Social Venture Partners Portland

Congratulations to Tiffany Hsieh, winner of the SVP Portland Deep Dive Award! This award recognizes an individual who applies their expertise and builds key connections to deeply explore challenges, approaching each opportunity with curiosity, insight, and a commitment to finding strategic solutions that advance SVP’s mission. Thank you to Tiffany and all our Investor Partners for your dedication and commitment. “Tiffany did an excellent job with our Workforce Gap analysis. She leveraged her expertise in workforce development and connected with key early childhood leaders in our community, providing valuable perspectives on opportunities for SVP to address this barrier strategically. Tiffany approached the project with a blend of experience, curiosity, and humility, and I look forward to continuing our collaboration with her in this area!” - Carolina Castañeda del Río, SVP Director of Community Impact

Congratulations to Jerry Cohen, winner of the SVP Portland Weaver Award! This award recognizes an individual who skillfully uses their connections and resources to weave together partnerships and opportunities, strengthening and advancing SVP’s mission in impactful and meaningful ways. Thank you to Jerry and all our Investor Partners for your dedication and commitment. “Jerry truly embodies the spirit of the Weaver Award. His dedication to community and service is woven into everything he does. I've been consistently amazed by his ability to leverage his connections and resources to advocate for others in a way I've never seen before. He weaves community through true dedication, intention and connection. His commitment is unwavering!” - Jenn Luevano-Brummett, SVP Community Impact Project Manager

Congratulations to Elaine Newman, winner of the SVP Portland North Star Award! This award recognizes an individual whose leadership, vision, and unwavering commitment have served as a guiding light, inspiring and steering our efforts toward meaningful progress and lasting impact. Thank you to Elaine and all our Investor Partners for your dedication and commitment. “Elaine has recently taken on a leadership role in the PMT, implementing new tools and processes that have helped increase alignment and transparency in investment decisions-making. Prior to this, while serving on the PMT, she ensured investments aligned with SVPP's goals while prioritizing community impact. Her attention to detail and memory of past investment conditions is unrivaled on the team! She is a pleasure to work with and a joy to learn from!” - Erin Stevanus, SVP Investor Partner

Congratulations to Erin Stevanus, winner of the SVP Portland Innovator of the Year Award! This award recognizes an individual whose creative ideas, forward-thinking approach, and innovative solutions have driven meaningful progress and transformation within SVP’s work. Thank you to Erin S. and all our Investor Partners for your dedication and commitment. “Erin leads with a passion for transforming philanthropy from the inside out so that it is more inclusive and diverse, and always focused on the outcomes we're achieving. She exudes SVP's spirit of curiosity, entrepreneurship, and collaboration, and enthusiastically embraces new challenges and opportunities!” - Lauren Johnson, SVP Executive Director

Congratulations to Kirt Nilsson, winner of the SVP Portland Team Player of the Year Award! This award recognizes an individual whose exceptional collaboration, unwavering dedication, and positive attitude have been instrumental in advancing the success, unity, and impact of SVP's mission and work. Thank you to Kirt and all our Investor Partners for your dedication and commitment. “In addition to serving as the lead partner for Escuela Viva, Kirt has played a crucial role in supporting the coordination of two of our Scaling Cohort modules. Beyond this, he is lending his expertise to consult with and connect one of our Community Partners as they navigate the process of evaluating potential sites for their second location. Kirt’s dedication and collaborative spirit have made a meaningful impact on multiple levels of our work!” - Carolina Castañeda del Río, SVP Director of Community Impact

Congratulations to Michele Beneville, winner of the SVP Portland Backstage Star of the Year Award! This award recognizes an individual whose behind-the-scenes dedication and support have been vital to the success of SVP's mission. Thank you to Michele and all our Investor Partners for your dedication and commitment. “Michele is someone we can always count on to respond, figure things out, fix problems, and make sure our development data is clean and accurate. She works consistently behind the scenes with a wonderfully positive attitude, making the work of SVP staff easier and better. Thank you Michele!” - Ursula Garcia, SVP Director of Resource Development

Congratulations to Larry Fox, winner of the SVP Portland Spirit Award! This award recognizes an individual who embodies the core values and mission of SVP, demonstrating exceptional collaboration, leadership, and passion for driving social impact and fostering positive change in the community. Thank you to Larry and all our Investor Partners for your dedication and commitment. "Larry Fox! What can you say . . . he’s been a cornerstone of Social Venture Partners Portland for over 15 years, serving as an Investor Partner, Lead Partner, Director, Board Chair, and Treasurer. He helped shape one of SVP’s most pivotal changes: a focus on universal access to preschool education for Portland-area kids, a lighthouse objective still central today. A lifelong learner, he embraces tough truths about inequity, racism, and social injustice, channeling them into heartfelt calls to action. His efforts have strengthened SVP’s impact, empowered community leaders, and stood steadfastly in solidarity with SVP Community Partners. Above all, Larry is a kind, generous, and thoughtful friend: empathetic, ready to help, and unwavering in his commitment to the community and SVP’s mission. A Superstar, indeed! Thank you, Larry." - Bob Tate, SVP Board Chair

Congratulations to Roxanne Seaton, winner of the SVP Portland Tech Guru of the Year Award! This award recognizes an individual who has significantly advanced SVP's mission through innovative use of technology, demonstrating expertise, creativity, and a commitment to driving positive change. Thank you to Roxanne and all our Investor Partners for your dedication and commitment. “Roxanne is such a guiding light not only in helping us cross the digital divide but in art, service and social justice. Her dedication to social justice shines through in everything she does inside and outside SVP. Roxanne's heart of service, strength, and unwavering commitment make her an inspiration to all of us. It's been incredibly rewarding to witness her impact firsthand, whether it's through her beautiful murals or the time she spends advocating for our youth experiencing hardships. It has been the most rewarding experience getting to know and work with Roxanne because her positive energy is contagious.” - Jenn Luevano-Brummett, SVP Community Impact Project Manager

Congratulations to Ginny Gray, winner of the SVP Portland Rookie of the Year Award! This award recognizes an individual who has made an exceptional impact within their first year of involvement in our work, demonstrating enthusiasm, dedication, and a strong commitment to the mission. Thank you to Ginny and all our Investor Partners for your dedication and commitment. “Ginny brought deep expertise in organization assessment and development to SVP, and rolled up her sleeves almost immediately to improve and deploy our Community Partner engagement process with our full pipeline of potential partner orgs. She is always full of energy and optimism, and ready to jump in and help wherever needed. Ginny is taking on a lead partner role with two of our new Community Partners, which is a significant ongoing commitment, and is already referring other prospective Investor Partners to SVP. Bringing it all!” - Ursula Garcia, SVP Director of Resource Development

Congratulations to Rob Aslett, winner of the SVP Portland Clutch Player of the Year Award! This award recognizes outstanding reliability, performance, and impact in critical moments. Thank you to Rob and all our Investor Partners for your dedication and commitment. “As busy as he is in his new position, Rob consistently goes above and beyond to lend his support whenever possible. He is always willing to jump in and offer expertise, bringing his brilliant mind to the table to help solve challenges and drive success. His dedication and willingness to contribute make him an invaluable asset to SVP!” - Carolina Castañeda del Río, SVP Director of Community Impact