We all get a lot of requests for our philanthropic funds as the year draws to a close. If made before December 31st, charitable contributions are a good write-off on 2024 taxes for a lot of people.
The nice feeling we get from helping others is the reward for others.According to research, volunteering or giving can cause a surge of feel-good chemicals linked to human bonding.
Donating to The Oregonian/OregonLive’s annual Season of Sharing fund-raising campaign is now simple and tax deductible. Like many newspaper readers, you can make a check donation. Just mail your check to Season of Sharing, c/o Oregonians Credit Union, 336 N.E. 20th Ave., Portland, OR 97232, with the note “Season of Sharing.”
You can also make a donation the old-fashioned way, online or through text. You can give online at atoregonlive.com/sharing, text the code Season2024 to 44-321, or use the GiveLively page for the 2024 Season of Sharing.
Readers have the option of donating to the general fund, which will be split equally among the 13 charities, or to any of the nonprofits we’ve highlighted this year. All contributions go to the nonprofits because the Oregonian/OregonLive pays for administrative expenses.
Since a few weeks ago, the pieces that highlight the organizations and their offerings have been published in the Wednesday and Sunday editions. A list of ways that even a $25 donation can help the organization is included with every article.
Every fall, our newsroom’s veteran writer and editor Grant Butler leads the campaign.
I recently had a talk with him on the Beat Check with The Oregonian podcast, which I have included below.
For over 20 years, I have contributed to Season of Sharing as an editor or writer, and I must say that it consistently ranks among the most fulfilling work I do, Butler said. Because people react to these stories, I find Season of Sharing to be a great confirmation of the ongoing impact of our efforts. They lend their money to their neighbors, and it’s amazing to see that our words can still have such a positive impact on our neighborhood.
This year’s stories are available at atoregonlive.com/sharing.They range from bigger nonprofits to the smaller, less well-known Siletz Regalia Sharing Closet, which gives tribal members regalia.
The campaign’s theme is occasionally determined by the board that runs Season of Sharing. For instance, we focused on housing and recovery charities during the disastrous wildfires of 2020. The board sought to prioritize housing and mental health this year.
Butler stated that the Regalia Sharing Closet is a relatively young nonprofit organization, and because it addresses identity concerns, we found it to be a particularly intriguing solution to the problem of child mental health. This is one way that young Indigenous youths can connect with the ceremonial dress, even if they may not necessarily have ties to their tribe.
This year’s recipients were the Albertina Kerr Youth Psychiatric Unit and Street Roots, a newspaper that focuses on homelessness and allows sellers to profit from the sale of the issue.Another charity that is highlighted is the Commons Law Center, which assists those who are at risk of eviction.
A feature about Forward Stride, a nonprofit organization that provides equine therapy, was published in today’s newspaper.
“This year, I’m especially excited for our story on Forward Stride, which is an equine therapy program that connects at-risk youth and young people with disabilities with horses and how the interaction with these magnificent horses helps people heal their minds and their bodies,” Butler said. “I always love stories that involve animals in some way.”
Beyond the year-end fund drive, Season of Sharing has an influence. After highlighting a nonprofit, we have learned of bequests or sizable donations made directly to the organization.
According to Butler, one of our writers wrote about Dogs for Better Lives, an animal therapy program in Southern Oregon. A Central Point-based nonprofit received $25,000 directly from a reader who was so moved by the story.
I wrote last year about a woman who was seriously crippled and had trouble communicating, but we don’t usually hear about the impact of readers’ gifts. She was given a tool through Season of Sharing that made communication easier for her.
The present had a significant impact on her life, as friends told us after her passing.
Additionally, we received the following message this month after highlighting Turner Sanderman, a teenager receiving assistance from another featured nonprofit, Serendipity Center:
When everyone saw Turner in the paper yesterday morning, what a day he had at church! Again, I want to thank you for your thoughtful and sensitive reporting. Turner has truly felt that he and his story matter as a result of this entire process!
Your contribution is also important. We appreciate your support of Season of Sharing.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
