‘Tis the Season for Cheese

An off-season visit to the Tillamook Creamery offers holiday events and smaller crowds

10/23/2019 By Ben McBee

Join Cambia and Portland Monthly at the 15th Annual Light a Fire Awards

Shining a spotlight on another year of good deeds.

10/23/2019 By Ben McBee

Bank of America Presents Portland Monthly’s 15th Annual Light a Fire Awards

The Rose City’s most philanthropic citizens will be honored Nov. 21, 2019

10/23/2019 By Ben McBee

Leveling the Field

This Nonprofit Brings Women Together to Invest in Women

The Women's Foundation of Oregon lifts women and girls throughout the state.

10/23/2019 By Fiona McCann

Do Gooders

The 15th Annual Light a Fire Winners Are Here

Honoring the nonprofits and people making Portland better for all

10/23/2019 Edited by Fiona McCann Illustrations by Sara Wong

Do Gooders

The 15th Annual Light a Fire Winners Are Here

Honoring the people making our city and state better for all

10/23/2019 Edited by Fiona McCann

Lifetime Achievement

This Portland Illustrator and Activist Has Been Working for LGBTQ Rights Since... Well, Forever

Rupert Kinnard joined the Portland Town Council, the first LGBTQ-rights umbrella group in Oregon, in the early ‘80s as its first black member.

10/23/2019 By Fiona McCann

Young Leader

This Woman Is Making College a Possibility for a New Generation of Portlanders

Margarita Gutierrez Lemus is the cochair of College Possible’s joint Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.

10/23/2019 By Brendan Nagle

Extraordinary Volunteer

This Volunteer Has Fostered 18 Guide Dogs for the Blind Just Since 2016

Says Debi Hays: “They give me the dogs that are a ‘challenge.' I call them misunderstood.”

10/23/2019 By Kelly Clarke

Caring for Our Planet

How a 30-Year-Old Conservation Group Is Thwarting Developers and Protecting Pristine Forest Land

Columbia Land Trust now controls 45,000 acres along the Columbia River—where nothing will ever be built

10/23/2019 By Marty Patail

Most with the Least

This Tiny Group Makes Oregon Schools Safer for LGBTQ Students

Oregon Safe Schools is advocating for the city's LGBTQ students.

10/23/2019 By Margaret Seiler

Exceptional Community Contribution

This Portland Charter School Is Closing the Achievement Gap for Black and Brown Kids

KairosPDX is already seeing results.

10/23/2019 By Conner Reed

Best New Nonprofit 2019

How One New Portland Nonprofit Amplifies Immigrant Voices

The Immigrant Story shares the stories of some of the area’s new (or not so new) arrivals from afar.

10/23/2019 By Tiara Darnell

Game Changing Project

Meals on Wheels People Made a Hip, Midcentury-Mod Diner for Seniors

The nonprofit café serves community connection along with Reubens and house marionberry pie.

10/23/2019 By Kiva Hanson

Extraordinary Executive Director

Shari Dunn Helps Empower Oregon Women for Professional Success

Since 2015, Dunn has steered Dress for Success Oregon, offering women career coaching, interview and résumé preparation, and access to a professional wardrobe.

10/23/2019 By Tiara Darnell

Extraordinary Board Member

Becky Blumer Delivers Groceries and Kindness to Seniors and People with Disabilities

“I grew up in a small community where it felt like a given that people took care of each other.”

10/23/2019 By Conner Reed

The Shakedown

What's the Deal with Reading?

We size up our bookish habits.

10/23/2019 By Marty Patail

The Essentials

13 Things to See and Do in Portland: November 2019

Carla Rossi clowns around, Sleater-Kinney shreds at the Crystal, and national treasure Nicole Byer hits Helium.

10/23/2019 By Conner Reed, Fiona McCann, and Rebecca Jacobson

People

Two Oregon Pilots Are Preparing for a 9,000-Mile Flight from Patagonia to Florida—On Vintage Airplanes

An airplane mechanic and a filbert farmer team up for a 9,000-mile journey.

10/23/2019 By Rich Reece Photography by Rick A. Brown

Editor's Note

We’ve Honored More than 200 Nonprofits with Light a Fire Awards Since 2005

The real winners in this annual nonprofit and volunteer spotlight? All of us.

10/23/2019 By Fiona McCann