The Shadow Project » The Shadow Project

January Newsletter

The Shadow Project — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:00:47 +0000

Newsletter • January 2012

More Homework, Please!

I used to use my own incentive program, but it wasn’t very rewarding for kids. Now I can get even the most resistant child to work toward a goal. I love the Shadow Project!

– Cara Principe,
speech language pathologist, Portland Pubic Schools

“Million Books for Kids”

Shadow Project Earns GuideStar Seal

Close to 9 million U.S. children experience severe reading failure caused by learning differences.
– The Haan Foundation

“My Students Are Asking for More Homework!”
Shadow Project students celebrate milestones they’ve reached on Shadow Day: time set aside for them to reflect on their accomplishments. The incentives they earn are tangible results of their journey to integrate habits for success into their learning.

Teachers visited our warehouse earlier this month to select incentives for their students and were blown away by the fabulous titles lining our shelves, including Diary of A Wimpy Kid, Flat Stanley, Big Nate and Magic Treehouse, books our volunteers helped us select during a recent visit to Scholastic Books Warehouse. Speech/language pathologist Judy Matsumoto told us how much the opportunity to earn books is motivating her students. “They are asking for more homework. I’ve never had that happen before!”

Thank You, Willamette Week
This was the first year The Shadow Project was selected to participate in the Willamette Week Give!Guide, and, and thanks to your generosity, we exceeded our expectations. The Shadow Project raised $15,266, including $6,050 in matching funds from the James F. & Marion L. Miller Foundation. In less than two months, The Give!Guide brought in nearly $1.6 million for 100 local charities and two statewide nonprofits. We were so honored to be part of this incredible experience and are grateful for Willamette Week’s leadership in building community philanthropy.

Help us Get a Million books into the Hands of Portland Kids
Did you know that over 100,000 children in the greater Portland Area have few or no books at home? Some students in The Shadow Project, for example, only have books they’ve earned through our program. The “Million Books for Kids” project is tackling this issue by getting books to the kids who need them most. Better World Books is donating books, which are available at the former Borders Books location in Bridgeport Village. Shadow Project volunteers have already pulled more than 300 books for our students in need, and that’s just the beginning. To find out how you can volunteer for the Million Books project and help Shadow Project kids, email bonnie@shadow-project.org.

Shadow Project on GuideStar
At The Shadow Project, we value transparency and strive to provide information to help donors make informed choices. That’s why we’re pleased to have earned the GuideStar Exchange Seal, demonstrating our commitment to transparency. GuideStar is an information service that provides program and financial data on more than 1.7 million nonprofits recognized by the IRS. Read more about The Shadow Project on GuideStar.

Shadow Project to Participate in Dyslexia Conference.
The relationship between brain function, ADHD and learning disabilities will be explored at a conference sponsored by the Oregon Chapter of the International Dyslexia Association on Saturday, February 25. Open to the public, the conference will bring together special education teachers and other professionals who work with children and adults with learning disabilities. The featured speaker is Dr. Eric Tridas, President of the International Dyslexia Association. The Shadow Project will have a table at the event, and Executive Director Christy Scattarella will speak briefly. The day-long conference will be held at the Crown Plaza in Northeast Portland.

City of Portland’s 2011 “Making a Difference” Award in Education

The Shadow Project
Toll free: 1-888-747-0005
Email: Shadow@shadow-project.org
www.shadow-project.org

December Newsletter

The Shadow Project — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:00:11 +0000

Newsletter • December 2011

Project Secret Friend

Thank you Shadow Project for helping me to raise my hand. – Raven, age 10

Shadow Project makes me love learning. Osama, age 9

Shadow volunteers and Traci Smith

Be a Neighborhood Hero

Shadow and friend Cleo

Project Secret Friend
Kids with learning differences are making a difference in our community. This month, we kicked off “Project Secret Friend”, through which Shadow students have the opportunity to help others – anonymously. This includes youngsters at (shhhh…it’s a secret!) Elementary, who worked together to brighten the holidays for children at a local shelter for victims of domestic violence. Special education teacher Cheryl tells us her students pooled their hard-earned “Shadow Bucks” on books and gifts for the shelter’s children and felt tremendously empowered by helping others and not needing any thanks in return. Noah asked his teacher, “Can I use my Shadow Bucks to give more?” Breanna wanted to know, “Can I have a list of things people need?” and Hannah asked if she could “donate again tomorrow.” Project Secret Friend was inspired by an anonymous donor from Oregon Community Foundation whose generosity has had a tremendous impact on The Shadow Project.

You’re Making a Difference
Thank you for your generous contributions through the Willamette Week Give!Guide – over $13,000 to date, including matching funds. Because of caring people like you we are getting closer to the day when every child with learning challenges will recognize himself as courageous, capable and able to learn. And there’s still time to make a tax-deductible donation and earn prizes for yourself. Gifts of $100 or more will be matched dollar by the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation. Go to Give Now and scroll down to Education.

Journey Through Scholastic Books
This month, Shadow Project staff and volunteers visited the Scholastic Book Fairs Warehouse, combing the vast aisles for titles requested by our teachers and students, and leaving with five carts full of more than 1,000 books! A huge thanks to Scholastic staff members Traci and Dennis for their continuing outstanding service and enthusiastic support of young readers. If you’d like to join The Shadow Project on a future shopping trip to Scholastic, email us at Shadow@shadow-project.org.

Our Neighborhood Heroes
We are grateful to our newest school sponsors, who are helping to close the achievement gap for struggling students. The Horley Family of Portland, has become a Shadow Project Sponsor at Harrison Park School in Southeast Portland. Linda Hill of Portland is sponsoring Grandhaven Elementary in McMinnville. Sponsors receive special recognition from the school and connection to great volunteer opportunities.

Would your business like to make a profound difference for children in your own back yard? Call us at
888-747-0005. Click here to find a school near you.

Dec. 27 Shadow Day on Give!Guide
Check out the Give!Guide blog on December 27 for The Shadow Project video featuring our canine mascot and the kids she loves.

City of Portland’s 2011 “Making a Difference”
Award in Education

The Shadow Project
6663 S.W. Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy #108
Portland, Oregon 97225 USA
Toll free: 1-888-747-0005
Email: Shadow@shadow-project.org
www.shadow-project.org

Portland Public Schools writes about The Shadow Project

The Shadow Project — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 07:00:53 +0000

Portland Public Schools features The Shadow Project in their News:

Click http://www.pps.k12.or.us/news/6735.htm to view the original article on Portland Public Schools website in a larger window.

Or read a copy of the article below:

Student advocacy group, founder earn recognition

November 28, 2011

Christy Scattarella, a former PPS parent, is the founder of Shadow Project.

Shadow Project, a local organization that supports students with special needs, and its founder have received recognition for making Portland “more inclusive for people with disabilities.”

City Commissioner Amanda Fritz awarded former PPS parent Christy Scattarella a “Making a Difference” award Oct. 20 for making Portland “more inclusive for people with disabilities.”

Scattarella is founder and executive director of the Shadow Project, which helps special education teachers in 20 PPS schools use incentives in their classrooms.

About 14 percent of PPS’ 47,288 students receive special education services.

“We’re a resource for teachers to help kids get confident and engaged in learning,” says Scattarella, whose son, a PPS graduate now in college, has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The Shadow Project gives teachers rewards — books, clothing and toys — that they distribute to students as they earn points for good work and behavior.

The Shadow Project helps special education teachers use incentives including toys, books and clothes.

The organization also provides teachers with training and support.

“Students have a hard time accepting that a job well done is its own reward. A tangible reward is better,” says Lisa Lum, a special education teacher and Shadow Project participant at Sitton Elementary School.

Diann Drummond, a PPS employee who works with special education families, says that Scattarella and others driving the Shadow Project are valuable partners.

“These are savvy parents who have learned through their own experiences that providing rewards in the process of positive behavioral supports can really make a difference,” Drummond says.

She adds, “I think it’s super!”

Teacher Lisa Lum is a Shadow Project participant at Sitton Elementary School.

Facebook featured

The Shadow Project — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 07:47:37 +0000

November Newsletter

The Shadow Project — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:31:33 +0000

Newsletter • November 2011

The Shadow Project:
More than 6,000 students served, 14,000 books distributed, 15,000 hours donated

"Shadow Project helps me with reading because I get more knowledge in my head.'" — Dreyona, age 9

Shadow and friend Cleo

"The Shadow Project has been such a blessing to our students. This program has given my students hope, incentive to be great, and lets them know that they are worth everything!"
–Meagan Pak, teacher

Bonnie Gilchrist

Help a child, earn a gift.
This season we're giving thanks to the Willamette Week Give!Guide, which does such an awesome job of promoting philanthropy in the community. This is the first time The Shadow Project was chosen to participate, and we have been so moved by your response and generosity. When you donate to The Shadow Project through the Give!Guide, you support our kids and earn prizes for yourself. Plus, when you donate $100 or more to The Shadow Project between now and December 31 the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation will match your donation dollar for dollar.

Mascot Shadow stars in new video.
Did you know that The Shadow Project was started because of a Portland boy with learning challenges and named after his dog? Check out our new 2-minute video and find out how you can help inspire a struggling student to learn.

Do you 'Like' Shadow?
You could win a $100 Trader Joe's Gift Card.
Spread the word about the amazing children served by The Shadow Project and their great special education teachers. Like us on Facebook, and you'll be entered to win a $100 Trader Joe's Gift Card (courtesy of a generous donor) or a Shadow gift basket with a Shadow mug, storybook, Powell's gift card and more! Already like us? You're already entered! Post, comment and follow us on Twitter.

Shadow Kids Support Each Other.
As they work toward academic and social goals, students in The Shadow Project earn reinforcers such as books and school supplies, as well as gifts for others. Teachers are always brimming with stories about how their students, the majority of whom have little materially, choose to 'spend' their earnings on a present for someone else –an act that builds their own self-worth. Meagan Pak, a special education teacher at Eastwood Elementary Hillsboro, wanted us to know about a 6th grade boy who turned over his hard-earned currency (aka Shadow Bucks) to a 2nd grader so he could "afford" the bracelet he wanted to give his mother. The older boy didn't even know the younger boy's name, and he told his teacher he didn't want to be thanked. "Just seeing him smile" was thanks enough, he said. Look for more news about student sharing in our December newsletter.

Groundbreaking Program Led by Social Venture Partners Portland Benefits Shadow.
Once again, we are indebted to the ever-innovative Social Venture Partners, a community of engaged philanthropists who are committed to investing in the long-term betterment of children, youth and families. Through SVP's leadership, Portland is one of the first cities in the nation offering Civic Ventures' Silicon Valley Encore Fellows Program which matches seasoned professionals in or near retirement with nonprofits to help them achieve strategic goals. SVP's Partner Fellows Program has matched Shadow with Bonnie Gilchrist, a marketing professional with more than 30 years experience. We are grateful to have her on board as our Director of Communications and Resources and for the many years of generous support from Social Venture Partners.

Thanks for Making A Difference!
As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday we want to extend a special note of gratitude to these recent donors:

Safeco Insurance Foundation – Safeco's Education Initiative to improve educational achievements and opportunities for disadvantaged youth awarded The Shadow Project a $13,000 year grant over two years.
Juan Young Trust awarded a $7,000 to support our replication efforts.
U.S. Bank awarded a $2,500 grant to support The Shadow Project in McMinnville schools.
The McMinnville Education Foundation awarded a $1,000 grant in conjunction with teacher Jolene Heinrich of Grandhaven Elementary, to support our program in McMinnville schools.

The Shadow Project
6663 S.W. Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy #108
Portland, Oregon 97225 USA
Toll free: 1-888-747-0005
Email: Shadow@shadow-project.org
www.shadow-project.org