Bienestar Receives Grant from The Collins Foundation

Bienestar is pleased to announce a two-year grant award for 2009-2011 from
The Collins Foundation in the amount of $35,000 to support the Listos Para
Vida/Ready For Life Program for youth residents of Bienestar properties.  The Listos
Para Vida initiative is a comprehensive youth program serving the approximately
1,300 children who live in Bienestar’s ten subsidized apartment properties.  The
initiative includes three Homework Clubs, Science Clubs, Financial Fitness for Life,
art, music, and sport activities, Summer Reading Safari, Summer Lunch & Fun,
Explorador Nature Camp, Zoo to You, Adelante Chicas, holiday parties and special
events and presentations.

“We are so grateful to The Collins Foundation for this investment,” says
Executive Director Karen Shawcross, “especially since we were at a point of having
to make tough decisions about cutting youth programs that had proven to be
effective.  This grant supports the Youth Program Coordinator position, providing the
essential leadership to keep all these programs going.  We are delighted to announce
that we have recruited and hired Amanda Schuft for this position, and she brings
a strong background in work with children and youth.

  In 2008 we began to pilot programs for our resident children onsite, with
particular emphasis on children in grades 1-6.  We grew increasingly concerned
about academic performance, high dropout rates among Latino children, teen
pregnancies, and low numbers entering postsecondary education.  We determined to
try to make strong interventions in this age group to improve academic performance,
reading skills, and love of learning.  We saw dramatic outcomes in the pilot
programs, and are so grateful for The Collins Foundation award which means that
they will continue.”  Outcome reports for each youth program are posted regularly on
the Bienestar website at www.bienestar-or.org.

The Collins Foundation, an independent private foundation, was created in
1947 by Truman W. Collins and other members of the family of E.S. Collins.  The
Collins Foundation exists to improve, enrich, and give greater expression to the
religious, educational, cultural, and scientific endeavors in the state of Oregon and to
assist in improving the quality of life in the state.  More information is available at
www.collinsfoundation.org.