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.
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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