Blog — SCHWEMM FAMILY FOUNDATION

Applegate Partnership & Watershed Council - Grow Youth

Applegate Partnership & Watershed Council - Grow Youth

Formed in rural Southern Oregon in 1992, the APWC has evolved to become a national model for agency-community collaboration and innovation. One of their newest collaborative projects, Grow Youth, combines riparian restoration with monitoring education at a popular county park. In 2021, funds from the SFF were used to support this program in their efforts to enhance a section of the Applegate River for fish, beaver, and other wildlife while involving students in monitoring the removal of a variety of invasive species and the growth and survival of numerous native plants.

Annie SwankJuly 23, 2022Grant Cycle: 2021, Thriving Communities

Wild Farmlands Foundation - Oak Grasslands Restoration Project

Wild Farmlands Foundation - Oak Grasslands Restoration Project

Annie SwankJuly 23, 2022Grant Cycle: 2021, Environment

Urban Rivers - Chicago River Indigenous Perspectives

Urban Rivers - Chicago River Indigenous Perspectives

This organization makes a unique urban environment - the Chicago river - more accessible and scenic for the benefit of those living or visiting downtown Chicago. Through a sustained, multi-year series of partnerships with private and public entities, Urban Rivers creates programming and experiences to help people of all ages experience something familiar in a new way. The Schwemm Family Foundation was proud to work with Urban Rivers to support their mission through funding field trips and other visits near and on the river.

Annie SwankJuly 23, 2022Grant Cycle: 2021

The Wetlands Conservancy - Minthorn Enhancement Collaboration

The Wetlands Conservancy - Minthorn Enhancement Collaboration

The Minthorn Springs Preserve is a wetland in urban Milwaukie, Oregon home to birds, mammals, snakes, salamanders, butterflies and dragonflies. The Schwemm Family Foundation partnered with the Wetlands Conservancy to help fund the Conservancy’s work to reduce non-native species and improve the natural spaces in the 6.52 acre wetlands for use by the public as well as a habitat for the native flora and fauna thriving there.

Annie SwankJuly 23, 2022Grant Cycle: 2021, Environment

Sequoia Riverlands Trust - Western Pond Turtle Project

Annie SwankJuly 23, 2022Grant Cycle: 2021, Environment

Santa Barbara Zoo - California Condor Conservation Program

Santa Barbara Zoo - California Condor Conservation Program

Endangered California condors continue to face threats in the wild. A factor identified as especially harmful is the amount of trash and plastic that adults may bring to the nest. As curious, scavenging birds, condors are attracted to microtrash such as broken glass, bottle caps, and can tabs, which may be mistaken for nutrient-rich bone fragments and can be deadly if ingested. In association with the Santa Barbara Zoo and other condor recovery program participants, SFF provided funds to purchase nest monitoring supplies such as cameras and binoculars to support the Nest Guarding Program. This program seeks to identify and mitigate nesting behaviors and threats that limit successful condor breeding.

Annie SwankJuly 23, 2022Grant Cycle: 2021, Environment

San Diego Parks Foundation - Tree Planting in Parks Serving Marginalized Communities

San Diego Parks Foundation - Tree Planting in Parks Serving Marginalized Communities

Outdoor spaces in urban settings are often highly developed and trees are often absent. The presence of vegetation – ‘Urban Greening’ – has been shown to increase a sense of community, decrease summer temperatures, improve air quality, increase bird and insect diversity and reduce crime. With support from SFF, the San Diego Parks Foundation initiated a planting effort that in 2020 and 2021 planted over 200 trees in selected urban neighborhoods. GPS data were collected on all the trees and tree survival rate was nearly 95%.

Annie SwankJuly 23, 2022Grant Cycle: 2021

Joseph Branch Trail Consortium - Joseph Branch Rail-with-Trail

Joseph Branch Trail Consortium - Joseph Branch Rail-with-Trail

The Foundation contributed towards the efforts of the Joseph Branch Trail Consortium. They are in the initial stages of developing and building a non-motorized, multi-use, publicly accessible trail in the scenic Wallowa-Union Railroad Corridor. The complete trail will begin at the train depot in Elgin, Oregon, and wind its way through river canyons, prairies, and picturesque farmland in the Wallowa Valley, terminating 63 miles later in the mountain town of Joseph, Oregon. The trail will provide a critical link for walkers and bicyclists, allowing residents to recreate, commute, and connect.

Annie SwankJuly 23, 2022Grant Cycle: 2021

Eugene Debbs Potts Foundation - 43 All-Weather Historical/Educational Signs

Eugene Debbs Potts Foundation - 43 All-Weather Historical/Educational Signs

Eugene Debbs Potts Foundation: Pottsville is home to thousands of items commemorating Oregon's history, and the Eugene Debbs Potts Foundation is dedicated to preserving and making improvements to the historical Pottsville pioneer town and museum. The Schwemm Family Foundation supported the purchase and installation of 43 all-weather historical signs for the EDPF’s outdoor and indoor displays. These historical informational signs provide visitors with the opportunity to "take a walk through history" and learn about the fascinating history of Pottsville.

Annie SwankJuly 23, 2022Grant Cycle: 2021, History

Cycles of Change - Upcycle

Cycles of Change - Upcycle

The Schwemm Family Foundation helped the Oakland-based organization, Cycles of Change, host a bike class (bike included) in order to help community members have more accessible and environmentally friendly modes of transportation.

Annie SwankJuly 23, 2022Grant Cycle: 2021, Thriving Communities

Coastal Roots Farm - Organic Food Distribution Program for Indigenous/Native Families

Coastal Roots Farm - Organic Food Distribution Program for Indigenous/Native Families

The Schwemm Family Foundation supported Coastal Roots Farm in its missions of growing and distributing fresh, organic food to low-income, elderly, and food insecure Indigenous/Native families living throughout San Diego County. Each year, the Farm grows more than 50,000 pounds of food for over 30,000 community members.

Annie SwankJuly 23, 2022Grant Cycle: 2021, Thriving Communities

Astoria Scandinavian Heritage Association - Astoria Nordic Heritage Park Interpretive Panels

Astoria Scandinavian Heritage Association - Astoria Nordic Heritage Park Interpretive Panels

The SFF helped fund interpretive signage as part of a permanent exhibition of Nordic heritage and culture along Astoria, Oregon’s waterfront. The beautiful heritage park was completed in the summer of 2022 and features ten educational panels.

Annie SwankJuly 23, 2022Grant Cycle: 2021

Turtle Island Restoration Network – Roy’s Pools Fish Passage

Turtle Island Restoration Network – Roy’s Pools Fish Passage

Lagunitas Creek, northwest of San Francisco, was historically an important salmon spawning location but the habitat has been degraded in particular by many impediments to fish passage upstream. SFF supported the restoration of Roy’s Pools by removing large concrete barriers, grading the site for improved flow, and planting native vegetation.

Annie SwankAugust 21, 2021Grant Cycle: 2020, Environment

Sierra Harvest – Sierra Gardens

Sierra Harvest – Sierra Gardens

Sierra Harvest works to build small, local gardens at public facilities and to train residents to tend the gardens and ultimately produce healthy meals. The SFF supported this effort by providing funding that allowed the construction of 14 gardens and the organization of gardening, composting, and cooking classes

Annie SwankAugust 21, 2021Grant Cycle: 2020, Thriving Communities

Museum of Ventura County – Herman Keene Collection

Museum of Ventura County – Herman Keene Collection

Preserving historic films is critical for the long-term protection of historical documentation. The SFF supported the Museum of Ventura County in their efforts to digitize the film archive of Herman Keene, a Ventura County landowner who documented backcountry life and in particular the abundant wildlife resources present in the early part of the last century. These films are now available to the public on the museum website.

Annie SwankAugust 21, 2021Grant Cycle: 2020, History

Multicultural Association of Southern Oregon – Upriver to Morning

Multicultural Association of Southern Oregon – Upriver to Morning

The Takelma people lived in the Rogue Valley of southern Oregon when they were met by Euroamericans in the mid-1850s and mostly sent to reservations. The SFF helped fund the production of a beautifully-illustrated book entitled “Upriver to Morning”, written by Tish McFadden and based on the teachings of Takelma elder Agnes Baker Pilgrim. The project also included an audiobook, songs, and curriculum content.

Annie SwankAugust 21, 2021Grant Cycle: 2020, History

Greater Farallones Association - Beach Watch

Greater Farallones Association - Beach Watch

The Farallones Islands are located off the coast of San Francisco, and the Greater Farallones Association focuses on conservation of the islands as well as the coast of California in the Bay Area region. SFF supported an ongoing citizen science program called Beach Watch that trains volunteers to collect data on beach impacts throughout the year. SFF supported the Beach Watch effort by providing funds for volunteer trainings on marine mammal, bird, and invertebrate identification and documentation.

Annie SwankAugust 21, 2021Grant Cycle: 2020, Environment

Gardeneers

Gardeneers is a Chicago-based organization working to increase healthy food availability to underserved neighborhoods while also teaching students long-term habits for growing and eating good foods. The SFF supported Gardeneeers in their efforts to grow and distribute fresh produce to several communities, particularly during the pandemic.

Annie SwankAugust 21, 2021Grant Cycle: 2020, Thriving Communities

Elkton Community Education Center – Fort Umpqua Signage

Elkton Community Education Center – Fort Umpqua Signage

Fort Umpqua, near Elkton, Oregon, was the southernmost site established by the Hudson’s Bay Company around 1832. The current buildings are replicas constructed by volunteers from original designs, and volunteers provide many tours and participate in living history demonstrations. The SFF has partnered with the Elkton Community Education Center to create new signs and develop additional walking path and interpretive materials.

Annie SwankAugust 21, 2021Grant Cycle: 2020, History

Coastal Roots Farm – Organic Food Distribution

Coastal Roots Farm – Organic Food Distribution

Coastal Roots Farm, based in San Diego, works to distribute organic food to populations in the city that are food-insecure. The SFF contributed to this organization’s Organic Food Distribution Program to provide supplies and personnel that supported no-cost food deliveries to senior Native Americans in San Diego and on the Santa Ysabel Reservation in association with the San Diego American Indian Health Center.

Annie SwankJanuary 2, 2021Grant Cycle: 2020, Thriving Communities