CommuniCare is Oregon’s best kept secret. We want to change that!

We were so delighted that KOIN and KGW stopped by our Grant Awards Ceremonies to give students an extra shout out. When so many current events are troubling, positive stories like ours are good for the soul. If you’d like an even deeper dive into the 2023-2024 school year, stay tuned for our Annual Report, to be released in August 2024.

We had five massive celebrations this month in NW Portland, with student leaders from groups across the metro area taking the stage to present their grants. What an opportunity to practice public speaking! We are so proud of students for pushing through nerves to share highlights from their year, words of gratitude for their nonprofit recipients, and hopeful visions for our collective future.

The 2023-2024 CommuniCare Grant Awards Ceremony season has officially begun!

North Coast schools kicked of this month’s marathon of festivities. Astoria High School, Astoria Middle School, Seaside High School, and Warrenton High School presented their grants on Tuesday, May 7th to a full room of friends and community members at the Astoria Golf & Country Club. Nearly 100 student leaders from four grantmaking groups raised more than $64,400 this year that will be awarded to area non-profits and school programs.

May is the month for celebrating! Students are working hard to prepare speeches and novelty checks for our upcoming Grant Awards Ceremonies, CommuniCare’s signature series of closing celebrations.  These events are unique and joyful opportunities for students to share their vision for change in our state. They are also a great way to practice public speaking!

So three cheers for a record-breaking year of CommuniCare – 1800 participants across 83 groups at 40 schools – granting $1.1 million!

If you’re one of the many many people with a funny or touching Arlene memory, you’re among good company. She had a sharp wit and energy to match. She passes down a legacy of compassion through her family and the many projects and organizations she supported.

Today, our team is celebrating with her favorite candy – good old Hershey’s chocolates.

There are so many groups working hard to create change through CommuniCare. We are always excited to share that work with the broader community as the grantmaking journey is unfolding. With final decisions due April 12th, all 83 student groups are focused on scheduling and facilitating interviews with their finalists using questions they developed.

KGW joined the Clackamas High School CommuniCare Club for their first interview last week. This group is focusing their funds on services for newcomers and refugees, which they identified as a critical need by observing the struggles their peers face everyday. They were joined by Wendy Owen, Grants Officer for the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center Foundation.

Student groups have until the end of February to raise funds toward their CommuniCare challenge. As a refresher, most groups are guaranteed $7,500 by The Schnitzer CARE Foundation and can double that amount by raising an additional $750. CARE matches every $1 students raise x 10, up to a maximum gift of $15,000!

Most groups work hard right up to the deadline, selling all kinds of delicious goodies or hosting events within their school community. This is a time for teamwork, communication, creativity, and problem solving to shine!