December 21, 2012 -- Thomas D. Aschenbrener, recently retired president of Northwest Health Foundation, has announced that he will direct a $100,000 fund in his name to United Way of the Columbia-Willamette.
The newly-created United Way fund will be used to launch Youth United, a United Way effort to reach and engage young people in community decision-making, service, leadership and philanthropy. The intent of Youth United is to provide low-income and marginalized youth with the kinds of experiences and opportunities their more affluent peers often receive, while also helping United Way reach, engage and inspire “next generation” community leaders.
“I believe in the America I grew up in, one that invests in opportunity so that all kids can grow up with a chance to make it big,” Aschenbrener said. “What I learned in my years of community work and philanthropy is that young people are thirsty for meaningful opportunities to lead, to give and to deliver positive impact.”
United Way is exploring both national and local models that include service-learning, career exploration, community capacity building and mentoring as critical elements of Youth United programming. According to Aschenbrener, the fund’s newly established group of advisors is comprised of individuals who assumed leadership at a young age and who understand what it takes to find and support the next generation of young leaders.
They are:
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Oscar Arana (Director of Strategic Development & Communications, NAYA)
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Brian Forrester (Social entrepreneur and Principal at Strategik Solutions)
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Jason Lim (Director of Public Affairs, The Asian Reporter)
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Carmen Rubio (Executive Director, the Latino Network)
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Irene Schwoeffermann (Program Coordinator, Coalition for a Livable Future),
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Zeke Smith (Chief Impact Officer, United Way of the Columbia-Willamette)
Aschenbrener will work with Keith Thomajan, president and CEO of United Way of the Columbia–Willamette, on the overall management of the fund.
“United Way of the Columbia-Willamette is a transformed organization under the leadership of Keith Thomajan,” Aschenbrener said. “He’s helped the organization leap to new generational thinking and has strengthened their philanthropic commitment to effective programs and the advancement of equity, equality and social justice. United Way can also use this fund to seed new support from corporate and individual philanthropy to continue this work.”
The fund was provided to Aschenbrener by the board of directors of Northwest Health Foundation upon his retirement in June of 2012. Aschenbrener will direct the entirety of the legacy fund to be held in a “restricted” fund at United Way. Restricted funds are funds that are to be used for a specific purpose.
“This investment is a catalyst,” said Thomajan. “It is imperative –both for United Way and for our community as a whole—that we develop modern and authentic ways to work with young people and support their development as our ‘next generation’ leaders.”
For more information about joining Youth United please contact United Way Chief Impact Officer Zeke Smith at 503.228.9131.
