Portland, July 21st. The Organically Grown Company hosted a fundraising party for one of its favorite charities: the mentoring program for homeless and transitional teens called p:ear. Marketing Communications Specialist for Organically Grown, Tonya Haworth, and Marketing Manager, Stacy Kraker, organized the event.
Nate Engkjer, a p:ear employee, Steph Chase, the Development and Community Relations Manager, and Beth Burns, p:ear’s Executive Director
The party was on the Ecotrust terrace at 721 NW 9th Avenue.
Phresh Organic Catering Company served up tomato basil salad, roasted potatoes, and chicken breast with Oregon honey-chipotle barbecue sauce.
Organically Grown Company is employee and grower owned. Every summer the company gives boxes of fresh produce to the p:ear kitchen to help feed hungry teens.
This fundraiser for p:ear had views of the “Sundown at Ecotrust” event happening below.
Mo and Don Mayfield look over the terrace with Tonya McMillan and her son Koen.
Tyler Clear and Brian Cook gave a thumbs-up to the organic food at the party.
Baby May had a wonderful time looking at the terrace tomato plants and blueberry bushes .
Melyssa Sharp, Katie Trudeau and Sean McConahay
Organic Grown Company is the largest wholesaler of organic fruits, vegetables and herbs within the Pacific Northwest. It was founded by farmers who purchase 90% of their products directly from the growers themselves.
Kristi Yoder and Rachel Ebert enjoyed the atmosphere.
Matt Mylet, Jae Easterbrooks and Laurie Landeros take a quick picture after getting some drinks from the inside bar.
From p:ear:
Each year “p:ear builds positive relationships with homeless and transitional youth through education, art and recreation to affirm personal worth and create more meaningful and healthier lives”. Throughout this process, p:ear helps serve around 900 “homeless and transitional young people” who vary in age from 15 to 24.
To truly exit homelessness, kids must develop the internal strength, skills and foresight to make healthy choices. p:ear provides a safe, non-judgmental environment in which youth are trusted to outgrow unproductive and harmful behaviors. We offer individualized mentoring and education programs in a safe, reliable setting designed to foster trust, build self-esteem and to teach homeless and transitional kids – who all too often are regarded by society as disposable, “hopeless cases” – that they are valuable individuals with a future who have something vital to contribute to this community.
p:ear staff and volunteers serve as mentors, friends, and role models, while p:ear’s unique programs create opportunities for young people to grow intellectually, express themselves constructively, communicate in positive ways and engage in meaningful interactions with the larger community of Portland. This is not work that can be accomplished in the short-term. These are relationships based on trust that take years to cultivate and require enormous dedication to sustain.
We are committed to being there for p:ear youth over the long-haul to share failures and successes, mundane events as well as life-altering milestones.
p:ear mentors youth through education, art and recreation.
Story by Genevieve Reaume.
