(from the October 2008 Newsletter)
Our Social Venture Partners continue to inspire me. Even with economic uncertainty - perhaps in spite of it - they keep giving to make our community better. Leveraged giving in the SVP model becomes more important than ever in these times when we make everything stretch for greater impact. Our SVP started in 2001 in the midst of tough economic times in Portland. The Partners then and now want to 'really give back'. Read on for amazing ways they are doing so.
SVPP’s Venture Scholars: Helping Students Turn Dreams Into Careers
(From the October 2008 Newsletter)
With today’s economy and the growing need for people to fill technical jobs, more and more high school students are opting to forgo a traditional four-year college program and pursue technical education at a community college or training institute. For these students, Social Venture Partners Portland (SVPP) administers a unique program, called Venture Scholars, which offers students a scholarship to help them pursue their dream.
Samantha graduated from Benson High School in 2006 with dreams of following her mother into nursing. “Her life has been filled with security, joy and passion,” Samantha said. “Becoming a nurse was the best thing she has ever done.” But the cost of education was prohibitive for Samantha until counselors at Benson High School encouraged her to apply for a Venture Scholars award.
SVPP’s Venture Scholars offers talented young adults up to $4,000 to spend toward their technical or professional education. The program was established to honor and support students who pursue careers that can be advanced through a community college or technical training program. “It is immensely rewarding to help someone get started in life who otherwise would be limited by a few thousand dollars for community college tuition, books and other expenses," says Frank Gill, a Venture Scholar donor and SVPP Partner.
Chosen degrees include nursing, emergency medical technician, culinary arts, photography,
multimedia technician and machinist, among others. Over the last four years, more than forty students have won a Venture Scholars award. More than 75% of these students have either finished their training or are doing well and on track to finish and find work in their chosen field. Joe Barthmaier, an SVP Partner and Venture Scholars program manager, feels the program’s success is due to the careful selection of recipients and the excellent support in the selection process by school staff. In addition, he said, “we track the students term by term, and disburse their awards in installments based on satisfactory progress, which helps to keep our average expenditure per student low.”
(continued from October 2008 newsletter)
Modeled after the Grove Scholars program of California, one of the goals of Venture Scholars is to encourage high school students to pursue the specialized training that will enable them to have better-paying jobs after high school. “A key goal of the Venture Scholars program is motivating more students to stay in school and graduate. These awards aim to heighten students’ awareness of how education leads to opportunity,” says Deborah Lockwood, another Venture Scholars volunteer program manager. With the current dropout rate in Portland Public Schools at 43%, scholarship winners can provide an example that inspires more students to stay in school and strive for a rewarding future.
Samantha hoped to be a role model like her mother, knowing she could get a job in nursing as long as she could get the degree. Samantha just needed help with some of the expenses and some moral support. Her scholarship helped to pay for books, but she also got more. “The people in charge of the Venture Scholars have been so supportive and generous,” she said. "I feel like I have the support of a whole group of people I barely know – my own group cheering me on every step of the way.”
Venture Scholars began in 2004 by developing partnerships with Benson and Roosevelt high schools to recruit and select award winners. In 2007, three additional partners were added: De La Salle High School, Friends of the Children and Self Enhancement, Inc. The program managers and donors expanded to these service agencies because they reach disadvantaged teens, offering them guidance and encouragement to pursue an education and good jobs – support that extends beyond high school graduation.
More changes for the Venture Scholar program are coming in 2009. Joe and Deborah hope to add at least one more high school in the Portland area for identifying talented and qualified candidates. Additionally, the maximum financial award will be increased to $5,000, due to the increasing cost of community college and trade school tuition.
SVPP accepts donations for Venture Scholars of $500 and more with full scholarships funded in $5,000 increments. “Donors who support this program gain the satisfaction of having made a profound difference in someone's life,” said Frank. “Attending the award ceremony and seeing the kids and especially their proud parent(s) is a real reward. And then, following these kids through their schooling and seeing them enter their chosen field with a good job really makes it all worthwhile.”
Samantha agrees. After two years in preparatory studies, she has been accepted to the nursing program at Mt. Hood Community College – just like her mom. It wasn’t easy; only 80 students were accepted out of 600 applicants. But her good grades and focused enthusiasm paid off. “Nursing is the only thing I want to do,” Samantha exclaimed. “I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
For more information about this program, visit our Web site at www.svpportland.org.
A Reflection on SVPP's Poverty Simulation
(from the October 2008 Newsletter)
by Sarah Peters
SVPP's poverty simulation conducted in partnership with Portland Impact in late September was truly one of the most powerful experiences I've had in a long time.
I wasn't sure what to expect, but I left humbled, with a new respect for the challenges faced by families adversely affected by poverty. My whole career, I have either served directly in a low-income community or worked for a non-profit dedicated to helping children and families affected by poverty. I sympathized with families' struggles and always did what I could to help. I thought I really understood their challenges. But it wasn't until I "experienced" poverty myself – a simulation of walking in the shoes of a single mom trying to keep her family afloat – that I really empathized with the struggles of the families I've served.
by Sarah Peters
SVPP's poverty simulation conducted in partnership with Portland Impact in late September was truly one of the most powerful experiences I've had in a long time.
I wasn't sure what to expect, but I left humbled, with a new respect for the challenges faced by families adversely affected by poverty. My whole career, I have either served directly in a low-income community or worked for a non-profit dedicated to helping children and families affected by poverty. I sympathized with families' struggles and always did what I could to help. I thought I really understood their challenges. But it wasn't until I "experienced" poverty myself – a simulation of walking in the shoes of a single mom trying to keep her family afloat – that I really empathized with the struggles of the families I've served. There are so many forces working against families living in poverty; the simulation made this abundantly clear. For me, it further reminded me how important it is do what we can for those who are less fortunate and the critical role support services (like CASH Oregon and Advisory Boards to SUN Schools) play in the lives of these families. Thanks SVPP and Portland Impact for a real eye-opening experience.
Support the Portland Children's Levy
(from the October 2008 Newsletter)
As an organization funding children, youth and families at risk, SVPP has frequently been in partnership with the Portland Children's
Investment Fund to support early childhood, after-school and mentoring programs. The Investment Fund annually supports effective programs for 16,000 children with uncharacteristic government efficiency and strong citizen leadership. SVPP encourages you to support Portland's children by voting YES on Measure 26-94 to renew the Children's Investment Fund in the November election.
For more information, or to get involved, go to www.childrenslevy.com.
As an organization funding children, youth and families at risk, SVPP has frequently been in partnership with the Portland Children's
Investment Fund to support early childhood, after-school and mentoring programs. The Investment Fund annually supports effective programs for 16,000 children with uncharacteristic government efficiency and strong citizen leadership. SVPP encourages you to support Portland's children by voting YES on Measure 26-94 to renew the Children's Investment Fund in the November election. For more information, or to get involved, go to www.childrenslevy.com.
Partner Profile: Lauren Johnson
(from the October 2008 Newsletter)
Over the last year and a half Lauren Johnson has taken SVPP into her life the way she does all her passions – with a full embrace to give and get the most out of it. Lauren credits her parents, her mother now a retired teacher and her father an architect in sustainable design, for modeling the importance of community service, of being involved in education and sustainability issues.
Lauren has worked in the nonprofit world as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) case manager, as an English teacher in Chile and as a SUN Site Manager at Hall Elementary. She is currently the Director of Partnerships with the Thrive Foundation for Youth, headquartered in Menlo Park, California. Thrive assists nonprofit in closely examining how it defines 'thriving' in the youth they serve. Their 5-year collaborative partnership with Friends of the Children is designed to take their theory of how youths thrive into on-the-ground practice.
Lauren learned about the SVP model in a journal article, happy to discover an affiliate here in Portland. In July 2007, she and her husband, Noel Johnson, became SVPP Partners. True to her nature, she jumped right in to a role in the 2008 Investment Team, which she says gave her a deeper understanding of the community needs in Portland. Her favorite SVPP engagement was interviewing Executive Directors of other SVP affiliates on their experiences implementing the SVP Organizational Capacity Assessment Tool used with Investees. She sees immense value to this tool and its use with Portland's nonprofits to identify strengths, challenges and priorities for greater success. "It is so impactful with Investees and within SVP in helping to build trusting and mutually respectful partnerships," she says. Lauren is also on the Community Investment Committee and was a part of the strategic planning group. She and Noel serve as Partner Advocates for newer Partners Adam and Melissa Light. Lauren says she is really enjoying the way SVPP is using the strategic planning process to best implement the venture philanthropy model into our community and to look at our own practices to see how we can improve.
Lauren attended Lincoln High School and then Williams College, where she earned her B.A. in Psychology in 2001. As a Portland native, Lauren grew up in a family that loved the many opportunities to get out hiking, biking, skiing, canoeing, swimming and camping. These days Lauren and Noel are equally engaged with the Northwest as active runners, racers, tennis players and campers. They also greatly enjoy the cultural activities that Portland offers. However, Lauren has also lived abroad in Italy and in Chile. Lauren and Noel are trying to decide where in the world they will go next. They love international travel for the continual lessons they absorb about community, the U.S. role and impact in the world, and how they can best use their own advantages to make a difference.
Over the last year and a half Lauren Johnson has taken SVPP into her life the way she does all her passions – with a full embrace to give and get the most out of it. Lauren credits her parents, her mother now a retired teacher and her father an architect in sustainable design, for modeling the importance of community service, of being involved in education and sustainability issues.Lauren has worked in the nonprofit world as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) case manager, as an English teacher in Chile and as a SUN Site Manager at Hall Elementary. She is currently the Director of Partnerships with the Thrive Foundation for Youth, headquartered in Menlo Park, California. Thrive assists nonprofit in closely examining how it defines 'thriving' in the youth they serve. Their 5-year collaborative partnership with Friends of the Children is designed to take their theory of how youths thrive into on-the-ground practice.
Lauren learned about the SVP model in a journal article, happy to discover an affiliate here in Portland. In July 2007, she and her husband, Noel Johnson, became SVPP Partners. True to her nature, she jumped right in to a role in the 2008 Investment Team, which she says gave her a deeper understanding of the community needs in Portland. Her favorite SVPP engagement was interviewing Executive Directors of other SVP affiliates on their experiences implementing the SVP Organizational Capacity Assessment Tool used with Investees. She sees immense value to this tool and its use with Portland's nonprofits to identify strengths, challenges and priorities for greater success. "It is so impactful with Investees and within SVP in helping to build trusting and mutually respectful partnerships," she says. Lauren is also on the Community Investment Committee and was a part of the strategic planning group. She and Noel serve as Partner Advocates for newer Partners Adam and Melissa Light. Lauren says she is really enjoying the way SVPP is using the strategic planning process to best implement the venture philanthropy model into our community and to look at our own practices to see how we can improve.
Lauren attended Lincoln High School and then Williams College, where she earned her B.A. in Psychology in 2001. As a Portland native, Lauren grew up in a family that loved the many opportunities to get out hiking, biking, skiing, canoeing, swimming and camping. These days Lauren and Noel are equally engaged with the Northwest as active runners, racers, tennis players and campers. They also greatly enjoy the cultural activities that Portland offers. However, Lauren has also lived abroad in Italy and in Chile. Lauren and Noel are trying to decide where in the world they will go next. They love international travel for the continual lessons they absorb about community, the U.S. role and impact in the world, and how they can best use their own advantages to make a difference.
Partner Ventures
(From the October 2008 Newsletter)
- Steve Acheff has joined Solar World USA as their new Purchasing Leader.
- Than Clevenger and his wife, Sydney have just published a children’s book called Swifty’s Big Flight about the Vaux’s Swifts that visit Portland each fall.
- Joan Hoffman has a new Sprinter camping van, which was supposed to take her on a road trip around the country until she added a new Jack Russell named Zoe to the family.
- Val Ilsley and Bruce Murray are new grandparents to a baby boy, Ashe Hardigg.
- Les and Martha Soltesz celebrated the marriage of their son Dan to Jessica McFadden on August 30.
- Adam and Jayne Youngbar welcomed their new, healthy baby boy, Wyatt, on September 15. They are doing well adjusting to family life!
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