Elliott, Powell, Baden & Baker insurance agency needs your vote by August 31 to win $10,000 for Project Never Again. Read about their amazing dedication to extending compassion and dignity to children in foster care by providing duffel bags for their belongings. Then vote for them by using the social media share buttons or by leaving a comment when you reach the end of their story.
Dignity through duffels
On top of the trauma children entering foster care may have endured comes an additional humiliation. When they move to a foster home, their belongings are typically placed in a trash bag, not luggage.
Seema Steffany founded Project Never Again in part because of her own experience as a child left roadside with her belongings in a small box. “It is not what my belongings were placed in but rather, how this experience made me feel is why Project Never Again exists.”
“How this experience made me feel is why Project Never Again exists.”
– Seema Steffany, founder and president, Project Never Again
Because Project Never Again is a small organization with no paid staff, nearly all of their funding goes directly toward getting duffel bags into kids’ hands. Hundreds of volunteers from all walks of life join in at events to prepare thousands of bags and write “courage cards,” personal messages of hope and inspiration inserted into all bags.
About 10,000 kids are currently in the Oregon foster care system. They’ve typically experienced neglect or other traumatic experiences and may feel angry, fearful and a deep sense of loss when they move to a foster home. A duffel bag with a personal note, journal and luggage tag they can write their name on provides a sense of dignity and shows them someone cares about their well-being.
Caring for the most vulnerable
EPB&B staff proudly present the proceeds of their 2021 virtual holiday fundraiser to Seema Steffany (far right), Project Never Again founder.
EPB&B insurance has been serving the Portland area for over 70 years. “Supporting our community is part of the culture at Elliott, Powell, Baden & Baker. It is in our DNA,” says EPB&B’s president, Marc Baker. “We are always looking to support local, grassroots organizations that make a difference to those in need in our community, and Project Never Again hits the mark.”
Just one month after meeting Seema, Marc and his staff designated Project Never Again the recipient of the agency’s 2021 holiday fundraiser. Through the strong relationships the agency has built among customers, professional partners and staff, they succeeded in raising $10,600 to support Oregon kids entering foster care.
“We are always looking to support local, grassroots organizations that make a difference to those in need in our community, and Project Never Again hits the mark.”
– Marc Baker, president, EPB&B Insurance
In addition to the holiday fundraiser, EPB&B staff have participated in courage card events and will be among 200 volunteers attending a duffel packing event in August.
A duffel for everyone in need
A Safeco Make More Happen Award will allow Project Never Again to continue to purchase duffel bags, supplies for courage cards and luggage tags for children in foster care, with the hope that no child has to live with the shame of carrying their personal items in a trash bag. Additional funds would allow the organization to expand their outreach, recruit volunteers for courage card and duffel packing events, and pay for gas to transport duffel bags to Oregon Child Welfare offices.
How to Vote
Help EPB&B win the full $10,000 donation for Project Never Again by cheering them on with a comment below and sharing their story to social media using the buttons to the left!
If your agency volunteers with a 501(c)3 nonprofit, learn how you can win a Make More Happen Award here.
Yay!
Good luck!
You go guys!
Love this!
I voted
I voted!!
Epbb is the best to support this wonderful cause. They got my vote
Such a beautiful thing to do!
Over halfway there….way to go epbb
An amazing organization to support.
Let’s do this!
Voting!
great cause
Go EPBB!!
The best organization we have supported in my opinion 🙂
Awesome project!
EPB&B loves to support this charity!
I am blessed to work for EPB&B
I love Project Never Again!
Great organization!
Awesome to see EPB&B support this great organization!
An amazing organization to support!
Voted! Great cause!!
Awesome project. Lets keep “building a longer table”
I appreciate this kind of dedication towards a real mission and one that impacts so many children.
This is so inspiring.
This is so great!
Let’s do this!!!
A great project for a great organization.
Thanks so much for doing this!
Great work!!
Cognition is awesome!
EPB&B sincerely cares about their community. Good luck!
EPB&B rocks! They set the standard for corporate citizenship. “Never Again” is a great project; inventive and much needed.
Thank you for all you do in the community!
Our grandchildren love going to Cognition!
Great charity!
Foster kids matter. Thanks for sharing information about this great project for them!
epbb cares about the community and this program is just one more example of the heart of the company and one of the many reasons i admire them so much!
Great work!
Thank you for caring for foster children
Sounds like a great organization! Keep up the good work!!
Awesome organization to support!
Continue the fantastic work you do
Keep up the good work, EPB&B!
Thanks for helping the forgotten children, especially when they exit the system at age 18.
A nice way to help Foster Children
Epbb is so awesome supporting this great cause
Project Never Again is the best! You guys are amazing. Thanks for everything You do.