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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (May 3, 2023)
Page 2 May 03, 2023 Building a More Sustainable Future Credit Union Donates to Local Environmental Group to Empower the Community OnPoint Community Credit Union has donated $100,000 to four nonprofit orga- nizations that protect the Pacific North- west’s environment, natural resources and wildlife. This year’s beneficiaries are The Nature Conservancy in Oregon, Ecotrust, Oregon Environment Council and SOLVE Oregon. The donation is part of OnPoint’s Green Horizons effort, an ini- tiative launched in April 2021 to empow- er members and employees to care for the planet. The initiative provides members with discounts on green vehicles and solar panels, partners with local environmental nonprofits, and offers employees telecom- muting programs, volunteer opportunities and environmental education. “Addressing the effects of climate change starts at a local level to make a lasting impact,” said Rob Stuart, Pres- ident and CEO, OnPoint Community Credit Union. “We created the Green Horizons initiative to make going green more accessible, and to support the orga- nizations fighting every day to protect our most vital natural resources. We are proud to support these efforts and to continue making greener choices more accessible to the community.” OnPoint will donate $25,000 to each of this year’s four nonprofit recipients: The Nature Conservancy in Oregon, Ecotrust, Oregon Environment Council and SOLVE Oregon. The Nature Con- servancy in Oregon (TNC) brings people together to solve the most significant con- servation challenges of our time. OnPoint has supported TNC since 2017, donating more than $316,800 to help fund projects, including forest restoration, ensuring vi- brant and resilient coastal communities and sustainable fisheries, and protecting existing soil and underground carbon in Eastern Oregon. In 2021 in particular, OnPoint pledged up to $250 to TNC for every approved electric or hybrid vehicle loan with OnPoint. The campaign resulted in 1,474 approved green auto loans and a $226,750 donation to TNC. “We are proud to be a recipient of On- Point’s Green Horizons for the third year in a row,” said Derek Johnson, State Di- rector, The Nature Conservancy in Ore- gon. “Oregonians are already experienc- ing the effects of climate change today, and OnPoint’s latest donation will allow us to continue our urgent work to protect our natural resources to build resilience for the future.” Ecotrust has partnered with commu- nities across our region for more than 30 years to inspire fresh thinking at the inter- section of equity, economy and the envi- ronment. The organization is dedicated to restoring our lands and waters, promot- OnPoint's Green Horizons initiative provides members with discounts on green vehicles and solar panels, partners with local environmental nonprofits, and offers employees telecommuting programs, volunteer opportunities and environmental education. ing climate-resilient communities, and building broadly-shared intergenerational wealth. With OnPoint’s donation, Ecotrust will advance a more equitable and restor- ative regional food economy through its innovative food systems programming and spaces. As part of the partnership, Ecotrust will promote and resource local food pro- ducers and entrepreneurs, while connect- ing and fostering key relationships with in- stitutional food buyers who are committed to sourcing regional products. “Collaborating with community lead- ers and organizations like OnPoint is how we build an equitable and prosperous future for all,” said Christopher Rachal, Community and Funding Partnerships Manager at Ecotrust. “We are moved by the generosity and supportive partnership and look forward to continuing our col- lective work to advance climate resilience across our region.” Oregon Environmental Council (OEC) brings the community together to find environmental solutions that enable ev- eryone to participate in making Oregon a better place to live. Founded in 1968 by concerned Oregonians across the state, OEC is a membership-based, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization. OEC partners with businesses, local communities and elected officials to create protective public policy. Oregon Environmental Council aims to protect public access to Oregon’s coast, re- duce millions of tons of climate pollution, rid children’s products of toxins and safe- guard drinking water. “Our goal is to ensure every Oregonian has access to healthy air, water and cli- mate. Community partners like OnPoint make our work possible,” said Jana Gastel- lum, Executive Director, Oregon Environ- mental Council. “We are thankful for this donation which will allow us to advance smart solutions, such as electric vehicles and heat pumps, solar panels and safer con- sumer products that help more Oregonians live healthier lives.” SOLVE Oregon brings diverse commu- nities together to improve the health and safety of Oregon’s neighborhoods and nat- ural areas, including the coast, rivers, parks and forests. For the past three years, On- Point has supported SOLVE Oregon with $34,977 in donations and by sending doz- ens of employee volunteers to participate in SOLVE clean-up events. These events organize individuals and communities across Oregon to help remove litter from city streets and marine debris from beaches that can endanger wildlife and negatively impact water quality. “OnPoint’s donation and employee volunteer support has helped us grow our event capacity to keep more neigh- borhoods safe and healthy,” Kris Carico, Chief Executive Officer, SOLVE Oregon. “We look forward to building our partner- ship with OnPoint to expand our reach and clean up more neighborhoods and natural areas throughout Oregon.” To make going green more accessible, OnPoint’s Green Horizons offers special rate discounts for members. OnPoint’s Green Auto Discount offers 0.25%1 An- nual Percentage Rate (APR) off auto loan rates for new or used electric or hybrid ve- hicles financed through OnPoint. People in the market for an electric or hybrid vehicle can also find additional incentives through Oregon, Washington and federal programs. OnPoint’s Green Horizons also makes it more affordable for homeowners to produce their own solar electricity. When homeowners apply for an EquityFlex Line of Credit for home improvements, they can fix a portion of their line of cred- it for the purchase of solar panels and receive a 0.25%2 discount off the Equi- tyFlex Fixed Portion APR. Homeowners can find even more savings by looking at incentives and rebate programs in Ore- gon and Washington.
