The Skidmore Prizes
“The more time you get on the ground,” says forest conservation worker Amy Harwood, “the better the advocate you are.” Though Harwood is speaking quite literally about the ground – the one that makes up Mt. Hood – her phrase perfectly describes this year’s four Skidmore Awardees, whose on-the-ground activism strengthens our community. Since 2004, the Skidmore Awards have honored exceptional leaders under 35 who work in nonprofits and make under $35,000 a year. On November 21, City Club will host the 2008 Skidmore Awards, which will be presented by Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler.
In addition to Amy Harwood, program director for the forest-watch agency Bark, the 2008 Skidmore Award winners include Polly Bangs, founder of Urban Opportunities, which helps at-risk youth land jobs; Katy Kolker, executive director of the Portland Fruit Tree Project, which harvests unwanted fruit from local trees to feed families in need; and Rodolfo Serna, transition specialist at p:ear, a youth homelessness resource center.
Following the awards presentation, Mark Holloway, executive director of Social Venture Partners Portland, will discuss the intersection between grant making, volunteerism, nonprofit capacity building and philanthropic education.
The Skidmore Awards is a collaboration between Willamette Week, Momentum Market Intelligence, Pink Martini, Thompson, Chambers, Weist & Sickler and Oaktree Digital.
