Credit Union Awards $50,000 in Community Grants

Milwaukie, OR —Hundreds of vulnerable youth, seniors and animals will be served this year thanks to a $50,000 investment from the 2013 Advantis GROW Community Fund. The public was invited to vote on 14 proposed local charitable projects that promise long term benefits to the community.  Over 40,000 votes helped Advantis determine the following six grants:

• Growing Gardens receives $10,000 to purchase tools, supplies, and garden beds for the Garden Tools for Schools program—over 800 children will benefit, learning to grow produce that will be served in school cafeterias. 
• Boys and Girls Aid receives $5,500 to paint and furnish five bedrooms at The Seneca House, annually serving about 175 girls ages 10-18 who are in foster care.
• David’s Harp receives $10,000 to purchase a commercial oven for the community kitchen serving low and no income adults who have major mental illnesses;
• DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital receives $9,500 to purchase critical surgical equipment to reduce blood loss and shorten anesthesia time to save pet’s lives;
• Impact NW receives $10,000 to bring Communities for Safe Kids Initiative to Portland elementary school classrooms for child abuse prevention workshops;
• ·         Meals on Wheels People receives $5,000 to purchase new oven and food warming equipment to serve 500 meals a week to homebound seniors in SE Portland.

Since 2011, Advantis’ GROW fund has contributed $150,000 to help small- and moderate-sized non-profits with grants of up to $10,000 for specific one-time capital expenses. “GROW was designed to help our communities grow stronger, one project at a time.  Inviting the public to vote helps us understand the priorities of those who live and work in the communities we serve. We thank these incredible nonprofit organizations for their profound impact in the Portland area,” said Wendy Edwards, Advantis’ Vice President of Marketing and Human Resources. Advantis Credit Union, with $1 billion in assets, is one of Oregon’s largest member-owned, not-for-profit, financial cooperatives with over 50,000 members and five branches in the Portland metro area.  Advantis is one of the oldest credit unions in Oregon, serving the Portland metro area for 85 years. Membership in Advantis is open to anyone who lives or works in 23 counties in Oregon, including: Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Wasco, Washington, or Yamhill counties and anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in the state of Washington.