MAF’S 21ST YEAR – A TIME OF CHANGE AND GROWTH
Although the Multnomah Athletic Foundation is a separate entity from the MAC, we share values and culture. Family matters to both organizations. This year our MAF “family” experienced a major change. Sandi Hart, our executive director, retired after 7 wonderful years of service to the Foundation. Sandi had been a part of the MAC “family” prior to her years with MAF so the Sandi’s departure was felt by many. As only the second executive director in our 21 year history, Sandi helped the Foundation Board grow and develop. Thanks to Sandi from the many MAF directors with whom she worked over the years.
Our search for a new executive director brought us several qualified candidates and one exceptional candidate, Lisa Bendt. Lisa, like Sandi, came to the foundation from the MAC where she worked for 4 years as the club’s training coordinator. She has brought many skills including marketing, branding, computer knowledge, and, of course, training. Thanks to Lisa’s knowledge and energy and a highly engaged and energetic board, we have been a bustling, enthusiastic group.
A key to our enthusiasm is the continued strong support of the Multnomah Athletic Foundation by MAC members. Your annual contributions, memorials, and honorariums continue to strengthen and grow our resources. You make it possible for MAF to meet our mission of supporting character and confidence building opportunities for youth with an emphasis on athletic participation. Thanks to your gifts over the years we are able to support a myriad of scholarships and grants. Here is a 2012 recap of this wonderful generosity:
Joe Loprinzi Scholarships – These highly competitive scholarships totaling $23,000 in 2012 were given to four graduating high school seniors: Alexa Mull, Aloha High School; Robel Hailee, Jefferson High School; Taylor Bowen, David Douglas High School; and Brian Wojahn, Wilson High School.
James and Marion Miller MAC Scholar Athlete Scholarships – These annual awards are presented to 26 high school sophomores totaled $39,000 for their higher education.
Fay Sasser Scholarships – This scholarship is available to MAC employees, their children or grandchildren. After personal interviews, these six individuals shared $5,000 for higher education: Amy Birmingham, McKenzie Zuleger, Kayley Oka, Kaitlin Rich, Nick Koretskyy and Elena Ornelas
Michael Scott Miller Scholarship – Christopher Short received the $1,000 scholarship given to a graduating senior from the men’s MAC gymnastics program.
Stephani Turner Scholarship – Kori Carpenter received the $1,000 scholarship given to an athlete in the MAC aquatics program.
Mel Fox Memorial Scholarship – Henry Schoepp received the $1,500 scholarship given to a graduating senior from Franklin High School.
MAF community grants – From our general endowment fund in 2012, we provided community grants to 17 nonprofit organizations totaling $29,250. The applying organizations were vetted by MAF directors and voted upon by the entire board. Our grantee partners this year were: Bike First, De La Salle North Catholic High School, Matt Dishman Community Center (Knott Street Boxing), Friends of Grant Athletics, Black Widow Softball, Cascade AIDS Project, Peninsula Wrestling, Franklin Great Fields Project, Happy Trail Riding Center, NE Community Center Basketball 4 All program, Oregon Disability Sports, Roosevelt Youth Football, Gladstone Educational Foundation.
Tom Wrightson endowment grants – Several youth organizations received grants as well as the Rose Bud Junior Squash Tournament, the Oregon Junior Squash Tournament, and the Oregon Squash Double Championship for a total of $5200.
The growth of MAF occurred not only in our funds which are held with the Oregon Community Foundation but with our outreach and activities. Due to a board retreat held in the spring, ad hoc committees were formed to address topics ranging from events to grants to scholarships. As a result we held our first Hash House Harrier Run, studied the efficacy of the return of the NW Shootout, developed new timelines and processes for grants, clarified scholarship procedures, and brought the foundation into the technological age. We have made great strides in increasing awareness of our work via strong efforts from directors.
Although the NW Shootout did not take place in 2012, it will return in April of 2013. Thanks to the dedicated work of many individuals there will be sponsors for the upcoming Shootout. Be watching for news of exciting changes in this event as it expands to include younger players prior to the big game.
A new program is being developed with the Oregon Sports Authority Foundation. Conversations with Executive Director Drew Mahalic led MAF and OSA to recognize our aligned missions. As a result we will combine our resources to provide a “Healthy Youth Oregon” grant to Marysville Elementary School in NE Portland. Marysville has a free and reduced lunch rate of 90%. Students will receive these opportunities that they otherwise could not afford. This before and after-school program will provide an opportunity for more than 100 students to participate in fun physical games like soccer, kickball, hop-scotch, basketball and others. Each of the two foundations will be providing $5,000 which will cover the cost of instructors, equipment and snacks for the school year.
None of this happens without an incredibly active board of directors. It has truly been a privilege to work with the following who have all given hours and hours of their time so as to enable MAF to increase our ability to serve the youth of our broader community: The 2012-2013 directors are: Ron Thompson, Alan Jensen, Kandis Brewer Nunn, Scott Cress, David DeBlasio, Martha Denison, Ken Eagon, Ron Emmerson, Agnes Hoffman, Katie Hull, Craig Iverson, Mary Jubitz, Mark New, Randy Norris, Peter Ruppe, Scott Sakamoto, Grant Yoshihara, George Spencer and Darwin Green.
As a closing thought...is it time for you to consider establishing an endowment to honor someone in your family or perhaps a close friend? Take a look again above and see if there is a way you could enhance a program. Others have done this and they are making a difference. Another option is to contribute to one of the existing MAF endowment funds or designate a gift to the new program in cooperation with OSA. Why not consider a bequest to MAF? You can make a difference in the lives of youth in our community through your generosity. Let us know how we can enable you to help others.
Julie S. Vigeland
President, Board of Directors