The Gresham Barlow Education Foundation is Helping to Ensure Tomorrow's Workforce is Ready

It's a skill sometimes taken for granted, but business owners know employees from all walks of life need it to be sucessful.  From the kitchen helper who reads the safety precautions relating to fire hazards in the kitchen , to the court clerk who selects information from carious statutes to provide assistance in cases where clarity of jurisprudence is required, the ability to read and understand text is critical for today's workforce. 

The Gresham-Barlow Education Foundation is dedicated to improving the skills of struggling readers in our schools - students who will be tomorrow's workers!  Each year, the GBEF's Phon-A-Thon raises money for the Learn to Read program.  Through the program, under-performing readers in all eleven elementary schools are identified in kindergarten or first frade and provided extra support to improve reading ability.  Our efforts are paying off!  Nine out of ten students served in the first year of the program showed documented growth in reading levels ranging from one to three levels.

The Foundation will hold its 2011 Phon-A-Thon February 21st thru 24th.  Over the course of four evenings, student volunteers will phone parents of students in the district and other community members to ask them for a cash donation in support of the Learning to Read Campaign. 

During the Phon-A-Thon, the Foundation is once again partnering with Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce member Gresham Ford.  Contributors who donate $40 or more will receive a $20 gift certificate toward service through the Gresham Ford Quick Lane (they provide maintenance work on All Makes and All Models) as well as a FREE DVD of the Tails of Abbygail Volume One and will have the opportunity to choose one book per child thanks to Books 4 Giving. 

Last year's Phon-A-Thon raised funds for the Learning ro Read program with all of the funds going to the students.  However there is still much more to be done.  If you would like to make a donation, or become involved in the project, call the Foundation Office at 503-766-0008 for more information or simply visit http://www.gbefkids.org/ to make a pledge. 



Would you promote Us on Your Business's Sign

     We are asking 90 businesses and organizations (you are one of the chosen ones) in the Gresham area that have changeable letter signs in front of their business to promote The Gresham Community Effect project for two 10 day periods on the dates listed below.  Imagine the impact on our ability to find raise for Gresham charities if every one of those 90 businesses that had a changeable sign, participated.  Please join in this community effort to make a difference right here in Gresham.  100% participation is our goal.  We need you to get there.  Better Communities Happen when YOU get involved!

It won't cost you a penny, the public will notice your commitment to the Gresham community and best of all, you get some warm fuzzies.  Everybody needs warm fuzzies!  If you want to contribute in any other way, great.  The most important contribution you can make for now is promoting us on your sign on the dates below.  We recognize your promotional efforts on our Thanks page at http://www.thecommunityeffect.org/  PLEASE Call and confirm your participation today!

Friday July 30th to Sunday August 8th then again Friday August 27th to Sunday September 5th. 

If by chance a portion of those dates are not available on your sign, do what you can.  Of course if you have additional time on your sign board, feel free to leave us up until October 1st.  The unity shown by every business and organization with a changeable sign promoting The Community Effect on the same dates, will result in a contagious fund raising momentum that benefits 3 great Gresham Area Charities.  Join In...Make a Difference in YOUR Community!  Questions? Call 503-512-9180. 

Words for Your Sign :

Join In!

The Gresham Community Effect

Add either of these two lines if you have room for this on one line.

Thank you for making the Gresham Area a better place.  We are lucky in East County to have such strong Chambers of Commerce with our cities that support non-profits.  The Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce has all three charities listed in their membership directory and supports each charity greatly throughout the year.  When you have a need for automotive repair or service please consider Gresham Ford.  Bess Wills the General Manager instituted a three prong tithe program years ago.  When you purchase parts or service from Gresham Ford they will donate 10% of your purchase to the non-profit or charity of your choice including the Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce or even the Community Effect.  All you have to do is ask our cashier at the time of payment and she will allocate the tithe.  When you purchase a vehicle just let the salesperson know on your way out and Gresham Ford will donate $100 to the church or charity of your choice.  The third way that Gresham Ford contributes to the community is through gift certificates sales.  Contact Annette Wetzel-Ramirez the Community Relations Manager  for more information.  Without the Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce none of this giving or community spirit would be possible.   

Busy People Make it Happen

Our community is a better, more


diverse and an extremely entertaining

place because of the efforts of a few

really busy people:

Dina and Kerry Parmenter: Yes,

there were lots of parents that

worked really hard on behalf of the

Gresham High School Choir last Saturday

in assisting us with our “Drive 4UR Kids

Event”. However, as a business owner, I

was really impressed by the fact not only

did Dina and Kerry spend all day

volunteering, but they left their business,

in yes, the capable hands of their staff.

That is a huge sacrifice.

Christina Price and Cheryl Swart:

Again, there were lots of volunteers,

but Christina Price, a local Edward

Jones representative, and Cheryl Swart, of

“The Outlook”, went above and beyond to

make the first “East County’s Got Talent” a

huge success. Over the past months they

have sacrificed their own personal gain to

put together a unique show with fabulous

local talent!

Lori Stegmann: Everyone has said

that East County should have its own

Cinco de Mayo event. Well, Lori has

stepped up to chair this “first of its kind”

event at Plaza del Sol (Stark & Burnside)

on Cinco de Mayo. It will begin around

3:00 p.m. and continue until dusk. There

will be lots of family friendly entertainment

for FREE!! Please attend and may we

suggest after the event to dine at one of the

great Mexican restaurants in the area.

We can’t pay these people back for the

time they have given to our

community. It is priceless! However,

there is something that we can all consider,

we can Shop Downtown Gresham.

You just might want to drop in and see Dina

and Kerry at Elegantly Funky. Of course you

read “The Outlook”, but you might suggest

to a friend to subscribe (the coupons more

than pay for the subscription) – that would

make Cheryl happy! And, of course if you

need an Investment Advisor or an Insurance

Agent, look up Christina or Lori!! They have

earned your business 10 times over!

Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce presents East County's Got Talent

Do you have your tickets to two of the FUNNEST!! Events in East County?  First - East County’s Got Talent – April 23rd at the Mt. Hood Community College. Buy your tickets now for $10. If you wait and buy
them at the door, they will be $15. You can get them at the Gresham Chamber of Commerce Office or call Gresham Ford and we will assist. Staff at the Gresham Outlook also have tickets, so there is no excuse not to get those tickets now!! This will be a great show and really one that you cannot put a price on, but yes you can attend for $10!! I went to the auditions and all of the acts I saw were worthy of a much bigger venue – let’s say the Rose Garden or Broadway!! This is Rose Garden/Broadway Talent at East County Prices!!  Second – “Soroptimist Evening of Wine Tasting and Buffet Dinner” – Friday, May 14th at Persimmon
Country Club. This is simply a fun evening of great wine, wonderful food and lots of FUN fund raising for our
community. This year’s event will support My Father’s House, My Sister’sHouse, Gresham Barlow Education Foundation and Mt. Hood Medical Center Foundation. What better than to have a great evening out and support ALL of the above at the same time!! That is truly a Win-Win!! Tickets for this event are $45 and can be purchased by calling Lani Wild, 503-665-7800.

Life is never boring in East County!!!

Bess Wills
Gresham Ford, General Manager
The Dealer with a Heart

Wayne’s Our Idol!

There were 37 American Idols right here in Gresham last Saturday. The auditions for “East County’s Got Talent” were held at the Paesano Club from 9-3:00 p.m. and the quality of all who auditioned was over the top. Happy I didn’t have to be a judge – all the acts, singers, dancers, guitar players, and violinists, etc. were fabulous. Whether he wins or looses our personal favorite was our guitar playing Service Advisor Wayne Richardet. Thank you Wayne for taking the time to entertain the troops you will always be our Idol!

Representative Greg Matthews served as MC for the auditions and Dr. Ski will take over the task at the April show. They add humor, wit and a distinctive charm that exceeds Ryan Seacrest or that Simon guy. Thank you for giving your time to this project which many hope will become an annual event.

Now the reason for this rant – get tickets NOW!! We have some at Gresham Ford, $10 for Adults, $5 for children they will be more at the door. All proceeds go to support our Greater Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce, but the real reason to get a ticket is that it will be a “really good show” – better than productions that cost five times as much. Don’t miss it – April 23, 2010 at Mt. Hood Community College Theatre.