Youth Empowerment Amplified: Annual MAF Fund Drive Lights Up Futures

Opening Doors to Education: Imagine a student’s face lighting up as they enter a classroom eager to explore new worlds and ideas. Members support, through the Multnomah Athletic Foundation, fuels this excitement by providing access to quality education resources, mentoring programs, and scholarships, preparing them for life-long learning.

Empowering Through Athletics: Sports have the power to teach discipline, teamwork, and resilience. By contributing to the Multnomah Athletic Foundation, MAC members are not only helping kids get on the field but also giving them the opportunity to learn life lessons that will shape their character. MAC’s generosity paves the way for sports equipment, coaching, and participation in safe places that instill values that last a lifetime.

Making a Lasting Impact: Every dollar donated becomes a beacon of hope for a young student-athlete. It’s not just about providing access; it’s about creating a ripple effect of positive change. When we invest in their education and athletic pursuits, we’re investing in a future where these empowered youth become leaders, mentors, and community champions.

Back in 1991, a spark of inspiration gave birth to the Multnomah Athletic Foundation (MAF), a humble force of good that quietly set out to change lives. With a simple but powerful mission, MAF began supporting nonprofit organizations, extending scholarships to student-athletes, and reaching out to communities in need.

Zoom into 2023, and the heartwarming impact continues. MAF awarded 22 grants, provided 55 scholarships, and distributed $252,000 in funds to reach more than 10,500 youth throughout Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties in the last 12 months. MAC members who contribute during the Annual Fund Drive help support these efforts, and the Foundation’s board is grateful.

The numbers show that these actions and activities are powerful in and of themselves. Through the Foundation’s community outreach, the real magic happens when the organizations we support coincide with youths’ academic and athletic interests, as well as their community involvement, helping spark new connections.

These connections — and their collective impact — are at the heart of MAF’s mission and arise from the crossroads of community engagement. Sometimes spontaneous, sometimes intentional, they are always dynamic. And moments generated by collaboration between students, grants, scholarships, and nonprofit leaders ultimately energize the local community.

MAF supports spaces where nonprofits and youths overlap, forging new dynamics rooted in authentic and equitable relationships. For instance, a student participates in an after-school sports program and gets help with homework, which helps them excel in athletics and academics, which leads to a scholarship, which allows them to pursue their dreams. Or a student gets the chance to attend summer camp, where they experience new activities, which introduce possibilities they never considered before. Connections like these demonstrate the power of serendipity at work and how access to participation fuels opportunities.

Thank you in advance for joining the Foundation to support dreams, opportunities, and possibilities for youth!

For those interested in sharing in the excitement of MAF’s connections, join the annual Impact Award Event on Monday, Nov. 6, at Multnomah Athletic Club.

Members can learn more about MAF’s community partners and the powerful and inspiring connections they’ve forged in The Winged M December issue.

Annual Fund Drive

The hardest part about sharing the stories of our scholarship recipients and grant partners is choosing whose to tell. Amplifying voices of dreamers, action-oriented students, and amazing nonprofit leaders is a privilege and a delight.

The Foundation would not have these stories to share without your help. Members’ annual $25 donation, added to your October bill on the September statement, helps fuel opportunities for these young people. Although a single $25 contribution may not seem like much, when it is multiplied by thousands of MAC members during the Annual Fund Drive, it has a far-reaching impact.

The opportunities come in different shapes and sizes. For scholarship recipients, your donation helps provide access to education at two- and four-year schools. For community grant recipients, you’re providing kids with an opportunity to play organized sports or engage in active play. Several of our grant recipients are organizations committed to supporting underrepresented and underserved areas, while helping kids build confidence and develop life skills.

The Foundation thanks you for your contribution. And if you would like to do more, or share some ideas, we would love to talk with you. For questions about the Multnomah Athletic Foundation’s Annual Fund Drive, contact Executive Director Lisa Bendt at 503-517-2350 or lisa@ MultnomahAthleticFoundation. com.

The Foundation will provide a gift acknowledgement for this tax-deductible gift in mid-November. If you would like to opt back in or opt out of the annual donation, please contact the Accounting Office at 503-517-7200 or accounting@themac.com.

— Sarah Burczak and Debbie Williams, Board Co-Chairs