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When Ophelia’s Place’s Full School Partnership program collaborates with a middle school for three years in a holistic way, good things happen! According to data from the Oregon Research Institute and funded by The Ford Family

Foundation, students in our partnership schools reported higher levels of self-esteem, lower levels of peer victimization, and felt a greater amount of support from their peers compared to schools that did not partner with Ophelia’s Place.

When all staff are trained, all parents have access to resources, empowerment groups are facilitated, and all students receive classroom presentations, we create environments that have consistent language, clear definitions and greater empathy.

With the leadership of State Representative Nancy Nathanson and Senator Sara Gelser, Ophelia’s Place is advocating for a Bullying Prevention and Youth Empowerment Bill that will provide resources for Oregon’s middle schools and high schools to implement bullying prevention and youth empowerment programs. For the equivalent of $45 per middle school student, House Bill 2604 and Senate Bill 180 would fund staff training, parent education, empowerment groups, and classroom presentations to all youth, and a bi-annual bullying prevention conference for educators. The bill would allow schools to partner with organizations like Ophelia’s Place to improve school culture and create safer places for our youth.

Your support has gotten us to the point where we can dream (and plan!) to support more students in more schools.

THIS ISSUE• Letter from the Executive

Director• Stronger Than You Know

Conference• Ophelia's Place Girl

Spotlight• Thank you, Supporters• Junction City Winter

Wander• Albany Dreams of Snow• New Staff

UPCOMING EVENTS• June 29: Parent-Daughter

Girl Con• Sept. 27: Gems Dinner

Auction

LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

March 2019Volume 5, Issue 1

OP girls enjoy making Ophelia’s Place spaces theirs at the Eugene and

Junction City locations.

Page 1cross. Parisa describes her as goofy and affectionate, and a hard-working partner. When she’s at work, Diva focuses on supporting her owner so pets and fun need to wait. But when she goes on a puppy break, the love lets loose.

INTERESTED IN GETTING INVOLVED?

Verna met with Yonny Castillo, legislative aide to State Representative Teresa Alonso Leon, on

HB 2604 and SB 180 to encourage support for statewide bulling prevention programs.

Since December, Verna and members of an OP legislative team have been working to educate community members and lawmakers in Salem about House Bill 2604 and Senate Bill 180.

Interested in making a difference at our state capitol? Interested in providing a letter of a support for the bills? Your voice can make a difference. Contact Verna at verna@opheliasplace.net.

GIRL SPOTLIGHT: Lilly Munroe

Tell us a little about yourself, Lilly.I am 19 years old and I am going to Lewis and Clark College for a degree in Hispanic Studies and Political Science. I first visited Ophelia’s Place when I was around 12. When I was around 16, my friend convinced me to go to a WACY (Women’s Advisory Council for Youth) meeting and I was hooked after that. I stopped going only after I had to leave for college, but I still visit every once in a while.

What kinds of OP activities did you participate in?I participated in WACY for about three years and I am so appreciative of all it gave me. In this group, I was able to find my voice as a young woman in this world who is constantly fighting to be heard.

What would you tell your 13-year-old self?I would tell my 13-year-old self that the way she sees herself is skewed by society and that she is so beautiful, intelligent, and wise, and will do so many amazing things in the world it is astounding. I would tell her that being different is what makes her beautiful, and it will forge her into an even stronger woman who pushes for the same ideals of love and equality to be spread across the world.

Thanks for sharing, Lilly.Of course!

Girl Spotlight presented by

STRONGER THAN YOU KNOW CONFERENCEThe adage, “it takes a village to raise a child,” still holds true. But it’s up to us as the adults to improve the village, said Rosalind Wiseman. Wiseman, the best-selling author of “Queen Bees and Wannabes,” the book that inspired the movie “Mean Girls,” was the keynote of the Ophelia’s Place Stronger Than You Know Conference in February.

More than 75 educators, counselors, and other youth-serving professionals learned how to support students while they develop and maintain healthy relationships with peers, adults, and themselves.

One of the ways to support youth is to ask them informed questions about issues you know they’re dealing with, Wiseman said. Ask questions like, “Do you feel tired because you’re trying to keep up all the time?” or “Have you felt like you had to choose between friends?” or “have you ever come to school pretending you were fine, but were really feeling the opposite?” Asking questions allows students to feel invested in finding helpful answers, rather than feeling told how to feel by adults.

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Lilly attributes where she is in life to the safe space and wonderful staff she found at Ophelia’s Place.

The response from attendees was overwhelming about Rosalind Wiseman’s expertise and presentation. She was such

a hit, we are looking to have her back next year.

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AN ADVENTUROUS WINTER WANDER

FOUNDATIONS INVEST IN RURAL SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Junction City girls grabbed their backpacks and their hiking shoes, and took to the trail during our recent Winter Wander Wonder activity at Heceta Head Lighthouse in January.

Northwest Youth Corps led the way as we trekked through the trees, learned the history of the lighthouse, and took in the view down on the sand. They couldn’t have had more beautiful weather during those first few cold days of the new year.

After exploring the shore and hiking through the trees, the girls traveled home with great memories and new friends.

Ophelia’s Place depends on the support of donors, foundations, fundraisers, and other gifts to make our work with youth possible. Foundations are especially helpful in providing funding that allows us to sustain programs across multiple years.

Our agency is partnering with more schools in rural communities including Junction City, Cottage Grove, Harrisburg, Elmira, and Mapleton. Ophelia’s Place staff members provide school programming that includes girls’ empowerment groups, classroom presentations to all students with topics like Media & Body Image, Internet Safety, and Peers As Allies (bullying prevention), as well as school staff and parent education.

We want to celebrate and thank the foundations that help us support students and families in rural communities:

The Ford Family Foundation, The EC Brown Foundation, The Oregon Community Foundation, Banner Bank, The Collins Foundation, The Bess Spiva Timmons Foundation, The Chichester DuPont Foundation, The Chambers Family Foundation, Weyerhaeuser, The Autzen Foundation, The Walters Family Foundation, The Woodard Family Foundation, Three Rivers Foundation, Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation, and Pacific Power Foundation.

Some of the schools we serve are partially funded by foundations that focus on providing

education in rural communities.

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2018 DonorsThank you to all of our donors for supporting the girls at Ophelia’s Place in 2018!

Your generosity helps girls grow into confident and successful young women.

VISIONARIES $20,000+The Chichester duPont FoundationThe Collins FoundationEC Brown FoundationAlex & Amy HauglandRichard P. Haugland Fund of OCFRosaria P. Haugland FoundationOregon Community FoundationFred & Gina Vetter

INVESTORS $5,000-$19,999Ambient IT SolutionsAnonymous Fund of OCFAnonymousBanner BankBest Buy FoundationThe Johnson Charitable TrustChambers Family FoundationCow Creek Umpqua Indian FoundationLynne & Sage DorseyJ.E. Fehsenfeld Family FoundationMary Ann & Niles HansonElizabeth HoldenThe Juan Young TrustSam & Roberta Konnie Fund of OCFThe McKay Family FoundationDoug McKayJohan & Emel MehlumAnn Marie MehlumDan & Peggy NealSally NillNordstromSELCO Credit UnionSoroptimist International of Junction CityThe Spark Fund of OCFCarl & Leitha SpetzlerMary SpildeSummit BankUniversity of Oregon FoundationNorman & Evelyn Wildish Fund of OCFThe Woodard Family Foundation

LEADERS $1000-$4999Veronica Alfero & Chuck McGladeCynthia Allyn & Rick BuckAnonymousMamie & John ArnoldThe Autzen FoundationThe Benevity Community Impact FundRob & Jenny BennettBess Spiva Timmons FoundationNancy BigleyKarl & Keri BrantleyRobin & Bob BurkBob Carolan & Kathleen WileyDianna Carrizales-EngelmannChvatal OrthodonticsCharles Clarke

Cottage Grove Community FoundationKaiser PermanentePaul Dustrud & Toni PimbleEssex General ConstructionEugene Alternative RealtyEugene Rotary ClubAlan & Tamara EvansMark & Carey GarberGordon & Patricia Gerretsen Fund of OCFEric GilbertsonGirl Scout Troop #21109Nancy Golden & Roger GuthrieSusan HekimogluDevon HeneryStacy HuntsDeric InksterGina IngThe Integrity FoundationGil & Judy JamesThe Jane Higdon FundTom JeffersonEmmy JensonJenny Jonak & Mike BraggLane Arts CouncilLynda LankerBob & Mary Helen LarsonLincoln Financial FoundationShelli LittlefieldPam Love & George KorisVerna & Bruce MatthewsMcClure AssociatesJohn & Susan MoseleyShannon NillOregon Contemporary TheatrePacific Power FoundationMargaret ParisMicheal ReschWilliam & Jana RobertsonMary Lou RohlChris SpetzlerMarion SweeneyEmily Tanner-SmithInge TarantolaAmy ThompsonSara TicerUmpqua BankUS Bank FoundationSandy & John WatkinsonBlaine & Jennifer WernerBill & Tracy WhalenJim & Yvonne WildishGary & Julaine WildishCasey Woodard Fund of OCF

SUSTAINERS $500-$999Jeya AeresonIrene AlltuckerAnonymousLauren Bird-Wiser

The BroadwayCentral Presbyterian ChurchCheryl CollinsSuzanne Congdon & Randy GarittyColleen & Tony DeChiaraDavid DriskillBetty FladColt & Christy GillKathrin GonsalvesMarceline Hammock & Herb MerkerBeth & Gary IskraEsther Jacobson Tepfer & Gary TepferKernutt StokesAda & Jean LeeDemetri & Claudia LiontosRAIN EugeneJames & Marilyn MurdockJudy Mustoe & Evert SlijperChris Parra & Jan JacobsPatrice PhilpottKrys PostmaKristin SmithThomas SmylyAl Soeldner & Courtney Campbell Fund of OCFJeanne StatonRoz Stein & Paul ThompsonMarc & Elly SteinbaughUnited Way of Lane CountyRobert Voss & Patricia BraunlichCraig & Amy WanichekTeo WencesFinancial Freedom Wealth Management Group

FRIENDS up to $500James & Sandra AbrahamsonJanet Anderson & Evelyn AndertonPam AndresenAnonymousDevon AshbridgeBrenda BaileyClaire BannisterPatti & Tom BarkinMichael BasloePamela BayhaCharles BeaudetJennifer BellJacob BernsShirley BillingsCharles BlaugrundBlue Lotus Chai CompanyAshley BohonLiz & Chris BoltonLisa BostwickMaggie BosworthBarbara & Jerry BoucockCarley BoyceJoanna & W. James Branvold

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Tiffany BrownJeri BrownEllen BrownSteven Brown & Katya HokansonJames BrownKathryn BruebakerKim Bryson-ChamleyBuffalo ExchangeBev BurkMarcy ButcherCheryl ByerRemie Calalang & Lynn MedillDoug & Linda CarnineJennifer CaseKatie CawoodKellie ChambersDottie ChaseSarah Cheesman & Josh BruceDan & Valerie CloseBri CondonGary CravenRachel CudmoreLinda & John CummensJeannie CunninghamKathy DanzBarbara Davis & Clem Trey ImfeldKees & Louise de KluyverDiane & Theodore DearbornLiz DegnerJean DenisCarol DennisAndy DeyLisa Donnell & Anne McIntyreDan DriskillKathleen DuganPeter EdbergNorman EignerJudith Eisen & Dan ArmstrongBrian & Ruth EricksonJane FallsJay FerrisVirginia FifieldDave FloresJamie FosterLynn FrohnmayerKaren GatesWarren Gibson & Janet Ann GibsonNancy GiffordKatherine Gladhart-HayesPaul GoldmanKatie GreenHolly GreenCecelia GrieveMarsha GrossLance HaasMargaret HadawayBrenda HansenScott & Patricia HansenR.W. Hayward Jr.Nori HemphillMarilee HendricksonRob HenleyRob HessSue Hildick

Vicki HiselStarly HodgesVirginia HughesSandy & Scott HughesRichard HughesGretchen PierceIDX BrokerLaura IlligSusan InmanRebecca IvanoffMia JacksonMary Jeanne JacobsenDan JamisonLucina Anne Jensen & Gary RobertJean JensvoldMarty & Liz JensvoldLauren JeromePat JohnsonKathellen JohnsonCassie JonesSol JoyeJunction City United Methodist WomenKevin KeeleyBill KellyWilliam KellyStorm KennedyMichael & Connie KennedyFrank KochNaomi KramerBarbara LangMargaret LaraBrinda LeavettChandra LeGueAngie LeisterKaren LewisJohn LodlSandra LuksKathy Lynn & Josh SkovPeter & Connie ManleyDawn Marlan & Jeffrey LibrettMyra MartinJimmy MaxonPhilip McCullumCharis McGaughyNancy McGillivrayJulie McGlinskyEileen McnuttMartie McquainEllie & Randy MelanconMary Jean MichelsElizabeth MillanRobert MillerAva MilosevichMitosciences, Inc.Barbara MooreThomas Murakami-BrundageTiffany NashJosh NeckelsRich & Julie NellisNetwork for GoodJudy NewmanMike O’HerranOnehope FoundationCraig Opperman

Kathleen OttenGabriela Pérez BáezKelly PerronDarcy PhillipsErika PirotteSharon & Michael PosnerRyan & Anje PostmaDavid Prince & Monica Camilli-PrinceEva PromenCathy RaleighLorraine RamseyerMarilyn RearJanet & Richard ReedJane Renfro Smith & Jerry SmithHeitho ReuterAnne ReynoldsEmily RiceRebecca RobertsSteve Robinson & Nancy NathansonShirley RobisonKathleen Rodden NordIlisa Rooke-LeyTrevor RossNicole RyggSarah SabriMinalee & Richard SaksJill SalingLaura & Thomas SanchezDavid & Sharon SchumanShannon SellSandra SjoblomJodi SommersAnastasia StaderSally StormAmy StranieriStefanie SuessKelly SutherlandSusan TateJean TateJandee ToddEllen TodrasAnn TomlanovichConnie TreloarPeter TrombaWyatt TrueWendy TrujilloRichard TrumpJenny UlumLinda UrnessDoreen VaughanDorothy Velasco & John DeWenterLucy VinisShareen & Chris VogelLidona WagnerGerald WaltonBernadette WarwickWesley United Methodist WomenWendy Wheeler-Coltrane & Scott ColtraneAlexis WhiteAltabelle WildishMaurice WilliamsGeorge WingardConnie & Henry Wonham

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Katherine YanceyJanelle Young

IN KIND SUPPORTERSA Helfrich OutfitterAesthetic Surgical ArtsAli ShiboskiAmanda Haugland Andressa ChapmanAnn LumArthur McCaffertyAshland Springs HotelBalance Veterinary Care Bartolotti’sBeaudet JewelryBello SpaBend Vistor’s CenterBeth Iskra Bicycle Way of Life Board and BrushBrenda BaileyBright CrosswellBronwyn BuffalinoCafé MamCeleste WatchesChandra at Moustache Coffee ClubChapter DIPEOClaudia & Demetri Liontos Coconut BlissCommon Bond YogaCornbread Café Delgani String Quartet Deric InksterDiane PhillipsDonna CarterDoreen VaughanDown to EarthEspresso & Gifts from the HeartEugene Ballet

Eugene Symphony Euphoria ChocolateExcelsior Inn Fall Creek Farm & Nursery Fancy Farm FolkwaysGina IngGreg AhlijianGretl GauthierHarry Richie’sHaven Home and Garden Hutch’s Bicycle StoreHyatt Place Hyperbaric LeafIdeal Steel IndulgeJebedis Jewels John & Mamie Arnold JohnstonJoolzKaren Lewis Kathy & Rick ReKatie SwensonLana TarbuttonLarsen Fine CandiesLinda BlaserLong’s Meat MarketLorraine RamseyerMargaret HadawayMarie DuffMary Jeanne JacobsonMary Lee HelmMckenzie Feed & Pet Mckenzie Honey FarmMuscles by MainentiNancy McGillivrayOakshire BrewingOakway Package Off The Waffle

Oregon Shakespeare Festival Oregon Wine LabPamela DickeyParty DowntownPassionflowerPat FrishkoffPatricia PerezPfieffer VineyardsPlanktownPublic HouseRaven FrameworksRobin BurkRosaria Haugland Sandy WatkinsonSandy Weazel Shanna TrumblySpringfield Chamber of CommerceStacy HuntsStefanie & Jim SeussSue HildickSunshine Limo Sushi Pure Sylvia AyersTami Beach Territorial Winery The BroadwayThe Human BeanThe Oregon/IMG NetworkThe SheddTheodore DearbornVCA Mckenzie Animal HospitalVery Little Theatre Vino and VangoWashburne CafeWestaurant Willamette Oaks library committeeWillamette Valley Vineyards William & Tracy WhalenZora Parker

FUNDS DISTRIBUTION

Thanks to the generous support of all our donors, in 2018 Ophelia’s Place offered after school programs to more than 600 unique girls at our Pearl Street and Junction City locations. Our school-based services reached more than 8,500 youth and adults in the communities of Eugene, Springfield, Cottage Grove, Junction City, Harrisburg, Elmira, Mapleton, Albany, Sweet Home, and Lebanon.

EUGENE STAFFRiver Aaland, After & Out of School

Program CoordinatorYvonne Campos, School

Program AssistantSarah Cheesman, Development

DirectorTeri Conklin, Communications

Coordinator Parisa Emam, Therapist

Jamie Foster, Human Resources and Operations Director

Abby James, Youth Activities Coordinator

Francia Phillips Office ManagerYuki Roberts, School Program

Coordinator Laura Sanchez, Program

Director Jessica Sarontay, Therapist

Verna Wise Matthews, Exec. Dir.

JUNCTION CITY STAFF Rachael Young, Site

Coordinator Anuhea Wall, School Program

Coordinator

ALBANY STAFFHillary Kirk, Program Coordinator

Celeste Yager-Kandle, School Program Coordinator

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Cynthia Allyn

Rosaria Haugland, Founder Esther Jacobson-Tepfer, President

Gil James Claudia Liontos

Tiffany Nash, Secretary Craig Opperman

Margie ParisChris Parra

Marc Steinbaugh, VP & Treasurer Kathleen Wiley

ADVISORY BOARD Janet Anderson

Rick Buck Robin Burk

Nancy Golden Katie Green

Cathy Hamilton Gina Ing

Storm Kennedy John Moseley Minalee Saks Mary Spilde

Barbara Sloat Carmen Urbina

Connie Wonham

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Francia, Office ManagerFrancia is our bilingual office manager and receptionist. She oversees the day-to-day clerical activities of the office to keep it a well-oiled machine. She’s the first face you’ll see when you visit our Eugene location. Francia would tell her 13-year-old self to always work hard and set goals, take advantage of all the resources available to you in order to become your best self, and always remember your current situation is not your permanent destination.

Rachael, Junction City Site CoordinatorRachael is the Site Coordinator for the Ophelia’s Place Junction City location. She runs the After and Out of School Program, and works with community organizations and volunteers to create exciting opportunities for OP girls in Junction City. Rachael would tell her 13-year-old self: You never know where life will take you, so enjoy the journey and don’t worry about the destination.

MEET OUR NEW STAFF

THE PRICE OF RICEWhen our community partners share their expertise during sponsored activities and work-shops, they bring their A game. SELCO Community Credit Union visited OP in November, and the event took the shape of an actual game – “The Price of Rice,” a financial educa-tion rendition of The Price is Right. OP girls and their adults were lead through a series of activities inspired by the popular game show, ending in the “Investment Showdown!” Participants walked away with an understanding of banking basics, cost estimating, information security, and compound interest (and had some fun in the process).

“Financial challenges are an inevitable part of adulthood, so the earlier the better when it comes to demystifying finances and developing sound financial skills,” said Ashlee Jacobson of SELCO. “By encouraging smart

money habits (including ways to ward off would-be identity thieves and scammers), we aim to empower girls to be stewards of their own financial futures.”

Ophelia’s Place Eugene 1577 Pearl St., Suite 100

Eugene, OR 97401 Phone: 541-284-4333

Ophelia’s Place Junction City 1497 Kalmia St.

Junction City, OR 97448 Ph. 541-234-5027

Ophelia’s Place Albany P.O. Box 113

Albany, OR 97321Ph. 541-730-4356

E-mail: info@opheliasplace.net Web: www.opheliasplace.net

Se habla español

Our Mission: Ophelia’s Place is a prevention

based organization dedicated to helping girls make healthy life

choices through empowerment, education and support.

Our Vision: All girls are safe, valued and

empowered.

Hone your superhero powers and begin work on your cosplay! The second annual Parent-Daughter GirlCon will give girls and their parents the opportunity to celebrate and explore “geek culture.” From anime, video games, cosplay, technology to art, GirlCon celebrates fandom of all kinds, with a focus on STEAM themes: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics.

Springfield-based Guest Artist Kelsey Buzzell will keynote the event, followed by a live demonstration.

EVENT INFO AT OPHELIASPLACE.NET

SAVE THE DATE: Parent-Daughter GirlCon June 29th

2019 Parent-Daughter GirlConSaturday, June 29, 2019 | 1 - 4 pm

Wheeler Pavilion, Lane Events Center

Sponsored by

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NONPROFIT ORG

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

EUGENE, OR

PERMIT NO. 17