Development News for Fairview, Oregon

Play East Plans 10th Anniversary Celebration and Enhanced Community Outreach

The discussion centered on the upcoming 10th-anniversary celebration for Play East, with plans to develop a video montage featuring original task force members, elected officials, and staff to showcase the program's growth and evolution. Ideas for increasing community engagement and participation were explored, including a potential new software system to facilitate referral discounts and improved outreach to schools through flyers and direct engagement. Recognition of long-term sponsors was also discussed as a way to strengthen partnerships.

Play East Refocuses Summer Camps, Expands Summer Lunch Program to Gresham

The discussion touched upon the evolution of Play East's programs, including a shift from offering over 50 camps last summer to focusing on approximately 25 more targeted camps this year to capitalize on energy and resources. The organization also highlighted its successful summer lunch program, which has been running at the park for at least seven years and has grown annually. A new pilot program with Gresham was approved to operate two summer lunch sites, building on Play East's experience and capacity. This expansion is seen as an opportunity to provide youth with work experience and potentially expand free programming in underserved areas.

Play East Fundraiser Exceeds Goal, Generates Over $40,000

The Play East annual fundraiser, held on Thursday, May 14th at the Fairview Food Plaza, generated approximately $40,420, exceeding its budgeted goal of $40,000. The event saw an estimated 100 attendees, with a notable increase in sponsor participation compared to the previous year. The total expenditures for the event were $4,326, which was under the budgeted $5,000. The raffle also saw record earnings, exceeding $3,000, with a new 'golden ticket' basket concept selling out its 20 tickets for $50 each and contributing $1,000 to the total raffle revenue. Weston was mentioned as a potential co-op for food next year, with a previous payment of $1,200.

Play East Reports 34% Increase in Spring Program Participation, Explores New Software and School Partnerships

The discussion highlighted the success of Play East's spring program, serving 377 registered participants, a 34% increase from the previous year. This growth is attributed to the shift towards monthly programming, which has made participation more accessible financially. Despite this increase in participants, registration revenue is on par with last year due to the payment structure. The organization is exploring new software to better manage incentives like referral discounts and improve outreach. Efforts are also underway to increase school partnerships, including direct engagement with principals and inclusion in school registration packets. The pilot program with Gresham for summer lunch sites was approved, representing a significant expansion and potential for future collaboration.