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Pacific Power announces new grants supporting education and STEAM learning programs

PORTLAND, Ore. — An early, solid foundation in education – including the STEAM fields of science, technology, engineering, the arts and math – can benefit students and their communities for a lifetime. It’s the reason why Pacific Power is deeply committed to helping schools and organizations nurture the next generation of thinkers and doers.

As part of this commitment, the PacifiCorp Foundation, a nonprofit arm of Pacific Power, is donating $630,000 in new grant funding across the six states it serves to support education and STEAM learning projects. Some of the grants will also go to help community organizations continuing to respond to COVID-related needs. This latest round of funding is one of the four grant cycles offered by the foundation annually.

“We believe in the power of education to create a lifetime of opportunity,” said Stefan Bird, president and CEO, Pacific Power. “Alongside these dedicated organizations, we’re determined to empower the next generation by creating and promoting hands-on, inclusive learning opportunities for children, teens and young adults. These curious minds will become our scientists, engineers, technicians and creators who will provide innovative solutions for the future and help guide the growth of our communities.”

The latest education and STEAM grants complement many of the ways Pacific Power and its employees are helping to foster STEAM learning in their communities throughout the year – whether launching or participating in STEAM programs and fairs, providing hands-on mentorship inside and outside classrooms, or funding virtual education opportunities to keep students connected during COVID.

The following 80 grants were given to Oregon, Washington and California organizations:

Oregon

Portland

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters Northwest to support mentors who help students who have fallen behind academically due to the COVID-19 crisis.
  • Black United Fund of Oregon to support youth scholarships and the Mentor4Success program to support low-income students and students of color pursue postsecondary education. 
  • Carpe Mundi to provide a group mentorship program that helps low-income, first-generation college students succeed.
  • Children’s Cancer Association for its JoyRX music programs that provide individually tailored live and digital music programs for seriously ill youth.
  • De La Salle North Catholic High School to provide financial aid for youth attending this college preparatory high school dedicated to serving low-income students.
  • FACT Oregon to help support families of youth with disabilities as the students transition back to in-person learning.
  • First Book Portland to distribute more than 830 new books to disadvantaged children whose educational opportunities were significantly impacted by COVID-19.
  • Friends of Baseball to help the Full Count RBI Academy provide virtual and in-person programs that offer academic support, socio-emotional skill building and healthy recreation for low-income youth and youth of color.
  • Friends of Explorer Post 58 to provide underserved youth with hiking, rock climbing and other outdoor activities that build resilience, group skills and leadership.
  • Friends of Saturday Academy for its Apprenticeships in Science and Engineering program that gives high school students the opportunity to work on a real-world STEAM project for eight weeks beside a mentor and learn about career options and the college application process. 
  • Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest for supplies for the Eureka! Program that provides STEAM education, internships and mentorships for 8th-12th grade girls.
  • Greater Than for scholarship assistance, mentoring and career exposure opportunities for college-age students who have been involved in the program since third grade.
  • Grow Portland for hands-on, STEAM-focused gardening programs for K-5 students.
  • Junior Achievement Oregon and SW Washington to help provide the Junior Achievement K-12 virtual programs to low-to-moderate-income students across Oregon.
  • McDaniel High School to support the College Possible program that empowers students from underserved backgrounds to become college graduates.
  • Open School to help provide a full-day summer school program that enables vulnerable high-school students to get back up speed after the challenges of remote learning.
  • Oregon MESA to support after-school STEAM programs for underserved youth at four middle schools and high schools in Northeast Portland.
  • Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program to nurture students’ interest in STEAM by providing financial assistance to robotic teams, with a focus on encouraging diversity and equity.
  • Pacific Northwest College of Art for an equitable and inclusive creative writing program for Black, Indigenous, Asian-American, Latinx and other young writers of color. 
  • Portland Rose Festival Foundation to support the 2022 intern education program that provides college students with experience working at a non-profit.
  • Portland Workforce Alliance for the Pathways to Careers program that provides career-learning experiences for students from underserved and BIPOC communities. 
  • Reading Results for learning and literacy supplies to help struggling students, who lost ground during the pandemic, reach reading benchmarks.
  • Renewable Energy Scholarship Foundation to provide a scholarship to undergraduate or graduate students studying renewable energy.
  • Salvation Army’s West Women’s and Children’s Center to nurture the academic success of children living at the domestic violence shelter by providing quality internet access as well as breakfast and lunch while learning remotely.
  • St. Andrew Nativity School to support teacher aides working in classrooms to improve hybrid learning.
  • Schoolhouse Supplies to support the Tools for Schools program which provides back-to-school supply kits filled with school supplies for students in need.
  • SMART Reading to provide books for students to keep and digital books for virtual shared reading while in-person activities are restricted.

Willamette Valley

  • Al Kennedy High School to support the Makerspace Engineering Class in building “smart” sensors for their garden and greenhouse.
  • Albany American Legion Post 10 for furnishings and locking case files to provide a safe, comfortable space for veterans and their families as they need help completing applications or connecting to services.
  • Albany Public Schools Foundation to support a STEAM literacy project for K-3 students.
  • Calapooia Watershed Council for the Linn-Benton Salmon Watch, an experiential field trip program that teaches youth about salmon and healthy watersheds.
  • Cascade School District for construction of a community adventure bike park, which will also support STEAM education as students construct the benches, signage and other equipment.
  • Corvallis Public Schools Foundation in support of the Summer Springboard for Kids programs that help students reengage with school both socially and academically.
  • Dallas Fire & EMS to replace air monitors to ensure safety for firefighters, paramedics and the citizens they serve.
  • JPL Museum for repair of a storm-damaged storage building, which will help preserve historic NASA artifacts used for educational outreach.
  • Ophelia’s Place for supplies and materials to help this school-based and online prevention-based program, which helps girls aged 10-18 make healthy life choices.
  • Oregon State University Foundation for the Pacific Power Scholars program that provides scholarship awards for engineering students.
  • Stayton Public Library Foundation to support the Early Literacy Outreach Program and their partnership with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to deliver more books to preschool-age children.
  • Willamette University for scholarship support to help students from low-income and historically underserved backgrounds graduate from college.

Northern Coast

  • Seaside AAUW Scholarship Foundation to support older students restarting educational paths at Clatsop Community College.
  • Seaside AAUW Scholarship Foundation to provide scholarships for first-generation women attending college.

Central Oregon

  • Assistance League of Bend for Operation School Bell clothing events to help meet the basic clothing needs of low-income K-12 students in Deschutes County as they head back to the classroom.
  • The Conference of St. Vincent de Paul Society of Myrtle Creek to help purchase a new truck for the facility, which provides emergency food and housing resources for people in rural Douglas County. 
  • Family Access Network Foundation to help support advocate services for disadvantaged Crook County high school students and their families, and provide school supplies, clothing, winter gear and food.
  • Financial Beginnings Oregon to provide free financial education to improve financial capability in historically disenfranchised communities. 
  • Jericho Road to purchase food and supplies to help feed the hungry in Deschutes County, including weekend food program backpacks for students.
  • Oregon State University Foundation Cascades Campus for the Pacific Power Scholars program that provides scholarships for students studying energy-systems engineering.

Umpqua Valley

  • Boys & Girls Club of the Umpqua Valley to provide additional STEAM program supplies that will allow for better social distancing for youth.
  • Winston Area Community Partnership to support STEM programs at the Winston Teen Center.

Southern Coast

  • Coos County Sheriff’s Office K9 program for medical training and supplies.
  • Friends of South Slough Reserve to help secure an 11-month AmeriCorps educator to teach students in the Estuary Explorers after-school STEAM program.
  • Southwestern Oregon Community College Foundation for the purchase of high-quality compound microscopes for use in science labs and teaching in community outreach demonstrations.

Eastern Oregon

  • Blue Mountain Community College Foundation to update the athletic scoreboard in the activity center gym to better serve student athletes and community members.
  • Creating Memories for Disabled Children to complete renovation of the lodge, which provides disabled children and their families a camp experience at Wallowa Lake.
  • Friends of the Wallowa School District for robotic kits to start an after-school robotic clubs to enhance the school district's STEAM offerings.
  • Pendleton Public Library to purchase STEAM kits and drones available for checkout as part of the “Library of Things” section and to facilitate educational programming for youth and teens.

Rogue Valley

  • Foundry Village to help create a secure community where unsheltered people can live and learn skills needed for independent living.
  • Grants Pass Family YMCA to help provide childcare for local families so children have a safe space to learn and play.
  • Medford School District for Project Dove that supports students affected by domestic violence.
  • Rogue Valley Family YMCA for emergency childcare during the pandemic and a transition back to traditional preschool, childcare and after-school programs as COVID cases subside.
  • Roots and Wings Community Preschool for tuition relief to provide equitable access to high-quality early childhood education and care.
  • Sacred Heart Catholic School to complete a partial HVAC upgrade to ensure better indoor air quality so students can learn in a safe environment.
  • Wildlife Images Rehabilitation and Education Center for equipment needed to expand, modernize and improve education programs.

Klamath Falls

  • Bonanza Big Springs Park and Recreation District to replace the roof on the community center that provides a safe, healthy place for school groups, clubs and other community activities.
  • Eagle Ridge High School to assist in developing a construction pre-apprenticeship program that will allow students to learn trade skills that will lead to career opportunities.
  • Klamath County Rotary Club to purchase books for the Klamath Cares, Klamath Reads literacy program that distributes books to first graders in Klamath County and Tulelake, Calif.
  • National Inventors Hall of Fame Oregon to provide financial assistance to allow underserved children in Southern Oregon attend Camp Invention, which fosters STEAM skills, creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship.
  • Oregon Tech Foundation to extend scholarships to students at the Oregon Institute of Technology.

Washington

  • Clark College Foundation for the Pacific Power STEM Scholarship Fund that helps students in traditionally underserved groups pursue careers in STEM fields.
  • Early Life Speech and Language for no-cost, individualized speech therapy to help young children succeed in school and in life.
  • Friends of Union Gap Library and Community Center for construction of the Children’s Story Wall that will engage and encourage early readers.
  • Friends of Union Gap Library and Community Center for creation of an outdoor space for family-friendly activities, musical events and BBQ classes.
  • Heritage University to expand scholarship support for students pursuing STEM degrees.
  • Junior Achievement of Washington to help mitigate the financial impact of COVID-19 on the BizTown and Finance Park programs that help elementary and middle-school students learn about careers and financial literacy.
  • Mt. Adams School District to help create a safe playground area for primary students.
  • Plus Delta After School Studios for The Club, which provides a safe, encouraging after-school space where Dayton School District K-8 students can get the homework help they need to succeed.
  • Tri-State Steelheaders to support the Salmon in School environmental education program that provides classrooms with an aquarium and supplies so students get hands-on lessons in the salmon life cycle and watershed health.
  • Walla Walla Community College Foundation for the Pacific Power Scholarship Fund that helps underserved students achieve a college degree.
  • Washington State University Vancouver to expand the Pacific Power Scholarship in Renewable Energy Education program to help first-generation college students seeking careers in renewable energy.

California

  • SiskiyouWorks in support of the “Be an Engineer” exploratory summer camps for grade-schoolers to help inspire students to pursue STEM careers.