LIGHT A FIRE 2016

Portland Monthly's 12th Annual Light a Fire Awards

Photos from our 12 annual showcase of local individuals and organizations making Portland a better place to live, love, give, and grow

10/31/2016 Photography by Mario Gallucci By Portland Monthly Staff

Light a Fire 2016: Best New Nonprofit

Curriculum of Cuisine Teaches Portland’s High School Kids Healthy Choices

The new nonprofit puts real chefs into local classrooms.

10/10/2016 By Ben Tepler

Light a Fire 2016: Caring for the Planet

How the Freshwater Trust Protects America’s Waterways with Surgical Precision

The river-stewarding organization is one of Oregon’s most important environmental nonprofits.

10/10/2016 By Ramona DeNies

Top Nonprofits

Meet Our 2016 Light a Fire Winners

Celebrating the nonprofits that make Portland a better place to live, love, give, and grow.

10/10/2016 Edited by Marty Patail By Kelly Clarke, Claire Colby, Eden Dawn, Ramona DeNies, Lisa Dunn, Rebecca Jacobson, Fiona McCann, Benjamin Tepler, and Regina Winkle-Bryan

Light a Fire 2016: Emerging Leader

Born in Mexico, 28-Year-Old Cristina Delgado Devotes Herself to Washington County’s Latina Girls

“I have a similar background to many of the Chicas,” says the Adelante Mujeres staffer.

10/10/2016 By Claire Colby

Light a Fire 2016: Extraordinary Executive Director

At Bridge Meadows, Derenda Schubert Leads an Innovative Portland Housing Community

The Portsmouth neighborhood community was designed to create a “big family.”

10/10/2016 By Lisa Dunn

Light a Fire 2016: Extraordinary Volunteer

Meet the Volunteer Tattoo Remover Changing Young People’s Lives

Lesley Segal—internal medicine doctor by day—has spent 14 years at Outside In’s Project Erase tattoo removal program.

10/10/2016 By Eden Dawn

Light a Fire 2016: Most with the Least

How the Portland Community ToolBank Helps Nonprofits Build a Better City

From playgrounds for children to ramps for disabled veterans, the one-employee organization helps nonprofits get projects done.

10/10/2016 By Marty Patail

Light a Fire 2016: Extraordinary Board Member

How SMART Board Member Elizabeth Large Helps Create Confident Readers

Start Making a Reader Today pairs adult volunteers with in-need students.

10/10/2016 By Claire Colby

Design

Oregon Food Bank Gets a Brand-New Logo and Look

Industry and Nike worked pro bono to refresh the 20-year-old nonprofit's brand.

10/06/2016 By Marty Patail

NONPROFIT

One Nonprofit Wants to Connect Every Ghanaian Child With a Portland Pen Pal

Yo Ghana! harnesses the power of good old-fashioned snail-mail.

06/29/2016 By Claire Colby

Film

Portland’s Lost Boys Are Coming to a Screen Near You

A group of this city’s homeless youth are the protagonists of a new documentary, following them as they make their own film version of Peter Pan.

06/02/2016 By Fiona McCann

MOBILE MEALS

Can Food Carts from Oregon Help Rural Cambodia?

A Tigard-based nonprofit sets out to improve nutrition in remote Cambodian villages.

05/19/2016 By Marty Patail

REPORT

Meet the Portland Animal Lovers Who Save Neglected Dogs with One Simple Fix

How an innovative small nonprofit picked one issue and created change

12/21/2015 By Winston Ross

EDUCATION

Is This The Perfect College For the 21st Century?

The Indiegogo-funded Wayfinding Academy will focus on honing real-world skills rather than fulfilling prerequisites.

12/21/2015 By Keegan Clements-Housser

DISPATCH

How A Portland Vet Found Peace in Fly-Fishing

Chad Brown’s path to the river wasn’t easy—but now he wants to share his experience with everyone he can.

12/21/2015 By Katie Vaughan

PHILANTHROPY

New #OregoniansGive Campaign to Channel Holiday Spending to Local Nonprofits

Think of this Tuesday as the Black Friday of charity.

11/29/2015 By Marty Patail

LONG STORY SHORT

Oregon Auctioneer Johnna Wells Continues the Family Legacy

How one woman found her calling as an auctioneer for Northwest nonprofits.

11/16/2015 By Sarah Z. Wexler

LIGHT A FIRE

Want to Celebrate Portland's Best Nonprofits with the City's Movers and Shakers?

Portland Monthly's annual Light a Fire awards party is back on October 20! Don't miss out on the celebratory cocktails, dinner, live performances, and enough inspiration to light up the city.

09/25/2015

BRIGHT IDEA

A Local Nonprofit Offers Health Products to Families in Need

Live. Treat. Heal. Repeat.'s mission? Bringing deodorant, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, and other basic staples to those reliant on SNAP, the nutritional assistance program that doesn't cover these essential goods.

08/31/2015 By Alex Madison