Portland, Ore. – August 11, 2021 – The 2020 Community Rebuilding Fund, a collaborative effort led by Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) in partnership with Meyer Memorial Trust, The Ford Family Foundation and American Red Cross, announced today $4,439,256 in grants to support 40 organizations throughout the eight Oregon counties ravaged by fires. OCF donors contributed an additional $235,000 this summer to support rebuilding efforts as well.
[Please see complete list of grantees (as of August 11, 2021) online in OCF Press Room: https://oregoncf.org/press-room/]
“Fire is inevitable, catastrophes are not,” said Sonia Worcel, Chief Community Impact Officer, Oregon Community Foundation. “Working together, we can reduce the risks of devastating fires now and in the future while ensuring that communities and philanthropic organizations are able to respond effectively. We will continue to be collaborative, nimble, and forward-thinking, as we support community-led solutions to address crisis in our state.”
The 2020 Community Rebuilding Fund is distributing millions of philanthropic dollars to fire-affected communities for their rebuilding efforts. “We directly engaged with communities throughout Oregon, particularly those disproportionately impacted, including communities of color, low-income and rural communities,” said Michelle J. DePass, President and CEO, Meyer Memorial Trust. “It’s important to listen and learn from community members about their needs and identify gaps in funding so that we can prioritize equitable philanthropic investments for rebuilding.”
The 2020 Community Rebuilding Fund set a goal of raising $10 million and has successfully raised $9.3 million to date from individuals, families, corporations and other foundations since September 2020. Contributions can be made online at: www.oregoncf.org/rebuilding. Remaining funds will be awarded monthly throughout the Fall 2021.
“Community input and support is critical to address both immediate needs and the long-term rebuilding phase after the attention on the disaster wanes,” said Anne Kubisch, President, The Ford Family Foundation. “We are humbled by the level of community engagement to rebuild and help those in need over the long haul, across the state.”
Following is a snapshot of some of the community organizations supported through the Community Rebuilding Fund:
Douglas County
Glide Revitalization, https://gliderev.com/ | $150,000.00
Will serve a broad rural community that has high rates of poverty as well as vulnerable populations, including elderly community members and people living with disabilities.
Jackson County
Coalicion Fortaleza, https://coalicionfortaleza.org | $100,000.00
Will serve Latina/o/x families impacted by the Almeda fire in the areas of Talent, Phoenix and rural Jackson County, including a diverse community of farm workers and seasonal workers.
Lane County
McKenzie Valley Long Term Recovery Group (LTRG), https://mckenziecommunity.org/mckenzie-recovery| $149,600.00
Will serve survivors of the Holiday Farm Wildfire and Straight-Line Wind Event of September 2020 who do not have adequate support from FEMA, insurance, and other assets to restore safe, secure and sanitary living conditions in the McKenzie Valley.
“Oregon communities were not prepared for the devastation that those high winds and fires caused. Too many people didn’t have warning. They escaped with the clothes on their backs,” said Melissa Freeman, Director of Strategic Projects, Oregon Community Foundation. “Communities came together, seeking safety, cleared the debris and started focusing on how to rebuild better.”
Oregon Community Foundation received more than 100 applications for funding, requesting over $16 million in support. The 2020 Community Rebuilding Fund partners recruited an advisory team of 11 people who survived the fires with diverse backgrounds to determine how funds would be awarded. OCF expects to deploy all recovery, rebuilding and resiliency grant awards by November 2021. `
With the 2021 fire season already well underway, nonprofit and philanthropic organizations throughout Oregon, including Oregon Community Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust, The Ford Family Foundation and American Red Cross are convening and planning for what lies ahead. Each organization is planning to have their own resources ready for immediate response to natural disasters and are discussing the criteria and context for determining when it makes sense to pool resources.