From Pendleton to Medford, from Sisters to McMinnville, 15 business, arts and community leaders across Oregon wrote opinion pieces in support of the Cultural Trust for their local papers this spring.
These intrepid writers included Lee Weinstein (Hood River News), Bob Speltz (Portland Business Journal), Rachael Cristine Woody and Richard Schmidt (McMinnville News-Register), Kathleen Davis (Medford Mail Tribune), Amy Cuddy (Ashland Daily Tidings), John Byrne (Corvallis Gazette-Tmes), Mike Thorne (East Oregonian), Rebecca Bond (Albany Democrat-Herald), Katy Yoder (Nugget Newspaper, Sisters), Kate Lasky (Grants Pass Daily Courier), Riki Saltzman (Eugene Register-Guard), Ed Arrington (Hillsboro Argus), Greg Fitz-gerald (Eugene Register-Guard), Brad Betz (Corvallis Gazette-Times), and Stephen Marc Beaudoin (Oregon Humanities Magazine).
In addition, three newspapers wrote spring editorials in support of the Trust – The Daily Astorian, Medford Mail-Tribune and East Oregonian.Thank you for raising awareness about the Cultural Tax Credit and all that the Trust does to fuel our economy, inspire our children, engage our citizens and enhance our quality of life.
“Supporting the Cultural Tax Credit is good economic policy. To many, arts and culture seem nice but not necessary. But Jackson County’s economic strength would be bleak without our thriving cultural institutions… the enormous economic benefit that the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Britt Festivals, and other cultural attractions bring to our county. Visitors to our area spend many thousands of dollars in hotels, campgrounds, restaurants, and local shops supporting jobs from entry-level to sophisticated management. Cultural tourism in Jackson County enlivens every aspect of our community economy, our community pride, our community identity. “
-Kathleen Davis, Medford Mail Tribune
“As Sisters Folk Festival’s Development Director, I see firsthand the correlation between the Cultural Trust tax credit and contributions SFF receives. The tax credit shines a light on organizations like ours and is an incentive for donors to choose SFF as a beneficiary of their donation dollars. The money SFF receives funds art and music classes in the public schools as well as programs like the Americana Song & Art Academy, Americana Song Academy for Youth and the Americana Arts Outreach Scholarship fund.”
-Katy Yoder, Nugget Newspaper
“The Trust builds community in counties large and small, and it increases philanthropy in Oregon, requiring donors to give to cultural groups, then to the Trust in order to use the innovative tax credit. Trust grants must also be matched, attracting additional community investment in culture.”
-Lee Weinstein, Hood River News
“The Trust is a wonderful way in which a small portion of an individual’s Oregon tax obligation can be given to a worthy local activity or entity.”-Mike Thorne, East Oregonian”As business leaders, we know the arts, heritage and humanities create the kind of environment where people want to live and work, and where business wants to locate, invest and grow.”
-Bob Speltz, Portland Business Journal