The Brentano Grand Opening Celebration is almost here! Executive Director Mya sits down to share updates and answer our community’s top questions.

FH: Mya, many people in the neighborhood are wondering about the newly remodeled Friendly House building. Can you tell us a bit about its history and why it needed to be fixed up? 

Mya: One of the things I love about Friendly House is that our buildings have stories, just like the people who walk through their doors. Friendly House has been part of Northwest Portland since 1930, and our campus has evolved right along with the neighborhood. 

The Brentano Building—named after former Executive Director Mary Brentano—was Friendly House’s primary home from 1930 until the mid-1990s, when we built the Community Center, now known as the Crawford Building. Even after the Community Center opened, Brentano continued to be home to generations of preschoolers, Afterschool participants, summer campers, infant-toddler playgroups, and, at one time, a youth drop-in center. 

The Brentano Building itself is over 120 years old. In 1989, First Presbyterian Church (FPC) sold the building to Friendly House for just $1. First Presbyterian supported Friendly House from our earliest days as a settlement house, and while our formal affiliation with the church ended long ago, that connection remains. FPC and its congregation continue to be valued supporters, volunteers, and friends of Friendly House. 

For almost 100 years, the Brentano Building has been a place where generations of neighbors have connected, learned, and played.  But after decades of use, it needed significant updates to make it safer, more accessible, more functional, and better suited to the programs we offer and the people we serve today. 

We didn’t want to simply make the building prettier. We wanted to honor and preserve its history, while breathing in new life—and make sure it can continue doing what Friendly House does best: bring people together  and be a place where children and families from all walks of life can experience belonging. 

FH: What are the plans for it now that the remodel is complete? 

Mya: This is the really exciting part!  We’re tripling our capacity for free preschool and expanding our Afterschool programming. The newly remodeled, licensed kitchen also opens opportunities for food and nutrition support for low-income community members. 

We plan to bring back Playgroup, where caregivers of young children can connect with other families and build supportive relationships. We’ve heard the requests from the community for parenting classes, support groups, cooking classes, and enrichment activities for children during non-school hours. All these activities now have a potential home, so we can turn hopes into reality. 

It’s also part of a larger vision for our campus. We’re thinking about how each building can serve a purpose and meet community needs. This renovation is only the first step in creating new opportunities for Northwest Portland. In other words, we’re not just fixing a building. We’re investing in what happens inside it. 

FH: How did you pay for all of this? 

Mya: This is where our community really deserves the credit. 

The renovation is part of our Together for Good capital campaign, a $4.8 million effort to make critical improvements to our campus and ensure Friendly House can continue serving our community for generations to come. 

To date, the Together for Good Campaign has secured $3.9 million in total commitments. Our progress so far has come from a mix of local and regional, government, and foundation support. Our Board of Directors has 100% participation in the campaign, with more than $200,000 in total Board giving. Grants have been provided by JTMF Foundation, the Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund, HEDCO Foundation, Swigert Foundation and BuildUp Oregon. We also have a small group of long-time friends and supporters who have committed ongoing support over the next five years. 

This campaign isn’t being funded by one big donor or one foundation. It’s truly a community effort. People are giving what they can because they believe in the idea that when we invest in people, the entire community benefits. 

Every gift—from $25 to $250,000—helps make this possible. 

FH: Can people get a peek inside? 

Mya: Yes! And I’m so excited for people to see it. 

The changes are both practical and beautiful. We’ve created spaces that feel bright, welcoming, accessible, and designed around the people who will use them.  

We’re inviting the community in for a closer look on September 19, from 11 a.m.–3 p.m., at our Brentano Grand Opening Event! 

We’ll mark the occasion with a street fair featuring a dedication of the building, tours of the new space, music, free food, activities, and entertainment for all ages. 

FH: Are you considering any other renovations to the campus? 

Mya: Yes! 

Our next major goal is beginning work on the Crawford Building, also known as the Community Center. This will help us further strengthen our facilities and expand our ability to address community needs. 

When our Together for Good Campaign reaches $4.2 million, we will begin major updates to the Crawford Building. That target is about $300,000 away. We’re getting close, but we still need our community to help us cross the finish line. 

What I hope people understand about Together for Good: this isn’t a campaign about buildings. It’s about people.  

Beginning on Friday, September 25th, we’ll be hosting a series of community information sessions to share our plans for Crawford and hear from you about your interests and priorities for the coming upgrades. Stay tuned for more details!