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Celebrate gratitude! Thank you to our partners and supporters.

Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023

Gratitude is something special. At United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, we know its power and we seek to express it in every facet of our work. We know that the mission we pursue is impossible without the community partners who empower us, and so gratitude lives deep in our work. We create opportunities and close gaps because we have partner nonprofits who work together with us to do that. We build resilience in our community because we have corporate partners and individual donors who fund that work. And we pursue a more equitable world because the community is behind us in that endeavor.

So in November 2023, we sought to intentionally recognize this outpouring of gratitude by reaching out to 30 of our community partners, corporate partners, community members, staff members and volunteers and asking them to share an answer to the question, "What are you grateful for?" The responses we received were enthralling, inspiring and powerful. Read through these wonderful peoples' thoughts and think to yourself, "What am I grateful for?"

Charles McGee - UWCW Staff

Check Out Charles' Kick-Off Video!
A man in a white shirt smiles with a yellow background behind him

Nicole Kamena - Super Volunteer

I'm grateful for community. I think good people showing up can make a huge difference, and inspire more people in the community to pitch in.
A woman

Grady Wheeler - Metro

I'm grateful for the love, support and laughs of my friends and family and to work at a place with so many people who really care about this beautiful place.
A man smiles

Brittany Brock - Children's Book Bank

I'm grateful for all the new books with amazing representation. And for the volunteers here that help us get these books out to the community!
A woman holds a book smiling

Jessica Hua - Oregon Health Authority

I am grateful for Mother Earth’s gift in healing us through the seasons as winter calls for us to rest, rejuvenate and prepare for rebirth through a new year.
A woman and her dog smile with the Gorge behind them

Eman Abbas - Iraqi Arabic School

Gratitude embodies a mindset, an attitude, and a daily lifestyle choice. As Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W) wisely stated, 'Whoever is not grateful to the people, he is not grateful to Allah
A woman and her family smile for the camera

Becky Straus - Oregon Law Center.

I’m grateful to the attorneys and paralegals at the Eviction Defense Project who are dedicated to their clients and who work hard every day to promote justice and housing stability for low-income Oregonians.
A woman smiles for the camera

Tichelle Sorensen - UWCW Board

I'm grateful for community. I feel like one of the nice things about living in Portland is that it's a good place to find your people. Whether it's volunteering or gathering around common interests or at work, you can find your people here.
A woman smiles for the camera

Leslee Barnes - Multnomah County

I’m thankful for family who are friends and friends who are like family, that the future looks brighter than the past, and that I’m working for the future I desire – work that will impact lives now and for generations I won't meet.
A woman smiles while hugging an Elmo character

Hen Truong - Honoring Our Precious Elders (H.O.P.E.)

I’m grateful for the friends I have who supported me when I started my nonprofit, H.O.P.E.
A man in a hat explains to a crowd

Mani Xaybanha - Multnomah County

I am grateful for all the early learning providers in the community who work hard to give children a sense of belonging, stability and routine. Putting time and effort to teach children social skills in authentic settings.
A woman smiles for the camera

Lindsi Taylor - Columbia Distributing

I’m grateful that my employer encourages time spent outside our daily jobs to connect with our community and make a difference.
Three women smile for the camera

Jamila Wilson - UWCW Staff

This is a loaded question – EVERYTHING! But most especially right now, breath, and the awareness to breathe into the discomfort.
A woman smiles with a yellow background

Emily Coleman - Transition Projects

I am grateful to live around people that care as much as they do about the issues that are affecting Portland right now.
A woman smiles with a bustling scene behind her

Peg Falconer - Imagine Possibilities

I am grateful for many things! I am grateful that I have a job that lets me play with soil and plants, allowing me to connect with the planet in a meaningful way, and that I can share my skills and give that same opportunity to others.
A woman smiles leaning against a tree

Thuy Bechard - UWCW Staff

I am grateful to have worked at United Way for nine years! Every day I’ve been blessed to work with an organization that has shown me kindness and compassion and has shown me how much they genuinely care about the work they do in our community.
A woman smiles for the camera

Makai Cano - Thuy's Son

I'm grateful for having a big brother that looks out for me and wants to keep me safe.
A boy smiles for the camera

Michael Zhang - Qiu-Qiu Law

I'm grateful to find my home in Oregon. I've lived in a lot of places but I've truly found my home here. It's like an inner change, I feel less like I need to go somewhere, and that's what home is.
A man smiles for the camera with a green leafy background

Susan Stearns - Pink Lemonade Project

I'm grateful for my family, my own health, for recovering from cancer. And I'm grateful for the value of doing important work in the community to help others.
A woman smiles with a leafy green background

Skylar Vines - Supervolunteer

I'm so grateful that I was able to adopt and care for the two loves of my life, my dogs Jasper and Kyanite. Every day since has been great, the love I feel when I get home makes everything I do worth it, it makes my world better.
A woman smiles holding a sign saying Live United while wearing funny large sunglasses

Michael Badalov - Dakin Ventures Consulting Group.

What I'm grateful for is the community where I live. There are a lot of young families with young kids and everyone supports each other and helps during times of sickness, walks to school, drop offs at soccer. Everyone looks out for each other.
A man smiles for the camera with a leafy green background

Lindsey Norlander - Dress for Success

I would say I'm grateful for the impact of my community and that I'm surrounded by people who utilize their gifts and skills to further support different affinity groups. In my realm that's women who keep pushing the envelope.
A woman smiles for the camera

Dorila Nava - Washington County STEM Trainer

I am grateful for the family that I have, for their love, their support, and joy that we share; for the people that I met along my life, who inspire me to be a better person and human being; and for the community that I choose to serve.
A woman shows off a book to a classroom

Alison Gillmouth - PacificSource Portland

I am grateful to work for an employer such as PacificSource, that enthusiastically shares, and supports United Way's mission of caring for the communities we both serve.
A woman smiles for the camera

Mary Kay Sosa - OnPoint Community Credit Union

OnPoint is always grateful for opportunities to work alongside non-profit partners (like United Way) to strengthen our communities. We're grateful to our more than 522,000 members for their loyalty and trust.
A woman smiles for the camera

Bonnie Lerner - Raíces de Bienestar

I am very grateful for the opportunity to see the world through my children's eyes, especially as we enter the holiday season.
A woman smiles walking in a forest

Charlene Zidell - UWCW Board

I am grateful for my granddaughter Anna because she has provided me with a completely different perspective on the world, especially in the last couple of years when things have been incredibly challenging.
A woman smiles with a background of books

Carol Cheney - Collins Foundation

I am deeply grateful for the people who have been brave enough to provide me with honest and constructive criticism to help me grow.
A woman smiles with a colorful tree behind her

Marlina Campos - Pineros Y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste

I am grateful for my entire family, our health and the ability to see each other.
A woman smiles for the camera

Evelyn Stokes - UWCW Staff

I have so much to be grateful and thankful for! I realize not everyone is as fortunate as me, so that is why every day I am thankful to be working here.
A woman in a reindeer costume holds up her hands

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