Tag: Community Giving

#21 Randal Wyatt: Taking Ownership PDX

Posted on by Jenelle Etzel

Musician, activist, and founder of nonprofit Taking Ownership PDX, Randal Wyatt discusses his journey to creating Taking Ownership and the work they do in the community. As well as why he thinks the model works so well in Portland and how creating the organization has made him a better leader.

Other topics discussed…

– Why he’s so optimistic.

– How he got into the music scene in Portland.

– The inspiration behind starting taking ownership PDX.

– Challenges of organizing volunteers.

– Leadership through team management.

– Challenges in becoming a registered non profit.

– Dealing with anxiety / what self care looks like to him .

– Why other cities haven’t adopted the Taking Ownership model.

– Types of work Taking Ownership does.

– The unique story of Randal becoming a homeowner.

– PDX Housing Solidarity Project & Back Home ADU.

– What it’s like having his kids see him do this work.

– What song has defined his year.

– How you can get involved with Taking Ownership.

Find Randal here.

Find Taking Ownership PDX here.

Check out Randal’s Excellence Awards discussion here:

How the owner of Living Room Realty created a culture of giving

Posted on by Living Room Realty

Living Room Realty exemplifies how a business can be a force for good by giving back. As the founder and owner of Living Room Realty, Jenelle Etzel fosters a culture of giving among agents and staff. In fact, she built her business around it.

When she founded Living Room Realty in 2009 during the recession following the financial crisis, Etzel looked beyond candidates’ sales numbers when building her team, seeking shared values and selecting individuals driven by a sense of purpose.

“I made a big bet that people that have been involved in volunteering and giving back, when we came out of the recession, that they were going to be really successful,” Etzel said. “That bet paid off.”

That long-term view paid dividends. Living Room Realty is now one of the largest real estate companies in Oregon and is recognized for its charitable giving. The firm received a Corporate Philanthropy Award from Portland Business Journal in 2022.

Living Room’s certified B Corp status – and public pledge to donate 5% of profits to charity – demonstrates a commitment to high standards of social and environmental responsibility and transparency.

“When we succeed, that means that we can create even more opportunity to be generous with our community,” Etzel says.

Each fall the company rallies agents, staff and community to collect coat donations to support local charity Impact Northwest. They’ve donated more than 800 coats since this program began.

And the company’s commitment to intentional giving is reflected in the company’s two charitable funds.

The Loving Room Fund receives a percentage of agents’ commissions, and agents collectively decide which nonprofits to fund. Through the fund, agents have donated thousands of dollars to charity.

To establish a separate charitable fund to receive a percentage of Living Room Realty annual profits, Etzel worked with Oregon Community Foundation to create a corporate donor advised fund. Etzel empowers employees to support nonprofits and causes with grants from the fund.

“I have my own things that are near and dear to my heart, but I’m one of 25 people on staff here. I have to step aside and really listen to what’s important to my staff. I have, in effect, turned it over to them,” Etzel said.

“The staff has shown me that they deeply care about the people who live here. They’ve focused on organizations that create more opportunities for children and marginalized communities. They want everybody in our community to feel the same abundance, hope and optimism that we do here.”

Etzel describes the partnership with Oregon Community Foundation as a way to make the company’s giving more effective.

“They have allowed us to give with more educated choices. Knowing the things we care about, they help guide us to make a bigger impact,” Etzel said. “I’ve learned a lot working with Oregon Community Foundation. One thing is how deep the need is here in Oregon, especially for children.”

Etzel said she has often been surprised by the research findings provided by Oregon Community Foundation, such as learning the detrimental effects of poor childhood dental health on academic achievement.

“I don’t feel like I’m guessing, or I’m coming in to feel good or be the hero,” she said. “I feel like I am wisely using my resources to have the greatest impact. Those resources have come from my agents and the community. Oregon Community Foundation makes me feel confident that I’m a good steward of those dollars.”

Through engaged agents and employees, charitable funds and a culture of giving, Living Room Realty shows that business can be a powerful tool for creating a better world. The company’s commitment is a reminder to us all that when we focus on making a difference, communities benefit.

Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) works with donors and volunteers to award grants and scholarships to every county in Oregon. With OCF, individuals, families, businesses and organizations create charitable funds that meet the needs of diverse communities statewide. Since its founding in 1973, OCF has distributed more than $2 billion toward advancing its mission to improve lives for all Oregonians. For more information, please visit oregoncf.org.

Read the full article by the Oregon Community Foundation in the Portland Business Journal.

Loving Room Fund Spotlight: Rose Haven

Posted on by Living Room Realty

Rose Haven and Living Room Realty have been partnered since 2019, yet “the haven” has been a sanctuary for women and children in Portland since 1997. It all started when a few volunteers went under the bridges and into the streets to conduct a survey, asking women what they needed. Overwhelmingly the response was a safe place to go, where they could make healthy relationships, and meet their basic human needs with dignity. 25 years later, we are still offering programs based on our guest self-defined needs, and now welcome anyone marginalized by their gender. However, the needs in Portland are more critical than ever before.

According to the 2022 Multnomah County Point In Time Count 5,228 people are experiencing homelessness in this county. Since 2019, overall homelessness has increased by 30% and those living completely unsheltered (outside in tents, cars, or on the margins) has doubled; and we know these numbers are low due to the logistics of the count itself. The communities we serve are even more vulnerable to homelessness, especially as a result of gender-based violence. 69.8% of transgender people, 66.7% of gender non-conforming, and 59% of women experiencing homelessness also had a history of domestic violence. 43% of those reporting a history of domestic violence were also currently unsheltered. On top of that, we know the housing market has been red hot, making affordable housing a real challenge.

Rose Haven’s mission is to provide day shelter, resources, emotional support, and community connections to women, children, and marginalized genders experiencing homelessness and poverty. Our vision is a community where everyone has safety, stability, love, health, and home. 5 days a week they are serving up radical hospitality, offering the following services:

  • Meals
  • Showers and restrooms
  • Clothing and supplies
  • Laundry
  • Safe Mailing Addresses
  • Onsite clinic
  • Technology lab
  • Wellness activities
  • Onsite community partner connection
  • Community celebrations
  • Advocacy support for financial aid, emotional support, and resource referral/navigation

As we celebrated 25 years of compassionate service in Portland, we also expanded into our dream home. After years in a church basement and adapting to an outdoor service model during the pandemic, this was truly a celebration. On March 8th, 2022 we opened the doors to our new home for the Haven, a 10,000 sq. ft. facility designed with a trauma-informed lens at 1740 NW Glisan St! Much of this growth is because of the support from the Loving Room Fund. Since 2019, Living Room Realty has contributed a total of $142,900! In 2022 alone, your efforts raised $61,777. Your gifts matter. In 2022 you helped Rose Haven served 3,523 of our neighbors experiencing poverty, offering the following services:

  • Bus Tickets: 18265
  • Clothing Shopping Visits: 4036
  • Emergency Outfits: 8250
  • Outdoor Supplies: 5431
  • Hygiene Supplies: 7864
  • First Aid Supplies: 331
  • Pet Supplies 670
  • Diapers: 695
  • Coats: 947
  • Meals: 39670
  • Laundry: 390
  • Showers: 2994
  • Storage Area Use: 355
  • Computer Lab: 309
  • Art Therapy Classes:370
  • Nurse Visits:2027
  • Wellness:601

You also helped with emergency financial assistance. Here is the breakdown of bills we paid from 2022:

  • Gas Cards: 266
  • Monthly HC Bus Passes: 204
  • Emergency Transportation: 38
  • IDs: 207
  • Eye Exam and Glasses Vouchers: 18
  • Emergency Medical: 83
  • Rental Applications: 36
  • Utilities: 102
  • Storage: 61
  • Phone Payments: 290
  • Education & Employment Fees: 120

 

The work is far from over though. We will be implementing a Mental Health Advocacy Program in 2023 that will bridge the gaps in mental health services to a population currently lacking accessibility. We all need to work together to heal people, and heal Portland.

 

Learn more about Rose Haven on their Website www.rosehaven.org