At the February meeting of the Trustees, The Collins Foundation was proud to award 22 single-year grants and 11 multi-year grants totaling nearly $1.3 million to nonprofits across Oregon.
Arts
Arts Council of Pendleton -- $40,000 over three years to support programs and operations to provide accessible art programs for rural residents of all ages across Umatilla, Union, Morrow, and Grant counties
Bag & Baggage Productions -- $60,000 to renovate a building in downtown Hillsboro to create a new theatre home through a challenge match
Metropolitan Youth Symphony -- $12,000 to provide music education and performances to develop musicianship among racially and economically diverse youth in the Portland Metro area.
Northwest Children's Theater and School -- $15,000 to support programs and operations providing theater arts programs and performances for children and families in the greater Portland area, including individuals with special needs
Portland Baroque Orchestra -- $38,000 over two years to support programs and operations to advance artistic initiatives and organizational sustainability in Portland
Portland Youth Philharmonic Association -- $15,000 to provide education and outreach programs for young musicians and school audiences in the greater Portland area
Profile Theatre Project -- $42,000 over three years to present the work of one contemporary woman writer or playwright of color each season to increase the diversity of theater offerings in Portland, expand opportunities for actors of color, and enhance audience diversity
The Rural Art Center -- $4,000 to provide artist-in-residence programs related to Japanese American culture and history for K-12 students in the rural Crow-Applegate-Lorane school district
Siletz Bay Music Festival -- $7,000 to produce free jazz and classical music concerts to increase access to the arts for low-income residents of all ages in rural Lincoln County
Third Rail Repertory Theatre -- $12,000 to support operations and programs to strengthen organizational sustainability and enrich audience experiences in Portland
Children & Youth
CASA for Children -- $50,000 over two years to enhance and expand advocacy for children involved in juvenile dependency cases in Multnomah, Washington, and Columbia counties, and incorporate principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion into all levels of the organization
CASA of Lane County -- $20,000 to expand the Peer Coordinator Model to support more volunteer advocates serving chidren in Lane County who have have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect
J Bar J Youth Services -- $15,000 to provide community-based mentoring for at-risk youth in Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties
Northwest Family Services -- $25,000 to support staffing to deliver a human trafficking prevention program for middle and high school students in the Portland metropolitan area
Oregon Community Foundation, Children's Dental Health Initiative -- $120,000 over three years to expand access to dental care through school-based prevention programs for primarily low-income elementary and middle school students in rural Eastern Oregon
Playworks Education Energized -- $40,000 over two years to expand coaching and training to promote healthy play to boost social skills and learning at more Portland-area elementary schools serving low-income and diverse neighborhoods
Community Welfare
Central Oregon Council on Aging -- $25,000 over two years to hire a full-time, bilingual outreach coordinator to increase participation of Latino and Native American seniors in nutrition programs in Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties
JOIN -- $25,000 to provide emergency housing assistance for homeless individuals and families in the Portland metro area
Legal Aid Services of Oregon -- $55,000 over two years to support a staff position to coordinate pro bono legal services across the state for low-income individuals and families
MayDay -- $25,000 to support advocacy center operations and purchase a vehicle to transport victims of sexual and elder abuse in rural Baker County
City of McMinnville, Parks & Recreation Department -- $60,000 to construct and equip a barrier-free, inclusive playground for individuals with disabilities in a new McMinnville city park
Oregon Community Warehouse -- $45,000 over two years to establish a financial director position to support furniture redistribution to low-income households in the Portland metropolitan area
Southern Oregon Public Television -- $20,000 to produce local programs and forums to assist veterans' reentry into the community, and connect veterans and their families to local resources in southern Oregon
Sponsors -- $35,000 to purchase property, and construct and furnish permanent, affordable housing in Eugene for ex-offenders who are at high-risk for homelessness
YMCA of Douglas County -- $75,000 to renovate the Roseburg facility to serve the recreational and wellness needs of rural Douglas County residents of all ages
Education
St. Andrew Nativity School -- $55,000 over two years to hire a graduate support assistant to serve a diverse group of low-income Portland-area students transitioning into college preparatory high schools
Environment
GEOS Institute -- $40,000 over two years to launch pilot projects in three rural communities, including Eagle Point and Glide, to protect drinking water and restore fish habitat through green infrastructure improvements
Health & Science
De Paul Treatment Centers -- $60,000 to upgrade an electronic health records system for substance abuse treatment services primarily serving low-income youth and adults in Oregon
NAMI Multnomah -- $15,000 to provide peer support, counseling, and access to resources for individuals with mental health challenges and their families in Multnomah County
Operation Nightwatch - Portland -- $8,000 to hire a part-time mental health professional to address the mental health needs of homeless individuals in downtown Portland
Pine-Eagle Health Planning Committee -- $20,000 to purchase a heart monitor and defibrillator for an ambulance serving rural, medically underserved communities in Baker County
Humanities
Friends of the Banks Community Library -- $30,000 to add a community room to the library to expand services for a diverse, rural community in Washington County
Religion
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon -- $150,000 to present the 2016 Collins Lecture, support operations, and provide a 1:1 challenge match to engage faith communities statewide in service to culturally diverse, at-risk youth, adults, and families impacted by poverty