Foundation has money for kids' programs

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An Oregon Community Foundation committee plans to begin doling out money to programs that successfully link kids with adult mentors.

Leaders of the foundation’s Southern Oregon regional action initiative chose to support mentoring as a way to tackle regional problems in Jackson, Josephine, Klamath and Lake counties, the foundation announced earlier. Now they are calling on organizations that provide mentoring programs to apply for money to build their programs or support and train staff or volunteers.

The regional group, one of seven around the state, has $1 million from the foundation to use as it wishes to support innovative programs that seek long-term solutions to pervasive regional problems.

According to the foundation’s Web site, the regional groups researched local problems and planned ways to help in 2008 and 2009. The Southern Oregon group selected youth mentoring projects and is now implementing its plan and distributing funds.

Mentoring programs can submit their proposals until Feb. 18. For information, visit the Regional Action Initiative pages at www.oregoncf.org or contact Rachelle Schaaf, Southern Oregon RAI coordinator at 541-778-1637 or rachelleschaaf@hotmail.com.

— Anita Burke

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