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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 21, 2017)
give guide Give until it feels good. Then give some more. “No one has ever become poor from giving.” — Anne Frank Every year, EW writers ask the community, “What groups should people donate to?” And we focus our annual Give Guide on local nonprofits that need your support, be it through a tax-deductible monetary donation or through volunteering your time. Every year we bemoan the fact that we don’t have enough pages to include every single deserving group. You know you live in a caring community when you have an abundance of groups helping their fellow humans, animals and world around us. And so now, as we’ve done for at least a decade, we ask you to read, donate and write us letters to tell us who you think your community should give to. Send your thoughts to letters@eugeneweekly.com for your community members to read. — Camilla Mortensen PARENTING NOW!’S INCREDIBLE INFANTS P HOTO COUR T E S Y INCREDIBL E INFA N TS GROUP KIDS AND FAMILIES A prevention-based nonprofit dedicated to helping girls make smart life choices through empowerment, education and support, Ophelia’s Place recognizes that all girls face challenges growing up. From learning how to build relationships, to maintain- ing self-esteem or dealing with issues like body positivity and making healthy lifestyle choices, Ophelia’s Place of- fers 10 to 18 year olds — who identify as women or girls — a safe, comfortable afterschool hang-out space, along with workshops, access to therapy and additional supports. They offer programming in Eugene-area schools through peer groups, classroom presentations and parent support — in topics from smart digital decisions, to healthy relationships, or bullying. In 2018, Ophelia’s Place will ex- pand its programming into Junction City and Albany. 10 December 21, 2017 • eugeneweekly.com Their upcoming calendar for girls and parents in- cludes workshops like Computer Aided 3D Design, a Par- ent-Daughter Circle therapy group and a musical jam ses- sion with Grrlz Rock. Ophelia’s Place’s “Dear 13-Year-Old Self” Winter Giv- ing Campaign encourages donors to make their end-of-year gifts to support its programming. Those who give — and share advice they would tell their 13-year-old selves about growing up — will be entered into a drawing at the end of December to win a gift basket. Donations can be made at OpheliasPlace.net. — Rachael Carnes Parenting Now! helps ensure that children are raised by skilled, nurturing parents. For 39 years, Parenting Now! — formerly Birth to Three — has offered a variety of par- enting groups, including Incredible INFANTs, Wonderful ONEs, Terrific TWOs, Thrilling THREEs, Parents Again, Make Parenting a Pleasure, Crecer for Spanish-speaking families and Young Parents Program. Through these groups parents learn self-care, stress and anger management, communication skills, child develop- ment and more. Parenting Now!’s Make Parenting a Pleasure curricu- lum has been used in over 1,000 sites, 46 states, and 17 other countries. Nearly 93,000 local parents and their chil- dren have benefited from the organization’s programs and services. “Some people are afraid to take parenting classes, and as far as I’m concerned everyone can benefit from parent- ing education,” says Parenting Now!’s Anita Quincy-Huff- man. “I’ve been parenting for 38 years and I’m always learning something new.” In 2018, Parenting Now! will celebrate its 40th year with an anniversary gala. They offer events throughout the year, including a Mother’s Day 5k. They also have many volunteer opportu- nities. More info at ParentingNow.org. — Rachael Carnes When Eugene’s Civic Stadium burned, the Eugene Civic Alliance (eugenecivicalliance.org) turned its ashes into hope. The nonprofit had raised $41.1 million to buy the property. It is now raising money to build a new sports and recreation complex called Civic Park that aims to boost kids’ health, develop the local economy and build community. “The new Civic Park will honor our history while pro- viding 21st-century solutions to the consequences of inac- tive lifestyles,” ECA board president Jon Anderson says. In addition to helping kids be more active, Civic Park will be home to Lane United Football Club as well as other sports competitions. Former Oregon Ducks basketball coach Bev Smith adds, “The plans we have for Civic aren’t about something that would be ‘nice to have.’” Smith is now executive director of Kidsports, which will have a fieldhouse on the property. “This is fundamental to our ability to raise healthy kids and have them grow into active adults,” she says. “I’m not talking about training elite athletes. We’re talking about basic physical skills and habits everyone should learn by the time they are 11 or 12. Today, without enough func- tional, available space to play, most kids miss out on what is truly the most cost effective and practical form of health care. We can’t fail them.” Eugene Weekly co-owner Art Johnson is on the ECA board of directors. — Camilla Mortensen
