(Portland, OR) – February 16, 2023 Active Children Portland, a local non-profit that provides after-school programming for Portland kids, will receive a $100,000 donation from Alaska Airlines to support youth programming. In October, Alaska Airlines announced new sponsorships for youth sports in the Portland area. The airline recently announced the three regional recipients: Every Kid Sports; She Flies, an initiative of Sport Oregon Foundation; and Active Children Portland.
“Care is at the heart of everything we do at Alaska Airlines, and we are incredibly proud to partner with Active Children Portland,” said Harry Cheema, public affairs manager at Alaska Airlines. “Through helping kids gain access to sports, additional education and emotional support, Active Children Portland shares our commitment to care for the people and communities we serve.”
For more than 10 years, Active Children Portland has provided free afterschool programming for kids in underserved communities, predominantly in North Portland and the East Metro area. In 2022, Active Children Portland expanded sports, nutrition, and educational offerings to improve the fitness, social and emotional development, and writing and reading comprehension of the kids they serve. In addition to offering soccer programming, the organization recently launched a mobile roller derby partnership with Rose City Rollers. Active Children Portland also provides nutrition education through OHSU for girls, gender-expansive, and non-binary youth, and developed a performing arts pilot to facilitate peer collaboration and imaginative thinking.
“We are thrilled that, thanks to Alaska Airlines’ generous donation, we will be able to build upon last year’s growth to provide more opportunities for Portland kids. Thanks to their support, Active Children Portland can add volleyball and track and field to sports programming options, and we will expand academics to include STEM learning in 2024,” says Kimberly Bergstrom, Executive Director of Active Children Portland. “We will also be able to provide services at more schools where the needs for mentorship and support are greatest due to classroom overcrowding and cuts to enrichment programs.”
According to the Oregon Afterschool and Summer for Kids Network, for every $1 invested in afterschool programs, Oregon sees a $4.60 return on investment.
“Kids involved with Active Children Portland have better attendance and grades, improved behavior and classroom engagement, stronger adult and peer relationships, and higher graduation rates,” says Kimberly Bergstrom. “Alaska Airlines’ investment in our programs will have an incredible impact on our kids’ success and futures.”
# # #