The Summer of SVPY

While our schoolmates were lying in the sun and participating in summer activities, the members of Social Venture Partners Youth (SVPY) were hard at work learning about philanthropy and collective action. SVPY began exploring options for an organization to support throughout the upcoming inaugural year of our program. SVPY is a branch of SVP Portland that works to immerse youth in the world of philanthropy and social impact, with a specific focus on kindergarten readiness in the Portland metro area. Our current members range from ages 10-16 and come from all across the Portland metro area.Included in our search for this year’s Investee, were three organizations, including Peninsula Children’s Learning Center. SVPY visited each organization to explore their missions and actions. We asked questions, met students, and (as any responsible funder should do) tested out the playground equipment. All three nonprofits are former SVP Investees and are making clear and impressive differences in cultivating young learners. If we had the resources and established curriculum to invest in all three organizations, we would. However, for our first year, we had to pick one. In keeping with SVPY’s goals of supporting kindergarten readiness, we are happy to announce that we will be partnering with Peninsula Children’s Learning Center (PCLC)!I would like to take a moment to sincerely thank PCLC’s executive director, Ken, for welcoming SVPY to PCLC and allowing us to catch a glimpse of the amazing work they are doing to cultivate young minds. By increasing socioeconomic diversity in a pre-kindergarten education program, PCLC is clearly making a change and working to prepare the upcoming generation of inquisitive and inspired leaders.SVPY looks forward to diving into our newly established partnership with PCLC. Through fundraising, spreading awareness, and impact projects, SVPY will present our best effort to support the mission and actions of PCLC.

Nadya Okamoto

Youth Director of SVPY