Friends of the Children - Portland

Civic and Social OrganizationsOregon, United States11-50 Employees

Friends of the Children – Portland operates in the civic and social sector with a focus on breaking the cycle of poverty for children at highest risk in the Portland area. Central to its approach is a salaried professional mentor, referred to as a Friend, assigned to each child from kindergarten through graduation, totaling about 12½ years. By employing paid mentors rather than relying on volunteers, the organization aims to provide consistent, long-term support that addresses the whole child’s needs. The program seeks to generate life transformation for the children and deliver broader economic benefits to the community through measurable outcomes.

Founded in 1993 by Duncan Campbell in northeast Portland, the organization grew from a personal history and research on resilience that identifies a caring adult relationship as a key factor in success for at-risk youth. Participant outcomes include 83% graduating from high school, 93% avoiding juvenile justice involvement, and 98% avoiding early parenting. In 2023, Friends of the Children – Portland was recognized by the Portland Business Journal as the #1 Most Admired Company in the nonprofit category. The organization is based in Portland, Oregon, and operates a long-term mentoring model that spans early childhood through high school to serve local children.

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