United Way's Gratitude Project Highlights 30 Incredible Partners

Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024

Gratitude is something extraordinary. At United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, we understand its profound power and aim to reflect it in all aspects of our work. We recognize that our mission is only achievable because of the unwavering support of our community partners, and gratitude is at the heart of everything we do. Together with our nonprofit collaborators, we create opportunities and close gaps. With the support of corporate partners and individual donors, we strengthen resilience in our community. And with the encouragement of community members, we continue to pursue a more equitable world.

In November 2024, we carried this spirit of gratitude into the second year of our special tradition. We reached out to 30 of our community partners, corporate partners, community members, staff, and volunteers, asking them the heartfelt question, “What are you grateful for?” The responses were just as inspiring, heartfelt, and powerful as before. We invite you to explore the reflections shared by these incredible individuals and take a moment to ask yourself, “What am I grateful for?”

Molly Ash

"I'm grateful for my dogs, because they keep me sane, and I'm grateful that I get to work at a place that makes such a big difference like the Children's Book Bank."
A woman near books

Alice Forbes

We are grateful for all the members of the community who come out and support local kids. And for our years of support from United Way's Hands On Greater Portland and the hundreds of volunteers they've brought through our doors.
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Mario Torres

Well today, I'm feeling very grateful for you guys, United Way! Thanks for coming here to help us at the New Beginnings Market. This volunteer group just freed up about two weeks of work for us, so we're very grateful to have you all here today!
a man in a warehosue

Lou Lé

The things I am grateful for are endless: our staff, the work we do, every single person that comes to the farm, this land that holds us, and everyone who supports us. I am grateful that we get to collectively create.
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Shammra Lacy

I feel incredibly grateful for both my family and my work. My family is my foundation, filled with endless love, strength, and support, even when life throws its hardest challenges our way.
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Gwenn Wysling

I am grateful for a community that shows they care through action.
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Nanda Ramos

I feel gratitude for a lot of things in my life, but first and foremost, the gifts that Mother Earth gives me and everyone else. Just constant gratitude for the trees and the air that we get to breathe.
a woman

Destiny Magaña-Pablo

I am grateful for the community I have found myself in and the spaces I have helped cultivate.
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Carson Herr

I'm grateful just being in a position to be able to give back. I try and get myself out there more and try and be more proactive and make a positive difference.
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Jovana Bustamante

I am very grateful for what this agency has brought back to me.
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Aras Dezay

I am always grateful for Begona. She always believed in us, without her help, without her connections, our school would not thrive.
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Kate Plymale

I am very grateful for being a part of a very strong, resilient community of people who are willing to give back.
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Kathy Simone

I’m grateful for having the opportunity to spend time with extended family, celebrating the memory loved ones, and sharing my heritage with my son and husband.
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Kelsey Miller

I'm grateful for connecting with United Way and having all these volunteer opportunities that are organized by them to get involved in my community in ways that I wouldn't have known about otherwise.
A woman smiles in a warehouse

Paul Souders

I am grateful for the meaningful work I have that is mentally stimulating, in service of organizations that do obvious social good, such that I can satisfy my material needs without compromising my morals.
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Scott Kerman

"I am grateful to the incredible staff at Blanchet House & Farm, our dedicated volunteers, and our inspiring program residents for coming together to serve over 300,000 meals in 2024
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Gwen Jones

I am grateful for the hidden, everyday moments when I can take a breath to be present and grateful for what is.
a woman in a hat smiles

Luis Nava

I'm very grateful for the opportunity to give back to my community, being in this country for most of my life, and receiving all the wellness and all the beauty and great things that this country has.
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Larry Kotan

While I have so much to be thankful for, nothing compares to the gratitude I feel that my daughters blossomed into such compassionate, smart, beautiful young women.
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Kelsyn R. Lyons Bevins

I am grateful for the support milk banks provide to families and infants.
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Glenda Gonzalez

I want to thank United Way and the Early Learning Washington County team for promoting training spaces for early education professionals.
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Laura Ramirez

I have many examples of gratitude to share, but the first that comes to mind is being surrounded by people who care about me, both in my professional and personal life.
a woman smiles

Jean-Paul Zagarola

I am grateful for my wife, family and close friends who provide me with love, support and a joy for life that makes life worth living.
a man in the woods

J.T. Hutchinson

I'm grateful for my health. I had some scary readings about a year ago and was able to turn some of that around. I'm thankful for my family.
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Katie

I will forever be grateful to United Way. I didn’t know what to do, and I was scared. I didn’t know if you could help, but I thought maybe you could guide me to someone who could.
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Linda King

The first, and most important thing I am grateful for is family. I have a loving husband, two beautiful daughters, and two absolutely amazing grandsons that I adore!
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Peg Falconer

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.
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Michele Pinkham

Every time I think about gratitude, I always think about my ancestors and their resiliency.
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Anonymous

I am grateful to live in a safe place. I am from the Middle East, it's a difficult part of the world, and puts things in perspective.
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Our Community!

As we close out our 30-day Gratitude Project, today is dedicated to YOU—the heart and soul of everything we do at United Way of the Columbia-Willamette.
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