PORTLAND PARKS FOUNDATION SELECTED AS INNOVATION AWARDS WINNER THANKS TO PEOPLE'S BELIEF IN REACHING MORE PORTLAND KIDS
Posted: July 8th, 2010 4:34 PM
Portland (OR) – Share Our Strength, a national organization which weaves together a net of community groups, activists and food programs to catch children facing hunger and supply them with nutritious food where they live, learn and play, announced today that Portland Parks Foundation (PPF) is a winner in its No Kid Hungry Innovation Award competition, and the only organization to win West of the Mississippi. Other winners are located in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire.
"Portland Parks Foundation is committed to helping Portland Parks & Recreation keep kids active and well-fed during the summer," said PPF Board Chair Rich Brown. "When private citizens and donors work hand-in-hand with the public sector, amazing things can take place. The mobile climbing walls are an example of a private donor wanting to make a difference, and the Foundation making it happen."
The Foundation will receive $12,500 to help support Portland Parks and Recreation summer playground sites featuring mobile climbing walls and the summer lunch program funded by the USDA. Community members voted online at http://www.strength.org/votetoday and information has been updated on the web page about the selected winners.
Nearly 17 million—almost one in four—children in America face hunger. These children will endure lifelong consequences as a result of having limited access to nutritious foods, and are more likely to suffer poorer health, fatigue, behavioral difficulties and impaired performance at school. There are nutrition programs for children, but too many kids are still not accessing them. Share Our Strength created the No Kid Hungry Innovation Awards to honor innovative organizations that are overcoming barriers and connecting hungry kids with food.
"Reaching out to children in neighborhoods where resources are scarce with healthy activity, healthy food and hope is what the summer playground program is all about. Being selected by Share Our Strength to receive this grant provides the tools for us to reach children who wouldn't normally find their way to a lunch site," said Maura K. White, PPF Executive Director.
Portland Parks Foundation was founded in 2001 to help preserve the legacy of Portland parks. The Foundation's creation is a direct outcome of the Parks 2020 Vision Plan adopted by Portland City Council on July 12, 2001, the most comprehensive master plan for parks and recreation since the Olmsted Report in 1903. Created as a private, nonprofit organization, the Foundation recognizes that government agencies alone are not able to guarantee citizens a vibrant network of parks and parks programs. The Foundation operates in cooperation with individuals, businesses and foundations.
Chaired by Bank of America's Rich Brown and supported by City Commissioner Nick Fish, the Foundation has raised more than $10 million since its inception. Sustaining a healthy park and recreation system makes Portland a great place to live, work & play. To get involved with the Portland Parks Foundation, please visit www.portlandparksfoundation.org, join our Facebook page, or call 503-445-0994.
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