KATU School Supplies Drive Supporting Friends of the Children-Portland Friends of the Children-Portland (FOTC) and KATU Channel 2 are proud to announce the Back to School Supplies Drive benefiting the more than 300 underserved children in our program that will be heading back to school next month. The drive will run August 1st – 20th, and kicked off earlier this morning on AM Northwest with a live interview by Duncan Campbell as well as one of our Friends and program youth.  In addition, several Public Service Announcements and news stories will be airing throughout the nearly three-week long campaign educating viewers throughout Oregon and SW Washington on the important work being done at Friends of the Children-Portland. Everyone is asked to purchase school supplies and drop them off at the Friends of the Children offices located at 44 NE Morris Street Portland, OR 97212.  Drop offs can be made anytime Monday – Friday from 8am to 5pm. If you and/or your company would like to participate in the Back to School Supplies Drive, visit the KATU website for a list of needed school supplies. Our goal is to ensure that every child in the Friends of the Children-Portland program is given the supplies necessary to succeed in school and enjoy their time in the classroom. Little eyes were wide with excitement last week when Friends of the Children campers were surprised by a visit from the newest Portland Trail Blazer, Channing Frye.  Frye, along with a team of Blazers employees, served breakfast and lunch to campers at Camp Friends, the Friends of the Children academic summer camp.  Approximately 55 campers paused their lessons to meet the 6’11” forward-center as he served peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, read stories, and signed autographs with markers. A press conference followed, where Friends of the Children Executive Director Terri Sorensen and Ricky, an eight-year-old program youth, presented Friends of the Children T-Shirts to both Channing Frye and Kevin Pritchard, Portland Trail Blazers General Manager. "This is a great place,” declared Pritchard, “Friends of the Children does a great job and we are honored to be here today."  The special day was part of the NBA Cares program, the league's social responsibility initiative.  In addition to a fun day at Camp Friends, a group of Blazers employees will be working to install a “Reading and Learning Center,” complete with computer stations and new books for all ages, in an existing Friends of the Children facility. Thank you Channing Frye and The Portland Trail Blazers! Gather the ladies on Thursday, September 13th and join us for the first annual Friends of the Children Women’s Golf Classic! Clubs a little rusty?  Not a problem!  The event is designed for you to relax and enjoy. Teams of six will play The Children’s Course, a 9-hole, par three course, which is perfect for golfers of all skill levels.  The evening will start off with registration and refreshments at 4:00 PM, a 5:00 PM shotgun start (scramble), followed by a brief dinner and awards ceremony at 7:00 PM.  Registration is $125.00 per golfer and event sponsorships are also available.  Please contact Staci Sigala at (503) 281-6633 x103 or ssigala@friendsofthechildren.org to get involved.  Download the player packet and register for the event.  See you on the course! We are proud to announce that Friends of the Children has been chosen as one of the official charities of the 36th Annual Portland Marathon. This year’s marathon will be held on Sunday, October 7th and there is an event for everyone to enjoy. Each participant has the choice of running or walkracing the standard 26-mile marathon or the Five-Miler, or you may also choose to participate in the annual 10k Mayor’s Walk. Let your child take part in the fun and race in the Marafun Kid’s Run. The Portland Marathon has a long-standing tradition of donating proceeds of the event to local non-profit organizations. As an official charity of the marathon, we invite individuals, corporations, and families to become Official Charity Athletes. As an Official Charity Athlete, you help raise funds for Friends of the Children and receive the personal satisfaction of helping our community's most vulnerable children. In addition, you can recieve free charity gear by reaching certain goals. For example, if you donate $10 or more, you can receive special Red laces that promotes your support of Friends of the Children. Sign up today and receive a personal webpage where you can track pledges from your friends, family and coworkers. Together, we will change lives for the better….One runner at a time.