We all get a lot of requests for our philanthropic funds as the year draws to a close. If made before December 31st, charitable contributions are a good write-off on 2024 taxes for a lot of people.
The nice feeling we get from helping others is the reward for others.According to research, volunteering or giving can cause a surge of feel-good chemicals linked to human bonding.
Donating to The Oregonian/OregonLive’s annual Season of Sharing fund-raising campaign is now simple and tax deductible. Like many newspaper readers, you can make a check donation. Just mail your check to Season of Sharing, c/o Oregonians Credit Union, 336 N.E. 20th Ave., Portland, OR 97232, with the note “Season of Sharing.”
You can also make a donation the old-fashioned way, online or through text. You can give online at atoregonlive.com/sharing, text the code Season2024 to 44-321, or use the GiveLively page for the 2024 Season of Sharing.
Readers have the option of donating to the general fund, which will be split equally among the 13 charities, or to any of the nonprofits we’ve highlighted this year. All contributions go to the nonprofits because the Oregonian/OregonLive pays for administrative expenses.
Since a few weeks ago, the pieces that highlight the organizations and their offerings have been published in the Wednesday and Sunday editions. A list of ways that even a $25 donation can help the organization is included with every article.
Every fall, our newsroom’s veteran writer and editor Grant Butler leads the campaign.
I recently had a talk with him on the Beat Check with The Oregonian podcast, which I have included below.
I ve participated in Season of Sharing either as a writer or an editor for more than 20 years, and I ve got to say year in and year out it s some of the most gratifying work that I do, Butler said. Because people react to these stories, I find Season of Sharing to be a great confirmation of the ongoing impact of our efforts. They lend their money to their neighbors, and it’s amazing to see that our words can still have such a positive impact on our neighborhood.
This year’s stories are available at atoregonlive.com/sharing.They range from larger charities to a smaller, lesser known one, called Siletz Regalia Sharing Closet, which provides regalia to tribal members.
The campaign’s theme is occasionally determined by the board that runs Season of Sharing. For instance, we focused on housing and recovery charities during the disastrous wildfires of 2020. The board sought to prioritize housing and mental health this year.
The Regalia Sharing Closetis a relatively new nonprofit, Butler said, and we thought it was a really interesting approach towards the issue of youth mental health because it touches on issues of identity. Young Indigenous youths don t always have connections to their tribe, and this is a way that they can be connected with the ceremonial clothing.
Albertina Kerr syouth psychiatric unit was another recipient this year, along withStreet Roots,the newspaper that focuses on homelessness and lets vendors make money from selling the paper.Commons Law Center, another featured charity,helps people on the edge avoid eviction.
Publishing in today s newspaper is a feature about Forward Stride, an equine therapy nonprofit.
“This year, I’m especially excited for our story on Forward Stride, which is an equine therapy program that connects at-risk youth and young people with disabilities with horses and how the interaction with these magnificent horses helps people heal their minds and their bodies,” Butler said. “I always love stories that involve animals in some way.”
The impact of Season of Sharing extends beyond the year-end fund drive. We ve heard of bequests or major gifts directly to a nonprofit after we highlighted the charity.
One of our writers wrote about a Southern Oregon animal therapy program calledDogs for Better Lives, Butler said. A reader was so inspired by the storyhe sent $25,000directly to the nonprofit, based in Central Point.
We don t always hear about the impact of readers gifts but last year, Iwrote about a womanwho was severely disabled and had difficulty communicating. Through Season of Sharing, she received a device that allowed her to converse more easily.
After her death, we heard from friends about what a profound difference the gift had made in her life.
And just this month, after we profiled Turner Sanderman, a teen receiving help fromSerendipity Center, another featured nonprofit,we received this note:
What a day Turner had at church yesterday morning when everyone had seen him in the paper! Thank you again for your sensitive and careful reporting. This whole process has really made Turner feel that his story matters and that HE matters!
Your donation matters, as well. Thanks for supporting Season of Sharing.
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