TUALATIN, OR – The Oregon Alliance of Independent Colleges & Universities (The Alliance) announced today that it is celebrating a 70-year partnership with the PGE Foundation. This partnership has been instrumental in providing financial support to students attending Alliance member colleges and universities.
Since 1953, PGE and the PGE Foundation have contributed nearly $3.16 million to The Alliance and its member colleges and universities. In 1988, PGE and the PGE Foundation established the PGE Foundation Scholars program, becoming The Alliance’s first named scholarship partner. This program provides one named scholarship at each Alliance member college and university, focusing on undergraduate students with financial need, with an emphasis on students from underrepresented populations. With an investment of over $2.3 million from the PGE Foundation, there have been nearly 900 PGE Foundation Scholars at our member colleges and universities since the program’s inception 35 years ago.
The PGE Foundation has also been a stalwart supporter of The Alliance’s Education IDA Program, E3: Earn, Educate, Empower. This program, an innovative partnership with Community and Shelter Assistance Corp. of Oregon (CASA of Oregon), is designed to help income-eligible Oregonians secure the lifetime asset of a college education. In this program, Alliance member college and university students save $500 and receive a 6:1 match through The Alliance. This turns $500 of student savings into $3,500 per year for each participating student. To date, 825 students have participated in the Alliance Education IDA program. The aggregate total of participating students’ savings to date is nearly $850,000, and the total matches tendered to the member colleges on these students’ behalf is nearly $4.75 million.
“I am incredibly proud of the PGE Foundation and Alliance’s 70-year partnership,” said PGE Foundation Board Chair Peggy Fowler, a graduate of Alliance-member George Fox University. “I have seen firsthand the impact that The Alliance has had on the lives of countless students, and I am confident that the organization will continue to make a positive difference in Oregon for many years to come.”
“We are grateful for all that PGE and the PGE Foundation have done for our member colleges and universities over the course of 70 years,” said Alliance President Brent Wilder. “This legacy of meaningful support has secured brighter futures for scores of students over the decades. In particular, Peggy Fowler has been a tireless advocate for private, nonprofit higher education, and her commitment to improving the quality of life for Oregonians has made a profound impact.”
PGE’s and the PGE Foundation’s 70-year tradition of support of Alliance member institutions continues to unlock future success for students and for Oregon. The Alliance looks forward to continuing this valuable partnership and is grateful to Peggy Fowler for her many years of dedication and hard work.
About The Oregon Alliance of Independent Colleges and Universities (“The Alliance”)
The Alliance is comprised of 12 private, nonprofit, independent colleges and universities. These institutions deliver high-quality experiential learning with high-impact teaching strategies. The Alliance is the collective voice of private education in public policy advocacy. For more information, visit www.oaicu.org or email info@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 $28 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.