Member Spotlight on Jenna Jarvis

Hi Girlfriends! I’m Jenna Jarvis. I’m originally from sunny southern California, but I have been enjoying rainy days in Portland for the past 12 years. I joined this group to expand my community, meet women I could look up to and learn from, and hopefully have some fun while doing some good.

I learned about ninety-nine girlfriends in 2023 when I accepted an Impact Award on behalf of Community Energy Project, the nonprofit I work at as the communications and development manager. I’ve worked there for four years now and have learned more than I ever expected. I really appreciate the opportunities I’ve had as a Girlfriend to learn from women who have roles and experiences I aspire to. There are still times when I fall victim to imposter syndrome and it’s been so valuable to meet others who have successfully pushed past their fears and doubts. In addition to supporting a variety of impactful nonprofit organizations, I’m thrilled to be part of a group of women who aren’t looking to compete, but to lift each other up.

I joined this group as a Fellow in April and I feel grateful for all of the connections I’ve made so far, but there are still so many wonderful people I want to meet! Outside of work, you can find me hanging in the candle section at Home Goods, taking too many pictures of my calico cat, reading for my book club, watching reality tv, listening to podcasts, making/ordering personalized gifts for friends, or finding an excuse to get outside. 

I love game nights, hikes that aren’t super difficult and have good views, concerts, checking out thrift stores, cute bars, and trying new things. If any part of my story resonates with you, please reach out! :)

Our tour of Project Lemonade hit the sweet spot

A great group of girlfriends showed up last week for a tour of Project Lemonade’s new facility. We admired their bright and welcoming digs and learned more about the programs they offer. What began as a pop-up store for foster youth has grown exponentially. In addition to the stunning new store, the program fulfills individual wishes, offers paid internships for foster youth 16 and older, and supplies individuals pursuing higher education with "fill the gap" scholarships to help cover food, rent, and transportation.

Girlfriends who attended shared:

“It’s clear Project Lemonade reflects the same values as ninety-nine girlfriends. The passion, commitment, and pride that we saw today speaks to the impact that Project Lemonade is having on foster families. What an honor it is to support them.”      

“This was a profound experience.” 

“Being the liaison for Project Lemonade has been a true inspiration to me. I feel that I have gotten as much from them as I have provided. They are an incredible group!” – Trina

Visit their website for News and Events or to support their work. Donate.

We were inspired by the Chicas Program!

At a wonderful gathering for Girlfriends, attendees learned how Adelante Mujeres, our two-time Impact Partner, is using their Chicas Program to power educational equity.

The Chicas Program was founded in 2002 by three women who recognized that Latine voices were underrepresented in decision-making roles in the US, there was a dearth of Latine voices in policymaking that affected their lives, and Latine women can and should lead through empowerment. Their response, the Chicas Program, is a mentoring/education program that operates in three Washington County school districts and serves girls from third grade through college. It also engages their extended families.

Their high school graduation rate is 100%!!!

Here are two great opportunities to support this wonderful program.

Volunteer at their Farmers Market - Adelante Mujeres runs the Forest Grove Farmers Market, open every Wednesday from 4pm - 8pm, until October 28, 2026.

Help supply the chicas - Things like notebooks, sketch pads, sticker printers, fidgets, snacks, clipboards, and more are all welcome.  

Contact Andrea to learn more or donate, or go to their website.

Get ready to vote!

As a member of ninety-nine girlfriends, you get a vote for our Impact Awards. Your vote matters, and we want to make it easy (and fun) to get informed before you cast your ballot.

  • On Thursday, October 8, Girlfriends across the metro area will host Meet the Finalists watch parties - a way to connect with Girlfriends while streaming the finalist videos. (All parties are full, but you can join a wait list if you still want to attend.)

  • That same day, you’ll receive an email with two key resources: the Meet the Finalists Playlist (if you choose to watch it on your own) and our Voters’ Guide with finalist websites, facts, and statements from our grant review teams about why these organizations rose to the top. The link to vote will be in that email and in the Voters’ Guide.

  • Voting opens the evening of October 8 and closes just before midnight on October 18. Make sure to set aside time to review, reflect, and cast your ballot.

Member Spotlight on Tong Zhang

While I was born in China, I grew up in Oregon and consider this place my home. I moved away for a long time after high school, living in Seattle and in Baltimore. In Baltimore the nonprofit I worked for received funding from the Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle. While I was never a member, I was really affected and impressed by the community. When I came back home in 2015 I started looking for something similar in Oregon and learned about ninety-nine girlfriends. I wanted to be a member but at the time I wasn’t in a place financially to join because of our priorities of starting a family. Shortly after, I learned about the Fellows Program and joined in 2018 as a Fellow. I’ve been part of the organization ever since.

I’ve been involved in many different projects in the organization, the most longstanding of which was as a ballot mistress with the amazing Jude Lieberman. Seeing the votes come in every year is something I’ve appreciated being a part of for a long time. I am also chairing the Governing Board where we verify the financial health of the organization and keep an eye out for the strategic vision. I’ve been on many advisory boards and councils before, but this is my first time serving on the governing board of a philanthropic organization. It’s proven to be a really great learning experience for me.

I joined ninety-nine girlfriends to meet women like me who are interested in making an impact in the community. I’ve stayed because I continue to meet women unlike me who continue to grow and challenge my perspectives on how to use philanthropy for meaningful impact. I’ve met too many folks over the years to mention them all, but I especially wanted to give credit to two of them: Deborah Edward and Barbara Hilyer. They have always helped me think differently about tackling tough challenges, and I am grateful for what I have learned from them and others in the organization.

CRAG LAW CENTER

2025 Impact Partner Crag Law Center recently celebrated two legal wins that were the culmination of years of research, collaboration, and dedication. 

In mid-August, a federal judge ruled that the proponents of an 8,000-acre logging project had not done enough to understand and address the project’s potential harm to the northern spotted owl. The northern spotted owl is on the brink of extinction, and the population is declining by more than 5% each year. With roughly 3,000 owls remaining in their range from Northern California to British Columbia, the court’s ruling marks an immense victory for a deeply vulnerable species.

In late August, the Thurston County Superior Court upheld science-based protections for more than 19,000 miles of headwater streams. These streams are vital to the well-being of numerous rivers and ecosystems, and the trees alongside them filter pollution and regulate water temperature. Groups in the timber industry had sought to overturn the streams’ science-based protections, but Crag attorneys defended both the protections themselves and the process that led to their creation.

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month!

This Hispanic Heritage Month, we're highlighting stories and histories worth your time. Start with this reading list, and then settle in for a documentary that fills in the gaps most history books leave out.

BOOKS: Hispanic Heritage Month: for Adults — a staff-created list from Washington County Cooperative Library Services | BiblioCommons 

VIDEO: American Historia: The untold story of Latinos

What are Meet the Finalists videos?

A few days before voting begins, we’ll email everyone a YouTube playlist with videos of our Impact Award finalists. You can either watch the videos alone or together with other Girlfriends at a Meet the Finalists watch party on Thursday, October 8! Watch parties are a fun way to build community in a small group. The videos give you a chance to hear directly from the finalists. (PLEASE NOTE: The finalists do NOT have to make a brand new video. In fact, we encourage them to use something they already have so they won’t have to use their valuable limited resources on a video for this one purpose. Keep this in mind as you vote.) The Meet the Finalists videos and the Voters’ Guide should provide you with everything you need to be an informed voter. Voting begins on Thursday, October 8 and wraps up on Sunday, October 18.

Judith Ramaley: Girlfriend, Trailblazer, Grandmother of 'STEM'

Marie Gettel-Gilmartin, Communications Committee co-chair

On August 24, 2026, we lost a treasured Girlfriend: Dr. Judith Ramaley, who was also Portland State University Trustee and President Emerita. I remember walking into my first ninety-nine girlfriends Letter of Interest workshop in 2024. Judith was one of the first women I met. I remembered her name from the media and asked if she had been the PSU president. She greeted me with warmth, wit, and deep intelligence, which continued throughout our conversations overithe past few years. Our organization, state, and the entire science community benefited from Judith’s deep intelligence and insights in so many ways.

When she joined ninety-nine girlfriends in 2022, “she immediately dove in and got involved with grants,” says Tammy Wilhoite, Operations Committee co-chair. “She had great leadership skills and moved to leading a team and helping the committee in several ad hoc ways, and then joined Coordinating Council as an at-large member. She also contributed to Member Education. What an honor it was to call her a Girlfriend and work alongside her.”

Judith leaves an enormous legacy behind. As director of the National Science Foundation’s Education and Human Resources Division, she coined the STEM acronym (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) in 2001. Previously, the foundation used the awkward acronym SMET to describe those combined educational disciplines. Judith rearranged the words because she did not like how "SMET" sounded. In the meantime, she oversaw a $900 million budget and campaigned for more participation of women and minorities in the sciences.

Judith dedicated her life to the education of young people, serving as administrator of several universities. She supported and increased the number of women scientists and was an early president of the Association for Women in the Sciences.

In 1990, she accepted the positions of president and professor of biology at Portland State University, becoming the first woman to helm a public university in Oregon. While at PSU, she had to fight for Portland State’s survival as a graduate school and demand the resources needed at the state level. According to the Oregon Encyclopedia, “In the 15 years since her tenure as president, her vision, mentoring, and consensus-building has had a transformative impact on PSU, bringing it national recognition as a center of educational innovation at a time when the Portland region was attracting national attention as a model for good planning. Her leadership at Portland State opened opportunities for community engagement and increased access to higher education in an urban setting.” She coined PSU’s motto, “Let knowledge serve the city.”

Our Girlfriends who served with Judith in leadership share their thoughts:

“I am so very sorry to learn of Judith’s passing. She was a champion for women, education, and Oregon. I had the privilege of knowing Judith for many years through my work with the International Women’s Forum, of which she was a member. She was revered among her peers and always so kind and gracious.” -Pip Meagher, former Governing Board chair

“It was an honor to know and work with her. It makes me happy to remember that she loved attending our Coordinating Council meetings. She said they stimulated her brain cells (how many people say that about meetings!?!). Such grace in the face of difficulty.” -Beth Parmenter, Member Education co-chair

“Judith’s passing is a huge loss to the entire Portland community. Her impact on education locally and nationally has been profound. We really lost a lion and a leader.” -Tong Zhang, Ph.D., Governing Board chair 

“Oh what heartbreaking news. Judith had so much wisdom to share.” -Sasha Muench, Coordinating Council co-chair

“We were lucky for having known her. What a dedicated champion of all that’s good.” -Barbara Hilyer, former Member Education co-chair

“Judith was such a gem. I'm glad we were all able to benefit from her experience, wisdom, and kindness.”-April Hasson, Coordinating Council member at large

“Judith was obviously a renowned educator who made a huge impact at PSU. I was impressed with her insight, experience, and commitment to staying vital to the end.” -Gina Taylor, Communications co-chair

“Such a lovely, wise woman who affected countless lives through her dedication to education and her community. My heart goes out to her family. It was an honor to work with her and receive her wisdom and advice.” -Megan Leftwich, Membership co-chair

“Indeed, a delight to know her and, it seems, an admirable life. May we continue our work in her honor.” -Jane Ullman, Finance

Judith's full legacy at PSU is documented in the university’s tribute to her. How fortunate we were to learn from her, and to call her a Girlfriend.

Member Spotlight on Kiva Hanson

Hello Girlfriends! I’m Kiva Hanson, a writer, storyteller, collage artist, and former community journalist. I currently work in communications and development at Confluence, a Native-led arts and storytelling nonprofit. Before that, I worked as a journalist, where I covered local government, schools, environmental issues, and the people who make communities interesting.

I’ve always been drawn to stories and the different ways we tell them. I studied journalism and archaeology at the University of Oregon, and I’ve spent much of my life working with community-focused organizations, including Planned Parenthood, United Way, and the UO Women’s Center. I care deeply about whose stories are told, who gets to tell them, and how storytelling can help people feel more connected to their communities.

Outside of work, I’m a collage artist and run a small creative project called This Open Field. I make collages using old photographs, paper, and found materials. I also love to sew and quilt and regularly begin new projects before finishing the ones already spread across my table. I host monthly collage nights in Portland, and I would love to have some Girlfriends join me! No art experience is needed! 

This sense of community is a big part of why I joined ninety-nine girlfriends through the Fellows Program. I spend a lot of time writing grants, so I was curious about the grantmaking side, but I’m just as excited to make friends and meet women outside my usual circles. 

I live in NE Portland with my partner, two cats, and one dog. When I’m not working, you can find me making art, reading, thrifting, kayaking, or convincing myself there is absolutely room for one more craft supply in my closet.

POIC Updates

Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center’s (POIC’s) Community Safety Team is working with the City of Portland, health care institutions, and other community-based organizations to reduce violence and gun-related deaths. Their work has received national recognition in The New York Times. 

Their 2026 Summer Culinary + Hospitality Emergent Fellowship Academy cohort completed the program and received their official black coats. 

Ten young women ages 12-17 completed POIC’s first-ever Girls Etiquette Program to strengthen self-esteem through lessons in healthy communication, self-care, positive self-talk, and relationship building. 

What is racial equity?

"Racial equity is about applying justice and a little bit of common sense to a system that's been out of balance. When a system is out of balance, people of color feel the impacts most acutely, but, to be clear, an imbalanced system makes all of us pay." ~ Glenn Harris, President, Race Forward and Publisher, Colorlines

Learn more about why we center racial equity thanks to Race Forward.

Public Education is Our Last Public Space

When you go about a typical day, how often do you interact with children who are not related to you? How many times has your neighbor dropped off their kids for an hour while they ran to the store? How many times have you gone to a restaurant that has a dedicated children’s corner? 

For some of us, the answer to these questions may be “all the time” but for more and more of us, the answer is…”rarely”.  And it may not be for the reasons you’re thinking. We might blame technology, hyper-vigilant parenting, or the lingering social fractures of the pandemic for this isolation, but another contributor is much  simpler, and much harder to fix: There are fewer households with children. Period. In the 1950s, over half of all US families had children. Today in Portland, only 24% of households do. We are rapidly becoming a city of adults, increasingly disconnected from the generation who will succeed us. We don’t see them and, in many ways, we have lost our collective responsibility towards them. 

We live in a region struggling with an education crisis and a worsening economic environment, and support for public education is under immense pressure. Many people are disengaged from the issue simply because Portland is no longer a place that has a lot of children or families. In fact, Oregon has one of the lowest birth rates in the country. Those who are born here are also increasingly more diverse and different from the adults in the region. For example, in the 2020 census, while 20% of Washington County residents identified as Hispanic/Latine, the K-12 population in the county is between 35-40% Latine. 

When so many of us are not directly involved with children, it’s hard to care about their future and their education—even though our future depends on them. Future leaders, public servants, tradespeople, scientists, service people, and medical professionals are students in our classrooms today. However, due to our aging population, the housing and childcare affordability crises, the high cost of living, and immigration enforcement, families with children can struggle. We have privatized parenting: treating the upbringing of children as a niche, personal hobby rather than a collective civic duty. We desperately need to return to the village model. And we already have the infrastructure to do it.

Public education is the last public space where we can build connections to our collective future and it is one of the last places where people across socio-economic backgrounds have regular interactions. It is the very essence of educational equity: the concept that every child receives what they need to develop their full academic and social potential. Children' s backgrounds should not be a predictor of their success. We need to rally around public education because it is also one of the last ways, through taxes, investments, and our time, that we can  invest in children who are not our own. 

Public education is not just a line item on our property tax bills; it is the last truly public space where we still build a shared future. When we disengage from our schools because we don’t have skin in the game, we forfeit that future. We must recommit to the success of the next generation - regardless of whose children they may be - because as James Baldwin famously reminded us, “These are all our children; we will all profit by or pay for what they become.”  Let’s take care of them even if they are not our own. 

Written for ninety-nine girlfriends by,

Barbara Hilyer, M.Ed., past Governing Board Member

Tong Zhang, Ph.D, current Governing Board Chair


Member Spolight on Hannah Pscheid

When my wonderful neighbor and friend Karyn Barsa invited me to an event at her home to learn more about ninety-nine girlfriends, I knew almost immediately this was something I wanted to be a part of.

What made it feel so timely was that just a few months earlier, my friends and I were having a really honest conversation about how much we want to make an impact here in Portland, and how it can sometimes feel like one person's contribution gets lost in the enormity of what our city needs. The ninety-nine girlfriends model answered that feeling so directly. Pooling our resources and being intentional about how they're allocated creates something truly powerful. I am so happy to be a part of that! 

I'm excited to be in a room with women who are deeply invested in Portland and show up with both their hearts and their resources. There's something special about collective giving that goes beyond the dollars: it's the conversations, the relationships, and the shared sense of purpose that comes with it. I'm looking forward to learning from the members around me and feeling more connected to the organizations doing meaningful work across our beautiful city.

I've spent my career in brand strategy and marketing, and one of the things I believe most deeply is that community is built through intentional connection. Ninety-nine girlfriends embodies that for me: women choosing to show up, give thoughtfully, and make Portland a better place together. 

Project Lemonade

On June 10, Project Lemonade moved into their new location in the Left Bank Building at 240 N. Broadway. Trina Brodsky, our liaison to Project Lemonade, attended the opening and was excited to see the venue filled with supporters, staff, and donors. Beyond the lovely refreshments and enthusiastic DJ, the atmosphere was truly celebratory. Tours showcased a beautiful new store on the lower level with an expansive storeroom, while the upper level features glassed-off offices and a large multipurpose community room decorated with an amazing mural. This new space will allow Project Lemonade to continue their existing programs while launching additional services to support youth in foster care.

A private tour, just for ninety-nine girlfriends, is in the works. Stay tuned for details after the summer break. Not up for an in-person tour? Watch a short video about the new space.  

Racial Equity Team recommends Portland Black Pioneers tour

This past weekend, members of the Racial Equity Team participated in the Black History Walking Tour by Oregon Black Pioneers to see if we should recommend it to our membership. We encourage you to book a tour to learn more about some of the racial inequities that continue to affect today’s communities and the bravery of Oregon’s Black pioneers – called that because they were the “firsts.” Our friendly guide shared lots of interesting facts while showing us locations of significant historical interest throughout Albina.

Our summer social was a sizzling good time

The sun was shining and the flowers were blooming as close to 60 Girlfriends gathered in Kathy Masarie's lovely backyard for our annual member social. Hosted by Kathy and Margie Sunderland, with an assist from Girlfriends who pitched in with food and flowers, the afternoon was full of good conversation, fun games, and yummy treats.

This quote from Helen sums it up beautifully.

“I had the best time. I found my time at the beautiful garden patio refreshing and engaging. The game was so much fun, and I made connections with several lovely women who I hope to see again. I will definitely go again next year. Please send my deep and sincere appreciation to our hosts.”

Member spotlight on Jennifer Ferro

A good friend introduced me to ninety-nine girlfriends. She invited me to an event on the subject of housing. The event included a PSU professor who I thought was very interesting. During the event I thought the women in the audience seemed genuinely engaged and interested in this subject and struck me as people I’d like to know better. Leaving the event, I thought I’d like to join and become involved with this group of women raising awareness about important issues that I strongly believe in. 

As a member, I’ve met some very lovely people and learned more about the different paths people take, as well as their interest in making our community better. I was also very inspired by the Awards Celebration at the end of last year where the award winners were honored. I loved hearing from the winners themselves and all the great things they had to say about ninety-nine girlfriends. For the first time, I heard the impact of ninety-nine girlfriends from outside the organization and it was heartwarming.

Given everything that’s going on in the world, sometimes it feels there’s nothing I can do to make a difference, but being a part of ninety-nine girlfriends helps me feel like I’m making a difference and that I’m a part of a community that cares and is putting their money where their mouth is. 

There is power in numbers and ninety-nine girlfriends is a great example of how when we pull together we can make a difference. I’m proud and happy to be a part of this community of women who build community from the inside out.