PORTLAND, Ore. - July 26, 2019 -The Walters Family Foundation was created by Glenn & Viola Walters, local nursery growers, in 1999, to continue their legacy and help at-risk youth. President Clifford Walters, MD, son of Glenn and Viola, states, "We are always looking for key organizations that are maximizing the use of the monies they receive, are clearly knowledgeable about their core values, and product they provide to the folks in need. We are especially looking for those groups who create positive change in the lives of those they serve." Finding the Sparrow Clubs - Portland under the directorship of Ms. Laura Queen became the stimulus for the award. The award was initially titled, "The Walters Family Foundation Award for Excellence in the Art of Positive Change." Laura Queen's name was added to the beginning of the award because of her tireless dedication to the work of the Sparrow Clubs USA – Portland and its impact on the lives of students.
The Sparrow Clubs USA receives a small amount of money from a funder, finds a Sparrow defined as a child with a medical or health disability, introduces them high school kids who then "adopt" the Sparrow. These students engage in community service at $10/hour paid for by a funder. These earnings are placed in a fund for the Sparrow and their family throughout the school year. Then the magic happens . . . the students fall in love with their Sparrow child, show compassion and care. Ironically, over the school year these actions are automatically turned towards each other. Compassion grows within the school system, bullying goes down, and the whole student body culture changes to the positive. At the year end, a ceremony is held to honor the Sparrow and the student body. The Sparrow's family and the Sparrow are presented with a check during an emotional lunch.
The Walters Family Foundation https://www.waltersfamilyfoundation.org/ was so impressed with the work of Laura Queen in Portland and how her leadership positively changed the lives of thousands of youth in 15 schools in 2018-19, with 20 more schools waiting to adopt a sparrow in 2020, the "Queen Award for Excellence in the Art of Positive Change" was created and presented for the first time to the Sparrow Clubs USA – Portland. Along with the new award a grant of $10,000 was given by the Walters Family Foundation to help continue the Oregon impact that the Sparrow Clubs USA – Portland chapter has demonstrated. Ms. Queen was presented the award bearing her name at a Portland fundraising luncheon, hosted at the Monarch Hotel Clackamas on July 17, 2019. Being completely surprised she graciously accepted the award while those in attendance gave a standing ovation, replete with many tears of gratitude. The luncheon doubled its fundraising goals that day.

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Walters Family Foundation