PRESS RELEASE
April 28, 2010
Contact:
Liesl Wendt, CEO Matt Kinshella, External Relations Coordinator
503-416-2619 503-416-2649
liesl@211info.org matt@211info.org
211info Board members receive grant check from Oregon Community Foundation representative Jeri Holt
Portland, OR – In an economic climate where every dollar spent by Oregon’s charitable foundations is scrutinized, three of the largest grant-makers –The Collins Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust and the Oregon Community Foundation — have invested $190,000 in 2-1-1, the health and community information equivalent of 9-1-1.
The latest grant to 211info is from The Collins Foundation, an independent private foundation created in 1947 by Truman W. Collins and other family members. The foundation exists to advance humanitarian endeavors in the state of Oregon and to assist in improving the quality of life for Oregonians. It announced a $50,000 grant to 211info to be used over the next two years to expand 2-1-1 services statewide.
“We are pleased to support an endeavor that has the potential of serving the entire state,” says Cynthia Addams, Executive Vice President of The Collins Foundation. “Imagine needing help and being able to call one number from anywhere in Oregon to get a local referral to vital social services. A statewide 2-1-1 system is one of the best investments that can be made to help coordinate information in a complex social service system.”
The foundation community is looking to 211info to serve a broad cross-section of Oregonians, while working to make a vast system of nonprofit and public agencies more efficient. Nationwide, 2-1-1 covers more than 80% of Americans and in parts of Oregon (currently seven counties) 2-1-1 has operated and expanded since 2004.
2-1-1 was established because of a demand for a single, easy-to-remember number for residents to call for life-improving services and as a service that could take administrative strain off of those who normally spend hours searching for services for clients or constituents.
“A few things about our 2-1-1 system are unique. One is the fact that we use a single call center for the entire state. Administrative costs associated with starting a call center are greatly decreased for counties – many of whom could never afford to start one from scratch. And two – all the resources collected and utilized by our call center are gathered locally, in each county, to ensure, accuracy and relevance to the user,” explains 211info CEO Liesl Wendt.
Last year, 211info provided referrals more than 260,000 times through the phones and their online database. The economic crisis is driving up call volume – especially for basic needs. For instance, more than 18,000 calls from people searching for food came in last year, an increase of 66%. Internet searches have also increased more than 64% in one year.
211info is hoping to have a complete statewide 2-1-1 system by 2013. Lane, Marion, Polk and Jackson are among the counties expressing interested in bringing on 2-1-1.
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About 211info
211info is a nonprofit that connects the people of Oregon and Southwest Washington to the community resources they need. Last year, people relied on 211info more than 260,000 times for referrals to food, shelter, housing and utility assistance, counseling and much more. 211info operates 2-1-1 — the free, the easy-to-remember health and community helpline, in addition to maintaining an online database with more than 4,200 resources. 2-1-1 coverage extends to seven counties in Oregon and four counties in Southwest Washington. 211info is leading Oregon’s efforts to join 28 other states that provide statewide 2-1-1 coverage.
211info is a strategic partner of the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette. For more information, visit www.211info.org.
