October 2011 Grants Announced

At the October 2011 program meeting, Meyer Memorial Trust's trustees awarded nearly $3.25 million in grants to 64 nonprofit organizations across Oregon. These awards bring the total since MMT began operating in 1982 to 6,637 for more than $543 million.

This month's awards included eight grants for nearly $1.4 million that invest in Community Food Systems, a new focused program to address the root causes of hunger and food insecurity while building the economy, particularly in Oregon's rural communities. Grants were made to organizations across Oregon, including four multi-year implementation grants in Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs: Tillamook and Clatsop counties; Union, Baker, Malheur and Wallowa counties; and Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties. Four one-year planning grants were awarded to support promising efforts in Medford, McMinnville and Eugene (two organizations).

Forty-five of the grants and more than $800,000 went to generally smaller nonprofit organizations under the Grassroots Grants program, which has seen an increasing number of applications and awards over the past few years.

October Grants List

Community Food Systems

Aging Community Coordinated Enterprises Supportive Services, Medford
Awarded: $50,000
To convene a broad range of community stakeholders to explore the development of a regional food system in southern Oregon
 
Cascade Pacific Resource Conservation and Development, Tangent
Awarded: $50,000
To conduct community food systems planning work in Lane County
 
Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council, Bend
Awarded: $300,000
To build a strong community food system in Central Oregon
 
Food Roots, Tillamook
Awarded: $288,800
To build strong community food systems in Tillamook and Clatsop counties
 
Oregon Rural Action, La Grande
Awarded: $300,000
To build strong community food systems in Union, Baker, Malheur and Wallowa counties
 
Ten Rivers Food Web, Corvallis
Awarded: $300,000
To build strong community food systems in Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties

Willamette Farm and Food Coalition, Eugene
Awarded: $33,980
To conduct a local food marketing campaign in Lane County
 
Yamhill Community Action Partnership, McMinnville
Awarded: $44,530
To convene a broad range of community stakeholders to develop a local food system plan for Yamhill County

Responsive Grants

Elgin Economic Development and Growth Endeavor, Elgin
Awarded: $175,000
To help restore the historic Elgin Opera House that serves as a community center and performing arts venue
 
Food Alliance, Portland
Awarded: $2,200
For food systems investment research

Friends of Zenger Farm, Portland
Awarded: $170,000
To support the Neighborhood Food Innovation project in two east Multnomah County neighborhoods.
 
Huerto de la Familia, Eugene
Awarded: $132,000
To create a Spanish language, culturally appropriate food-based micro-enterprise development program
 
Impact NW, Portland
Awarded: $123,420
To support a consolidated information system to improve efficiency and effectiveness of this organization's services to prevent and alleviate the effects of poverty
 
Oregon Micro Enterprise Network, Portland
Awarded: $100,000
For operating support for this organization that helps low income, women and minority members develop successful small businesses
 
Reed College, Portland
Awarded: $100,000
To help build a new performing arts facility to support enhanced programming at its southeast Portland campus
 
The Union, Grants Pass
Awarded: $80,000
To fund the first executive director of this peer-support organization for people who are affected by mental illnesses
 
Upstream Public Health, Portland
Awarded: $120,652
To build fundraising capacity of this organization that works to support community health by advocating for public policies that improve social and physical environment conditions
 
Wisdom of the Elders, Portland
Awarded: $50,000
To produce culturally tailored multimedia career pathways curricula for Native communities

Oregon Higher Education Alliance, Portland
Awarded: $20,000
To engage businesses, alumni and individuals in theoregonidea.org to build support for Oregon's post-secondary education goals

Grassroots Grants

Boys and Girls Club of the Greater Santiam, Lebanon
Awarded: $25,000
To support a program that provides reading support to school children outside of the school day
 
Burnside Review, Portland
Awarded: $11,017
To support advanced writing skills workshops for low-income youth.
 
Calapooia Food Alliance, Brownsville
Awarded: $8,740
To support rural residents' access to fresh locally grown foods in eastern Linn County
 
Canyon Gleaners, Mill City
Awarded: $15,000
To replace essential equipment at this organization's where food is distributed to low-income rural residents in Marion and Linn counties
 
Central Oregon Veterans Outreach, Bend
Awarded: $24,885
To support outreach, employment and housing services for homeless veterans in central Oregon
 
Charitable Partnership Fund, Portland
Awarded: $24,290
To support a study to determine the feasibility of building a nonprofit support center in Portland
 
Civil Liberties Defense Center, Eugene
Awarded: $25,000
For educational workshops that support the integration of newer immigrants in Oregon's rural communities
 
Clatsop CASA Program, Astoria
Awarded: $15,000
To support the operations of this program that serves neglected and abused children
 
Columbia Gorge Earth Center, Hood River
Awarded: $21,615
To support the development of an energy efficiency and renewable energy program in the Columbia Gorge region
 
Coos Art Museum, Coos Bay
Awarded: $20,540
To support the Museum's art exhibitions that serve residents and visitors in this coastal community
 
Crook County Kids, Prineville
Awarded: $25,000
To support an after school program for students at three schools in this rural central Oregon community
 
Curry County Library Foundation, Gold Beach
Awarded: $15,300
To help implement an online library system for Curry County
 
David's Harp, Portland
Awarded: $17,500
To help purchase a van the organization will use to transport people with mental illness to appointments and enrichment activities
 
Daytime Enrichment Activities & Recreation, Beaverton
Awarded: $24,000
To support a food enterprise program that will generate operating revenue for this organization serving profoundly developmentally disabled individuals
 
Emma's Garden, Portland
Awarded: $23,354
To help lower-income residents in northeast Portland's Cully neighborhood develop an urban farm business
 
Environmental Federation of Oregon, Portland
Awarded: $24,339
For a marketing campaign to increase business participation in a workplace giving program that supports nonprofit organizations addressing environmental issues
 
Fort Rock Valley Historical Society, Fort Rock
Awarded: $15,000
To weatherize a building in the Homestead Museum that preserves the history of pioneer homesteaders and contributes to economic activity in this remote area of Lake County
 
Health Care Coalition of Southern Oregon, Medford
Awarded: $25,000
To support prenatal services to low-income women in Jackson County
 
Journey to Freedom Project Foundation, Portland
Awarded: $20,000
To provide technical assistance to this organization that provides a unique reading and writing program for young black males to improve their educational outcomes
 
Lake Arts Council, Lakeview
Awarded: $2,500
To support a concert series that provides cultural enrichment opportunities for residents of this rural county in south central Oregon
 
Lane Arts Council, Eugene
Awarded: $15,000
For general support of this organization that serves as an arts hub for artists and emerging arts organizations in Lane County
 
Lower Columbia Hispanic Council, Astoria
Awarded: $7,072
To develop expertise in diversity and inclusion in order to offer workshops to organizations and agencies requesting training in Clatsop, Tillamook and Columbia Counties.
 
Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon, Portland
Awarded: $25,000
To redesign the organization's program model to enhance services that help low-income community members start small businesses
 
MicroEnterprise Resources, Initiatives & Training, Salem
Awarded: $10,000
To help improve the organization's programs that support micro-enterprise development in Marion and Polk Counties
 
Minds Matter of Portland, Portland
Awarded: $25,000
To support this organization that helps low-income students access post secondary education opportunities
 
Mother Teresa Home, Medford
Awarded: $20,000
To support this organization that provide life-skills training to young low-income mothers in southern Oregon
 
Mt. Emily Safe Center, La Grande
Awarded: $25,000
For operating support for this organization that serves victims of child abuse in rural eastern Oregon
 
National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped/Oregon Chapter, Wilsonville
Awarded: $25,000
To support donated dental services for disabled, elderly and medically at-risk low-income Oregonians
 
Native Fish Society, Oregon City
Awarded: $10,000
To support a river steward program that works to maintain healthy watersheds that support healthy native fish populations
 
Oakland Booster Club, Oakland
Awarded: $20,000
To support a park improvement project featuring family and youth activities for this rural community in Douglas County
 
Oregon Coast Council of the Arts, Newport
Awarded: $23,810
To support web-based service improvements for this organization that serves as an arts information hub for visitors to coastal communities all along the Oregon coast
 
Oregon Public Health Association, Portland
Awarded: $25,000
For planning and training to help strengthen this organization that assist Oregon's public health partners to create a healthier future for Oregonians
 
Oregon Student Foundation, Portland
Awarded: $14,368
For energy efficiency upgrades to the office of this organization that represents and addresses the needs of students attending Oregon's public universities
 
PassinArt: A Theatre Company, Portland
Awarded: $5,650
To help produce and market a socially relevant play for  this company that presents theater from an African American perspective
 
Pendulum Aerial Arts, Portland
Awarded: $5,364
To support performances of its aerial arts for audiences in Salem and Klamath Falls
 
Portia Project, Eugene
Awarded: $22,200
To support this organization that helps unite and reunite children and families with women incarcertated at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility
 
Redeemer Lutheran Church, Portland
Awarded: $10,344
To purchase equipment and tools for a tool lending library that northeast Portland residents use for home maintenance and improvement projects
 
Returning Veterans Project, Portland
Awarded: $19,814
To increase fundraising capacity of this organization that provides free counseling and complimentary health care services to current war veterans and military family members
 
Rockwest Training Company, Salem
Awarded: $24,025
To replace a vehicle used to transport people with disabilities to their supported employment job locations
 
Rogue Valley Farm to School, Ashland
Awarded: $15,000
To involve students in southern Oregon schools in fresh produce production and healthy meal preparation
 
Sandy Actors Theatre, Sandy
Awarded: $20,000
For facility upgrades that improve access of the theater for people with disabilities
 
Society of St Vincent de Paul, Our Lady of the Valley Council, Grants Pass
Awarded: $25,000
To replace an aging vehicle used for pickup and delivery of goods for the organization's thrift store that generates revenue for this agency that serves low-income residents in southern Oregon
 
Vernonia Public Library, Vernonia
Awarded: $5,145
To help preserve important historical records for this rural community
 
Volunteer Caregivers, Albany
Awarded: $7,500
To support transportation services for low-income seniors in the great Albany area
 
Wetlands Conservancy, Tualatin
Awarded: $20,000
To assist with a marketing campaign that educates the public and promotes  Oregon seafood that is sustainably harvested in ways that keep Oregon estuaries healthy

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