Working Theory Farm

The team at Working Theory Farm is busy working their 24 acres of land, supporting vegetable and livestock farming and educational and employment programs for youth, so much so that they are sold out of their 2025 CSAs! For those hoping to snag a weekly veggie share, keep your eyes peeled for a reminder on their next round in October. But did you know that they also offer shares for sustainable meat? Working Theory Farm raises Red Wattle pigs known for their hardiness, foraging abilities, docile temperament, and high-quality meat. The pigs rotate through the forested southern end of the farm and are available for purchase by the whole or half pig on a sliding scale of $5.00-$6.50 per pound. For more information, check out their site or write henney@workingtheoryfarm.com. 

Path Home

Path Home's recent Family Reunion Fundraiser proved a resounding success, bringing in over $272,000 to support their vital programs and sharing uplifting stories from community members like Taylor and Trina, who stayed at Path Home's Goose Hollow shelter 15 years ago. Excitement is also building for their annual Lullaby Project, a beautiful collaboration with families staying at Family Village shelter and the Oregon Symphony.  Tickets are on sale for the May 13th event!  The impact of Path Home's work is evident in their 2024 Annual Report, which reveals that 98% of families transitioned from shelter to stable housing. Executive Director Brandi Tuck also recently lent her expertise to a broader audience, discussing solutions to family homelessness on OPB's Think Out Loud.

And we're off! Grant review teams dive in!

Last Saturday, 35 Girlfriends met for training to prepare for this year’s grant cycle. Over the next seven weeks, they will evaluate applications from 45 community nonprofits and conduct site visits with the top 16 candidates, all hoping to be selected for one of this year’s Impact Awards. We deeply appreciate the commitment of time, energy, and care that each member makes as they embark on this important and fundamental work!

Grant Review Team members at their workshop

Founding & fabulous: 23 Girlfriends still going strong!

We are honored to continue to call 23 of our founding members Girlfriends. Each of these women were here when it all started, and they’re here to celebrate our 10th year! Just thinking about the difference they have made through their commitment is humbling.

Thank you for your vision!   

Lisa Adatto, Deborah Edward, Jinx Faulkner, Betty Friedman, Andra Georges, Nancy Hamilton, Barbara Hershey, Barbara Hilyer, Claudia Hollister-Stearman, Kimberly Howard Wade, Michelle Hynes, Nancy V. Johnson, Maura Koehler-Hanlon, Shelley Laurance, Kathy Stuart Masarie, Pip Meagher, Susan Mersereau, Karen Rich, Halle M. Sadle, Robin Selig, Holly Vaughn-Edmonds, Tracy Wiens, and Erin Zollenkopf.

Member Spotlight on Pamela Neferkara

My dear friends Angela Patrick and Tammy Wilhoite invited me to join ninety-nine girlfriends. I admire both of them so much, so I knew it was going to be amazing!

The opportunity to affect local nonprofits quickly and significantly is hard to resist. I’ve seen us raise funds, evaluate organizations, and give away those funds in a 12-month cycle and achieve that repeatedly. That means our donations get to work quickly, so the impact can be immediate.

I love the egalitarian nature of our organization. We grow by inviting more women from our community to become involved, not by continually asking existing members to give more. That leads to greater impact, not only in dollars, but in our ability to truly reflect the makeup of our city. That’s our secret sauce!

Pamela Neferkara

FinAbility

FinAbility seeks volunteer financial mentors who can empower survivors to achieve greater financial independence through one-on-one support. No specialized financial background is required. You just need to complete financial coaching training, meet with mentees 3-5 hours a month over the year, and support at least one mentee per quarter. Learn more and apply at finabilityus.org/financial-mentoring.

Committing to protect philanthropic work

Our governing board voted unanimously to endorse the Council on Foundations’ public commitment to protecting our freedom to express ourselves, give, and invest in our communities. 

A Public Statement from Philanthropy

Everyone—wherever we're from or whatever our point of view—wants to live in a nation that upholds the fundamental rights and liberties we all deserve and need to thrive.

As charitable giving organizations – private and family foundations, community foundations, corporate foundations, and more – we contribute to communities in every corner of America. Together, we support new parents and elders, veterans and school children, hospitals and libraries, churches and food kitchens, artists and researchers, throughout rural, suburban, and urban communities in every state and territory. Yet in this moment, we face the threat of governmental attacks on our ability to carry out this vital mission, when the communities, organizations, and individuals we support need it most. Read the rest of the statement.

Discovery Forum unpacks critical issue

Sixty-five Girlfriends engaged with each other and the complex nature of homelessness at our recent Discovery Forum. Dr. Marisa Zapata, Director of PSU’s Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative, challenged us to look at our views of housing people in our own neighborhoods. You can find our program, “Understanding Homelessness: From Education to Action” and suggested actions on our website.

We will continue to examine housing and home stability throughout this year. If you have resources or ideas on this topic or one of our other focus areas, please contact Karen or Barbara, your member ed co-chairs. Enjoy the photo gallery. 

Member Spotlight on Jodeanne (Jody) Scheer

My son first encouraged me to join ninety-nine girlfriends, because his best friend’s mother was a founding member. At the time, I loved the idea of a women’s philanthropy group, but I was also overwhelmed with work, the birth of my first grandson, and other family and volunteer activities. When I retired, my friend and colleague Kathy Masarie invited me to attend an educational workshop with the Girlfriends. This workshop was scheduled on the exact same day as the COVID epidemic was called, and it was a memorable day of learning while we all faced a new and unknown adversary. I was immediately hooked on the experience of women working in service to create community. I have been a member ever since.

I love that there are so many opportunities to be involved that vary in responsibility, time investment, interest, and skills. I have enjoyed being on the member education committee, working on ideas for moving beyond a traditional land acknowledgment, attending educational offerings, and learning from other Girlfriends a deeper appreciation for and practice of philanthropy, racial equity, and social justice. I am delighted to work with such a large group of inspirational women dedicated to creating the world we want to live in.

I have spent my life as a wife, mother, pediatrician, world traveler, riverhouse community member, nature lover, sea kayaker, author, and seeker. I am also grandma to three rambunctious and adorable boys (ages three, five, and eight), who keep me entertained (and humble) two days a week. I also enjoy far too many book groups! 

I am deeply grateful for the people and support systems that helped me, an orphanage survivor, a foreign exchange student, and an emancipated minor, to achieve my dreams. I would love for all kids from humble beginnings—like mine–to have homes, food, healthcare, education, security, and mentorship to live their best lives and to know they matter. Working with women to make this happen, for me, is joyful work.

Jody Scheer

Path Home

Suzanne Savaria, our liaison to Path Home, recently attended their Family Reunion.

“It was a beautiful and inspiring event celebrating 25 years of serving women, children, and families. The evening began with food, drink, and games like Buckets, Cornhole, and Putt Putt golf, where guests could earn raffle tickets for game prize packages. Later in the evening, we celebrated many of the people who have contributed time, effort, and money as Path Home has grown from its small beginnings as Goose Hollow Women’s Shelter.  

A special performance by Amenta Abioto featured her “Flower, Love of My Life” lullaby written with a Path Home resident. Amenta is one of the singer/songwriters who participated in the Lullaby Project – a collaborative program with Path Home, Oregon Symphony, and local singer/songwriters.  Songwriters work with parents to write lullabies for their children.The Lullaby Project will share the songs at a concert on Tuesday, May 13 at the Alberta Rose Theater. Tickets are only $10. 

In a powerful and moving part of the Family Reunion called the “Mission Moment,” a mother and son who stayed at the shelter 15 years ago shared their experience. The values of dignity, family, innovation, and compassion were center stage throughout the evening. It was a special event, and I’m proud that ninety-nine girlfriends is supporting such a wonderful organization.”

Get more out of your membership and VOLUNTEER!

Ninety-nine girlfriends is totally volunteer run, thanks to your generosity. You will connect with other Girlfriends and benefit from giving back when you volunteer. Our volunteer needs range from leadership positions to one-time tasks. Whether you have 30 hours or 30 minutes to spare and bring professional experience or want to grow your skills in a new area, your help means we can help more of our community members!

Member Spotlight on Diane Rulien

I had never heard of ninety-nine girlfriends until I went to a Christmas open house at an old friend's home. It was there that I met Barbara Long. We were only 2 minutes into our conversation when she brought up the subject of ninety-nine girlfriends. I was intrigued. The idea of an organization of women working together to help the community in these times was very appealing to me. There's so much frustration and helplessness about the current situation that I felt I really needed to have something positive to do. Of course a person can always give money to any number of causes, but it is especially rewarding to be involved in the process of distributing the money so that you know who it goes to and what it accomplishes. 

I retired two years ago and live in a retirement community of 54 people. The residents range in age, the youngest being in his late 60s and the oldest being 98. Most of us are politically aware and active in charities, volunteer organizations, and causes. When I mentioned ninety-nine girlfriends over breakfast, several people here asked me about it and wondered how it works. I look forward to telling them about the process and what it accomplishes. Grassroots organizing and word of mouth between individuals keeps me motivated. I'm excited about feeling useful and productive.

During my working years, I was a waitress, a sanitary engineering aid, a trainee for Pacific Northwest Bell lineman, a Greyhound bus driver, an attorney, and a real estate agent. Between these jobs, I was going to school, married, had a daughter, divorced, had a 31-year relationship, did some traveling, and became interested in 3D photography. My married daughter and grandson live in Portland. Like most parents, I have always hoped I would leave the world a better place for those who came after me. There are so many problems and I want to work with others toward solutions.

North by Northeast Community Health Center

Trina Brodsky, last year’s liaison to Impact Partner North by Northeast Community Health Center, welcomes anyone who might want to join in on the joyful experience of their annual Community Supper! Taking place on April 3, this event is more than just a fundraiser; it’s an opportunity to gather community, hear from patients, and learn about the center’s visions for the future. Find more information on the event website.

ELSO

Are you connected to youth who have an interest in design? Share information about ELSO’s online spring cohort, Studio Justice. Registration has just opened. The program is a paid opportunity, offering after-school programs and outreach events for learners ages 14-20 to learn about design as a tool that enables leadership and agency for youth. ELSO has more information on their website. Please share the application with potential participants. Registration closes Wednesday, April 2! 

Working Theory Farm

Henney, development director of Working Theory Farm, took liaisons Holly Van-Edmonds and Barbara Long for a great tour of the farm, along with his dog Bagel. It may be late winter, but there is a lot of work going on, including winter crops, pruning, seed propagation, and prep for the summer’s garden. They learned more about the youth development /mentoring that is central to the farm’s mission, food distribution, and important community partnerships (such as Centro Cultural, another Impact Partner). Working Theory Farm has partnered with Harkins House since 2019 to welcome adjudicated youth to the farm once a week and provide paid internships throughout the summer. Henney considers this a different model of workforce development. 

Support opportunity: Sign up for a CSA share at https://workingtheoryfarm.org.