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From Our ED
As you will read below, SVPP recently held a great annual meeting -- lots of Partners and guests, an enlightening and inspiring speaker and great energy for strengthening SVPP and our
investments -- but this is just the tip of the iceberg for what is to come. With more Partners, great Investees, numerous volunteer engagement opportunities and new education and community building activities, SVP Portland is going to be
better and stronger. I look forward to sharing our plans as the summer progresses, but I want first to announce two very exciting developments:
SVPP AmeriCorps VISTA position - Because of our work to fight poverty in the community -- especially among children, youth and families -- the Corporation for National Service has approved SVPP for an AmeriCorps VISTA member.
Please contact me immediately if you know of a dynamic and motivated individual to help us build our partnership and community impact. VISTA Corps members receive a monthly stipend (currently $840), health insurance, relocation expenses,
a $4,700 education award (at the completion of their service year), among other benefits. More information can be found about our Partner and Program Manager position at www.svpportland.org/
SVPP moving to Center for Philanthropy - SVPP will be moving on July 1st to the new Center for Philanthropy at 221 NW 2nd Avenue, Portland. The Center was recently established by the Northwest Health Foundation to create a dynamic
and cooperative community of small grantmakers. We leave our beautiful Sellwood location (hosted by Partner Eli Morgan) with a heavy heart, but look forward to the collaboration and learning opportunities of working among fellow funders.
If anyone knows of high-quality office furniture that could be donated or sold at a low cost to us, please let me know.
-- Mark Holloway
SVPP News
Dr. Donna Beegle Speaks to SVPP at Annual Partners' Meeting
 
Left: Dr. Donna Beegle. Right: Mark Holloway addresses large audience attending our Annual Meeting.
 
Left: Dave Smith recaps SVPP highlights during the last year. Right: Valerie Ilsley received SVPP's Presidential award and Jeff Grubb was honored for his years of Board service.
On May 17, 2007, Partners, Investees and guests attended SVPP's Annual Partners' Meeting held at the World Forestry Center. The meeting provided great opportunities to reengage with
Partners, meet new faces and interact directly with all our Investees. The guest speaker, Donna M. Beegle, EdD, spoke about the dynamics of living in poverty, having lived in this powerless situation for 28 years herself. She also
sensitized everyone to the lack of knowledge by most of us on this subject, pointing out that our society and schools don't teach the history or dynamics of poverty. Her personal accounts of growing up in generations of poverty,
homelessness and illiteracy provided a riveting topic that captivated the large audience and motivated all of us to be more aware and active in fighting the causes of poverty.
SVPP Hosts Jim Lambright, Chairman of Export-Import Bank
 Together with Wells Fargo Private Banking, SVPP hosted a reception on May 9th for Mr. Jim
Lambright, President and Chairman of the Board of the Export-Import Bank of the United States. Mr. Lambright, a personal friend of Partner Rance Gregory, provided strong insight into the role that the Export-Import Bank plays in providing
insurance and financial guarantees to support U.S. export transactions that would not otherwise occur without credit support.
Investment Team Narrows Options for 2007 Grant
After months of diligence and hard work, the 2007 Investment Team has selected five finalists out of the 55 Letters of Inquiry received from organizations for our 2007 investment cycle.
All of these provide excellent opportunities for SVPP to participate in worthwhile causes in the Portland area and generate volunteering opportunities for SVPP Partners. In May, a survey was sent to SVPP Partners to share information and
solicit feedback on these finalists. The selection announcement will be made later this month. |
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Investee News
CASH Completes Second Year
CASH completed a highly successful second season of free tax preparation in partnership with AARP/Tax-Aide at four sites: Lloyd Center, downtown Hillsboro, Milwaukie (Clackamas County), and Rockwood. Over 2,200 returns were prepared
(compared to 750 last year), with more than $2.2 million in federal tax refunds and more than $847,000 in federal earned income credits. At the Lloyd Center site, we received 1,089 surveys from tax payers with demographic and other
important information to guide future strategies. Over 2,000 volunteer hours were contributed at Lloyd Center.
New Kids Café Opens in Hillsboro Site
 On May 18th, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland celebrated the grand opening of its expanded
facility in Hillsboro. Over 8,000 square feet of warehouse space adjacent to the existing Boys & Girls Club was renovated to include a Kids' Café kitchen, gym, teen fitness center and a multipurpose room. The total cost of the entire
purchase and renovation was $2 million. The event was well attended by funding organizations, community leaders and the press. Partner Valerie Ilsley (left) has been the lead for this project and also spoke at this event. The Hillsboro
Kids Café represents the last phase of SVPP's investment in the Kids Café project of The Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland. We are proud to have played a major role as lead investor and construction project management for these three Kids
Cafes. We are also proud of their impact in addressing hunger issues with Portland youth. |
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Welcome New Partners
Dave and Jean Akers - The Akers moved from West Springfield, Massachusetts this spring when Jean took a landscape architect
position with Vancouver-Clark Parks & Recreation District. Dave has been in the insurance business for the last 29 years, the last four as VP of the surety department for The Hartford. Dave is hoping to find something more meaningful to
do in his next career here in the Portland area. Both Dave and Jean love hiking and biking. They have two children, Ben, a PhD student at the University of Wisconsin in applied mathematics, and Josie, a marketing consultant in Kansas
City. Josie will be getting married in August
Earl Hines -  Earl serves as Executive Vice President of McGee
Financial Strategies, Inc. (founded and chaired by SVPP Partner Judith McGee), where he is responsible for co-managing operations, customer engagement, new business development, and for innovating services that maximize value for McGee's
clients and their families. Prior to joining McGee Financial, Earl enjoyed a 17-year career in high technology, including 13 years at Intel in a variety of marketing and sales executive roles. Earl is a member of the Financial Planners
Association, Oregon Entrepreneurs Network, and Software Association of Oregon. He is a graduate of North Carolina State University and has done extensive volunteer service for CASA for Kids (Court Appointed Special Advocates).
Deborah (Debbie) Tompkins - Debbie is the principal and founder of Tompkins Consulting Companies in which she partners with small to mid-size employers
and non-profit organizations in the specialties of benefits and human resources. Deborah has shared her experience in these areas teaching at Portland State University, as well as being a guest speaker for several regional conferences and
organizations. Deborah received her undergraduate degree with high honors from Washington State University and obtained her Chartered Life Underwriter designation from the American College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Debbie's family includes
her husband, Doug and their 2 children. She enjoys staying physically active and especially when she and her family bike in sunny Central Oregon. |
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Calendar |
June 21, 5:30 - 9:00 pm: Grantmakers' Summer Social at OMSI's Body Worlds 3
June 27, 7:30 – 9:00 am: SVPP New Partners' Orientation. Please contact SVPP office for details.
July 19, 11:45 am - 1:30 pm: Grantmakers session: Philanthropy that Reflects the Community
July 28, 1:00 - 4:00 pm: Partners' Summer Social. Details to follow.
(All events are for Partners and invited guests only)
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SVPP Summer Social
The annual SVPP Summer Social will be held on Saturday, July 28th from 1:00-4:00 pm. Our Investee, The Boys & Girls Club of Metropolitan Portland has generously offered to host us for an
enjoyable afternoon for families at their Wattles Club in Southeast Portland. As we end our current investment in the Boys & Girls Club Kids Cafes, we look for this event to be a celebration of the investment of time and money that our
Partners have made in the Kids Café project over the past three years. It will also be a time for Partners to socialize and enjoy time with one another and their families. More information on this event will arrive in Partners' mail
boxes in the coming days.
SVPP New Partner Orientation
On June 27th at 7:30-9:00am, we will host an orientation session for all new Partners and Partners who wish to learn more about opportunities to be engaged in our mission. The orientation
will allow new Partners to
• Meet one another and engaged Partners
• Learn about our current Investees and volunteer opportunities with each of them
• Review their skills, interests and availability for engaging in SVPP's mission
All Partners are welcome to attend, but we encourage you to let us know of your interest. Please also let us know if you have prospective Partners who might be interested in attending this session.
The orientation will be hosted by Partner Rance Gregory at 121 SW Morrison St., 2nd Floor Conference Room. Please contact
Mark Holloway to RSVP.
Upcoming Grantmakers Sessions:
SVPP Partners are invited to attend the following members-only events for Grantmakers of Oregon and Southwest Washington:
Thursday, June 21, 5:30 pm-9:00 pm
Grantmakers Summer Social
OMSI – Copeland Lumber Dining Room
$40, includes appetizers, beverages and access to Body Works 3 exhibit
Thursday, July 17, 11:45 am-1:30 pm
Third Thursday Program: Philanthropy that Reflects the Community
Portland, exact location TBA
$10, lunch provided
Register for these events at:
register@gosw.org or contact the SVPP office for more information.
Social Venture Partners Links
Many of our partners are interested in learning about the activities of the broader SVPI organization. Here are two informative links that will allow you to view activities in
other communities and view SVPI Newsletters (
SVP Communities,
SVPI Newsletters).
Your Comments are Welcome
If you have any comments on this Newsletter regarding its content or organization, please send them to
Les Soltesz.
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