Page A3
--------------------- II]e Portland Observer--------------------
Michael Jordan Launches ‘Jordan
Fundamentals’Education Grants for Teachers
Continuing his efforts to sup­
port education and provide quality
role models and mentors for chil­
dren, Michael Jordan, speaking as
head o f the JORDAN brand, an­
nounced the launch o f the “Jordan
Fundamentals," an education grants
program for
teachers. Ad­
ministered by
the N ational
Foundation for
the Im prove­
ment o f Edu­
cation (NF1E),
the “ Jordan
Fundam en­
tals” provides
grants
for
teach ers
in
public second­
ary schools
that serve dis­
a d v a n ta g e d
students.
Recently at
John P hilip
Sousa middle
school in southeast Washington,
Jordan said that the grants program
will be funded by a portion o f the
proceeds from the JORDAN brand,
specifically a minimum donation of
$1 million a year for the next five
years. Jordan said he hoped to en­
courage more mentor-like roles for
teachers o f underserved students
“My own desire and ability to
succeed are the result o f many bless­
ings, none greater than those o f the
excellent role models I had," said
Jordan "My father. Dean Smith,
Phil Jackson and many o f my teach­
ers were just a few o f the many role
models who taught me that my
achievements could never exceed
my expectations o f myself. I hope
that these grants empower more
teachers to do what they do best:
find creative ways to give kids the
means and the inspiration to suc­
ceed — in academics, sports, fam­
ily, and in their life.”
The "Jordan Fundamentals" grants
will recognize and support lesson
plans written by teachers that dem­
onstrate instructional creativity and
exemplify high learning expecta­
tions for underserved students. In
its first year, the program will make
400 awards of $2,500 each avail­
able to teachers. The first round of
grants will be awarded in mid-Sep­
tember; the deadline for that round
o f applications is May 15.
“The Jordan Fundamentals will
provide tremendous inspiration to
the hundreds of thousands o f women
and men who have dedicated them­
selves to helping economically dis­
advantaged students succeed," said
Judith Renvi, executive director of
the NFIE. “We are very honored to
have been selected to work with the
JORDAN brand in designing this
important program.”
Larry Miller, president o f the
JORDAN brand, a sub-brand ofNike,
described the launch of the "Jordan
Fundamentals” program as a major
development in the JORDAN brand
which was launched in September
1997.
“All of us who are part o f the
JORDAN brand are proud to follow
MJ’s lead in setting high standards
o f achievement, excellence and civic
responsibility,” said Miller. “We
think the Jordan Fundamentals pro­
gram is an effective way to posi­
tively impact the lives o f children
and we are committed to supporting
and growing this program as we grow
our business.”
Additional funding for the grants
program will be sought through
fundraisers and other corporate part­
nerships.
Among the participants at today’s
press conference were U.S. Depart­
ment o f Education Secretary Rich­
ard Riley, Washington, D.C. Mayor
Anthony Williams, JORDAN brand
president Larry Miller, National
Education A ssociation President
Bob Chase and NFIE Executive Di­
rector Judith Renyi
The "Jordan Fundamentals” pro­
gram co m p le m e n ts M ichael
Jordan’s ongoing support o f fami­
lies and communities which include
support for The Jordan Institute for
Families at the University o f North
Carolina, the James Jordan Boys
and Girls Club, UNCF/The College
Fund and America’s Promise.
The NFIE was created in 1969 by
the National Education Association.
The Foundation works to improve
EE B. 3, 1999
the quality o f teaching and learning
in public schools and higher educa­
tion institutions nationwide
FAQ: Nike Inc., a sports and
fitness company based in Beaverton,
Oregon, employs over 7,000 people
in the U S. and 22,000 worldwide
creating authentic athletic footwear,
apparel, equipment and accessories.
During the last fiscal year (June 1,
1997 - May 31, 1998), Nike contri­
butions to various programs, causes,
and not for profit organizations
reached $34 million in cash and
products. From safe playgrounds
where kids need them most, to sup­
port o f 100 Black Men of America
mentoring, education and health pro­
grams, to a program which helps
disadvantaged women in Asia open
their own businesses, Nike focuses
its corporate outreach on children
and communities who can benefit
from programs designed to nurture,
educate and inspire. For more infor­
m ation, visit N ike’s Web sites:
w w w .nikebiz.com ,www.nike.com
and www.nikeworkers.com.
Hunger increasing among working people due to high housing, child care costs
Oregon Hunger ReliefTask Force
report recommends refundable tax
credits and $300,000 in state food
stamp outreach to working families
Oregon’s plummeting welfare
case loads and growing work-fare
programs are hailed as national mod­
els in moving people toward self-
sufficiency, yet low-wage workers
and their families are swelling the
lines at food pantries around the
state. Key changes in food stamp
and tax credit policies during this
legislative session could help these
families get enough food, according
to a report issued today by the Or­
egon Hunger Relief Task Force.
“ Many full-time workers cannot
afford to cover the costs o f rent and
child care and still properly feed
their families," said Task Force Chair
Ellen Lowe o f Ecumenical Minis­
tries o f Oregon. “Shoring up their
budgets is the very least we can do to
help ensure a minimum level of nutri­
tion for these families."
The report entitled Working But
Hungry: When Work is Not Enough,
combined data from multiple sources
to analyze factors impacting low-wage
workers. It was accompanied by a
letter from the Oregon Food Bank
Board o f Directors and Executive
Director urging the Governor and top
state officials to take note of the grow­
ing incidence o f hunger amongst the
working poor and other groups.
IfOregon were to allocate $300,000
to match federal funds for targeted
food stamp outreach to working poor
families, Lowe and other advocates
are confident that the growing bur­
den on families and on charitable
food providers would be somewhat
lightened.
A 1998 survey conducted by Or­
egon Food Bank found that 41 per­
cent o f Oregon households receiv­
ing emergency food boxes last year
had at least one worker, an inc rease of
four percent over 1996. InMultnomah
County, the 1998 figure reached 70
percent.
According to November 1998 data
from Oregon’s Adult and Family Ser­
vices, only 52 percent o f eligible Or­
egonians are currently receiving Food
Stamps, down from 71 percent two
years ago. Food Bank data shows
that just 52 percent o f emergency
food box recipients are receiving food
stamps, though 91 percent live below
the federal poverty level.
TheTask Force also recommended
that the legislature make the state
Earned Income and Working Family
Tax Credits refundable to ensure that
even the lowest wage earners would
benefit. People earning less than the
taxable income threshold could then
receive a return although they did not
pay taxes. This return would help
offset federal deductions for social
security.
“Even with help from the public
and the government, the charitable
food system cannot fully absorb this
growing burden. Our facilities, staff,
and funding are limited,” said Oregon
Food Bank Executive Director Rachel
Bristol. "Income supports are the pri­
mary tool government has to prevent
hunger while encouraging people to
move into the work force and remain
there."
The Task Force’s report empha­
sized the lack o f livable wage jobs in
the state despite continuing low un­
employment. More than 7 5 percent of
Oregon jobs do not pay a livable
wage for a single adult with two chil­
dren and more than half do not pay a
livable wage for a single adult, ac­
cording to a recently released report
from Oregon Action entitled the
Northwest Job Gap Study. Housing
costs are a major factor in the lack of
livable wagejobs, with nearly half of
Oregon renters spending more than
the federal standard o f 30 percent of
their income on housing and utilities.
W hile governm ent supporters
help, cuts in food stamp benefits to
families leave the average food stamp
recipients receiving just $0.70 per per­
son per meal. Childcare subsidies
provided by the state calculate
hourly costs at below market rates,
and leave the lowest wage earners
with unaffordable co-payments.
Several programs, which do help
ensure adequate nutrition are reach­
ing less than one fifth o f eligible
recipients, making outreach a criti­
cal component o f the Task Force
recommendations. The Summer
Food Service Program only reaches
about 15 percent o f eligible chil­
dren. while the WICZFarmer’s Mar­
ket program reaches just 17 per­
cent o f eligible pregnant or nurs­
ing women, infants and children.
O verall, more than 401,000
people each received emergency
food assistance at least once from
the agencies o f the Oregon Food
Bank Network last year, including
nearly 165,000 children. That num­
ber represents an increase o f 5
percent over the year before. In
Multnomah County, food box re­
cipients increased by 8.5 percent
last year.
Oregon Food Bank also con­
ducts advocacy and public educa­
tion programs to help fight the
root causes o f hunger and pov­
erty.
M o n ito r in g Your
H e a lth —A t H om e
(N A PS)—F o r th e f ir s t tim e ,
patients on anticoagulant therapy
may be able to avoid life-threaten­
ing complications by using an at-
home monitoring test. The system,
available through a doctor, m ea­
sures the clotting activity of blood.
ON JUNE 20, PACIFIC POWER'S
ATM A N N U A L B O U N D F O R
B E L IZ E C O N T E S T WILL SEND
FOUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
AND ONE TEACHER TO THE
JUNGLES OF CENTRAL AMERICA
FOR A W E E K -L O N G T R O P IC A L
FO RESTRY EC O LO G Y C O U R S E .
A new at-home monitoring sys­
tem may help patients on warfarin
achieve better health outcomes.
T he new m o n ito rin g sy stem ,
c a lle d P roT im e*, w as re c e n tly
cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration.
P eo p le w ho h av e h a d h e a r t
attacks, mechanical h eart valves,
atrial fibrillation and other medi­
cal conditions, have lived with the
frightening knowledge th a t th e ir
life-saving anticoagulant m edica­
tion including warfarin may cause
serious complications.
DURING THEIR STAY IN BELIZE,
STUDENTS WILL WORK IN THE RAIN
FOREST, TRACK EXOTIC ANIMALS
AND EXPLORE MAYAN RUINS.
C O N T E S T E N T R IE S M U S T
BE IN B Y M A R C H 1 .
ASK YOUR SCHOOL'S SCIENCE
TEACHER FOR DETAILS OR
Advertise
on the
Internet
. » . I r i
Join other
companies as
they take the
step in a new
direction
CALL TOLL FREE 1-888-221-7070
FOR MORE INFORM ATION.
Eligible students must attend a
high school served by Pacific Power.
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