Soroptimist International of La Grande award over $39,000 in grant funding

ISABELLA CROWLEY, The Observer, La Grande, Ore.
·3 min read

LA GRANDE — A local organization awarded more than $39,000 to mission- and community-based requests in Union County.

Soroptimist International of La Grande recognized the 18 community groups and individuals who received funding through the Community Benefits Project during a luncheon hosted in April at Urban Vine.

The funding is raised through the Soroptimist’s annual Festival of Trees, according to Community Benefits Committee Chair Jacque Harvey. In the past 10 years, the festival has returned $1 million back into the community.

To qualify for funding, projects must support the Soroptimist mission of “empowering women and girls through education or helping with resources to help women and girls reach their full potential and live their dreams.”

The following organizations and community members received funding:

• Art Center East received funds to help support free youth art classes.

• Larissa Bomberger, a physical therapist at Grande Ronde Hospital, received funds to cover the cost of shipping an 8-year-old patient’s wheelchair and gait training equipment when the family was moving across state lines.

• Training and Employment Consortium received funds to supply GED materials, provide on the job training and assist women with costs associated with furthering their education or vocational training.

• La Grande Main Street Downtown received funds to support four yearly Women in Business events.

• Sydney Cox received funds to purchase the initial supplies for the business start up of Sydney’s Drink and Design

• Child Care Resource and Referral received funding to purchase new books for its Story Time Express program, where the organization visits local child care providers to read stories and give a new book to each child.

• Blue Mountain Single Track Trails Club received funding towards the pump track project at Pioneer Park.

• Shelter from the Storm received funding for updates to the organization's safe house and the purchase of safety items.

• Lisa Reddington, received funding to purchase a mobility scooter for Mona Tuck. Tuck, who had terminal cancer, passed away in early April.

• The Oregon Department of Human Services received funds to promote recruitment of new families to provide respite care and foster care in Union County through radio ads and social media posts.

• Deb Martell received funds to attend the ClickerExpo in Portland to further her business Good Vibes Dog Training.

• Tanya Amorosino, received funds to purchase a scientific calculator necessary for college

• CASA of Eastern Oregon received funds for the organization or resource families to help youth in their care with self expression. This could be through taking the youth shopping for new clothing and room decor or for haircuts and hairstyling.

• Angela D’Antonio received funds to cover the startup costs for an online tutoring business that helps dyslexia students with reading and spelling.

• Girl Scout Troop 50145 received funds to help 50 students in Union County get assessed for dyslexia. This helps the students in need seek the necessary support and services.

• Northeast Oregon Area Health Education Center received funds to purchase meals and T-shirts the organization’s annual Investigator of Science event

• Eastern Oregon University GED Program received funds to purchase GED test vouchers for 20 students.

• Cook Memorial Library received funds to build a family workstation in the children’s section. This will allow parents an enclosed space where they can keep their children close by and entertained while working on a computer.