the Board of Self Enhancement, Inc. which helps at-risk kids reach their fullest potential and become productive citizens. He is a director of the Lake Oswego chapter of Rotary and is the regional Membership Chair for 2005-2006. He was also co-founder of Kiddazzle Dental Network, which has provided pro bono dental care to over 200 underserved kids in Portland.
Mark was born in New York City and came west to attend Reed College in 1968. For fun, he plays copious amounts of tennis, patrols for the Mt. Hood Ski Patrol, cycles and tries to exhaust his Australian Shepherd Jake.
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