 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
 |
MEMO BLOG | |
Memo Calendar | Memo Pad | Business Memos | Loaves & Fishes | Letters | Home |
To fully serve the community, the Mid-county Memo offers this section to showcase upcoming special events, celebrations of milestones in our readers' lives, those seemingly small accomplishments that often do not receive the recognition they deserve, and everyday events that should be shared with friends and neighbors along with opportunities to participate in the community. Memo Pad submissions for the May issue are due Sunday, April 15. For best results, e-mail Darlene Vinson at editor@midcountymemo.com. Or mail submissions to 3510 N.E. 134th Ave, Portland, OR 97230. To leave a phone message, call 503-287-8904. The fax number is 503-249-7672.
Golf provides pathway to college
 |
| Madison High seniors Jean Le, left and Tony Huynh, right, enroll at Oregon State University this fall on full ride Evans Scholarships, a charitable trust, that provides full, four-year tuition and housing for deserving caddies. They pose with Portland Parks & Recreation Diversity Coordinator Carolyn Lee. COURTESY PORTLAND PARKS & RECREATION |
Le and Huynh are participants in the Portland Parks & Recreation Early Adventures in Golf for a Lifetime of Enjoyment program and are recipients of the Western Golf Association Evans Scholars Foundation Evans Scholarship
The EAGLE Program is a unique internship program that is a cooperative venture between Portland Parks & Recreation and Portland Public Schools to expose students to all aspects of golf course operation. Qualified students are paid an hourly wage, receive work credit hours, and have a mentor who monitors their progress. In addition, there are scholarship opportunities available from their involvement in our program. 57 students have successfully completed college on Evans Scholarships received through the EAGLE program. Applicants must have a strong caddie record, excellent grades, financial need and outstanding character.
Winners may choose to attend either The University of Oregon or Oregon State University. As a part of the program, Le and Huynh served as caddies during 80 separate 18-hole rounds during the 2010 and 2011 summer golf seasons.
The summer 2012 golf season is almost upon us, and PP&R's EAGLE program is now accepting applications from qualified high school sophomores currently enrolled at PPS high schools. Interested parties should contact Carolyn Lee at carolyn.lee@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-5076.
Student videographers compete for cash
Parkrose High students have produced a 45-second public service announcement called “Street Racing” that is a finalist in a state wide contest designed to create awareness of work place hazards.
The top three entries will take home cash prizes ranging from $300 to $500 and will earn a matching amount for their school. The Oregon Young Employee Safety Coalition, Oregon OSHA, SAIF Corporation, local chapters of the American Society of Safety Engineers, the Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology, Liberty Northwest, the Greater Portland Construction Partnership, and Hoffman Construction sponsor the contest.
The top 11 videos are posted on youtube.com/user/OregonSafetyHealth. Contest winners will be unveiled at an April 14 screening event at Northern Lights Theatre, 3893 Commercial St. S.E., in Salem starting at 1:30 p.m.
Volunteer turns 100; SnowCap benefits
 |
| Maude Ballard with some of the items parishioners of Covenant Presbyterian Church and guests brought to honor her 100th birthday and, in her name, donate to SnowCap Community Charities. COURTESY COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH |
In celebration of her recent 100th birthday, parishioners of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Gresham recognized this longtime SnowCap volunteer with birthday gifts in quantities of 100 that were then donated to SnowCap. The non-profit received 100 rolls of toilet tissue, 100 pencils, 100 pounds of rice, 100 potatoes and 100 diapers among other much-needed supplies.
Ballard was born to a pioneer family in Moffit, ND on March 6, 1912. She moved to Portland in 1934 and worked for retailer Montgomery Ward and for a mortgage company before enrolling in Portland State College at age 53. She completed undergraduate work in three years and followed that with a master's degree in business education, which led to a long teaching career.
After retiring at age 80, Ballard jumped into volunteer activities. She has delivered Meals on Wheels for Loaves and Fishes and entered data into computers at SnowCap. SnowCap Executive Director Judy Alley credits the comprehensive donor database the charity now has to Ballard saying, “SnowCap has a good database today because Maude was persistent about getting things right.” Ballard explains her commitment to volunteer service this way: “I made up my mind that I was going to keep busy, keep helping my community for as long as I live.” There is a Maude Ballard Chair in the SnowCap business office. While current volunteers do use that chair when working, no one claims to fill it.
Ballard now resides in the independent living senior community at Russellville Park and uses TriMet Lift services to get around.
Giving now may reduce bite by IRS
'Tis tax tip time and, the folks at SnowCap Community Charities want to point out that donating now may be an opportunity to lessen your tax bill and assist needy persons in the community.
“If you think your tax bill is too high, consider making more charitable donations,” suggested SnowCap Executive Director Judy Alley. “Charitable contributions empower a person to choose what cause they want to support. They allow you to make an impact in your own community or far away,” she said. “They allow you to support volunteerism and private charity. You can choose how to make a difference for others if you get your charitable deductions in order before filing your taxes,” Alley added.
Charities such as SnowCap provide donors with an annual statement of giving to make documentation easier, she noted.
“Consult with a tax professional for advice on a particular situation,” she cautioned, “but very often charitable donations will decrease a person's taxable income.”
Tax-deductible donations to SnowCap can be made online at snowcap.org, by check through the postal service, or set up as automatic charges to a credit card or checking account. Remember to check with your employer to learn if matching funds are available. Dolores Livesay can help you choose the method that will work best for you. Call her at 503-674-8785 ext. 17.
“We should be aware of the many people in our community who are struggling with unemployment and underemployment. The number of families asking for food boxes is increasing each month. Tax deductible donations will help keep the SnowCap food pantry strong enough to meet the ever-increasing requests for help, especially to families with small children,” Alley said. “This truly is a win-win situation. Individuals can help their neighbors and themselves, too.”
 |
 |
 |
MEMO Advertising | MEMO Archives | MEMO Web Neighbors | MEMO Staff | Home