SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Power’s charitable arm, the PacifiCorp Foundation for Learning, awarded more than $85,000 in March for health and human services programs throughout Utah. The majority of funding will go toward programs that benefit children and families.

“The PacifiCorp Foundation is pleased to be able to provide support for programs that are having a positive impact for Utah children, families and individuals in need of health and welfare services,” said Rich Walje, Foundation board chair and president of Utah Power. “These grants are part of one of four annual cycles of funding from the Foundation for programs in the areas of education, health and human services, arts and culture, and civic and community betterment.” 

The largest grants included $20,000 for Salt Lake Neighborhood Housing Services’ YouthWorks community building program, $12,000 for the Huntsman Cancer Institute’s Cancer Learning Center, $10,000 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake’s Project Learn and $10,000 for The Road Home’s Children’s Services Program. Support from the PacifiCorp Foundation’s Utah Power Fund will assist these programs in the following ways:

Salt Lake Neighborhood Housing Services– PacifiCorp Foundation funding for YouthWorks will help “at risk” youth, ages 14-18, to develop valuable life and employment skills through involvement in the construction of affordable housing in the community.

Huntsman Cancer Institute– Foundation support will enhance programs offered through the Cancer Learning Center – a free resource for current information about cancer, its prevention and treatments.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake– Foundation funding will support the continuation of Project Learn at the Sugarhouse Club. Project Learn reinforces the learning that takes place in school with after-school activities and one-on-one tutoring.

The Road Home– Foundation funding will support educational and recreational activities for children while their families are living at the Salt Lake Community Shelter. The Children’s Services Program is vital to helping families break the cycle of homelessness.

Additional Utah organizations awarded funding by the PacifiCorp Foundation included:

Four Corners Community Behavioral Health (Moab) – Summer youth service-learning and employment program for high-risk youth in Grand County

Family Support Center (Midvale) – LifeStart Village education and training program for single mothers and their children

National Ability Center (Park City) – Therapeutic horseback riding programs for children with disabilities

Family Connection Center (Clearfield) – Outreach Parent Advocate Program to help prevent the cycle of child abuse from one generation to the next

Common Ground Outdoor Adventures (Logan) – Adaptive cycling and cross-country ski clinics for special education classes in Cache Valley, Utah and Preston, Idaho

Midtown Community Health Center (Ogden) – Health Access Team program to increase access to health care services for uninsured, low-income residents in the Ogden area

Your Community Connection of Ogden/North Ogden– Spanish-speaking domestic violence victim support groups

Utah Youth Village (Salt Lake City) – Families First intensive in-home intervention program to teach parents skills for assisting their troubled children

YWCA of Salt Lake City– CHOICES education classes to help adult women and teens avoid family and dating violence, teen pregnancy and poverty

About the PacifiCorp Foundation for Learning

The PacifiCorp Foundation for Learning was created and incorporated as a corporate foundation in 1988 in order to become the major channel of philanthropy for PacifiCorp, Utah Power and Pacific Power. PacifiCorp and its employees have a long tradition of active involvement in the communities served by Utah Power, including charitable contributions, sponsorships of community events and in-kind donations.

Media inquiries:  newsdesk@pacificorp.com