Oregon Grocery Association
Oregon Grocery Association Oregon Grocery Association
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Industry Events Calendar
NWGA Events Calendar
Industry Involvement

Industry Involvement

Giving back to our communities

In addition to helping the Pacific Northwest's grocery industry best serve its customers, the Northwest Grocery Association (NWGA) also extends a philanthropic hand to community groups in need.

NWGA members provide financial and volunteer support to many organizations, including the following:

  • 4-H Clubs, is a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills
  • Agri-Business Council of Oregon, a non-profit association created to help enhance the robustness of the state's
    farming and horticulture enterprises.
  • African American Chamber of Commerce of Oregon strives for an enhanced economic base, better capitalized businesses and equitable participation, for all minorities, within the economic mainstream.
  • Albertina Kerr Homes Foundation Albertina Kerr Centers' board members, employees and supporters are strong advocates for the most vulnerable citizens in the community that the agency serves: severely abused children, families in crisis, at-risk teens, and adults and children with developmental disabilities.
  • Alliance of Minority Chambers of Commerce
  • American Cancer Society, is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service.
  • American Diabetes Association, the mission of the Association is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.
  • American Legion, To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism; to preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in the Great Wars; to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation; to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to make right the master of might; to promote peace and goodwill on earth; to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.
  • Assistance League of Portland, we hold hands with the elderly and clothe the young. Guide the teenager in trouble, hug the grieving parent, offer comfort to the assault victim. We have found a way to make a difference and we have never felt so fortunate.
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of America, inspires and enables all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.
  • Brain Injury Association of Oregon, To improve the quality of life of persons with brain injury and their families; and to prevent brain injury.
  • Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation, The purpose of Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Family Alliance is to provide emotional, educational, and practical support to children with cancer and their families.  In addition, Candlelighters CCFA desires to promote childhood cancer 
    awareness and the need for childhood cancer education  and research in our community .
  • City of Hope, an innovative biomedical research, treatment, and education institution dedicated to the prevention and cure of cancer, HIV/AIDS, diabetes and other life-threatening disease.
  • Chalkboard Project, exists to inspire Oregonians to do what it takes to make our K-12 public schools among the nation's best.
  • Children's Hospital, We believe all children have unique needs and should grow up without illness or injury. With the support of the community and through our spirit of inquiry, we will prevent, treat, and eliminate pediatric disease.
  • Children's World Day Care
  • Clackamas County Library Summer Reading Program.
  • Cycle Oregon Foundation
  • Doernbecher Children's Hospital, the first full-service children's hospital in the Pacific Northwest offering family-centered care and support to children and their families.
  • Dougy Center, was the first center in the United States to provide peer support groups
    for grieving children. We'd like to share with you what we have learned from over 14,000 children,
    teens and families we've served since 1982.
  • Easter Seals, provides exceptional services to ensure that all people with disabilities have equal opportunity to live, learn, work and play.
  • Food Lifeline, Food Lifeline is a nonprofit food distribution agency working to provide nutritious food to hungry, low-income people in Western Washington state.
  • Future Farmers of America, operates on local, state and national levels and its agricultural education program provides students with a well-rounded, practical approach to learning through classroom education. It focuses on agricultural topics, hands-on supervised career experience, as well as provides leadership opportunities, and challenges students' agricultural skills.
  • Garden Home Recreation Center, Our mission is to provide recreational programs and classes of the highest quality that are affordable, accessible and safe. These classes and programs are intended to be enriching, incorporating fun and creativity, while developing the confidence and self-esteem of each individual.
  • Innovative Services NW, a private non-profit corporation passionate about providing caring
    services of the highest quality for children and adults
    with disabilities and the socially disadvantaged.
  • Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education, and patient services. The Society's mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.
  • Literary Arts, is a statewide, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the importance of language as a means to express, explore and experience the world in which we live.
  • Loaves & Fishes, is a nonprofit, nonsectarian organization that provides hot, nutritious meals to seniors 60 years and older.
  • Mercy Corps Northwest, assists low-income individuals- including minorities, women, refugees, and immigrants- in the Portland-Vancouver metro region to increase their economic self-sufficiency through microenterprise development and self-employment.
  • Metropolitan Family Services, strengthening families and individuals while enhancing their participation in community life.
  • Metro Portland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, is dedicated to working with all members of the community to increase the economic advancement of Hispanic-owned businesses in Oregon and SW Washington.
  • Multnomah County Library Summer Reading Program, research shows that consistent reading over the summer helps maintain and improve skills learned during the school year.
  • Muscular Distrophy Association, MDA combats neuromuscular diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive medical and community services, and far-reaching professional and public health education.
  • Northwest Harvest, Fighting hunger in Washington state in a manner that respects the dignity of those we serve.
  • NW Children's Theater, to educate, entertain and enrich the lives of young audiences.
  • Oregon Ballet Theater, While we pay tribute to the history of ballet, we are also keen to further develop the future of this art form.
  • Oregon Food Bank, the core of a statewide network of 832 hunger-relief agencies that recover food from farms, government sources, manufacturers, retailers, and individuals in an effort to serve those in need in Oregon and Washington's Clark Counties.
  • Oregon Historical Society, promoting the understanding of how history enriches and helps guide our lives. The staff works to further the institutional mission to "collect, preserve, exhibit, publish, and make available materials of historical character and interest, and collaborate with other groups and individuals with similar aims.
  • Oregon Mentors, is committed to the dramatic expansion of quality programs that provide mentors for young people in Oregon.
  • OMSI, a scientific, educational, and cultural resource center dedicated to improving the public's understanding of science and technology.
  • Oregon Red Cross, is a humanitarian organization, led by volunteers, that provides relief to victims of disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.
  • Oregon Schools Activities Association, serves member schools by providing leadership and state coordination for the conduct of interscholastic activities, which will enrich the educational experiences of high school students.
  • Oregon Symphony Since the Oregon Symphony was established more than 100 years ago, it has been recognized for its internationally acclaimed music directors, skilled performers, diverse programs and outstanding community services in education and regional touring.
  • Oregon Zoo Inspiring our community to create a better future for wildlife.
  • Philippine Chamber of Commerce, a non profit corporation founded in 1996, is organized exclusively to ease the burden of government, by assisting state agencies which are unfunded or under funded, and the Oregon Office of the Governor Advocate for Minority, Women and Emerging Small Business, to promote trade, tourism and other economic relations between Oregon and the Philippines.
  • Portland Art Museum, serves the public by providing access to art of enduring quality, by educating a diverse audience about art and by collecting and preserving a wide range of art for the enrichment of present and future generations.
  • Portland Children's Museum, to inspire imagination, creativity and the wonder of learning in children and adults by inviting moments of shared discovery.
  • Portland Garden Club
  • Portland Impact, their mission is to help people achieve and maintain self-sufficiency and to prevent and alleviate the effects of poverty.
  • Portland Opera, exists to inspire, challenge and uplift our audiences by creating productions of high artistic quality that celebrate the beauty and breadth of opera.
  • Portland Schools Foundation, is an independent, community-based organization that mobilizes ideas, leadership, political support, and money necessary to ensure a first-rate education for every child, in every public school, in every Portland neighborhood.
  • Providence Bridge Pedal, a portion of the proceeds from Providence Bridge Stride benefits Providence Cancer Center, the largest provider of cancer care in Oregon and a leader in developing innovative ways to prevent and treat cancer.
  • Providence Child Care Foundation, helps bridge the gap between the real costs of pediatric long-term care and the portion of the costs paid by Medicaid. Families are never burdened with having to seek outside funds to support their children with special needs, but they can instead simply be there as a family.
  • Providence Heart of Gold, the proceeds from the Heart of Gold Dinner will benefit the  Center for Medically Fragile Children at Providence Child Center.
  • Providence Hospital, continues the healing ministry of Jesus in the world of today, with special concern for those who are poor and vulnerable. Working with others in a spirit of loving service, we strive to meet the health needs of people as they journey through life.
  • Puget Sound Blood Center, Puget Sound Blood Center is an independent, volunteer supported, nonprofit regional resource providing blood and tissue services, research and education of high quality and value.
  • Race for the Cure, Portland's Susan G. Komen... making a difference in the fight against breast cancer! On Sunday September 18, 2005, 45,770 participants made history together in our largest and most successful Race ever!
  • Ronald McDonald House Charities, provides a comfortable, affordable "home away from home" to families of seriously ill and injured children who travel long distances for specialized medical treatment in local hospitals.
  • Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.
  • Season of Sharing Campaign
  • SMART (Start Making A Reader Today), is Oregon's leading nonprofit early literacy program, serving kindergartners through third graders at risk of low literacy and its associated negative outcomes. SMART's vision is simple yet profound — to transform our children's future through reading.
  • Special Olympics, provides year-round sports training and athletic competition to more than 1.7 million people with intellectual disabilities in more than 150 countries.
  • St. Vincent de Paul, The Society's work may encompass any form of aid that alleviates suffering and it strives to discover and redress situations, which cause suffering.
  • Sunshine Division, a program sponsored by the Portland Police Bureau in which officers can provide families in need with food and other life essentials on an emergency relief basis.
  • Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation
  • Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, making a difference in the fight against breast cancer! On Sunday September 18, 2005, 45,770 participants made history together in our largest and most successful Race ever!
  • Toy and Joy Program, a program sponsored by the Portland Fire Bureau and the U.S. Marine Corp.
  • Truckload of Coats, Coats for the homeless with two Portland area store locations
  • United Way, to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities.
  • Urban League of Portland, helps empower African Americans and others to achieve equality in education, employment and economic security.
  • Washington County Library, Summer Reading Program
  • World Affairs Council, offers a variety of programs on international politics and culture, as well as professional exchanges, assistance to schools, and educational travel, all in service of our mission to enhance public understanding of international affairs and Oregonians' connections to the rest of the world .
  • YWCA, The largest and oldest women's organization in the United States. The YWCA represents more than one million women, girls and their families.