REDMOND, Ore., April 5, 2024 — Every Child Central Oregon (ECCO), the Redmond-based 501(c)3 nonprofit that fights relentlessly for the wellbeing of Central Oregon children and families impacted by foster care, is thrilled to announce the receipt of a significant grant award totaling $150,000 from The Ford Family Foundation. This generous support will propel ECCO forward in its mission of mobilizing community to uplift children and families impacted by foster care in Central Oregon. The grant, spanning a period of three years, marks a pivotal moment for ECCO, as it will fuel the expansion of the organization’s capacity and growth.

With this funding, ECCO will be able to strategically hire critical staff members who will play instrumental roles in enhancing and expanding its programs and services. In addition, these team members will enable the current staff to amplify ECCO’s mission of addressing the very significant tangible and support needs of families impacted by foster care in Central Oregon.

“We are incredibly grateful to The Ford Family Foundation for their belief in our vision and their generous support,” says Melissa Williams, ECCO’s executive director. “This grant will not only allow us to grow our organization but will also enable us to innovate and adapt to better serve the unique needs of children and families in our community. This doesn’t just boost our ability to meet those needs in scale but do so in a way that amplifies the quality of services and support we provide.”

The impact of this grant extends far beyond the financial support it provides. It represents a validation of the abundant work ECCO has been doing since launching in 2019 and serves as a catalyst for sustainable growth and positive change in Central Oregon. Improving tangible support to youth and families experiencing foster care and increasing resources to boost foster family retention, ECCO serves nearly 1,000 youth and families throughout the counties of Crook, Jefferson, Deschutes, plus The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs. Through this grant, ECCO will capitalize on the skills and talents of its growing staff and continue to find new, innovative ways to support its community, ensuring that every child and family receives the care and assistance they need and deserve.

“The Ford Family Foundation’s commitment to making a difference in the lives of individuals and families aligns perfectly with our own values and goals,” Williams says. “Not only that, it breathes incredible energy and hope into Every Child Central Oregon’s mission of care.”

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

For more information about The Ford Family Foundation:
Please visit their website at https://www.tfff.org.

About Every Child Central Oregon (ECCO)
Founded in 2019, Every Child Central Oregon (ECCO) 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 umility 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.