TUALATIN, OR – Since 1953, Portland General Electric and the PGE Foundation have contributed $3.12 million to the Oregon Alliance of Independent Colleges and Universities (The Alliance) and its members. The PGE Foundation’s gift in May 2022 marks the 69th consecutive year that PGE and the PGE Foundation have supported The Alliance and the 34th year of the PGE Foundation Scholars program. With a total PGE Foundation Scholars contribution of nearly $2.28 million, there have been 883 PGE Foundation Scholars since the program’s inception in 1988.
“The PGE Foundation Board of Trustees feels strongly about the contribution of Oregon’s independent colleges to the educational and economic landscape of our state,” says PGE Foundation Chair Peggy Fowler. “As a proud graduate of George Fox University, an Alliance member institution, I know firsthand how Oregon’s private, nonprofit colleges create well-equipped students, prepared to become leaders in their fields. This investment in Oregon, and specifically the PGE Scholars program directly supporting students, provides educational opportunities for students they may not have had otherwise.”
“I would not be able to attend college without the PGE Scholarship.” Said Josie Graydon, a senior at Lewis & Clark College. “My family was not privileged enough to maintain a college savings account while I was growing up, so I have little to work with. Thank you for putting me one step closer to graduation.” Read more student stories by visiting The Alliance’s PGE Foundation Scholarship Stories page.
“On behalf of The Alliance’s Board of Trustees and member colleges and universities, we are grateful for all that PGE and the PGE Foundation have done for our member colleges and universities over the course of nearly 70 years,” says Alliance President Brent Wilder. “This legacy of meaningful support has secured brighter futures for scores of students over the decades.”
Scholarship support vastly reduces student’s financial stress and allows them to dedicate more time to their studies, research, and volunteer efforts. This partnership helps to transform the lives of students served by private, nonprofit colleges and universities in Oregon. The Alliance is appreciative of this incredible source of financial assistance to students of its twelve-member colleges and universities.
To learn more about establishing a partnership with The Alliance like that of Portland General Electric and the PGE Foundation, please contact Alliance President Brent Wilder at 503.342.0004 or brent@oaicu.org.
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About The Alliance
The Oregon Alliance of Independent Colleges and Universities (“The Alliance”) is comprised of 12 private, nonprofit, independent colleges and universities in the state of Oregon. These institutions deliver high-quality experiential learning with high-impact teaching strategies. The Alliance is the collective voice of Oregon’s independent, nonprofit higher education sector. For more information, visit www.oaicu.org.
About the PGE Foundation
The PGE Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Portland General Electric. Founded in 1997, the foundation was created through an endowment with the expressed purpose of improving the quality of life for Oregonians. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded more than $27 million to community organizations across the state. We champion values that embrace diversity, equity and inclusion. Working together with community members, partners and friends, we are committed to using our time and resources to help eliminate disparities and create an equitable society where all people can reach their full potential. To learn more, please visit pgefoundation.org.