The Willamette Week is making a last push to reach $900,000 for the 2010 Give!Guide. Anyone who donates from 12/30 until the last day will be entered to win a bottle of Rogue Spirits Spiced Rum, perfect for the chilly winter weather (or any weather, for that matter).Dear Pear, My daughter passed away during birth last year. I want to give her a better world for Christmas. I believe you are doing work to create a better world. I asked my community to make a donation in my daughter's name. Thank you for the work you do.
I realized yesterday that I've been so busy that I've forgotten to open the past ten days of my Advent calendar (which is good because that means I'm not eating the chocolate inside the calendar, which is the real reason I buy it). Time flies during the holidays, but our Giving Tree partners have been busy distributing our p:ear ornaments and we can't thank them enough!
In case you missed it, the lovely (and somewhat graceful) Pippa, p:ear program director extraordinaire is featured on the Willamette Week's Give!Guide page, and no, it's not the kind of video that would take her out of running for public office. Though you've probably already seen it, take another look and donate to p:ear through the Give!Guide.
When you don't have a tree, here's another idea for sprucing up the office. This is from the the creative minds at Twenty Four Seven, who are participating in p:ear's Giving Tree. Pretty cool!
Enjoy dinner at the Original: A Dinerant through Decemeber 15th and 10% of your bill will be donated to p:ear! Print off this coupon to bring to your server and sit back, relax and enjoy the Original's mod-American cuisine. Thanks to our friends at the Courtyard by Marriott in downtown Portland for this delicious donation!
One of our kids sent a message the other day. This short but poignant note speaks of gratitude and hope, and captures why p:ear is here. Subject: I WROTE THIS TO PUT ON YOUR WALL BUT ITS TOO BIG. THIS IS HOW I FEEL. TOO BIG.P:EAR IS THE BEST IDEA EVER. PROOF HAVING IDEA CAN BECOME SOMETHING SO MUCH MORE. I LOVE PIPPA BETH JOY ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO HELP WHETHER ITS FACELESS BUT HEART FELT DONATIONS OR THE OPEN MINDED EVER ENCOURAGING STAFF. I MISS MY KIDS AND AM THANKFUL FOR THE ENVIORNMENT THEY AND I APPRECIATE SO MUCH. IT IS SO ELATING. THE POSITIVE EXPIERIENCES AND ADVICE I RECIEVED WHILE I WAS THERE WILL STAY WITH ME IN MY WHOLE ADVENTURE OF LIFE. THE PEOPLE THERE IN THOSE WALLS HAVE MOTIVATED ME , SOME EVEN INADVERTANTLY, TO MOVE NOT ONLY FORWARD BUT UPWARD WITH TALENT AS METAPHORICAL WINGS. REAL WINGS. NO ICARUS HERE. I LOVE YOU GUYS AND I PRAY ONE DAY I CAN GIVE BACK IN THE BIGGEST WAY POSSIBLE. bEING AWAY HAS REALLY MADE ME COME TO APPRECIATE WHAT I LEFT BEHIND. PIPPA HAS HELPED ME SO MUCH AND I AM NEVER AFRAID TO CALL ON HER. ITS SO SERIOUS. I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW HOW DEEPLY IVE BEEN TOUCHED. TO THE CORE OF MY BIG BIG ARTISTICLY INCLINDED HEART. PEOPLE IN THE WORLD HAVE STOPPED CARING ABOUT PEOPLE. YOU NEVER STOP AND I NEVER WILL BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU MIGHT NEED FROM A STRANGER ONE DAY. I AM PROUD BECAUSE OF THESE RELATIONSHIPS AND I KNOW I CAN DO ANYTHING , IF NOT EVERYTHING. SO MUCH LOVE TO YOU AND YOURS. I KEEP YOU IN MIND IN MY JOURNEY. TRULEY YOURS .
If you're in the Pearl District, stop by Portland Center Stage and see their Giving Tree full of p:ear ornaments!
Did you know that you can donate to p:ear through your American Express card? The Members Give program allows Amex users to donate in a variety of ways: 
Art Media Framing is offering a winter special on 10x10 artworks by 15o local artists from their show at Gallery@902. Artists were challenged to design a piece based on their frame. David Mosher is a p:ear supporter and will be donating 10% of sales from the show to p:ear. Thank you, David for the wonderful gift! The show runs until December 23rd.
It isn't even Thanksgiving and the 2010 Give!Guide has raised almost $4000 for p:ear. Thank you to all our donors, old and new, for helping us kick off the holiday season! We're offering up some enticing incentives to show our appreciation for your generosity. Click on the postcard above to see what you can receive through p:ear. And donate to the Give!Guide here.
Just in time for the holidays, p:ear has joined Portland-based CafeGive to help with your holiday shopping AND giving! With retailers like REI, Powell's, Nordstrom's and Athleta, Chrome Bags, Ellington and Gaiam, you get your gifts and a certain percentage of your purchase will be donated to p:ear. It's easy: go to cafegive.com, and select "p:ear" as the cause you'd like to shop for. We're really excited to be part of this local company and hope you check it out!
Looking for something to do this Sunday? p:ear murals director Rudolfo Serna will be headed to the Public Art Conference at 511 N. Tillamook.
The Willamette Week Give!Guide has already kicked off and to get things rolling, they've got a little competition for early donors. Donate to the Give!Guide before November 22nd (pick p:ear pretty please!) and you'll be entered to win some swell and local treats. So for all the people that do their holiday shopping in June, you can get your holiday giving taken care of before Thanksgiving. Pretty nifty, eh? 
November 16th is Portland's first Day of Homelessness Awareness. Organized by JOIN and focused on what faith-based organizations are going to end homelessness, the day is meant to provoke action to help Portland's homeless population. Event organizers are asking participants to forgo a "splurge" (i.e. a coffee or snack) and instead donate to one of Portland's many organizations working with the homeless population. For more information, check out this OregonLive article on the Walk of Awareness that took place this morning.
As the weather turns colder, p:ear is always on the look out for warm winter clothing especially hoodies, jackets, socks. If you'd like to make a donation, please stop by or contact us.
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| Guests enjoying wine before dinner at Genoa |
p:ear fan and Portland creative force Jeremy Pelley sent us this note about an awesome promotion with Nau:
hi there-So shop away, get some fabulous clothes and know you're helping out p:ear. And thanks Jeremy and all the cool people over at Official Manufacturing Company!i was recently asked to be a part of Nau clothing's portraits series:as part of this series, i get to offer a promo code (OMFGCO) which means people are eligible for a friends and family rate of 10% off the total purchase AND and donation of 10% to an organization of my choice.... and i chose p:ear!
In Portland, Ore., another magnet for the young and homeless, the young adult segment increased by 25 percent last year, more than double the overall increase (12 percent) in homelessness for all age groups, said Natasha Detweiler, research analyst for Oregon Housing and Community Services. Oregon counted 1,595 young people in this year's one-night snapshot of homelessness. "And that's certainly an underestimate," she said.While p:ear serves as a day center, offering up a warm and safe location for kids to get a cup of coffee, use a phone and get a hot meal, we still have noticed that this population is growing. Over the past months, the number of kids we serve on a daily basis has nearly doubled. "You feed us really well here," one said while filling up a bowl with pozole (Mexican bean soup) and then grabbing a couple pieces of fresh-baked bread from Le Cordon Bleu cooking school. Read the full article here.
Recovery Panes Healing Arts Project, founded by Kelly Williams, has exposed the impact of addiction through the process of encaustics. The RACC granted project has allowed Williams to use art as a cathartic rhythm to explore personal experiences, hope, & triumph. As lives are created by moments and interactions, the panels represent the change of stories when rearranged differently. Come alter the panels and add your own touch to the stories with live music featuring p:ear youth, this 1st Thursday, November 4th.
Kelly Williams is a local Portland artist, who has transformed encaustic paintings into a flowing rhythm of life. Every line and gesture has been transcribed by emotion packed experiences and fleeting filled notions. Williams also holds encaustic workshops dedicated to exploring one’s own inner chaos through the layers wax. To learn more:www.recoverypanes.blogspot
swift to shore white-crested waves return like cranesa crane alights on its reflection close to an autumn dayAnna Holley from White Crow Haiku (1990)
It's almost time to get out the punch bowl, mistletoe and horrible reindeer sweaters for the annual holiday parties. If you're looking for a place to hold an event, meeting or party, p:ear offers nearly 3000 square feet that can hold 220 people. Each area has WiFi access, separate restrooms, and entry/exits. Click on the flyer above or contact Pippa (pippa@pearmentor.org) for rates and details!
Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness. - Seneca, Roman philosopher and statesmen
Our other gift was a bit quieter and a surprise; we received a card in mail with the following text:
Dear p:ear -I found this cash while I was walking my dog. I know you will use to help kids in need.Thanks for all you do!- A fan
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The Trim/Vojdani Gallery at p:ear presents:
Oregon Women’s Caucus for Art with p:ear youth artists
Opening Reception: Thursday, October 7th, 6-9pm
On Display: October 7th – October 29th, 2010
Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 10-2pm: or by appointment
Gallery Location: 338 NW 6th St. Portland, OR 97209 Corner of 6th & NW Flanders
OWCA @ p;ear, explores opportunities through the styles and movements of color and line. Ranging in mediums, the Oregon Women’s Caucus for Art provides insight into their commitments including education and respect to individuals, breathing life into their story told pieces. From minimal cohesive color collaborations to detailed strokes of light, come enjoy food, music, and art!
The Oregon Women’s Caucus for Art is a nonprofit organization with a mission to support women in the visual art professions, and to create community through art, education, and social activism. Learn more by going to www.oregonwca.org. 
Pippa's pretty happy to see everyone at Brunch Responsibly!
Nearly 80 guests turned out to experience Sunday brunch in support of the p:ear barista school. Broder's Peter Bro poured his famous Bloody Mary's with aquavit (a strong Scandinavian liquor that will put some hair on your chest!) while Caffe Vita's Chad Freilino and p:ear barista school graduate Jutebox mixed coffee drinks for guests while they waited for Jason French's first course to come out.
Tahoe Jackson gave a rousing vocal performance and guests help raise nearly $5,000 to use as the p:ear barista school's fall operations.
We are so grateful to Chad Freilino and Caffe Vita for all their support and hard work. And a big thanks to Jason French, Tahoe Jackson, Peter Bro, Whole Foods, Medowsweet, Small Vineyards and Colleen Sorenson for their time and generosity in making this event happen.
The coffee cart is now open for business, Monday through Friday from 7 am until noon, and is located in the Trim/Vojdani gallery next to p:ear on NW Flanders. Stop by for a cup!
Your support makes a tremendous difference in the lives of these kids. Support p:ear and our fall campaign p:ear seeds with a donation to help us continue our creative and innovative work with homeless and transitional youth.
