Awarded through a matching grants program, funds will double the impact of services ECCO provides to families and youth experiencing foster care.

REDMOND, Ore., Oct. 26, 2023 — Every Child Central Oregon (ECCO), the Redmond-based nonprofit organization that’s dedicated to improving the lives of families and youth experiencing foster care, is thrilled to announce the receipt of a $100,500 grant from the Central Oregon Health Council (COHC). This generous funding has been provided through a series of 2023 Opportunity Grants, signifying a significant investment in the organization’s mission and, most importantly, the families and children it serves.

“Central Oregon Health Council’s support is a true testament to its commitment to the well-being of our community’s most vulnerable members,” says Melissa Williams, ECCO’s executive director. “These grants were awarded as match grants to complement previous funds awarded by other organizations last year. The nature of this collaboration and the impact of the funds gifted to our nonprofit will be nothing less than powerful. It will enable us to expand and enhance essential services in many vital ways, and we are so grateful for COHC’s generosity!” The funds from the match grants have been allocated to amplify various aspects of ECCO’s programs, operations and initiatives:

$70,000: Awarded by donors wishing to remain anonymous in supporting the “My NeighbOR” program, facilitating warehouse expansion, and bolstering overall project capacity and general operating support.

$10,000: Awarded to support the Crook County “My NeighbOR” program and fulfill Oregon Department of Human Services’ resource closet needs, a match from an award previously received from Fortis Construction.

$7,500: Awarded to support Deschutes County clothing bundles, a match from an award from the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation.

$10,000: Awarded to support general operating support, a match from an award from the First Interstate Bank Foundation.

$3,000: Awarded to support the recruitment of new resource foster homes, retention of current resource foster homes, and community awareness in Southern Deschutes County. This grant is a match from an award from the Sunriver Women’s Club.

The financial support of the COHC will enable ECCO to continue its vital work in lifting up the many children and families navigating their experiences in foster care. These funds will not only enhance existing initiatives but also enable the development of new programs to meet the evolving needs of the community.

“Every Child Central Oregon expresses deep gratitude to the COHC for their unwavering commitment to improving the well-being of children and families in our region,” Williams says. “This generous grant will make a profound and lasting impact, reinforcing our shared vision of a brighter future for the hundreds of families and kids we serve in Central Oregon.”

For more information about Every Child Central Oregon and its programs, please visit https://everychildoregon.org/centraloregon/.

Media Inquiries/More Information:
Brieanna Rogers, ECCO’s Programs Manager, 541-321-2798, b.rogers@everychildcentraloregon.org.

About Every Child Central Oregon (ECCO)
Founded in 2019, Every Child Central Oregon mobilizes community to uplift children and families impacted by foster care in Central Oregon. ECCO is its own 501c3 nonprofit while affiliated with Every Child Oregon, Every Child Central Oregon is based in Redmond, Ore., from where it relentlessly fights for local children in crisis and commits to finding safe, nurturing places where they can flourish. Serving Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson Counties, and Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. ECCO provides radical hospitality with a posture of humility and care for youth in foster homes, as well as its families and partners working in child welfare. Believing in a hopeful future for its clients, ECCO connects individuals, businesses, families and faith communities with acute needs, helping the vulnerable to rise up and achieve resiliency in spite of crisis.