Teens reach out to community with student-led foundation
Kathy Aney, writer for the East Oregonian, reports on how Pendleton High School students became fundraisers and philanthropists as part of CommuniCare, a program of the Harold and Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation.
Members of the CommuniCare Club at PHS first raised money, then that money was matched by the CARE Foundation several times over. Nonprofits in Pendleton were asked to complete the grant application process for funding consideration.
The PHS club members wanted to award the $8,000 to programs that ended homelessness or provided student scholarships: “I didn’t expect it to be as emotional as it was,” said Dania Larios. “Throughout the process, I don’t think any of us imagined how it would impact us or our community,” she said.
CommuniCare started 20 years ago in the Portland area, but Harold and Arlene Schnitzer’s son, Jordan D. Schnitzer “has strong ties in the community, so an exception was made for us to be in Pendleton, “ explained Barbara Hall, CARE Foundation executive director.
