JOSEPH, Ore. — The Wallowa Valley Council’s “Artist of the Month” project and the Wallowa County Library’s “Training Wheels” early literacy program each were awarded substantial grants from Pacific Power’s charitable arm, the PacifiCorp Foundation for Learning.

“Training Wheels,” which received $4,000 from the PacifiCorp Foundation, works to spread literacy to kids from birth to age eight in the rural towns of Enterprise, Wallowa, Lostine, Joseph, Troy and Imnaha. It also seeks to mentor parents and caregivers on the importance of early learning environments.

“As many as one-in-three children in America begin school not ready to learn,” said Susan Polumsky, Wallowa County Library director. “Local risk factors include poverty, high unemployment, low incomes, and a lack of quality childcare or library services. Training Wheels creates a way to provide services that smooth the transition to school for children and families.”

Children’s activities include storytimes and outreach programs, free books, rotating literacy collections, and other educational resources. Community and family activities include parent/child interactive classes, literacy outreach and community education. The grant will provide 80 children’s programs at various local sites, 100 children’s books and funding for educational brochures and newsletters.

“Training Wheels is a perfect example of an educational program that pays huge dividends for large and small Oregon communities,” said Bill Clemens, regional community manager for Pacific Power. “Our foundation has years of experience funding successful early literacy programs, and this one is a winner.”

Wallowa County’s “Artist of the Month” project received $5,000 from the Foundation. The project’s mission is to provide art education and experiences for Wallowa County students and other residents using local and featured artists.

Each month one or two artists drawn from a variety of disciplines will conduct classes and demonstrations at area schools and other community venues. The artist will develop the curriculum for each class. A partnership between the Ford Institute Leadership Team and the Wallowa Valley Arts Council will implement the project.

In its latest round of grants, the PacifiCorp Foundation for Learning awarded nearly $63,000 civic and community grants to 14 nonprofit education programs throughout Oregon. It also awarded $12,500 to small capital improvement projects in Portland, Moro and Medford.

About the PacifiCorp Foundation for Learning

The PacifiCorp Foundation for Learning was created and incorporated as a corporate foundation in 1988 in order to become the major channel of philanthropy for PacifiCorp, Pacific Power and Utah Power. PacifiCorp and its employees have a long tradition of active involvement in the communities served by Pacific Power, including charitable contributions, sponsorships of community events and in-kind donations. The Foundation’s civic and community grants are one of four groups of awards each year. Other award categories are education, arts and culture, and health and human services. The Foundation’s mission is to foster strategic sustainable learning initiatives that serve the best aspirations of individuals, organizations and communities, and that enhance and develop their capabilities to address significant challenges and opportunities. To apply for a grant, and to review specific eligibility requirements, please go to   www.pacificorpfoundation.org