SIGN UP FOR STELLAR MAIL
9 Team members. $4,500 in donations.
Delight & appreciation from all of us.
Stellaractive is excited to announce our sixth year of supporting non-profits through our Season of Giving initiative! This year, for the Season of Giving, our team of nine was each given $500 to donate to organizations they are passionate about.
With the holidays approaching, it’s an excellent time for us to reflect on our position and use our platform to promote those working to better the lives of others and improve the world we live in. This year features many great organizations with incredible causes.
Read on to see who each Stellaractive member has chosen to donate to and why. If you see any organizations you want to help, we encourage you to contribute and learn more about their cause.
You can also see who we have donated to in the past.
Oregon Food Bank (Feed America)
Donation: $200
About the non-profit
Oregon Food Bank is a local branch of Feed America that distributes food.
I chose this organization because…
I’ve volunteered with them before at a couple of different locations here in Portland and seen the people they help personally. To be honest, with the surge in demand that the loss of SNAP benefits has created, they could use money more than my time
GiveDirectly
Donation: $300
About the non-profit
GiveDirectly sends money directly and unconditionally to people living in extreme poverty to spend how they see fit. It’s really that simple.
I chose this organization because…
For the same reasons as last year. Additionally, I will mention that giving directly to people in need enables this charity to be flexible in its allocations. There is no mandate that money must go to a specific segment of the population, a specific cause, or disaster relief.
While they are geographically agnostic, in years past, their focus has been on folks struggling in economically distressed parts of the world. This year, the focus is primarily on the growing number of hungry people here. As well as those affected by Hurricane Melissa.
Portland Community Football Club (PCFC)
Donation: $250
About the non-profit
Portland Community Football Club (PCFC) provides access, belonging, and opportunity through high-quality soccer and wraparound services for low-income and historically underserved youth ages 6-18.
I chose this organization because…
This is likely a scary time for a lot of children from low-income and underserved communities, and I believe sports and the sense of belonging they create should be for everybody. The services Portland Community Football Club (PCFC) provides can help youth in our community and go beyond sports through a “whole child” approach that includes nutritional support, social-emotional care, and more services every child should have access to.
NAYA Family Center
Donation: $250
About the non-profit
Founded by the community, for the community, NAYA Family Center focuses on Native resilience and self-determination. Their programs promote personal growth, community engagement, and cultural preservation for Native Americans.
I chose this organization because…
Native American communities have endured centuries of harm and erasure, and I think we’ve fallen very short of acknowledging this and recognizing the support they deserve. NAYA Family Center’s services provide a brighter future for local Native Americans, help preserve their cultures, and build their communities through essential services and robust educational programs. Their important work will ensure community self-determination for generations to come.
Oregon Food Bank (Feed America)
Donation: $500
About the non-profit
Every day, Oregon Food Bank works to provide nourishing food to everyone who needs it across Oregon and Southwest Washington. They also work to shape policies to end hunger for good and support local people and organizations facing barriers to safety net programs and financial challenges that make food hard to afford.
I chose this organization because…
With the current uncertainty in federal funding for food assistance, I think there is a desperate need to support food banks this holiday season. I’m proud to support Oregon Food Bank because they not only work hard to provide food but are also part of a community-led coalition working to ensure everyone can access the food they need.
WeShine
Donation: $500
About the non-profit
WeShine is addressing the homelessness crisis by building a new model of supported micro-village on leased private property in residential neighborhoods, with wraparound services and robust volunteer engagement.
I chose this organization because…
I continue to be impressed by the steady, visible progress WeShine makes each year. Their small-scale, neighborhood-based approach creates tangible change and real community connections. Everyone deserves a warm, dry, safe place to sleep — and WeShine turns that belief into action.
Immigration Counseling Service (ICS)
Donation: $250
About the non-profit
Immigration Counseling Service (ICS) is committed to ensuring that immigrants have access to high-quality, low-cost, and pro bono legal services.
I chose this organization because…
We are a nation of immigrants, and that’s what makes us special. I believe providing families with legal services is one of the best ways we can support them right now.
Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts (COLT)
Donation: $250
About the non-profit
Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts (COLT) serves to strengthen the land trust community in our state by building connections and advancing policies that help protect our water, wildlife, and open space—for all people, forever.
I chose this organization because…
With the changing climate and policies of late, we need to do our part in protecting wildlife, parks, and our waterways. The Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts does just that, by representing and uniting more than 30 conservation organizations advocating for our natural world.
Bristol Bay Forever
Donation: $500
About the non-profit
Bristol Bay Forever is an initiative sponsored by the Bristol Bay Defense Fund – a coalition of business, Tribal, nonprofit, and community organizations dedicated to securing lasting protections for Bristol Bay.
I chose this organization because…
Bristol Bay Forever is working to permanently protect Alaska’s Bristol Bay watershed from industrial mining and other threats. Having grown up connected to Alaska’s fishing heritage and through family ties to the region, I’ve seen how deeply the land and water sustain both people and culture.
The area’s salmon runs are among the last truly wild ones left in the world. Vital to Indigenous communities, local economies, and the ecosystem as a whole. What inspires me most is the movement’s belief that these lands and waters should be stewarded for future generations, not sacrificed for short-term gain.
Black United Fund of Oregon
Donation: $500
About the non-profit
As one of the few Black-led foundations in Oregon, the Black United Fund of Oregon (BUF-OR) supports the social and economic development of Oregon’s underserved communities and contributes to a broader understanding of ethnic and culturally diverse groups.
I chose this organization because…
Their work represents the kind of impact I believe truly strengthens communities. As one of Oregon’s longest-serving Black-led nonprofits, BUF-OR has spent decades empowering underrepresented communities through education, entrepreneurship, and youth development.
Their programs create real, lasting change; helping young people build brighter futures, supporting small business owners, and providing vital resources for grassroots organizations. What stands out most to me is their deep, ongoing commitment to equity and opportunity right here in Oregon.
Friends of Noise
Donation: $500
About the non-profit
Friends of Noise is a non-profit that works to transform the culture of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth access to the music industry. They foster a healthy ecosystem for all ages to thrive by providing youth-focused programs, teaching industry skills, developing resources, and offering mentorship and professional development.
I chose this organization because…
From a time before I grasped object permanence, I’ve been a noisy individual, which is why I’m excited to support Friends of Noise. As a newborn, I entered the world kicking and screaming (I assume; I’ve only heard stories). I feel fortunate to have parents who fostered my musical pursuits since then by supporting me through concert piano lessons, headache-inducing drum solos, and late-night rides to my favorite concerts, on a school night, nonetheless.
As an active performing musician, I cannot emphasize enough how much I appreciate Friends of Noise’s vision to empower Portland’s BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth in music, to foster an all-ages performance community, and to host a space for loud noise outright. Music and art, in general, are incredibly powerful tools, and I’m excited to hear/see/smell/taste/feel what the next generation of creators has to offer.
Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB)
Donation: $500
About the non-profit
Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) is a media organization that serves communities across Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. The organization connects people through trusted, freely accessible journalism.
I chose this organization because…
I studied journalism in college because I believe in the power of honest, thoughtful storytelling. Oregon Public Broadcasting brings that to life — connecting people through reliable, fact-based reporting and stories that truly matter. As a daily listener, I’m proud to support the work that keeps those voices on the air, especially now that public-media funding has been cut and the mission depends on local support more than ever.