Nike's Portland Factory grants $100,000 for North & Northeast Portland development
24 Jun '05
4 min read
When the Nike Portland Factory Store opened in 1984, it pledged to donate a portion of the store's profits to community-based non-profit organizations. Ron Herndon, now Chairman of the Board of the National Head Start Association and Director of Albina Head Start, approached Nike 21 years ago and urged the company to build its first ever factory store on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (then called Union Avenue).
In 2004, to bring the factory store's 20-year community investment in North-Northeast Portland to a total of $1 million, Nike expanded its grant program to 20 $5,000 grants, bringing the total grant amount for 2004 to $100,000. In 2005, Nike decided to award $100,000 in grants again, doubling its previous commitment in 2002 to award $50,000 a year through 2007 for the second consecutive year.
“The Urban League of Portland is excited about being a grant recipient of the Portland Nike Factory Store Grant program,” said Vanessa Gaston, President and CEO of the Urban League of Portland.
“This program has helped many non-profits continue to serve people in need of services in the North and Northeast Portland area. Nike has done a wonderful job of donating to community-based organizations as well as providing jobs to people in this community.”
The store has been at its current location, 2650 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., since 2000. Nike chose to purchase the property and begin construction of a new site after outgrowiy-based organizations as well as providing jobs to people in this community.”