Two groups of Oregon high school students were so moved by the refugee resettlement work done by Catholic Charities that they designated $8,000 in grants to the agency.
The gifts were part of Schnitzer Cares: Student Grantmaking, a program in which high schoolers have a seat at the grant table, deciding who gets help from the venerable foundation started by the late philanthropists Harold and Arlene Schnitzer. The Schnitzers’ son Jordan expanded the program.
“Like many other skills and attitudes taught explicitly in school, compassion, agency and teamwork are muscles that require flexing early and often,” Jordan Schnitzer wrote in the event program. “By challenging students to engage in community service that is both rewarding and educational, we hope to encourage them to become active leaders in the future.”
Students taking part in the Schnitzer program conduct fundraisers at school throughout the year. Then the foundation kicks in more, a lot more.
Students from Tigard High, some of them from immigrant families, awarded $3,000 to Catholic Charities refugee resettlement services. Students from Benson High gave $5,000. Over 28 years, the teen grant makers have given more than $6.3 million.
“It was almost like a sense of relief seeing all these young people who are so passionate about so many causes,” says Claire McIlwain, program manager for refugee services for Catholic Charities. “Things are feeling pretty bleak for those doing refugee and immigrant work these days, so seeing how engaged they are to solve the problems gave me a glimmer of hope in all the disheartening news.”
While most new federal refugee resettlement efforts are at a standstill, Catholic Charities is still supporting families welcomed to Oregon in 2024 and before.