Adelante Mujeres grabs another grant from Paul Allen foundation

Nonprofit will use funds to boost business program and start employee 401K

By Sarah Walters

The Forest Grove News-Times, Jul 28, 2010

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Three time’s a charm for the Forest Grove-based nonprofit Adelante Mujeres, which has received its third grant from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.

As part of the foundation’s 20th anniversary this year, Paul Allen on July 15 announced a bevy of special grants totaling $100,000 to founders of notable nonprofit organizations in the Pacific Northwest.

Adelante Mujeres will get $20,000 of the grant pie.

Bridget Cooke, executive director and co-founder of Adelante Mujeres, said she was honored and grateful to receive the recognition.

“This was like a surprise out of the blue. It’s a wonderful way [for the Allen Family Foundation] to celebrate 20 successful years of philanthropy,” Cooke said.

She plans to use the award money to boost Adelante Empresas, the micro-enterprise program that helps immigrants start their own small businesses, and to establish a 401K fund as part of Adelante Mujeres employees’ retirement packages.

“Through our anniversary grants, we are recognizing leaders who exemplify passion, dedication and the entrepreneurial spirit that has made their organizations succeed,” said Jo Lynn Allen, president of the Allen Family Foundation.

Also receiving $20,000 anniversary grants were the Oregon Food Bank of Portland, Book-It Repertory Theatre of Seattle, the Seattle Biomedical Research Institute and the Center for Strengthening the Teaching Profession in Tacoma.

The nonprofits are all previous grant recipients. Adelante Mujeres received a capacity-building grant in 2006 from the foundation to strengthen its fundraising system. The group was awarded a second grant in 2009 from the foundation to support its micro-enterprise program, Adelante Empresas.

Adelante Mujeres works with immigrant families to give them the tools to achieve self-determination through education, empowerment and enterprise, according to the nonprofit’s website. It has three different programs: Adelante Chicas, a leadership and cultural affirmation program for girls in grades three through twelve; Adelante Empresas, a small business program which includes the Agricultura project and management of the Forest Grove Farmers Market; and Adelante Educacion, which includes adult and early childhood education programs for families interested in learning essential parenting skills.