February 2015

Volume 1, Issue 1

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Girls Rule! 2015 ...................... 2

OP Girl Spotlight ..................... 2

2014 Donor Thanks................. 3

Keep Up With the Latest ......... 3

Rural School Partnership ........ 4

UPCOMING EVENTS

March 14- Girls Rule! 8th

annual parent-daughter day

held at LCC.

April 25th– Trivia Night,

our first ever fundraising

partnership with Ninkasi

Brewing.

May 7th—Inspiring Women’s

Tea held at Ophelia’s Place.

Open to all girls to come and

hear stories from remarkable

women in our community.

NONPROFIT ORG

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

EUGENE, OR

PERMIT NO. 451

OP 2013-14 fiscal year

“At A Glance”

Pearl Street services:

After school drop-ins: 1,907

Skill-building Events: 70

Counseling clients per month: 30

In-school services:

Empowerment Groups: 21

School Presentations: 147

Presentation attendees: 4,514

Volunteer Hours: 4,752

The spirit of the holidays came early last December when we learned that The Ford Family

Foundation is providing $82,500 over three years for Ophelia’s Place to offer a holistic

school program in Junction City, Creswell, and Cottage Grove! Partnering with schools in

these rural communities our agency will lead classroom presentations, girls empowerment

groups, and staff trainings. Topics covered will include bullying, healthy relationships, rela-

tional aggression, sexual harassment and conflict resolution. These collective approaches are

designed to affect positive changes in girls' lives and the overall school culture.

Strong relationships with the school staff and administrators in these communities allow us

to provide tools and resources for youth to create solid futures. Our holistic approach im-

pacts the lives of girls, their peers, teachers and parents in all three communities.

The Ford Family Foundation funding also enables us to evaluate the influence of our pro-

grams. This grant will support a collaboration with the Oregon Research Institute to conduct

a three year evaluation of the Rural Schools Partnership. We are excited to find out how a

longer duration collaboration with these rural school will impact the participants, and how

we might improve our design and delivery of future programs.

Ophelia’s Place

1577 Pearl St., Suite 100

Eugene, OR 97401

Phone: 541-284-4333

Fax: 541-284-4332

E-mail: info@opheliasplace.net

www.opheliasplace.net

Our Mission:

Ophelia’s Place is a prevention based

organization dedicated to helping girls

make healthy life choices through

empowerment, education and support.

Our Vision:

All girls are safe, valued and

empowered.

Mural art created by OP girls

OPHELIA’S PLACE SERVES

RURAL SCHOOLS

Verna Wise, Executive Director

Page 1

LETTER FROM THE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

It is a wonderful feeling to be celebrating Ophelia’s Place

10th Anniversary! Remember your first 10 years? They were

likely similar to ours, filled with exploration, determina-

tion, and cataclysmic changes in learning and growth.

When Rosaria Haugland founded Ophelia’s Place 10 years ago she had a simple idea of

a place where girls could come and talk to a trusted adult. Rosaria understood the

power of giving our most precious possessions; time, attention and concern for each

other. Today we are fulfilling Rosaria’s vision.

In 2005 Ophelia’s Place began with one part-time employee, 1200 sq. ft. and $100,000.

Would the girls come? Ten years later the answer is a resounding “YES”!

Girls, families and our community have responded in great numbers. Today, we have a

staff of 8 employees and over 25 volunteers, 5800 sq. ft, and an annual budget of

$538,000 to support our expanded services.

Since we opened our doors over 2,000 girls ages 10 to 18 of all shapes, backgrounds,

and abilities have found Ophelia’s Place. Many have enjoyed our after-school drop-in

program and a wide spectrum of classes full of positivity, support and fun. Since 2010,

over 800 girls have joined a Girls’ Empowerment Group at their neighborhood school.

Last year, over 4,500 middle and high school students participated in one or more of

our classroom conversations on topics including bullying, harassment, healthy relation-

ships, body image and conflict resolution.

We have also grown our programming to serve parents. We are hosting the 8th Annual

Girls Rule! A Parent/Daughter Fair in March at Lane Community College, Father/

Daughter and Mother/Daughter Days in the spring and fall, Proactive Parent Work-

shops and presentations at PTA meetings. Most recently we have piloted Mom’s Night

In house parties for mothers of daughters to gather, learn and share experiences.

Girls who come to Ophelia’s Place say, “when I come to Ophelia’s Place I feel…..”

“At home.” “Accepted.” “Beautiful.” “Brilliant.”

Ophelia’s Place is working!

Happy 10th Anniversary! I look forward to exploring, growing and learning with you as

we continue to give our time, attention and concern to the next generation of leaders,

professionals, mothers and caretakers. Just imagine what the next 10 years will bring.

P.S. Keep up with us (and help us save money!) by sending us your e-mail address

(see page 3). Future newsletters will be sent electronically.

Visit www.opheliasplace.net and click on email list (lower right side of home

page) or call us at 541-284-4333 .

Future newsletters will be delivered electronically, so we encourage you to provide your

email address.

Or return this slip to 1577 Pearl St. Ste 100, Eugene, OR 97401 to be added to the list.

Name ________________________________________________________

Address _______________________________________________________

Phone Number______________ Email ________________________________

Ophelia’s Place does not share mailing lists or contact information.

Ophelia’s Place Staff

River Aaland Program Coordinator

Dawn Branham Office and Facilities Manager

Sarah Cheesman Development Director

Kyra Kelly School Program Coordinator

Anne Kraft Therapist

Yuki Partridge

School Program Assistant

Laura Sanchez Program Director

Verna Wise Executive Director

Board of Directors

Tiffany Nash, President

Chris Parra, Vice President

Marc Steinbaugh, Treasurer

Esther Jacobson-Tepfer,

Secretary

Cynthia Allyn

Katie Green

Rosaria Haugland, Founder

Gil James

Craig Opperman

Cindy Weinhold

Advisory Board

Janet Anderson

Rick Buck

Robin Burk

Nancy Golden

Cathy Hamilton

Gina Ing

Storm Kennedy

John Moseley

Minalee Saks

Barbara Sloat

Casey Woodard

THANKS TO OUR DONORS IN 2014!

VISIONARIES $10,000+ Collins Foundation Doyle & Donna Shepherd Foundation EC Brown Foundation The Ford Family Foundation Mary Ann & Niles Hanson Alex & Amanda Haugland Rosaria P. Haugland Foundation Richard P. Haugland Fund of OCF Estate of Norman & Evelyn Wildish LEADERS $1000-$9999 Veronica Alfero & Chuck McGlade American Association of University Women Baker Family Foundation Beaudet Jewelry Robin & Bob Burke Chvatal Orthodontics Scott & Wendy Coltrane Cottage Grove Community Foundation Karen Dahlen Elizabeth Holden Eugene Rotary Evans/Kabush Family Foundation Funk / Levis Randy Garrity & Suzanne Congdon John & Joy Haines & The Eye Center Gina Ing Inland NW Community Foundation Rebecca Ivanhoff Gilbert & Judith James Al & Gina King Bob & Wendy Laing Anne Marie Levis & Dana Siebert McClure Associates Pink Buffalo Racing Jan & Jack Piper John Rude & Christine Sullivan Steve & Annie Sakaguchi SELCO Credit Union Mike Simington & Melissa Koke Soroptomist Intl of Junction City Chris Spetzler Mary Spilde Summit Bank Kim Tardie Larry Tardie Juan Young Trust

Jubitz Family Foundation Neuner Fund of OCF Oregon Community Foundation Umpqua Bank US Bank Craig Wanichek Paul & Cindy Weinhold Blaine & Jennifer Werner Weyerhauser Foundation JoAnn Whitney Wildish Land Co Woodard Family Foundation Tom & Megan Wuest Verb Marketing + PR SUSTAINERS $500-$999 Shelli Anderson Karl Brantley Rick Buck & Cynthia Allyn Robert & Kathleen Carolan Carter & Carter Financial Dustrud Architecture Betty Flad Carey Garber Nancy Golden & Roger Guthrie Karol Gottfredson Patricia & Scott Hansen Hershner & Hunter Attorneys Starly Hodges Michael Howard John Jarrett Kernutt Stokes LLP Lincoln Financial Foundation Inc Pacific Benefit Consultants Sharon & Mike Posner Linda Postma The Register Guard Grace Serbu Linda & Steve Sogge Symantec Jean & Wayne Tate Jon Texter & Connie Rolfe John & Sandy Watkinson Women's Gift AND 180 OTHER CONTRIBUTORS

WHO GAVE UP TO $500 TO SUPPORT

THE GIRLS AT OPHELIA'S PLACE. You

are honored on the agency donor wall.

Yes! Keep me informed of the latest news and events at Ophelia’s Place.

Page 2 Page 3

Sarah is a sophomore in high

school.

Her hobbies and interests are

creative writing, travel, rock

climbing and lacrosse.

In 10 years she hopes to be in

Italy or Ireland, writing.

At our 2014 Gems event we had the

privilege to hear a moving speech from

OP Girl, Sarah, about how Ophelia’s

Place has impacted her life. We cannot

wait to see what the next 10 years have

in store for this amazing, talented,

strong young woman.

OP GIRL SPOTLIGHT

GIRLS RULE! 2015

KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST!

Girls Rule is an Ophelia’s Place signature event, a day for girls 9-14 to join a caring adult

in fun, creative, and educational workshops designed to enrich their relationship and

make meaningful memories. Girls Rule is in its 8th year and features workshops on

science, dance, art, music, body image, personal safety, and more. This year’s theme is

“Make Your Own Magic” and will feature award-winning local author Laurie Notaro as

our keynote speaker. Laurie Notaro’s works include “The Potty Mouth at the Table” and

the upcoming “Her Horses Invariably Galloped;” she will also be teaching a writing

workshop during the event.

Lunch is provided and the event is free to the public with a suggested donation of $10-

$50. Numerous youth and family organizations will be present to provide information

about opportunities for girls and their families to continue to learn and play together.

We welcome our community to participate in this fun, positive, and celebratory day! Saturday, March 14th 9am-3pm

Lane Community College

Center for Meeting and Learning

Register at

www.opheliasplace.net

“Around the time that a very close friend of mine died, my mother took me to an organization called

Ophelia's Place. At first, I thought "well, this is another program for my mom to sign me up for, woo hoo."

And going into it with that mindset, I did feel that way. But after just a month, I began to really fall in love

with the place. The relaxed environment, the tea I drank, and the people I talked to. And finally, I had a

place to be comfortable, just to be myself. Eventually, I made friends. And for the first time since Valerie's

death, I actually had an interest in people. At Ophelia's place, I met one of the most influential people of my

life, Kara (who was program director at the time). I used to go into her office and act like this strong, out-

going, stubborn girl who didn't have any problems and didn't need her help. I pretended to be confident so

that I had someone in my life that saw me as strong. I was in an incredibly dark place and I always

wanted to tell her, but I was afraid she would think that I was weak and I would lose that one place where

I could walk around like a cocky, confident, put-together girl.

Over time as I talked to her, I began to really let her know and help me. This caused me to become happier

and more social with people inside and outside of Ophelia's. I started signing up for workshops, joining

groups, really socializing and getting to know girls my age. Around this time, Ophelia's Place became a

second home to me. I started to volunteer for things, and became more of a leader figure at Ophelia's. I

organized a clothing drive event that I put on every January. Through The Feel Good Closet, girls all over

Eugene have been helped by Ophelia's Place to get clothing, and through the event, more girls signed up to

be a part of events and drop in, which brought a larger crowd into Ophelia's.

Now that I am a sophomore in high school who is involved in a lot of things inside and outside of school, I

find it pretty hard to make time every day for drop in, but because it is such an incredibly important and

beneficial part of my life, I do everything I can in order to make it at least one or two days a week. I can

walk into River's office and tell her anything, and everything with absolutely no judgment. River knows so

many things about my life that no one else in my life even knows. River, I can genuinely say, is one of my

best friends and confidant. Ophelia's place helps, supports and loves so many girls every day. I truly do not

know what my life would look like without it. Because of Ophelia's place, I have met some of the most influ-

ential, inspirational, positive and incredible people, all of whom are an important part of my life today.

Girls Rule! Sponsors