Deschutes Childrens Foundation Blog

Can $15.00 Really Make a Difference?

Did you know that it costs Deschutes Children’s Foundation $15.00 for every child and parent who comes to one of our four nonprofit community centers to receive services?

So what does this cost entail?

It provides:

• Office and classroom space for 26 nonprofit agencies to provide services
• Facility management to ensure the community centers are safe and clean
• Kitchen space to provide hot, healthy meals for children and families

So here’s the challenge – if every one of our followers on Twitter, fans on Facebook, and e-newsletter subscribers were to make a $15.00 donation, we will meet our 2011 fundraising goal of $10,000.00.

Here’s how you can make a difference in a child’s life:

• Donate online at www.deschuteschildrensfoundation.org/donations

• Mail your gift to:

Deschutes Children’s Foundation

1010 NW 14th Street

Bend, OR 97701

(Must be postmarked by December 31, 2011 for 2011 tax deduction)

• Call 541-388-3101 to make a donation using your credit card

Thank you from all of us at Deschutes Children’s Foundation for supporting the work of so many!

 

The broad benefits of co-location

For tenants, fixed long-term leases at affordable rates provide stability and confidence for the future. Meanwhile, cost-sharing for common areas (reception, conference rooms, kitchen, break rooms) and even some administrative functions (I.T., phone systems, human resources) helps reduce their monthly overhead.

-Center Scene: A Newsletter of the Center for Healthy Communities

It’s no secret that the economy is having a negative impact on just about every sector in America. From an insider’s perspective – the nonprofit sector is feeling the crunch as well.

With nonprofits reporting a “mixed bag” in fundraising revenues for 2011 (http://t.co/gUfuqi0G), there has to be a way to help nonprofits make the best use of their operational dollars.

This is where the benefits of co-location come in. When nonprofit programs have the opportunity to work in a shared work environment, the benefits to the nonprofits range from financial to collaborative. These benefits extend even further to the clients who receive services from the nonprofits.

Think about it, if a nonprofit can reduce overhead costs through reduced rent, sharing of utility costs, and sharing of common areas, a higher percentage of expenses can go into program costs. Additionally, when the nonprofits work together in a shared space, program staff have the opportunity to share ideas, collaborate on projects and refer clients for complete services.

At Deschutes Children’s Foundation, we see these benefits every day. 26 nonprofit agencies work out of our four community campuses. This collaborative effort results in over $800,000 of annual savings to the nonprofits who provide services to over 10,000 clients on the campuses alone (this last metric does not take into account the clients who receive services off-site).

There is a growing movement in co-location within the nonprofit industry, and we support this growth. Having experienced the benefits firsthand, we know that this is a way to increase nonprofit efficiency while making the best use of the donations on which the nonprofit programs rely.

 

Save the Date!

It seems like it was just yesterday that DCF(‘s awesome) volunteers and staff were preparing the Riverhouse Hotel and Convention Center for the 19th Annual Art & Wine Auction. Over 320 fantastic supporters of DCF mission and services contributed to making the auction a real success!

Well, go ahead and mark your calendars folks because the Art & Wine Auction is turning 20 this year, and you are all invited to help us celebrate on Saturday, May 5, 2012 at the Riverhouse Convention Center!

Over the next month we will keep you posted on the preliminary details including who the Signature Artist will be and how you can contribute to making the 20th Annual Art & Wine Auction a smashing success!

In the mean time, are there artists, wineries, or packages that you would like to see at the auction this year? Let us know! This is your event after all.

 

 

Collaboration in the Community Fosters Results

When Deschutes Children’s Foundation started 21 years ago, it was in response to a clear community need for a “one-stop” facility for human service programs directly serving children and families. Over this 21 year span, Deschutes Children’s Foundation has managed five facilities and currently manages four campuses in Bend, Redmond and La Pine. The 26 campus programs are able to save, collectively, over $800,000 every year due to the rent-free space they receive from Deschutes Children’s Foundation. While this clear impact to the bottom line is incredibly beneficial to these programs, it is the collaboration and efficiency that fosters improved results.

The benefit of efficiency and collaboration to clients is of the greatest importance. Program client, Tasha, says:

We’re a low income family and there are times we don’t have the money for gas, or don’t have the availability to have a vehicle that’s ready for meand 5 children. The likelihood to be able to find that many places on my own isn’t really that great anyways, and being able to visit that many organizations in one building is unbelievably perfect. I couldn’t do it if I had to find them all separately.

When clients can have increased access to service programs, they are in a better position to get the help and support they need quicker and easier. The result is clients devoting less time to getting their needs met and putting more time into taking care of themselves and their family. There is nothing harder for a wage earner to have to miss multiple days of work or spend time going from office to office to receive support.

The benefit of collaboration also yields positive results with the programs. Says Julie Lyche, Program Director of Family Access Network:

One of the really nice things about being co-located with other non-profits is that we’re able to walk down the hall and talk to groups about issues with families, and as a family comes to us and needs services, we can immediately help them. By being able to have facility fees that are very low, by being able to share a copy machine, by being able to share a scanner – those are the kinds of things that don’t sound too exciting. Really, our bottom line is benefitted by that, and it directly helps us push more of that money toward the families which is ultimately what we want to be doing.

Collaboration between programs creates mutually beneficial opportunities for sharing resources, referring clients and getting support on difficult cases. Many of the programs on Deschutes Children’s Foundation campuses have similar goals: to support the children and families of our community. When they work together, more people are able to receive support.

Tomorrow kicks off a week of events for the Sagebrush Community Challenge. This is an exciting opportunity for 106 Central Oregon non-profits. Sagebrush has recognized a diversity of need in the community and has come up with a unique, but powerful response - facilitate a fundraising campaign for Central Oregon non-profits, then match a percentage of the money these non-profits raise.

We have seen how collaboration can be successful when programs work together on service delivery, but now we are seeing over 100 non-profit programs work together on the most competitive aspect of the non-profit sector: fundraising.

This week will prove to be full of fun and exciting events all in support of one thing: working together to make our community a better place. Find out how you can take part in the Sagebrush Community Challenge and support the efforts of over 100 community programs!

 

Fostering Resilience in Children (Pt.2)

Last week we began a discussion about the resilience in children – their ability to bounce back after challenging situations. At Deschutes Children’s Foundation, we are very fortunate to have resident programs on our four community campuses that work with children to teach them skills and provide them with support to persevere through life’s struggles.

Here are five more tips to employ when you are working with youth who need a little extra help handling the stresses of life.

Continued from last week:

1. Take Control – During stressful times it is common to simply feel out of control. Get some of that control back by taking decisive action.
2. Express Yourself – Talk to somebody – a parent or a friend – and if talking doesn’t work do something else to capture your emotions like journaling or creating art
3. Help Somebody – Try volunteering in the community, cleaning-up around the house or helping a friend with his or her homework.
4. Put Things in Perspective – Think about other times when you got through tough situations or faced up to your fears. Learn relaxation techniques. Think about the good things around you that have remained consistent. And remember, when you talk about bad times, make sure you talk about the good times too.
5. Turn it Off – During times of stress, the news can contribute to your stressful feelings. It is important to stay informed, but sometimes no news is good news.

When employing resilience skills, some people may find they use a different mix of strategies. This is why it is important to learn a multitude of approached to handle the challenging times.

For additional conversations about resilience, check out this posting from the Women and Children’s Health Network.

Fostering Resilience in Children

For any of us who have spent time around children, we can all agree that children have an uncanny ability to bounce back despite hardships. For many years the topic of resilience in children has been discussed  by youth service workers, psychologists, and researchers  as a solution to many of the common (or not so common) problems children encounter every day. But what does this mean?

We all have built-in coping skills. Think of how you perform in times of pressure, or how you wind down after a hard day at school or work…These are ways that you cope with life’s stresses. The challenge as you get older is a collective consciousness about stress and hardships and how to deal with them. Adults and older youths also have more stressors: from relationships, to finances, to work-related stress.

Fortunately children do not have many of the stressors adults and older youths deal with on a daily basis. This is why fostering resilience in children during the early stages of life is crucial. When children learn ways to cope with life’s challenges, this will only put them in a greater position to respond well under pressure as adults.

This week we have been tweeting tips that children and teens can use to handle those challenging situations. Here are 5 of the tips we shared this week:

1. Get Together – Talk with your friends, parents and family about some of the challenges you are experiencing. Utilize the life experience that other people have so you can gain a clearer perspective about what is going on around you, and use those people for support – a shoulder to cry on, perhaps – during difficult times. Become part of a community – church or school group – for an even greater support network.
2. Cut Yourself Some Slack - Stresses tend to compound, and the more you let stress build, they will play a greater impact on how you feel. Go easy on yourself, and your friends, when something bad happens.
3. Create a Hassle-Free Zone – It is important to have a personal retreat for yourself when things are tough. This should be a space where you can feel at peace and comfortable. At the same time, remember that your support network wants to be there for you during tough times, so be open to letting them in.
4. Stick to the Program – Consistency is key when dealing with stress. There are also many opportunities for you to try new things – both positive and negative. When times are tough, stick to what you know – whether it’s getting a cup of coffee with friends or reading a book before bed – because routines can give you comfort.
5. Take Care of Yourself – Be sure to take care of yourself physically, mentally and spiritually. And get enough sleep at night. When you are sharp, you will respond better during times of stress.

Of course, there are many ways to take care of yourself – and encourage others to take care of themselves – so be creative in finding those ways to deal with stressful situations. Next week we will continue this topic and discuss several other strategies. If you have your own strategies, share them with us because surely they will be helpful for others!

Celebrating Fathers

With Father’s Day just two days away, and being a first year father myself, I’ve been thinking about the important role dad’s play on the development of their children.

There are measurable differences between children who are raised in homes with a father and those raised in homes without a father. These children exhibit different levels of self worth, social competence, and the likelihood to use drugs – to name a few. The fact of the matter is an active father enables his children to increase social competencies and decrease negative behaviors.

This weekend as you celebrate Father’s Day – whether as a father, a mother or a child – realize how important fathers are in the lives of their children and be proud of the important role you play.

Happy Father’s Day!

Sagebrush Community Challenge

Deschutes Children’s Foundation is excited to be a part of the Sagebrush Community Challenge Fundraising Campaign. Every dollar that you donate to Deschutes Children’s Foundation through Sagebrush will receive a matching gift through the Sagebrush Community Challenge Match Fund. You have until August 15, 2011 to donate to the Sagebrush Community Challenge Fundraising Campaign. Please visit www.sagebrush.org to make a donation today!

The Sagebrush Community Challenge events will begin in Bend, Oregon on July 9. Here is some additional information about ways you can participate. Proceeds from these events will go into the Sagebrush Community Challenge Match Fund:

Saturday, July 9

• Sagebrush Community Challenge & Scramble – This is a scavenger-hunt that will take you all over Downtown Bend. Score the most points and you win! http://sagebrush.org/communitychallenge/

Wednesday, July 13

• Street Fare – Local restaurants and Deschutes Brewery will be pairing food and beer while you relax and take-in some live music in downtown Bend  http://sagebrush.org/street-fare/

Thursday, July 14

• Private Dinners – Celebrity chefs will be serving elegant entrees in private homes. The food drinks and hospitality will be the best of the best! http://sagebrush.org/privatedinner/

Friday, July 15

• Sagebrush Classic – 52 Foursomes will compete for cash, trophies & bragging rights. The Classic is a golf benefit for Deschutes Children’s Foundation, held at Broken Top Country Club in Bend, Oregon. http://sagebrush.org/golfclassic/

Saturday, July 16

• Sagebrush Feast – This will be a night to remember! Enjoy Craft beers and foods prepared by some of the world’s best chefs, and live music from one of the country’s most elctrifying bands – The Show.  http://sagebrush.org/feast/

For more information about supporting Deschutes Children’s Foundation and Sagebrush, visit www.deschuteschildrensfoundation.org or call 541-388-3101

19th Annual Art & Wine Auction an Extraordinary Success!

The 19^th Annual Deschutes Children’s Foundation Art & Wine Auction – held Friday, May 20 at the Riverhouse Convention Center in Bend, Oregon – was an extraordinary success. The event netted over $95,000, a total including sponsorships and revenue raised at the auction. On behalf of the staff and Board of Directors of Deschutes Children’s Foundation, thank you for your support in making this success possible!

The silent auction featured 90 individual items and packages, and the live auction featured 30 items – all donated by local artists, businesses and individuals. This many items were necessary to provide a wide enough variety for a sold out crowd of 330 guests! All of the guests had the opportunity to sample beverages from Deschutes Brewery, Ninkasi Brewing Company, Oregon Spirit Distillers, Henry Estates Winery, Southern Wine Group & Willamette Valley Vineyards, and the chefs at the Riverhouse Convention Center outdid themselves this year by preparing an elegant meal paired with wine from Sokol Blosser Winery. Needless to say, our guests left satisfied not just because of the feast and fun, but because they were spending an evening supporting Deschutes Children’s Foundation.

The Art & Wine Auction is Deschutes Children’s Foundation’s largest annual fund raiser. The dollars raise at the Art & Wine Auction go directly towards operational costs that manage four community campuses in Bend, Redmond & La Pine, and provide rent-free facilities for 27 Deschutes County non-profit programs that include: FAN, KIDS Center, Head Start, Healthy Beginnings, MountainStar Family Relief Nursery & Saving Grace. Deschutes Children’s Foundation saves these programs an estimated $800,000 annually. Close collaboration with a synergistic mix of programs housed together fosters effective, efficient, easy to find and child-friendly facilities.

Next year will mark the 20^th Anniversary of the Art & Wine Auction. Keep posted as we are currently deciding on a date for this landmark event. This will surely be an event not to be missed!

Thank you to our sponsors, including: Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, Selco Community Credit Union, Les Schwab Tire Centers, 105.7 KQAK FM, News Radio Central Oregon 1340 KBNW, Cascade Publications, KOHD, Bend Bulletin, BendBroadband & Riverhouse Hotel and Convention Center.

 

Oregon Landscape Photographer, Mike Putnam presents “Summit Sunrise”

In 1998, Mike Putnam and his wife, Debbie, moved to Bend, Oregon because of their passion for the stunning natural beauty of the Central Oregon area.  Shortly after moving to Oregon, Mike’s love for wild places led him to become a professional landscape photographer.  His first professional photographic purchase was a large format 4×5 film camera which he uses to capture all of the images in his fine art photography collection.  This old wooden camera allows Mike unparalleled perspective control and impeccable image detail not found in other camera formats.  In addition to the exceptional image quality possible with this old cherry wood camera, Mike also prefers the more deliberate compositional process that it necessitates.

Mike frequently displays his landscape photography throughout Oregon.  His fine art prints  can be found in countless corporate and private collections across the United States.  An abbreviated list of Mike’s local corporate collectors includes: U.S. Bank, Bank of the Cascades, Orvis, St Charles Medical Center, Brooks Resources, RBC Wealth Management, and Advisory Services and Investments LLC.  To view a current list of Mike’s Photography exhibits, please visit his website at Mike Putnam Photography.

A mild photographic obsession eventually culminated in one of Mike’s favorite fine art photographs, “Summit Sunrise”.  Having climbed Central Oregon’s South Sister many times before, Mike was familiar with the breathtaking view from South Sisters summit.  He was also familiar with the arduous climb involved.  A 5,000ft climb to South Sister’s 10,358 ft summit while carrying 40 pounds of photographic equipment and snow camping gear would not be for the faint of heart.  Mike’s first two overnight climbing and photographic expeditions to the summit were thwarted by extreme weather.  On Mike’s third expedition, the snow was deep, and the night was frigid but the morning brought a glorious and calm sunrise.  As alpenglow bathed the Oregon Cascades, Mike knew he had the image he was after!  With close inspection, one can see Middle Sister, North Sister, Three Fingered Jack, Black Butte, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, Mt. Rainier, and Mt. St. Helens.  His efforts had definitely been worth while!

This is the first edition of “Summit Sunrise” that has ever been  donated for charity purposes.  It is Mike’s hope that his quest to capture “Summit Sunrise”  will help to serve the needs of children who are the future of our wonderful Central Oregon Communities.

For those who are interested in viewing other fine art landscape photographs on Mike website, please visit the following link, Oregon Landscape Photographer, Mike Putnam.