All Posts

Amplifying Impact: SVP and Black United Fund of Oregon

We are excited to continue our collaborative Equitable Early Education Grant for its third year, leveraging the resources of both SVP Portland and Black United Fund of Oregon (BUF-OR) to have a larger impact on organizations serving Oregon and SW Washington. This collaboration aims to increase access to high-quality early learning for children facing the greatest number of barriers to accessing preschool. As SVP's Director of Community Impact, Carolina Castañeda del Río, put

Nov 241 min read

What Grows When We Invest in Vision: The KairosPDX Journey

The story of partnership between KairosPDX and SVP Portland started more than a decade ago. SVP was among the early supporters of KairosPDX’s vision to transform education for Black children. Through a customized capacity-building accelerator, SVP worked closely with KairosPDX’s team to strengthen their strategy, infrastructure, and operations - helping lay the groundwork for an organization that would evolve into a leader of culturally-sustaining education. During that early

Nov 242 min read

Partner Spotlight: Finding Purpose and Connection through SVP

We asked Investor Partner Bibiche Geuskens why she joined SVP Portland, what she’s worked on, and what makes the experience meaningful to her. Here’s what she had to say. Why did you join SVP? “I wanted to find a meaningful way to get involved and give back to the community, while also learning more about the nonprofit world. SVP’s focus on early learning really resonated with me. I believe that having a strong foundation early in life shapes everything that comes after, and

Oct 222 min read

Casita Azul Expands Preschool with New Hillsboro Campus

After a very busy year for owner Laura Paz-Whitmore - and amidst significant challenges posed by the political climate threatening smooth operations - SVP Community Partner Casita Azul is celebrating a major milestone: the opening of a beautiful, expanded campus in Washington County. The new facility adds more than 70 preschool seats, with an official grand opening on Friday, November 7th. Event details and an RSVP link can be found below. SVP Portland’s partnership with Casi

Oct 221 min read

Ready to Grow Participants Reach the Home Stretch

SVP Portland’s Ready to Grow program is in full bloom this fall, with 19 local early learning providers moving steadily toward graduation. These businesses range from in-home to center-based, collectively serving more than 568 children across the region and employing over 100 teachers. Program sizes vary widely - from smaller programs serving five children to larger centers supporting up to 146. The diversity of these programs reflects the diversity of families they serve, hi

Oct 222 min read

Preschool for All: Progress, Challenges, and SVP’s Role

This fall marks the fourth year of Preschool for All (PFA), and the program continues to expand in both reach and impact. Nearly 4,000 children are enrolled across more than 200 locations this school year - a 70% increase in seats from last year. The majority of these are full-day programs, meeting the needs of working families and strengthening our region by helping parents re-enter the workforce while educating our future workforce. Equity remains at the heart of Preschool

Sep 252 min read

A Lasting Legacy: NAYA's New Preschool and Our Shared Journey

Sep 24 | The recent grand opening of chaku kumtuks haws (“learning house”) marks a significant milestone for the community and a moment of pride for SVP Portland. Co-led with the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) , this new affordable housing community brings together housing, education, workforce training, and on-site early learning. The 84-unit development, which includes an early child learning center called chaku kumtucks illahee (“learning place”) with thr

Sep 242 min read