Shannon Bivins, Horizon Airlines
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Oct. 11, 2012
What was the most rewarding aspect of it?
I just liked hanging out with the kids. The Cake Walk in particular was fun to be a part of and leading that activity. I really enjoyed seeing how much the kids wanted to win a cupcake and just watching the interaction between the players [Andrew Jean-Baptiste & Donovan Ricketts] and all the kids participating in the Cake Walk. Andrew was really having a lot of fun with it, it was nice to see the smiles and hear the laughter.
Why do you think events like this matter to the greater Portland community?
There are a lot of disadvantage children in the greater Portland community, especially smaller areas like this one. It’s good for the kids to see people come from other areas [I’m from Gresham] of the Portland area and make the kids feel important and worth the travel.
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WATCH: Stand Together Week: Day 4
Mark Rittman, Alaska Airlines
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Oct. 11, 2012
What was the most rewarding aspect of it?
This is my second event of the day for Stand Together Week. When I was growing up I had positive influences in my life including family and friends, along with various mentors. I’m finally in a place in my life to give back and I’m able to give that positive mentoring that I had growing to others that may not be as fortunate.
It’s nice to see two successful companies such as Alaska Airlines and the Portland Timbers recognize the fans that support them on a daily basis and is able to support them instead with events like this. It also shows that these companies aren’t just out to make money, but to give back to the community in a positive way.
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Donovan Ricketts, Timbers goalkeeper
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Oct. 11, 2012
What was the most rewarding aspect of it?
The kids. It’s all about the kids and spending time with them. Seeing the smiles on their faces and seeing how much fun they are having makes this so rewarding.
It’s important to show that we’re not just athletes but also positive, productive members of the community. They show us ongoing support and with events like these we’re able to show them the same support that they show us. It matters to have these events in the community to show that we have more to offer [to our community] than just what we do on the field.
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Timothy Murphy, Doc Martens
Red Cross Northwest
Oct. 11, 2012
What did you learn today?
We just learned a lot about the operations of Red Cross in the Northwest. I had no idea that they relied so much on volunteers. It was an easy and fun way to help.
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David Horst, Timbers defender
AC Portland at Parklane Elementary
Oct. 11, 2012
What are you doing out here today?
The team and the community is getting together this week to do a lot of different things through our outreach programs. Right here we’re at Parklane Elementary and we’re out here with the kids, writing some chants, making up some countries and we’re going to go out and play some soccer now.
Seems like you’re having lots of fun.
Oh yeah. Anytime you get to work with these kids it’s a great time. It just reminds you of what you’re really out there playing for, it’s for these young guys. Any chance that we get to give back to them is always a joy.
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Patty Goffe, adidas
AC Portland at Parklane Elementary
Oct. 11, 2012
What are you doing out here today?
Today we are out here supporting our partner, AC Portland and participating in Stand Together Week alongside the Timbers and some of the great community sponsors. We’re just having fun using sport as a vehicle get these kids active and have them have some fun.
Describe a bit more about the relationship between adidas, AC Portland and the Timbers.
We’ve been a supporter of AC Portland for over a year now. In fact, we provide them with in-kind office space at our U.S. headquarters in North Portland to help offset some of their operational costs. The after school programs that they provide are actually programs through national parnterships that we have with the U.S. Soccer Foundation and America Scores so AC Portland is basically umbrella-ing and delivering both of those after school programs on behalf of those partners.
This year adidas joined the Portland Timbers Community Fund alongside JELD-WEN, Alaska Airlines, PGE and Burgerville and we were really excited to do so this year. I was really excited that AC Portland applied for a grant and the other members of the community fund agreed that they were worthy of receiving a grant. We’re excited to align with them. AC Portland reflects the same vision of using sport to transform lives that adidas believes in. We’re really excited about our partnership with the Timbers, the Community Fund, the other Community Fund sponsors and especially AC Portland.
Why do events like Stand Together Week matter? Why is it important?
It’s really exciting when I think there’s a lot of people in the community that want to get out and volunteer and maybe don’t know exactly how so when an organization as visible and as well-loved as the Timbers can bring people together and offer these opportunities, I think it’s really great.
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Nicole Tillett , Timbers Coordinator Ticket Sales
Children’s Book Bank
Oct. 11, 2012
What did today mean to you today to volunteer with the Book Bank?
To me it was so meaningful. I grew up with books and it’s so hard to think that kids do not have access to books today. So the fact that we were able to bring that joy of reading back to kids with the work we did today was absolutely fantastic.
What do you hope the kids will take out of receiving books from a place like the Children’s Book Bank?
I hope that at least one kid gets the spark of how much fun reading can be.
What do you feel Stand Together Week really does for Portland?
It really fosters the sense of community. It’s up to us to make a change and it starts with each and every person who took the time to volunteer to make that difference.
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Robin Anderson, operations manager
Children’s Book Bank
Oct. 11, 2012
What are the goals and objectives of Children’s Book Bank?
We collect books and distribute them to children who do not have books at home. With the Timbers Stand Together Week it’s helped us in being able to see volunteers from the Timbers, adidas, Alaska Airlines and others come in to clean and repair books.
How many books do you distribute in a month?
I would say we typically give out around 500 bags a month with 16 books per bag. Last year we gave out about 96,000 books. All together as a whole we’ve given away around 250,000 books since 2008.
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Timber Joey
Children’s Book Bank
Oct. 11, 2012
What does it mean to you to have this type of activity?
Everything has been really special throughout this week. The books to me is really important because I always looked to books to help me with learning. I hope these books will be something kids will turn to when learning to read.
