Philanthropy
Fairgoers and Fair workers and the OCF organization alike contribute to non-profit groups through the Jill Heiman Vision Fund.
THE BILL WOOTEN OREGON COUNTRY ENDOWMENT FUND
In honor of one of our co-founders, The OCF has created The Bill Wooten Endowment Fund to assist arts, environmental, and social justice projects to flourish in our Fern Ridge area. OCF has also initiated its Lesle Scott Imagine Grant Award by naming the Fern Ridge Library as its first recipient.
The new annual OCF Endowment Fund award recognizes former General Manager Leslie Scott's 27 years of leadership in advancing the spirit of the Oregon Country Fair. Her lagacy involves providing opportunities for youth, reaching out to our neighbors, nurturing the creative spirit, working for peace and justice and creating community. The Fern Ridge Library is the 2010 grantee that best represents Leslie's gifts. Funds will support the Backyard Bookworms project, "Nature Backpacks." The library will provide youth and local school classrooms with backpacks stuffed with learning tools for kids to experience nature thorugh observation, reading, writing and drawing.
In 2010 the Endowment funded the following projects in addition the Fern Ridge Library:
- Applegate Art Guild will provide summer art activities and literary and visual arts courses for Veneta youth.
- Culture Jam Camp for scholarships for West Lane County area teens to attend the eight-day arts based empowerment program.
- Veneta Elementary School - To support an artist-in-residence program and a production of the musical "Really Rosie, based on Maurice Sendak's books, which all classes will read.
- Groundwaters Magazine to offer publishing opportunities for young writers and artists.
- Rural Art Center award will support projects focusing on birds and guitar lessons for high school students.
- Camp Fire USA has been awarded funds to support the Camp's "Hold on to Health Initiative" project, aimed at teaching sustainbable gardening skills to youth.
These grants tangibly represent the Fair's deep appreciation of its home community and presents opportunities to further develop the Fair's relationship with its neighbors. Since the endowment fund was started 16 years ago, the Fair has awarded approximately $150,000 to youth-centered projects by nonprofits in the Fern Ridge area.
THE JILL HEIMAN VISION FUND
The Oregon Contry Fair honors the memory of Jill Heiman, an early Fair attorney, by granting funds to tax-exempt organizations in Lane County. Donations are provided by Fair volunteers, artists, staff, performers and guests. In 2010 we will fund the following projects and programs related to providing basic needs services:
Florence Food Share Award money will go toward purchasing food for outreach to the homeless in the coastal community of Florence, Oregon
Laurel Hill Center will establish the Vison Fund Rental and Utility Deposit Fund to help obtain housing for people with serious mental illnesses.
First Place Family Development Center will spend Vision Fund grant money to help families obtain ID to ease their way into finding jobs and housing.
Womenspace will purchase basic necessities for survivors of domestic violence and their children as they transition into safe, permanent homes.
Relief Nursery award funds will provide for a monthly event where extrmely low-income families can gather for a hot, nutritous meal and a literacy event or an educational activity.
Non-profit groups are encouraged to check this website in February 2010 for RFP's for next year's funding.
Board of Directors Donations
The Board of Directors offers donations to various groups and activities that share our values of living artfully and authentically on the earth. The Board has donated money to such organizations as Islewilde Festival, Community Alliance of Lane County, Earth Day, Spiral Scouts, School Garden Project, Eugene Peace Choir, Network for Reproductive Health, Skipping Stones Magazine, the Lane Arts Council, and the Whiteaker Community Dinner among others. Donations typically range around $500. Non-profit groups seeking a donation should write to the OCF office at office@oregoncountryfair.org.
Click here to download the (.pdf) FAQ sheet and application for requesting a donation from OCF Board of Directors
