About Us
In the days following the tsunami of 2004, many people around the world were moved to provide whatever monetary assistance they could. Donations from countries, relief organizations and individuals poured in to a degree that was unparalleled in history.
Despite this initial success, many of us felt unsatisfied because we knew the donations we made provided support that was too temporary and because writing a check simply felt too impersonal. We wanted to do more – to contribute in a way that was more direct, more tangible and would help sustain what would undoubtedly be a long term rebuilding effort.
A group of friends gathered in Portland. We knew our resources were limited, but what if we could pool our talents, capabilities and good intentions in a way that might really make a difference in a single community? We realized we could form a real relationship with this community – the type of relationship where we knew each other by name - and become partners to help the community lift itself, and particularly its children, out of poverty. And, if we were successful, this model could be replicated by other groups like ours with other communities in need. Group by group, community by community, we might actually have a chance of making a real impact.
Out of this realization a new organization was born - Community Friends.