Rivermark Community Credit Union awards TiE Oregon $15,000 to empower next generation of local entrepreneurs
Partnership expands mentorship, training program to more than 200 Portland Metro high school students
BEAVERTON, OR (November 15, 2016) — Rivermark Community Credit Union today announced that TiE Oregon is the first-ever recipient of the newly-established Rivermark Community Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation. TiE Oregon will receive a total of $15,000 from the credit union and the fund in support of its mission to inspire, challenge and equip the next generation of entrepreneurs. The funds will be used specifically to expand the TiE Young Entrepreneurs (TYE) program, which targets promising entrepreneurs in local high schools.
According to Scott Burgess, president and CEO of Rivermark, TiE Oregon embodies the vision of the Rivermark Community Fund to empower business-focused nonprofits in their mission to encourage innovative ideas, mentor emerging entrepreneurs, and help local small businesses grow.
“The Rivermark Community Fund was created to build bridges of opportunity between promising entrepreneurs, small businesses and the resources needed for their success,” said Burgess. “With its focus on mentorship and equipping students to become future entrepreneurs and business owners, TiE Oregon is the perfect organization to become the fund’s first recipient in support of its good work.”
Now in its third year, the TiE Young Entrepreneurs program is open to all high school students in the Portland Metro area, with a satellite program at Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland’s Eastside. Seasoned innovators and entrepreneurs mentor high school students from diverse ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds based upon a business-focused curriculum that combines hands-on experience, creative collaboration and practical instruction. The program runs annually from November through May and concludes with a competition in which students present business ideas and plans they’ve developed over the course of the year.
The past two competition winners are currently in the funding phases of their business plans. One high school winner created an agricultural drone to help farmers identify and spot-treat crops in need of attention. A second winner developed an early detection medical device for heart disease and other health conditions.
“With the help of the Rivermark Community Fund, TiE Oregon is impacting our region’s future in terms of building a more vibrant community where entrepreneurship is strongly encouraged and new businesses can thrive,” said Nitin Rai, TiE Oregon founder and president. “Students who come through the TiE Young Entrepreneurs program are being exposed to people and opportunities that will contribute to their success and our community’s prosperity for many years to come.”
The Rivermark Community Fund was formally established in February 2016 as part of the credit union’s commitment to invest significant resources in strengthening the long-term economic vitality of our region. The fund launched with an initial $100,000 endowment from the credit union, with a goal to generate $1 million in assets through organizational donations and staff and member contributions.
Click HERE to watch a short video on TiE Oregon’s impact, as well as the nonprofit’s partnership with the Rivermark Community Fund.
To learn more about the Rivermark Community Fund, including how make a tax-deductible contribution online, please visit https://www.rivermarkcu.org/foundation
About Rivermark Community Credit Union
Rivermark Community Credit Union serves over 90,000 members across Oregon and SW Washington. Headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, Rivermark has been offering financial services that empower individuals and businesses to take control of their financial future. Their commitment to market leading technology has allowed their members reliable and personalized access to financial services regardless of their situation or location. For more information about Rivermark visit their website at www.rivermarkcu.org
About the Oregon Community Foundation
The mission of The Oregon Community Foundation is to improve life for all Oregonians through the power of philanthropy. OCF works with individuals, families, businesses and organizations to create charitable funds to support the community causes they care about. Through these funds OCF awarded more than $90 million in grants and scholarships in 2015. For more information about OCF, please visit www.oregoncf.org.
