April 23, 2018
PORTLAND, Ore. — Joining local business leaders, NW Natural has committed a $75,000 donation that will be granted over the next three years to the new Oregon Harbor of Hope (OHOH) navigation center.
“As longtime business residents of the downtown corridor, every day we witness the homeless crisis. We’re glad to join Oregon Harbor of Hope in support of its vision and work to transition people to the next step of care,” said Von Summers, community relations manager for NW Natural.
The company’s donation will be used by OHOH for operational support of mobile shower and laundry units, medical care, and the development of a new transitional facility for the homeless – a project recently kick-started by a significant donation from Portland-area business leader Tim Boyle. The facility will be located on land donated by the City of Portland near the western end of the Broadway Bridge.
OHOH founder and real estate developer Homer Williams is committed to raising funds from private sector businesses and individuals to cover the cost of operating the 24-7 navigation center.
“We cannot rely on one single person or organization to solve this crisis,” said Williams. “Making our vision of safe harbor communities a reality will take the support and talent of so many, and we’re grateful to NW Natural for stepping up as one of our first contributors.”
NW Natural’s donation to OHOH is one of many that the company invests in each year. In 2017, NW Natural shareholders gave nearly $1 million as part of its annual Corporate Philanthropy Fund. One of the company’s primary focus areas for charitable giving last year included 11 grants totaling $60,500 to the region’s leading authorities in health and human services.
About Oregon Harbor of Hope (OHOH)
The mission of OHOH is to motivate the private sector of Portland and region to assume a leadership role in meeting the many challenges of homelessness and lack of a broad range of housing choices for all people. Founded in 2016 by longtime Portland developer Homer Williams, OHOH is an Oregon non-profit public benefit corporation, recognized as a 501(c)(3) entity by the Internal Revenue Service and registered with the Charities Division of the Office of the Oregon Attorney General. OHOH is funded entirely by private sector donations and loans.
About NW Natural
NW Natural (NYSE:NWN) is headquartered in Portland, Ore., and provides natural gas service to about 740,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Oregon and Southwest Washington. It is the largest independent natural gas utility in the Pacific Northwest. Additional information is available at www.nwnatural.com.
Media Contact:
Stefanie Week, NW Natural, (503) 818-9845, stefanie.week@nwnatural.com