The Community Rebuilding Fund, a joint effort led by Oregon Community Foundation in partnership with Meyer Memorial Trust, The Ford Family Foundation and American Red Cross, today announced an additional $2,299,607 in a third round of grants to support 27 more nonprofit organizations helping Oregon communities rebuild from the devastation of the 2020 fires. This latest round of funding, augmented by more OCF donors, brings the total to date to $8,364,294 to 62 organizations.
“The devastation of the wildfires has been matched by the generosity of hundreds of donors,” said Dee Anne Everson, Member, Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) Board of Directors.
While Oregon Community Foundation has deployed most of the grants available from this fund, the recovery and rebuilding process will take years. There is still a tremendous amount of unmet need. Therefore, contributions to the Community Rebuilding Fund are still being accepted and can be made online at: www.oregoncf.org/rebuilding.
“The American Red Cross is proud to support Oregon’s recovery from these devastating wildfires,” said Amanda Ree, Executive Director, Wildfire Recovery Programs for the American Red Cross. “No one organization can possibly meet the multitude of needs created by the impact of such destructive fires. The strong partnership through the Community Rebuilding Fund increases our collective ability to fund a wide range of vital recovery services and alleviate human suffering.”
Following is a snapshot of some of the community organizations delivering critical services to Oregonians in need:
The Children’s Museum of Southern Oregon (formerly Kid Time) | $112,500
To build capacity for early learning, supporting healthy social-emotional development for children and their families in a region that has experienced significant loss following the 2020 fires.
“This funding helps us address a widening void in our community. The loss of childcare, early learning activities – particularly those offered in Spanish, as well as English – has been crippling in Southern Oregon,” said Sunny Spicer, Executive Director, The Children’s Museum of Southern Oregon. “With childcare, parents can readily access employment and meet the economic needs of their families. With supportive educational and developmental opportunities, we can avert learning delays and long-term hardships for the young children in our communities.”
About the 2020 Community Rebuilding Fund
The 2020 Community Rebuilding Fund launched in response to Oregon’s devastating 2020 wildfire season which forever changed many of Oregon’s vibrant rural communities. Recognizing equitable, inclusive and resiliency-based rebuilding is essential, the 2020 Community Rebuilding Fund centers the needs of Oregon’s vulnerable residents most impacted – including Latino/a/x, Tribal and rural community members. The Fund supports community-led rebuilding that engages residents in shaping the future of the diverse and dynamic places they call home. The 2020 Community Rebuilding Fund is led by Oregon Community Foundation, in partnership with Meyer Memorial Trust, The Ford Family Foundation and American Red Cross and in addition to each partner, is primarily funded through individual, corporate and foundation support. To learn more, please visit: Community Rebuilding Fundhttps://oregoncf.org/grants-and-scholarships/grants/community-rebuilding-fund-grants/community-rebuilding-fund-values/.
About Oregon Community Foundation
Oregon Community Foundation puts donated money to work in Oregon – more than $100 million in grants and scholarships annually. Since 1973, OCF grantmaking, research, advocacy and community-advised solutions have helped individuals, families, businesses, and organizations create charitable funds to improve lives for all Oregonians. Impactful giving–time, talent, and resources from many generous Oregonians–creates measurable change. Throughout 2020, OCF responded quickly and urgently – distributing a record-setting $220 million in charitable dollars to more than 3,000 nonprofits throughout Oregon working to address urgent needs, stabilize communities and prepare for long-term recovery in Oregon. OCF donors responded to the magnitude of need, as reflected in a 44% increase in donor advised fund grantmaking from the previous year. For more information, please visit: oregoncf.org.
About Meyer Memorial Trust
Meyer Memorial Trust, established in 1982, is among the largest private foundations in Oregon, with current assets of roughly $1.1 billion. Today, Meyer focuses on work in Oregon, in four areas Oregonians have identified as crucial to making the state better for all of its residents: housing, education, the environment and building community. Learn more at www.mmt.org.
About The Ford Family Foundation
The Ford Family Foundation was established in 1957 by Kenneth W. and Hallie E. Ford. Its mission is “successful citizens and vital rural communities” in Oregon and Siskiyou County, California. The Foundation is located in Roseburg, Oregon, with a Scholarship office in Eugene. To learn more, please visit: www.tfff.org.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The American Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org.
The 2020 Community Rebuilding Fund, a collaborative effort led by Oregon Community Foundation in partnership with Meyer Memorial Trust, The Ford Family Foundation and American Red Cross to support Oregon counties ravaged by 2020 Labor Day fires.
