University student Elizabeth Perry thinks many people don’t pay a lot of attention to ex-convicts. In fact, she thinks more people should support former prisoners and their capacity to change. That’s why she decided to select Sponsors, Inc., a nonprofit organization that helps ex-offenders integrate back into society, to receive grant money.
Perry and her classmates, who are enrolled in the University’s Freshman Seminar in American Philanthropy, gathered together Monday to award $10,000 to two Eugene nonprofit groups. The recipients were Sponsors, Inc. and the Relief Nursery, Inc., an organization that provides family preservation services for low-income families. Throughout the term, said course instructor Paul Elstone, students in the seminar narrowed down a list of possible nonprofit candidates, finally granting these two groups $5,000 each,
Perry’s interest in philanthropy sparked her curiosity to take the course, and she has since taken a particular interest in Sponsors.
“It was really amazing to see the process that people leaving prison go through,” Perry said. “It was eye opening and the end result is amazing with help from Sponsors.”
Each student was part of a team that was responsible for gathering information about a nonprofit group and presenting it to the class, Perry and Elstone said. Each team explored a group by visiting the site and thoughtfully interviewing directors. Some of the questions students asked included how the money might be spent or what the future goals of the organization might be. A class vote determined which two organizations out of five would get the money, which was donated by banking and finance company Wells Fargo and the Weyerhaeuser Company, which produces forest products.
University freshman Jamie Sholian was on the team responsible for researching the Relief Nursery.
“It was really exciting to discover what programs and opportunities the Relief Nursery have,” said Sholian. “I’m so happy this organization will receive the money.”
The Relief Nursery serves more than 1,000 children and their families every year said Sharri da Silva, the Relief Nursery’s Executive Director of Programs.
“We feel it is a wonderful honor to be awarded this grant,” said da Silva.
Guest speakers at the ceremony included Marilyn Linton, Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies, and representatives from Wells Fargo and Weyerhaeuser Company, who donated the award money.
“Freshman seminars often have unusual topics, such as leadership or African history through dance,” said Linton. “The philanthropy topic allows for community building through the University.”
Elstone, who teaches the course and is Senior Director for the University’s fundraising unit Corporate and Foundation Relations, said he has a deep interest in philanthropy. The course, part of the Department of Planning, Public Policy and Management, aims to teach students how to make decisions about awarding money, he said. All freshman seminars are meant to connect faculty to students, encourage hands-on learning and promote critical thinking, Linton said.
The course began in the winter of 2003. Since then, students in the freshman seminar in American Philanthropy have awarded $35,000 to Lane County nonprofit agencies, Elstone said.