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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 21, 2016)
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS | October 21, 2016 | PAGE 9 BUILDING COMMUNITY Kids’ Chance scholarship recipients from left to right are Zsofika Wigney, Randi Johnston and Kayla Johnston. In the back is Bob Shiprack, president of the Kids’ Chance board of directors. Kids’ Chance gives scholarships to kids of fatally injured workers Kids’ Chance of Oregon, a non- profit that provides post-sec- ondary and trade school schol- arships to children of Oregon workers who have been se- verely or fatally injured in a workplace accident, handed out scholarship awards Sept. 27 at a fundraiser auction and recep- tion. Since its formation three years ago, the program has awarded $64,550 in scholar- ships. From 2010 to 2014, there were 136 fatal occupational in- juries in Oregon. Another 69 workers suffered injuries that re- sulted in permanent disability, taking them out of the work- force. There are no records of how many children were af- fected, but it was reported that in 2013, the average age of the fatalities was 42 years old — the prime years of parenthood. “These types of events can profoundly impact families. The likelihood that they cannot af- ford further education after high school increases significantly,” said Bob Shiprack, president of the board of directors of Kids’ Chance of Oregon. “Kids’ Chance makes it possible for more students to continue their education.” Scholarship recipient Zsofika Wigney attested to that at the awards reception. Wigney, who has Tourette’s syndrome and as- pergers, lost her father to a workplace accident in 2012. With help from Kids’ Chance, she attends Clark Honors Col- lege at the University of Ore- gon. Her major is English, but she hopes to someday go to medical school. “Because of Kids’ Chance, I have no loans to worry about,” Wigney said. “Thank you for taking a chance on me. I prom- ise not to let you down.” Oregon is the 27th state with a Kids’ Chance chapter. Its 12- member board of directors is comprised primarily of profes- sionals with experience in work- ers’ compensation-related indus- tries. In addition to Shiprack, a retired executive director of the Oregon State Building Trades Council, labor is represented on the board by Bob Tackett, exec- utive secretary-treasurer of the Northwest Oregon Labor Coun- cil. Shiprack and Tackett encour- age Oregon labor unions to be- come more involved in Kids’ Chance of Oregon and to help raise funds for future scholar- ships. For more information about Kids’ Chance of Oregon, visit their website at www.kid- schanceoforegon.com. This year’s scholarship recip- ients are: • Ariannah Jimenez: $11,700, University of Oregon • Zsofika Wigney: $6,250, Clark Honors College/ University of Oregon • Kayla Johnston: $4,630, Lower Columbia College • Randi Johnston: $4,200, Lower Columbia College • Alannah McMaster: $3,000, Mt. Hood Community College Low Prices! Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat 9:30-5:30, Sun 12-6 THIS NEWSPAPER BROUGHT TO YOU BY AMERICA’S LABOR MOVEMENT … AND BY OUR ADVERTISERS. LET THEM KNOW YOU APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT!
