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

Two nonprofit representative receiving their grant check at award ceremony.

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!

Headshot of 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

CommuniCare Announces First Annual Winter Leadership Retreat

CommuniCare is spearheading its first annual Winter Leadership Retreat on Thursday, March 1 at the Portland Art Museum. The retreat’s theme is “Empathy: How Great Leaders Build Common Ground” with 120 students, from 9 schools across 4 districts, expected to be in attendance. The retreat’s agenda explores questions such as why is empathy a leadership skill and how do we … Read More

All Classical Portland Radio Segment featuring Jordan D. Schnitzer & CommuniCare

CommuniCare Students Enjoying Every Brilliant Thing at Portland Center Stage

Our friends at All Classical Portland joined us for the 2017 CommuniCare Arts Experience kick off at Portland Center Stage. Over 90 students had the opportunity to get a behind the scenes tour of The Armory and learn about all the roles that aide in the development and execution of a theatrical production. As grantmakers CommuniCare students are often drawn … Read More

Oregon Symphony CommuniCare Arts Experience

The Music of Michael Jackson by The Oregon Symphony

CommuniCare’s second Arts Experience will be Thursday, November 9th, sponsored by The Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation, students will attend The Oregon Symphony’s presentation of The Music of Michael Jackson at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. 35 students, teachers and family members from Open School East, Franklin High School and Lake Oswego High School will attend a question and … Read More

Kickoff of CommuniCare Arts Experience

CommuniCare 2017 Students

The very first CommuniCare Arts Experience will kick off Thursday, November 2. This will be the first of many field trips, sponsored by The Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation, working towards building community between participating CommuniCare schools. Kristen Engfors-Boess, CommuniCare Coordinator, notes, “By offering students meaningful arts experiences, we can help expand their understanding of what a community needs to be … Read More