CommuniCare grantmakers are stepping up in a variety of ways during the COVID-19 crisis – and the students at Pendleton High School were recently recognized for their leadership and dedication. This year, Pendleton High School’s CommuniCare students not only completed their nonprofit interviews virtually, but they also chose to invest in a virtual education project at a local nonprofit. Read … Read More
Let’s Celebrate!
CommuniCare will be hosting a Virtual Grant Awards Ceremony on Monday, June 15 from 1:00-2:00 PM! This special event will celebrate our amazing youth grantmakers, this year’s nonprofit recipients, and the power of community – even during the most challenging of times. It will not look exactly like our traditional ceremonies, but it will be no less joyful. We look … Read More
Awards Ceremonies Update
What a year it’s been! We look forward to coming together and celebrating the accomplishments of our youth grantmakers and their nonprofit recipients. CommuniCare Awards Ceremony events usually take place in May, but they have been postponed until June due to COVID-19. Please stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks!
Remembering Arlene
We are deeply saddened by the loss of Arlene Schnitzer, our founder and inspiration, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 91. A beloved philanthropist known throughout the Portland area, Arlene woke up every day and worked hard to make the world a better place. Her contributions transformed the local community and her impact will be felt for … Read More
CommuniCare Remote Learning Plan
The CARE Foundation is cautiously preparing for a disruption to the program year due to school closures resulting from COVID-19. We know that closures of any length will create a strain on everyone’s bandwidth, and we are here to support you. If it is not possible for upcoming nonprofit interviews to take place in-person, CommuniCare groups are encouraged to follow … Read More
Accepting Grant Applications through January 13
CommuniCare grant applications for the 2019-2020 school year are due by Monday, January 13! Each of our school groups has identified an issue or service area they feel passionate about and is hard at work fundraising throughout the winter. The CARE Foundation will match each dollar they raise 10:1, up to $15,000. In the spring, hundreds of student grantmakers will … Read More
2018 CommuniCare Leadership Retreat: The Art of Storytelling
Today, CommuniCare is at 26 partner schools and organizations, including nearly all comprehensive Portland Public High Schools, three schools on the North Coast and three schools in Eastern Oregon. Close to 2,000 students have participated and over $1.25 million has been granted to almost 300 nonprofits. Honoring his parent’s legacy, Jordan D. Schnitzer says, “We wanted to figure out a way to help high … Read More
CommuniCare Kicks Off New Year
This year marks the 22nd year of the CommuniCare program! Since it was founded by Harold and Arlene Schnitzer in 1997, the program has grown to include 26 participating schools in Oregon. CommuniCare is a year-long grantmaking program that gives students an opportunity to learn more about issues that affect their communities and to develop a deeper commitment to social activism. The program asks participants to raise … Read More
Welcome, Kelli Schlegelmilch!
Kelli is originally from Wisconsin, but she has called the Pacific Northwest home for the past seven years. She just returned to Portland from Seattle where she worked with nonprofits as a coordinator and facilitator of educational programs for refugee youth. Through this experience, she gained a better understanding of the challenges newly-arrived families face and a much greater appreciation … Read More
Students Make Grants to Local Nonprofits
CommuniCare encourages the leadership potential in every student by putting them in the driver’s seat as community grantmakers. Student ownership is a cornerstone of the program and The CARE Foundation. The participants decide what their group wants to prioritize and fund each year, how they want to raise their money, who to interview, and who should ultimately receive their grants. … Read More
