The Police Activities League of Greater Portland (PAL) links young people with their community and local police officers through through recreational, athletic, and educational programs that encourage and develop good citizenship, improve quality of life and decrease crime in the Portland Metropolitan area. Edge Performance Fitness Staff and it’s fitness center members chose Portland PAL as the second nonprofit organization to benefit from NedWater’s February giving program.

“We’re really excited to offer a donation to such a great organization that provides such great programming to youth in need,” Said Robyn McGillis, from Edge Performance Fitness. “Our mission of providing sport to our communities links us with the Portland PAL mission and we look forward to forming partnerships with organizations like PAL in the future.”

Portland PAL has been around as a national organization since the 1930s. PAL started with a youth gang in New York City that was harassing storekeepers and generally making life miserable in the neighborhood. A police officer in the City’s Crime Prevention Bureau saw how punishing crime looked like a revolving door. The kids just kept coming in getting punished and being released. He wondered if the cycle could stop BEFORE kids got in trouble.  The officer talked with the gang’s leader. He heard about the  kids’ frustration of the ghetto life, no place to go, nothing to do and of being hassled by the police. Then he thought: Why not help the kids form a team? Give them a place to play under police supervision. Be a friend instead of an enemy. The lieutenant found a playground where the gang could play under the eye of friendly police officers. These police officers volunteered their time to coach baseball, play stick ball in the streets, and mentor youth. The idea spread across the nation, and today, there are over 250 PAL chapters in nearly every state.

Today in Portland PAL offers a number of programs throughout the year and during the summer where kids can connect with each other and police officers. It serves more than 3,500 youth per year on a budget which is 40% cash and 60% in-kind services including donated labor, space, phones, sports equipment, and materials.

There are a number of ways to get involved with PAL. Volunteer to coach a football team, or help on field trips, or work on the auction. Interview for one of the college internships or practicums available year-round. Complete your high school community service hours working with youth or Donate supplies, youth incentives (prizes we use for good behavior).

Portland PAL is the second of two nonprofits nominated by Edge Performance Fitness staff and members. Edge Performance Fitness is a personalized, micro gym specializing on wellness with no attitude. They’re conveniently located right on the Interstate Max Line. Ask about their Spring Challenge and Buddy Discount program!

Each month NedWater donates 10% of its gross revenues to five nonprofit organizations, three of which are chosen by NedWater customers. Two other donations are made through Kiva.org to support two entrepreneurs in impoverished countries committed to build wealth for themselves and their families.

Robyn McGillis with Edge Performance fitness meets with Crista Hawkins, a nutrition educator at Oregon Action for Healthy Kids to deliver a NedWater donation in February.

Many people and organizations are improving education in our nation’s schools. One of them, Oregon Action for Healthy Kids, believes that a healthy body – especially a full stomach – leads to better-learning. Lots of research supports this. That’s why Oregon Action for Healthy Kids enlists entire communities – parents, schools, businesses, and children – to help children learn to eat right and be active every day so they have a better shot at being successful in school – and in life.

Oregon Action for Healthy Kids is the first of two nonprofits nominated by Edge Performance Fitness staff and their members to receive NedWater giving in February. Edge Fitness is committed to wellness of people of all ages. It’s no wonder then that they chose a nutrition and fitness nonprofit as a recipient for NedWater’s February giving.

How effective is educating kids on eating right and it’s correlation to learning? Mounds of research supports its effectiveness, but rather than overwhelm you with boring statistics, here’s a true story: An Oregon mother took her third-grade boy to a fast food restaurant. Instead of asking for a burger and fries, the young boy asked for nonfat milk and a salad. Mom was shocked. They young boy told her “This is the kind of food I learned I should be eating mommy.”

This story and others illustrate the power of nutrition education for children. The staff at Oregon Action for Healthy Kids conducts such programs, provides services and advocates that all children learn healthy eating habits and the need for daily physical activity. They also ensure schools provide opportunity for both. Programs such as these make a difference in children’s lives every day. You can get involved and help children lead healthy lives whether you have a few minutes or a few hours. Tell a friend about Oregon Action for Healthy Kids, volunteer, share your story, or become a member today and help spread the word.

Oregon Action for Healthy Kids is the first of two nonprofits nominated by Edge Performance Fitness staff and members. Edge Performance Fitness is a personalized, micro gym specializing on wellness with no attitude. They’re conveniently located right on the Interstate Max Line. Ask about their Spring Challenge and Buddy Discount program!

Each month NedWater donates 10% of its gross revenues to five nonprofit organizations, three of which are chosen by NedWater customers. Two other donations are made through Kiva.org to support two entrepreneurs in impoverished countries committed to build wealth for themselves and their families.

Dr. Diane Miller (l), Prudence Marshall (r), and Gail Sakuma (standing background) accept the NedWater check from Muir Ferdun Kwan Yin Healing Arts Center's youngest staff member Sofia(c). NedWater drinkers give between 5-20 percent of NedWater gross revenues to nonprofits each month.

At a non-descript church in Southeast Portland, you’ll find medicinal magic going on. But it has nothing to do with religion.

Here, nestled among wood pews and flowing drapes, the women of Portland Veterans Acupuncture Project direct their energies and their skills serving those who fought in serving to their country. Muir Ferdun, representing Kwan Yin Center Healing Arts Center, selected PVAP as the first of three nonprofits to participate in NedWater’s giving program for January.

“For some of our veterans, coming here is the only place where they can get rest,” said Diane Miller, MD, a provider with PVAP. “They come to us to heal the stress-related problems of civilian readjustment after deployment. And in some cases, this is the only place they can get sleep. So it’s not uncommon to hear a lot of snoring going on.”

Snoring, soothing music and cookies are the staples here, in addition to the tiny needles providers use to trigger points in the body that release or balance healing energies. Patients settle into plush recliners while providers prepare their instruments. Before long, everyone is either very calm, or fast asleep. Sessions last for up to an hour, with the actual treatments taking about 40 minutes.

PVAP was founded by a researcher and two acupuncture practitioners who realized that more and more military veterans were returning from deployment suffering from serious stress symptoms.  Frequent nightmares, sleeping problems, flashbacks, guilt over leaving, substance abuse, sexual dysfunction, difficulty concentrating, irritability, emotional detachment, anxiety or difficulty thinking clearly, are symptoms that are often not identified or treated by the medical system according to PVAP.

While medications can help control some of these stress symptoms, only counseling or acupuncture shows promise in treating the cause of the problems according to PVAP.

Gail Sakuma, ANP, LAC delivers therapeutic pricks to patient Steve Evens.

PVAP is a no cost option for veterans, their companions and their families. If you know of a veteran suffering from stress or duty related issues, you may want to contact them. While you’re at it, consider supporting the project.

“We are happiest to support our veterans community, so spreading the information about the clinic would always be appreciated,” Diane said. “We also are always looking for more acupuncture volunteers to help share the clinic time.  And otherwise, we do accept cash donations to be used for the purchase of acupuncture supplies.”

You can spread the word easily by sharing this article, or better yet, if you’re reading on Facebook, click the “share” button and send this story to your network. Who knows who knows a veteran in need?

Kwan Yin’s Muir said she was interested in giving to PVAP because of their alternative medicine approach. All three of her giving selections this month offered opportunities to visit agencies approaching community in alternative ways. It’s much like how Kwan Yin Center Healing Arts Center practices medicine. A group of healthcare practitioners who are passionate about natural medicine, Kwan Yin Center believes in the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Check them out by visiting their website or make an appointment to visit them.

PVAP was the first of three nonprofits chosen by Kwan Yin as part of NedWater’s giving program. Each month NedWater donates 5-20% of its gross revenues to five nonprofit organizations, three of which are chosen by NedWater drinkers. Two other donations are made through Kiva.org to support two entrepreneurs in impoverished countries committed to build wealth for themselves and their families.

NCNM has been part of NedWater’s story from the beginning. It was a tour of NCNM that connected NedWater with Kwan Yin Healing Center. Visiting NCNM was kind of like visiting old friends. The visit was full of laughter and reconnection.

If you haven’t heard about NCNM, and some Portlanders haven’t, you’re in for a treat. NCNM’s graduate programs in naturopathic medicine and classical Chinese medicine blend ancient healing wisdom with modern science to produce practitioners in natural medicine. NCNM offers three graduate professional degrees in accredited and recognized programs that prepare students for licensure in many states and provinces:

• Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, a four-year program of clinical sciences and holistic methods of healing and disease prevention, instilled with the ancient principle of the healing power of nature.
• Master of Science in Oriental Medicine, a four-year program that delves deeply into thousands of years of classical Chinese methods of diagnostics and healing, using herbs, acupuncture, bodywork and therapeutic exercise.
• Master of Acupuncture, this four-year program has a foundation identical to that of the MSOM program without the herb courses. Upper level courses focus in particular on the clinical application of acupuncture and moxibustion techniques.

Some of the nation’s most respected authors and spokespersons in the fields of naturopathic and classical Chinese medicine are counted among NCNM’s faculty. More than 1,800 graduates practice all over North America and in countries around the globe. More than 50% of the licensed naturopathic physicians practicing in the United States are graduates of NCNM. The college truly is where natural medicine begins.

In addition to their world-class academic programs the college also runs a clinic where people can see providers and students on teaching rotations. Private physicians are also available. The clinic includes a medicinary which is open to the public. The medicinary offers a selection of supplements, herbs, homeopathic remedies, tinctures and other products. Check the clinic website for hours.

Common issues people visit the clinic include: fatigue, headaches, back pain, menstrual difficulties, menopause and allergies. I’ve heard people have great success dealing with allergies through natural medicine.

Another place to discover natural medicine and its benefits is Kwan Yin Healing Center. A group of healthcare practitioners who are passionate about natural medicine, Kwan Yin Center believes in the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Check them out by visiting their website or make an appointment to visit them. If you’re curious, but not ill, there are a number of articles on the site that may be of interest to you.

NCNM was the second of three nonprofits chosen by Kwan Yin as part of NedWater’s giving program. Each month NedWater donates 5-20% of its gross revenues to five nonprofit organizations, three of which are chosen by NedWater drinkers. Two other donations are made through Kiva.org to support two entrepreneurs in impoverished countries committed to build wealth for themselves and their families.

Muir Ferdun (l) and Lynda Moore, homeowner and Proud Ground board of directors vice chair, enjoy a giving moment.

There are a handful of agencies working to make homes more affordable to people. One of them, Proud Ground, was subject of NedWater’s January giving directed by Muir Ferdun of Kwan Yin Healing Center. I knew nothing about them until Muir introduced me. Great organization they are. Since 1999 Proud Ground has been working with lenders, builders and community members to bring home ownership to moderate and low-income first time homebuyers.

Take Himan and Moweal. After years living in a one-bedroom apartment, Himan wanted to have a home with a room for her son. Moweal was born prematurely and was experiencing developmental delays. Himan wanted a place where her son could safely play, somewhere he could grow strong and thrive. The home Proud Ground provided was a haven she said. Since then, Moweal has made progress in his development. Himan attributes this to the stairs in her new home. “The stairs help make him strong,” She says. “[and] this house has house has given me vitality and happiness. There is nothing like home in the world.”

How do dreams like this get started? Essentially through land trusts. In exchange for a reasonable purchase price (about $60,000 to $100,000 less than a market-rate home), Proud Ground asks homeowners to ensure that future buyers also have a chance to own an affordable home by limiting the home’s appreciation. This way, owners enjoy increasing property values and the other rewards of homeownership – and they gain equity – while passing the affordability on to the next owner.

Permanent affordability is guaranteed through a legal agreement (either a land lease or an affordability covenant) between Proud Ground and the homeowner. For those who are locked out of homeownership  in today’s market, Proud Ground offers a sure road to equity and stability. More than 70% of homeowners who buy through programs like Proud Ground go on to purchase market-rate homes as their next home.

You can help support Proud Ground by making a donation to their programs and by spreading the word through your social networks. Like many progressive nonprofits, Proud Ground also makes it easy to gift through your Estate and through employer matching programs.  They also have plenty of opportunities to volunteer. If you’re reading this on Facebook, it’s really easy to spread the work by using the “share” feature. Tell your friends online about the great work Proud Ground is doing!

Muir said she was interested in giving to Proud Ground because a relative who works there speaks well about the organization. “I like what I have heard about proud ground and want to contribute a little bit to forward their work,” She said. Nothing like a family reference, eh? All three of Muir’s giving selections this month offered opportunities to visit agencies approaching community in different ways. That’s kind of how Kwan Yin Healing Center practices medicine. A group of healthcare practitioners who are passionate about natural medicine, Kwan Yin Center believes in the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Check them out by visiting their website or make an appointment to visit them.

Proud Ground was the Third of three nonprofits chosen by Kwan Yin as part of NedWater’s giving program. Each month NedWater donates 5-20% of its gross revenues to five nonprofit organizations, three of which are chosen by NedWater drinkers. Two other donations are made through Kiva.org to support two entrepreneurs in impoverished countries committed to build wealth for themselves and their families.

Emely Rubio is a 43-year old married woman who runs a general store, sells charcoal, sells fermented shrimp, and has a pig fattening businesses in the Philippines. By working hard, she is gradually making her family more economically stable. Emely now earns an average monthly income of 30,000 PHP equal to about $650 a month. With a 27,000 PHP loan Emely will be able to fund her business and progress towards economic freedom for herself and her family. So far, Emely has received 12 loans, the last of which she repaid well within its term

This group of women from Paraguay receives loans through Kiva to grow their business and the group helps each individual repay her loan. This is the 12th loan to the group and their repayment is excellent. This loan round will be used by Mrs. Julia Franco (seated left) who will use the money to purchase beverages such as wine, beer, soda pop, and more for her kiosk. The remainder will be used for living expenses of her family.

Nhor Sokheng, 33, lives with her husband and four children in Cambodia. She helps her husband with the blacksmith business, earning an income of $5 USD per day. Her husband also earns an income of $5 USD per day. The family has to spend $83 USD on food, $10 USD on electricity, and $100 USD on other necessary expenses every month. Sokheng is requesting a loan of $1000 USD to purchase a motorbike for the family use. In the future, she would like to use any additional profit to repair her house.

Insherah is a young woman from Jabalia Refugee camp in Gaza Strip. She is a mother of two sons and is married to Yousef who is a Palestinian National Authority employee. Since she is a conservative woman, she didn't want her picture used, so her husband Yousef is pictured here in the grocery store they own and run. Income from the store helps them increase their income as Yousef's salary is small. The loan they requested will allow the couple to purchase more inventory for their store.

Rosa is a member of the “12 de Agosto” Communal Bank in Peru. She is 30 years old, is in a common law marriage, and has two children who financially depend on her. Her first loan she used to invest in her business of selling craftwork such as sweaters, which she delivers for export. This new loan will allow her to buy weaving machinery, auxiliary tools and wool for her sole proprietorship, which she hopes will soon become an export provider.

Each month NedWater invites a NedWater drinker an opportunity to give between 5-20 percent of NedWater gross revenues to local nonprofits. We, um, dropped the ball this last month, but we’re on track to get back on the ball in Q1 2011 and the rest of the year. If you’re a NedWater drinker, and want to be a part of this goodness giving, or if you’re not a NedWater drinker and want to become one, contact us.

Kiva empowers individuals to lend to an entrepreneur across the globe. By combining microfinance with the internet, Kiva is creating a global community of people connected through lending.