Sports jerseys and bib numbers decorate the walls of Will Bush’s room. A hat with the outline of Oregon embossed on it sits atop his head. Senior year for any University of Portland (UP) student can be hectic, no less…
Our Impact | 2023 Annual Report
Our Impact At VOA Oregon, our focus is to create thriving environments for everyone to grow, be healthy, and be safe. From the youngest child to the eldest community member, our services meet people where they are while supporting the…
A Word From Our CEO | 2023 Annual Report
A Word From Our CEO This past year, post-COVID, continued to test us all on so many levels. At VOA Oregon, we embraced these challenges to meet our community’s growing need for vital services to support the individuals within it.…
From English & History Nerd to Portland Police Cop
Interview of Captain David Abrahamson By Jathan Janove VOA Oregon board member and Portland Police Captain David Abrahamson followed an unusual path to a law enforcement career. “I had planned to be an English and history teacher,” he says. “Although…
Working with Students
By Anna Bledsoe Our Prevention Services program has partnered with Portland Public Schools (PPS) this academic school year to ensure access to vaping education for middle and high school students. This has included the development of vaping-specific curriculum, offering on-demand…
Making a Difference
Interview of Andrea Cook, Ph.D. By Jathan Janove Andrea Cook, Ph.D., VOA Oregon’s Board Secretary, grew up on a ranch in rural eastern Oregon. At age 18 as a college freshman, she came to Portland and fell in love with…
Stability and Resilience
Since the 1940s, Volunteers of America Oregon Family Relief Nursery (FRN) has been working to support parents experiencing multiple stressors. Today, our holistic goal continues to be to keep children safe and with their families. This April, Child Abuse Prevention…
Scholarship Testimonial Kalia
I applied for this scholarship because of the family as well as the financial situation I’m in. I learned the definition of foster care at the age of five. It was something I was always afraid of. I’ve been in…
A Passion to Help Others
Interview of Bruce Warner By Jathan Janove Board Chair Bruce Warner has served on VOA Oregon’s Board for over 16 years. He’s a professional engineer who served in public administration until his retirement, having held leadership positions with the Oregon…
Overcoming Poverty and Trauma
Interview of Greg Stone By Jathan Janove Longtime VOA Oregon employee, Greg Stone, grew up in Portland amid poverty and trauma. His dad, an addict, left the family when Greg was eight, leaving his mother to raise five children with…