“For a very small amount of foregone tax revenue — an estimated $9 million out of a $16.5 billion biennial budget — the Cultural Trust will have an outsized, but positive, effect on the Oregon economy.”
–    Portland Tribune

“Cheers — to the Oregon Cultural Trust, and to the opportunity it provides to support the arts in Oregon and get a tax credit at the same time.”
–    Medford Mail Tribune

“In the simplest terms, the Clatsop Cultural Coalition is a funding source that didn’t exist a decade ago. One-third of the Cultural Trust’s annual giving goes to county cultural coalitions.”
–    Daily Astorian

These quotes are but a sampling of the positive newspaper editorials written about the Cultural Trust this past month.

The Trust was joined in its year-end 2012 editorial board meetings by several non-profit partners who have benefitted from Trust or Coalition funding. Stephen Marc Beaudoin of PHAME Academy, Ross McKeen of Oregon Children’s Theatre, Andrew Proctor of Literary Arts, Brad Tisdel and Katy Yoder of Sisters Folk Festival and the Americana Project, Paul Nicholson of Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and Libby Westlund of Bend advocated for the Trust to their local papers.  To find out more about these organizations click their names.

To read the full editorial text click newspaper name: The Portland Tribune; The Daily Astorian; Medford Mail Tribune.

Trust Manager Kimberly Howard also conducted speaking engagements around Oregon, from Cannon Beach to Medford where the Trust received positive feedback.

At the Jackson County Cultural Coalition grant award ceremony, Howard heard one guest say, “It’s great to be in a room where everyone gets the value of arts, heritage and humanities in our daily lives.” Howard’s response, “The Cultural Trust is an equalizer; there are no barriers to donate – no gift is too small. And everyone can participate and say they made a difference.”

Former Lake Oswego Mayor Judie Hammerstad also gave the Trust a shout out at the Arts Council of Lake Oswego’s reception on December 6, where Howard was on hand to help celebrate with board, staff and supporters. Said Hammerstad to Howard,  “It’s a Win Win situation.  Oregonians are silly not to give.”