Executive Director
Kasey’s Corner … Executive Director
Over the last eight years Umpqua Watersheds has had a very successful AmeriCorps program. We have been very fortunate to have Mike Rooney, Roland Wang (2 years), Katrina Keleher (2 years), Bailey Stein, Christine Smith (2 years) and Maris Wilson.
Our AmeriCorps members have made a significant contribution to our community by teaching environmental education in local schools, acquiring grants which enabled UW to give every 5th grader in Douglas County the opportunity to visit Crater Lake National Park (thanks to the Gray Family Foundation). Our AmeriCorps members have also organized UW’s Twin Lakes Youth Wilderness Campout scheduled for the last weekend of July. Thanks to our AmeriCorps, many people in our community have participated in river cleanup projects in conjunction with Martin Luther King Day of Service.
In order to improve fiscal processes at UW, the Education Committee and the Board of Directors of Umpqua Watersheds has set a goal to raise the funds to pay for our 2019-20 AmeriCorps member by September 1, 2019. In the past, funding for AmeriCorps has been raised throughout the year through events such as the Umpqua Brew Fest, the Annual Banquet, concerts and other activities. Securing funding for our AmeriCorps upfront will significantly improve our ability to budget for operational expenses. We have already raised over $4,400 toward the $8,100 goal thanks to donations and event fundraising.
Our first fundraiser for our AmeriCorps program “Concert for AmeriCorps” on May 24th with Lance Canales and the Flood and Neil Johnson. Over 130 people come out to enjoy some amazing musicians and we raised over $1,100 after expenses and had some much-needed quality time with special people.
Many thanks to our partner Old Soul Pizza and event sponsors; Bandon Rain, Draper Brewing, Lookingglass Brewery, Motel 6 of Roseburg, Old 99 Brewing, Partytime Rentals, Pelican Brewing and Wrappin’ and Rollin’ Food Truck.
To all the volunteers that helped with the event especially; Andy Johnson, Diana Pace, Ken Carloni, Janice Reid, Kasey Hovik and M.A. Hansen. We look forward to our next “Outback” concert. Stay tuned!
Please consider making a special donation to support our goal of raising the final $3,660 of the $8,100 we need to raise. We will be having other events and will update the fundraising thermometer for the project on our website on a regular basis. Please see umpquawatersheds.org/what-we-do/education/ for regular updates.