We are thrilled to welcome in 2019 by recognizing Clare Wilkinson as SVP’s Partner of the Month! A regular feature in SVP Portland’s communications, Partner of the Month recognizes donors and volunteers for their outstanding contribution to our impact. Partners are nominated by their peers.

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news with you that a friend, former Board Chair, and Partner, Les Soltesz, has died at the age of 71. Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 21, 10:30am at Congregation Beth Israel, in NW Portland.

The end of 2018 is nearly upon us! After a year of leveraging research and community input in order to refine our early childhood investment priorities, it’s quite appropriate to recognize Stephanie Feeney as December’s Partner of the Month!

The Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) is at the heart of Portland’s Native American community, comprised of more than 40,000 Native American/Alaska Native people. As SVP and NAYA wrap up our five-year partnership, both organizations can look back and reflect on the mutual growth experienced as a result.

We are ushering in November by shining a spotlight on our Partner of the Month, Chris Nelson! Co-founder of Capstone Partners, Chris has developed some landmark real estate projects that have influenced neighborhood revival and livability. He brings the same passion to his philanthropic endeavors, through SVP and other community organizations.

Social Venture Partners is proud to announce our most recent investment in the Center for African Immigrants and Refugees Organization (CAIRO)! CAIRO’s focuses on breaking down the barriers to success for Portland’s African immigrant children and families, including preschool programming that prepares their children for success on their first day of kindergarten and beyond. This investment will primarily tap into SVP Partner expertise to clarify and build CAIRO’s organizational strategy and leadership.

As kids head back to class and we approach the end of the year, we are excited to bestow October’s Partner of the Month on Teresa Gonczy O’Rourke. An early childhood specialist, Teresa has not only brought her expertise to SVP’s Community Partners (aka “Investees”), she and her husband are expecting their own little early childhood project due this winter!

After twenty-five years in nonprofit leadership and management, plus extensive education in human development, Barb’s innate curiosity about people and their lives makes her a perfect fit for the “Matchmaker” position with the Encore Fellows Program. She came to this position having first applied to be a Fellow herself.