Total Nike community investment reaches $1.2 million; more than 1,000 area residents join in open house and Community Expo celebration
PORTLAND, Ore. (11 July, 2006) - Nike's Portland Factory Store today hosted its annual community investment awards, providing grants totaling $100,000 for 18 neighborhood nonprofit organizations supporting youth physical activity; education and mentoring; and economic development for minorities, women and youth. Since the store opened 22 years ago, Nike has invested $1.2 million into the North and Northeast Portland community, as well as helping to create jobs and foster economic growth through its business presence.
"In 1984 Nike opened its first factory store - not only the first in Oregon, but the first anywhere in the world - right here in Northeast Portland," said Gary DeStefano, Nike President of USA Operations. "Nike continues to be a proud North-Northeast Portland neighbor and we are committed to helping inspire local nonprofits and enable them to provide a wide range of services that benefit our community. We commend the work being done by each of the 18 nonprofit organizations that were awarded grants today."
Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski joined in the festivities as more than 1,000 community residents, business members, and youth attended the open house and Community Expo immediately following the award ceremony. The open house included a free outdoor picnic and games and activities for youth. The Community Expo featured booths with representatives from more than 40 organizations in North and Northeast Portland.
When the Nike Portland Factory Store opened in 1984, it pledged to donate a portion of the store's profits to community-based nonprofit organizations. Ron Herndon, now Chairman of the Board of the National Head Start Association and Director of Albina Head Start, approached Nike 22 years ago and urged the company to build its first ever factory store on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (then called Union Avenue).
This is the third consecutive year in which Nike has awarded $100,000 in community investment grants, doubling a commitment made in 2002 to invest $50,000 annually. This year, sixteen organizations each were awarded $5,000 grants, and two organizations received $10,000 grants. Below is a list of the organizations and the supported programs.
"We are delighted that the Portland Nike Factory Store grant program is supporting Caldera's Arts Mentor and Partner School Project in North-Northeast Portland," said Kristen Kilchenstein, Education Director of Caldera. "This $10,000 grant will support arts learning for over 1,000 students in three middle schools and provide a core group of 30 underserved kids with year-round arts mentoring."
The Nike Factory Store has been at its current location, 2650 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., since 2000. Nike chose to purchase the property and begin construction of a new site after outgrowing the store's original location just two blocks north. The 17,000-square-foot store employs approximately 80 people and serves more than 345,000 customers each year.
Grant recipients for the 2006 Portland Factory Store Grant Program are:
| Organization |
Program Description |
| Albina Head Start Community Technology Center |
The Albina Head Start Technology Center offers after-school activities to children of all ages, adult education, career development, literacy programs, summer computer camps, and home access to technology. |
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Portland
**Caldera
|
Through the "Teen Bigs" program, 11 th and 12 th grade students will mentor at-risk elementary students in a highly structured after school activities for the duration of at least on school year.
Caldera's Arts Mentor and Partner School Project will support arts learning for over 1,000 students from three middle schools here in N/NE Portland and provide a core group of 30 underserved kids with year-round arts mentoring.
|
| Community Cycling Center |
The Community Cycling Center "Get Linked" program is an innovative afternoon drop-in program for youth ages 5 - 12 that live in N/NE Portland. Get Linked inspires participants to increase their physical activity by engaging youth in basic bicycle repair, safety and maintenance education. |
| Community Transitional School |
Community Transitional School offers 5 th through 8th grade homeless children a place to realize their potential and envision a future beyond the next shelter, camp motel or family crisis. |
| Cultural Awareness Foundation |
Cultural Awareness Foundation seeks to offer an ongoing children's class in Capoeira and other Brazilian fold arts - CAF also will expand into a soccer club, Brazilian Rhythm ensemble and a second campus in North or Northeast Portland. |
| Friends of the Children - Portland |
Friends of the Children provides intensive mentoring for at-risk youth and gives them a chance for academic and developmental success. A full - time mentor is assigned to ensure each child has at least one positive consistent and supportive adult in his or her life. |
| Incight |
Incight's mission is to educate and employ people with disabilities by providing tools to advance their education, seek and obtain employment, become active community participants, improve the quality of their lives and to enable them to contribute to society without limitations. |
| ** King Elementary School |
King School plans to bring the Oregon Ballet Theatre's Outreach Program to their curriculum, allowing each of their three fifth grade classes, approximately 75 students, to receive eight one-hour lessons over an eight-week period. With this they hope not only to increase exposure and awareness to dance but to expand the students' self-discipline, focus, listening skills, physical awareness, and cooperation skills. |
| Native American Youth and Family Center |
The Native American youth and Family Center provides a vehicle for Native youth and their families to make healthy decisions and grow in positive ways. Through a holistic approach, MAYA Family Center programs seek to empower youth by building self - esteem. |
| New Avenues for Youth |
New Avenues for Youth PAVE program prepares homeless youth and at-risk youth with job readiness training classes, internships, educational and employment opportunities - This year PAVE will work with 350 youth, nearly half of who come from the N/NE community. |
| Portland Community Media |
Portland Community Media's "Youth Voices" project will engage up to 600 underserved low income youth with specific focus in the N/NE community over a twelve month period. "Youth Voices" focus on encouraging artistic expression, enhancing knowledge, of media literacy and production as well as developing important 21 st century skills is especially relevant in our rapidly increasing information and image based society. |
| Portland State University - Upward Bound |
PSU hosts Upward Bound, a program that will provide and facilitate access and retention into post-secondary education for low-income students. |
| REAP Inc. |
REAP, Inc will organize and sponsor their annual "What's Next" conference this November. "What's Next: is designed to address the needs of African American students enrolled at Grand High School. The conference will offer motivational workshops, panel discussions and soul food catered lunch. |
| Schoolhouse Supplies |
Schoolhouse Supplies' project "Tools for Schools" delivers new school supplies to 6,000 students each school year. |
| Sojourner Truth Theater Performing Arts Group |
The Theater's cultural awareness program addresses cultural differences in music, literature, history, science and social beliefs. Participants will build self-esteem and authentic relationships with African Americans. |
| Urban League of Portland |
The Urban League of Portland's NULITES mentoring program is designed to help youth develop a better sense of self, improve their academic performance, develop lasting relationships with adult mentors, be more prepared for higher education, and increase their knowledge about career and vocational opportunities. |
| Rebuilding Together |
Rebuilding Together * Portland is the only all volunteer, home repair organization of its kind, bringing volunteers, materials, financial resources and logistical expertise together in an annual effort to serve, low-income women, children and disabled homeowners so they may live in warmth, safety, and independence. After an entire year of planning and preparation, the program culminates into a one-day work blitz the last Saturday in April, rehabilitating over 60 homes and non-profit organizations in the North/North east Portland area and beyond. |
** Organization receiving a $10,000 grant
About NIKE, Inc.
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. Wholly owned Nike subsidiaries include Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; NIKE Bauer Hockey Inc., a leading designer and distributor of hockey equipment; Cole Haan, a leading designer and marketer of luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories and Exeter Brands Group LLC, which designs and markets athletic footwear and apparel for the value retail channel.