Special Funds

Logan Nettleton Scholarship Fund

Preschool scholarships for low-income and homeless families.

Rebecca Longaker Scholarship Fund

After School and Summer Camp scholarships for low-income and homeless families.

In August 2019, Logan Nettleton’s promising life was cut short at age 19 by gun violence. Logan was a second-generation graduate of Friendly House Preschool, and a student at Portland State University. She was a fearless proponent of social justice, and we believe Logan’s Fund for Friendly House Preschool scholarships reflects her values of inclusion, equity, and the importance of communities coming together to support each other.

Friendly House Preschool has been a beloved feature of NW Portland since the 1940s, educating generations of young learners. We offer a compassionate and enriching preschool experience. We are committed to continuing to provide preschool at low or no cost to families in our community who need it most. We believe, and research supports, that a high-quality, educational preschool experience with seasoned teachers and developmentally appropriate curriculum is critical to children’s success in school, in the workforce, and in life.

We offer scholarships for both our full-day 10-hour class, our part-day seven-hour class, and for Head Start students to attend beyond the 3-hour allotment established by the state of Oregon.

Your support of this program provides children with the best start in life, and enables families to thrive despite facing hardships, such as single parenting, being unable to work, low wages coupled with a growing cost of living, and supporting a family while attending school.

The Rebecca Longaker Scholarship Fund has raised over $650,000 since 2007 to support several hundred children with access to safe, affordable, and enriching After School and Summer Camp programming.

Rebecca Hall Longaker, the daughter of Barbara & Jud Longaker, was a student at Chapman Elementary. When Rebecca died at age 10 from a misdiagnosed heart ailment, her parents started the Rebecca Longaker Scholarship Fund in memory of her generous and kind spirit. Rebecca’s family and friends support this fund because they believe, like Rebecca did, that children should have a safe and enriching place to be when they can’t be home with their families.

Today, Rebecca’s fund ensures that children from houseless families and families at risk of houselessness receive the support and care they need to thrive, including healthy snacks, food assistance, extra homework help, new shoes and coats in the winter, and extracurricular opportunities like art, athletics and hands-on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) experience.

Vera’s Purse is Friendly House’s direct response to Portland’s growing homeless problem.

Named in honor of our beloved former mayor, Vera Katz, Vera’s Purse was created by a visionary group of women who want to help low-income, older women escape and avoid homelessness.

A long history of unequal pay, interrupted work history for child rearing and parent care, discriminatory hiring practices, and inadequate income for savings results in women having fewer resources in retirement. Additionally, accessing and paying for health care—a problem for many older adults—becomes more problematic for women as they age. Numerous studies show that older women have greater health care needs and have higher out-of-pocket health care expenses than older men. The lack of affordable housing paired with an increase in the cost of living makes aging women one of the fastest growing homeless populations in Portland.

This fund may be used by Friendly House Senior Program and Elder Pride Services clients for short-term emergency rental assistance, application fees, and other eviction prevention and homeless intervention supports. Vera’s Purse provides Friendly House staff with yet another tool to help the vulnerable among us to live safely, with dignity and independence.
Friendly House is honored by the inaugural donors who chose us to steward this fund, and we encourage you to join them by supporting Vera’s Purse. All donations to Vera’s Purse go directly to client assistance.