Ten Organizations Awarded
Community Grants Totaling $41,600
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The Sunriver Women’s Club (SRWC) awarded nine nonprofit agencies and Three Rivers School a total of $41,600 to make an immediate and lasting impact in the community.
Hunger is a mounting concern for many local residents as increased costs for groceries and fuel combine with expiring federal pandemic support. Four grants totaling $16,500 were awarded to nonprofits working to feed residents in South Deschutes County residents.
The La Pine Community Kitchen received $5,000 to deliver hot meals five times per week, open its food pantry twice a week and operate a clothes closet. The kitchen volunteers served more than 11,000 meals to more than 3,500 individuals in the first nine months of 2022. The 1017 Project was granted $5,000 to provide 20,000 pounds of ground beef to organizations providing food to hungry residents of South Deschutes County. The Giving Plate was awarded $3,500 to provide weekend food backpacks to about 200 students in South Deschutes County. Care and Share Community Outreach of Sunriver was given $3,000 to fill food boxes once a month. The group serves about 300 people a month.
St. Vincent De Paul of La Pine provides a broad range of social services, including food, clothing, utility funds, propane, emergency shelter, personal hygiene items, showers, and more to anyone in need, including many who are houseless. A grant of $3,000 was awarded to provide help with propane and utility bills.
Three grants totaling $12,000 were awarded to nonprofits intervening on behalf of children who have been abused. The organizations provide ongoing support so these children can not only survive but thrive.
KIDS Center got $5,000 to support comprehensive child abuse evaluation services to an estimated 25 children living in South Deschutes County. MountainStar Family Relief Nursery received $4,000 for its Outreach Program that serves about 30 families. With almost a decade of outreach service experience in La Pine, MountainStar is establishing a permanent site with two therapeutic classrooms for families in South Deschutes County. Every Child Central Oregon is a “new to SRWC” nonprofit that plans to use $3,000 to recruit and support general foster family placements in South Deschutes County using a model that was recently successful in Jefferson County.
Another new grantee is the Central Oregon Youth Compass Program, run by the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council and East Cascades Works. The program was awarded $5,000 to fund intern wages for students identified at risk of dropping out of La Pine High School. The students’ jobs are linked to completing a General Education Development (GED) certificate or alternative high school diploma program.
Three Rivers School got $5,100 to send kindergarten through 5th grade students to at least two LessonPLAN programs at the Tower Theater and to bring in two performances for all 3rd grade through 8th grade students, thus providing an enriching arts opportunity that many students would not otherwise experience.
The SRWC philanthropy program goal is to provide a strong network of services that improves the lives of the most vulnerable citizens in the South Deschutes County community.
The biannual Community Grant Program funds projects that are designed to break the cycle of generational poverty in South Deschutes County. To learn more about generational poverty, click here. The grants are made possible through the fundraising efforts of the SRWC and the generous support of our members and community-minded individuals and businesses.
The SRWC grant process is overseen by a nine-member committee responsible for soliciting grant applications from local nonprofits and schools, conducting a thorough evaluation process and making a funding recommendation to the SRWC Board of Directors. Committee members have diverse professional backgrounds combined with a history of philanthropic participation in their community.
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Big Brothers Big Sisters Honors
Sunriver Women's Club
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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon Program Director Jenn Davis recently recognized the Sunriver Women's Club for commitment to benefiting students in South Deschutes County.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon recently announced that it is a main partner in the South Deschutes County Collaborative. The Sunriver Women's Club is dedicated to raising $50,000 for the collaborative.
Davis said mentoring has been identified as a keyway to support and increase academic success for students in La Pine and Sunriver.
"The Sunriver Women's Club partnership with BBBSCO is so vital to what we are doing in South Deschutes County," Davis said. "They along with the Collaborative are focused on raising the graduation rate at La Pine High School."
In 2021, the graduation rate at La Pine High School was 58 percent. BBBSCO is focused on growing, expanding and servicing the students in South Deschutes County.
"We have already grown by 200 percent in our La Pine Bigs and Littles. I’m proud to say that our two Littles who were seniors at La Pine High School graduated in June," Davis said.
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November Events
November Birthday Luncheon
1 pm Wednesday, Nov. 16 at Village Bar and Grill
Coffee Hour
10 am Wednesday, Nov. 30 at the SHARC Living Room
Join us for another opportunity to gather together in a fun, casual setting.
December Events
Happy Hour
4 to 6 pm Tuesday, Dec. 13 in the bar at Marcello's
Coffee Hour
10 am Thursday, Dec. 29 at Kathy Garofalo's house, 10 Acer Lane. Ring out the old year with Hot Toddies and Treats.
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