News

Despite Bigger Paychecks, Struggling Households in Oregon Continue to Increase

June 11, 2024

New ALICE Update shows wage growth was no match for inflation after a decade of falling behind. Though wages for the lowest paid jobs have risen across the country at the fastest rate in four decades, the number of households struggling to get by in Oregon grew by more than 19,000 from 2021 to 2022. […]

March 21, 2023

funds will assist local nonprofits in providing emergency food and shelter United Way in Central Oregon (UWCO) announces $162,000 in grants to seventeen nonprofits providing critical emergency food and shelter services in Deschutes County. These grants are created from funds delegated to the UWCO from Deschutes County’s Video Lottery Fund and the Federal Emergency Management […]

October 13, 2022

Regional Grants Will Help Community Members Thrive United Way of Central Oregon (UWCO) announces $225,000 in Community Impact investments to twenty-two nonprofits serving Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson Counties, and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Each year, UWCO makes investments in a network of non-profit partners working to advance a set of shared priorities. This […]

United Way Central Oregon Executive Director Ken Wilhelm retires

July 8, 2022

United Way Central Oregon Executive Director Ken Wilhelm retires Whitney Swander accepts interim leadership role to guide transition United Way Central Oregon’s Executive Director, Ken Wilhelm, is retiring after 34 years of service to the Region. Whitney Swander, who will serve as interim executive director, will lead the organization’s transition with a focus on reinventing […]

February 1, 2022

Happy Lunar New Year to all that celebrate this date which is intended to usher in a year of good fortune and prosperity. Approximately 2 billion people across the world celebrate this holiday. Lunar New Year is sometime referred to as Chinese New Year because it’s origins are in China, influenced by the Chinese lunisolar […]

COCC Season of Nonviolence – The Green Path Ahead: Indigenous Teachings for the Next Economy

The Green Path Ahead: Indigenous Teachings for the Next Economy Winona LaDuke – Native American Economist, Environmentalist, Writer, and Executive Director of Honor the Earth Tuesday, February 1, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. PST – Virtual Presentation FREE and OPEN to the public. Register here. Live captioning will be available. One registration per viewing device please. Winona LaDuke is a global leader and […]

January 27, 2022

BY CBN ON JANUARY 27, 2022 The Bend Chamber has announced the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient of the 2022 Business Excellence Awards, sponsored by U.S. Bank and The Bulletin. The Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates the accomplishments of an individual who has had a substantial impact on our local industries and community. The recipient displays a profound level of leadership that has […]

December 9, 2021

United Way of Central Oregon Executive Director, Ken Wilhelm sets retirement date after 30+ years of service Bend, OR– December 9, 2021–After 37 years of service for the United Way, with the last 33 as the Executive Director for the United Way of Central Oregon, Ken Wilhelm, has announced his retirement date of July 15, […]

We just elected two members to our Board of Directors.

October 13, 2021

One of them is returning to serve a third term! We recently elected two members to its Board of Directors. Eli Ashley is returning to serve a third term after a hiatus required by our bylaws, which allow only two consecutive terms. Anthony Georger is new to our Board. Eli Ashley, Community Volunteer, was born […]

We just awarded an additional $35,000 in grants!

October 11, 2021

These funds will specifically target nonprofits with reach beyond Deschutes County. Six nonprofits that serve Crook and Jefferson Counties, as well as the lands of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs have been collectively awarded $35,000 from our second round of grantmaking since this summer. In an effort to reduce barriers to accessing funding faced […]