p:ear youth share their stories

This is my story…

To celebrate p:ear's 10th anniversary and prepare for this May's p:earblossoms X: story, we're asking the kids express their own stories. This week videographer Jacob Hinmon recorded youth, and next week p:ear board member and PNCA writer-in-residence Barry Sanders will do a writing workshop. Ask yourself:

• Where were you in your life when you met p:ear? Where are you now?
• Do you think p:ear helped you find your place or voice / sense of self-worth?
• If you were looking back 10 years from now, what part will p:ear have played in your life?

p:ear youth rec trip to Mount Hood

p:ear youth on a ski trip to Mt. Hood, Feb. 23rd

p:ear's innovative recreation program, which helps youth experience the outdoor world through activities like cross-country skiing, spelunking, kayaking, seasonal day trips, is life-changing. Over 80 p:ear students participate our outdoor adventures per year, including an annual multi-day "camp p:ear." They experience what for them is rare: relaxation, play, nature without having to sleep in it.

p:ear is excited to announce a that New Season's Market will be supporting April and May's adventures!

Want to sponsor one of p:ear's monthly rec trips? p:ear is always looking for supportive partners who value the experience of the outdoors. Contact stephanie@pearmentor.org to see how you can help.

Donate your car through Cars4Causes and support p:ear

Have an old clunker car, RV or motorcycle that you just want to go away? p:ear has partnered with Cars 4 Causes® to process their vehicle donations. Cars 4 Causes® is America's 1st vehicle donation charity and specializes in turning donated vehicles into cash for your favorite charity. Your donation to Cars 4 Causes® will help raise money for p:ear.

You can donate your vehicle in two easy steps:

1. Call or fill out the easy online form here.
2. Schedule a free pick-up for your clunker.

And you're done! Cars4Causes will send you a receipt for your taxes and make the donation p:ear.

Oregon Community Foundation Nike Employee Grant Fund Awards p:ear’s recreation program $10,000

p:ear youth will get to experience more of Oregon's outdoors thanks to the OCF Nike Employee Grant

The p:ear recreation program received a significant and much-needed boost from the OCF Nike Employee Grant Fund. Nike employees awarded p:ear $10,000 to provide outdoor recreational opportunities for homeless youth to experience relaxation, personal growth, confidence and play beyond the limits of their urban context. Youth participate in monthly trips to Mt. Hood, the McKenzie River and other locations around the Portland region. Part of the OCF Nike Employee grant will grow the number of trip offerings.

Launched in spring 2010, the Nike Employee Grant Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation (OCF), is granting up to $600,000 per year for three years to local nonprofit organizations or schools that wish to join Nike in creating positive social and environmental change.

The Oregon Community Foundation works with businesses such as Nike, as well as individuals and organizations, to create charitable funds to support the community causes they care about. Through these funds OCF awards more than $60 million annually in grants and scholarships. NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities.

Grant application materials are available online at www.oregoncf.org. Individuals or businesses interested in establishing a fund at OCF may contact the Portland office at 1221 SW Yamhill, Suite 100, Portland OR 97205, 503.227.6846.

This week at p:ear...

A pat on the back: housing program goes above and beyond projections

p:ear recently closed the books on 2009, and soon we'll be sending out a "state of the p:ear" card showing the breakdown for the past year. The "state of the p:ear" is a snapshot of everything we've done in the past year: how many kids came through our doors, how many meals were served, how many kids participated in our programs, etc.

But we're really pleased about our housing program. Thanks to a grant from the Meyer Memorial Trust, we were able to help 50+ kids into housing last year. That's double what we had projected placing in houses (which was 20 kids). AND the project came in under budget. Maybe the government could use our help... but I think we'll keep our day jobs.

Look for the "state of the p:ear" in the mail soon!

Giving it all away

Recently Paul Allen pledged that the majority of his estate "will be left to philanthropy to continue the work of the [Paul G. Allen Family] Foundation." Warren Buffett and Bill Gates recently challenged the wealthiest Americans to give away at least half of their wealth to philanthropic organizations. Forbes estimates the total gifts of the wealthiest Americans could total around $600 billion. That's right - $600 billion.

However, most of us aren't in that sliver of a percentile representing the wealthiest of wealthy. But each gift, no matter the zeros behind the amount is still essential and worthy to many organizations. It's not always the amount but the motivation and generosity behind the gift that weights the gesture.

In the upcoming weeks, p:ear will be launching a new summer campaign to help support our fall program, and we're hoping to achieve our goal through small gifts. And during the process, we'd like to learn more about our supporters; who you all are, how you learned about p:ear, what motivates you to give, and what you think. We're really excited about this new approach and hope it helps us better know our giving community while showing you all the upcoming plans and hopes we have for this organization and the kids.

The economic forecast might not be the brightest but this might be a new era for philanthropy.

Thanks to Pacific Natural Foods!

There's no better way to start the day than seeing support like this: Pacific Natural Foods, an Oregon-based company that makes all-natural and organic foods, recently made a generous donation to p:ear's food program. The food from Pacific Natural will help us to continue in providing delicious and healthy meals for p:ear students while also teaching kids about cooking and nutrition. Thanks to Carolyn Rayback, Nate Armbrust and Paul Finlay to making this possible!

p:ear kids explore Forest Park with help from the BTA

With help from BTA Bike + Walk Ambassador Joel Holly, a handful of p:ear kids set out to explore Forest Park via bike last week. Holly brought the bikes while p:ear Executive Director (and tough-as-nails bike racer) Beth Burns helped out with the more technical parts of riding. Thanks to the BTA for their support and assistance! Want to help support activities and programs like these at p:ear? Click on the "Donate" tab to help out!