TA DA!
It's Maura K. White, Executive Director Portland Parks Foundation has unanimously selected Maura White as Executive Director. A Portland native, Maura has spent the past 18 years with the Police Activities League, most recently as Executive Director. Her proven track record managing and leading nonprofits, her passion for parks, and her broad knowledge of the Portland community make her the perfect person for this post. Click here for Maura’s bio.
Some things won’t change with Maura at the lead—the Foundation’s focus is to deliver private dollars into three aspects of our urban parks: the land, the amenities, and the people. But expect fresh ideas and new approaches to making it all happen.
In just a few months, Maura has added members to the Board with an emphasis on diversity of skills and experience. She has initiated new relationships and cemented old ones, all of which will contribute to furthering the influence of the Foundation and our aims.
New Board members... The new additions to the Board include:
Charles A. Hales Charlie’s involvement with parks goes back to 1992, when he was elected City Commissioner, managing the Bureau of Parks & Recreation.
As Senior Vice President of HDR Engineering, Charlie is one of a small team of national staff closely involved with the Obama Administration, making recommendations for how federal transit funding can better support livable communities and urban development plans.
Charlie’s in-depth knowledge of the Portland parks system and commitment to parks as a key ingredient in the city’s quality of life brought him to the Foundation Board. He wants to ensure access to parks programs for kids throughout the city and help in programs aimed at juvenile obesity.
Kimberlynn M. Heller, D.O. Kim is a recent transplant to Portland from the Midwest. Before her current position of Associate at Gateway Women’s Clinic, she was Chief Resident at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, Illinois.
Kim plans to use her energy and enthusiasm to address her concern that parks and park services are not being utilized by the underserved members of the community. She wants to see African Americans and Hispanic Americans in Portland learn to swim, hike and explore the world around them.
Her interests include travel, fishing, contemporary literature and participation in church and sorority activities as well as park-related activities such as camping, hiking and biking.
...and more In addition, Maura has concluded a long search for a new Treasurer for the Foundation. He and another to-be-elected Board member will be introduced in the next newsletter.
A focused vision With nearly ten years behind us, Maura is leading the way in setting a new vision. The Foundation Board is participating in strategic sessions from which plans will emerge to direct our work for the next ten years. As these ideas take more concrete form, we will keep you apprised.
Foundation Awarded $12,500 in National Competition Share Our Strength is a national organization which weaves together a net of community groups, activists and food programs to supply children facing hunger with nutritious food where they live, learn and play. Based on a proposal by Development Director Sherry Manning, Share Our Strength chose the Foundation to compete for its No Kid Hungry Innovation Award. We tied with a New Jersey nonprofit and split the prize of $25,000.
We thank the Foundation’s Board, Leadership Council, donors, friends and families who mobilized their social networks to vote for our cause and win this grant. Award funds will support programming in 2011.
A Lively Summer--Free For All
Bring your friends, family and out of town visitors to one of the many activities in parks this summer. There are movies for all ages, concerts for all tastes, dancing, drumming, and climbing walls. The Foundation is a Lead Sponsor, and we are delighted to help to bring these events to Portland – free for all! Free For All schedule for your convenience.
Roll out for Sunday Parkways These monthly events, coordinated by the City's Transportation Department, are about connecting neighborhoods and people: walkers, runners, bicyclists, seniors, adults, and children all enjoying traffic-free streets filled with surprises, performers, physical activities and food. The 6-8 mile routes connect Portland's beautiful parks and offer a chance for participants to listen to music, try activities such as hula hooping, or just relax and enjoy the smiling faces.
Encouraged by Board member Randy Sell, we are committed to hosting a booth each month at one of the parks. We've already been at Wilshire, Peninsula and Ed Benedict Park. Come and find us at Laurelhurst Park (August 15th) and Couch Park (September 26th). Stop by the booth, or join us in sharing the story of PPF with passers-by. Click here for more information about Parkways.
Opening a Safer Couch Park Playground PPF staff participated with Portland Parks & Recreation staff, Commissioner Dan Saltzman, and many other partners in the grand "re-opening" ceremony at Couch Park in June. Funded by the 2002 Operating Levy and a grant to the Foundation from the Opus Foundation, improvements to the park include safety and accessibility upgrades in the playground and a partition of the children's area from the off-leash dog area. Movie, Music, Sports, Dinner on a Summer Night. Who Could Ask For More? Join Board Members and supporters of Portland Park Foundation at a Movie in the Park. On Friday, August 20 Remember the Titans starring Denzel Washington, will play at Irving Park on NE 7th and Fremont. Pre-movie entertainment starts at 6:30 pm and will feature The River City Band and a mobile rock climbing wall. The movie will begin at dusk. Pack a picnic, bring your favorite beverage and a blanket, and join us on the grass to watch one of Maura’s favorite movies.
Thanks, Kelley Family Foundation For the second summer in a row, Kelley Family Foundation is providing funds ($10,000) to staff Portland Parks & Recreation’s mobile climbing wall program which reaches out to children in parks all over the city all summer long. We appreciate the long-term relationship that we’ve had with the Kelley Family which began with their support of bouldering walls in Portland community centers.
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