Assistance League of Bend is honored to be one of this year’s recipients of the Barbara Emily Knudson Charitable Foundation grant. The foundation exists to honor her philanthropic goals and vision, providing assistance to non-profit organizations and educational institutions assisting children, families and adults to realize their basic needs and to achieve excellence in their lives. It is a fitting and proper testament to Mrs. Knudson’s own commitment in those areas of such priority to her during her life.

The generous funding will be used to provide new clothes to numerous local children through our Operation School Bell program. In addition to meeting essential clothing needs, Assistance League of Bend has found that new clothes elevate a child’s self-esteem, help them feel more accepted by their peers, and empower them to learn. Children with better self-esteem are more likely to complete their education, breaking the cycle of poverty. We are immensely grateful to the Barbara Emily Knudson Foundation for their support.