That’s been Rys Fairbrother’s motto ever since launching an innovative online crowdsourcing platform that connects Central Oregon individuals, nonprofits and businesses.
Last year, more than 11,000 children across Oregon spent time in foster care.
In Central Oregon, the number is around 500. That’s literally hundreds of children needing to be removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. A sobering reality.
How did First Story get its start? Shon Rae can tell you. She was there when the Hayden Giving Fund transformed into the First Story we know and love today.
Before Crystal Bumpas learned about First Story, she lived in Section 8 housing and joined a Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program run by Yakima Housing Authority (YHA)
Imagine you’re in Bend, Oregon in 2010, when the economy took a turn for the worst. You lost your job and your house so you move into a motor home in a makeshift campsite on public lands.
Ask Crystal Bumpas what she’s most proud of and she’ll tell you straight out it’s overcoming the trauma of growing up in an abusive home–trauma that led to her own struggles with substance abuse.
During COVID, organizations like Jesse Tree received an influx of funds to provide emergency rental assistance to families. Today, those funds are drying up but the housing crisis in Treasure Valley shows no signs of slowing down. Jesse Tree and organizations like it need the support of all of us to continue keeping our neighbors housed.
If you’ve been following along with 100 Stories, you know that this year First Story is welcoming eight more families home, each one with their own distinct, inspiring story.
As the demand for caregivers and after-school programs continues to rise, the Boys and Girls Club of Emerald Valley located in Eugene is answering the call, and First Story is thrilled to have named the Club one of our largest Giving Grant recipients in 2022 with a $10,000 donation.
Some partnerships are just ready-made for success. And that’s the way it’s been for First Story with Builders FirstSource since our first collaboration.
At First Story we were thrilled to begin a new partnership in 2022 with the Latino Community Association through a Giving Grant to supporting Latino families throughout Central Oregon.
As Claire, Kisky and the First Story team ramp up work for our annual fundraising event, right alongside us you’ll find a crew of bright, motivated young people who know how to roll up their sleeves and get to work.
The Team Build 4 Kids was something Kris’ entire family got behind. His wife and son helped load up trucks full of donations and joined in the raising of the walls.
Now in her fifth year at Hayden Homes, Katy Wooderson, Vice President of Marketing, is at the heart of telling the story of the special connection between
A few years ago, the team at St. Vincent De Paul’s of Bend looked around at the growing number of homeless community members in Bend and knew something more had to be done.
Here at First Story, we know that homeownership creates stability for families. And once that solid foundation is laid, many of our First Story families find ways to pay it forward by helping to build others up.
