Salem-News.com Charity articles

Oregon Gets a `C` Ranking for Premature Births

November 17th marks the nation's 7th Annual Prematurity Awareness Day, when March of Dimes focuses the nation's attention on the growing problem of premature birth (birth before 37 weeks gestation).

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - For the second consecutive year, Oregon earned a "C" grade on the March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card. While the grade remained the same, the state slipped in U.S. ranking and Oregon's preterm birth rate increased by a tenth of a percent.

The grades were determined by comparing preterm birth rates to the national Healthy People 2010 preterm birth objective, which is 7.6% of all live births. Oregon's rate increased slightly to 10.3% from 10.2% and the United States continues to fail at 12.7% with a "D" on the Report Card.

Oregonians `Give Back` in Record Numbers (AUDIO)

One-third of Oregonians do some form of volunteer work.

(PORTLAND, Ore. ONS) - The unemployment rate in Oregon may be high, but so is the rate of volunteerism. In the last year, about one million Oregonians contributed more than 120 million hours of their time for charitable and community service projects.

In this economy, you might assume people would pass up working for free, to look for paying jobs, but Bandana Shreftha, director of community engagement for AARP Oregon, says that hasn't been the case.

Obama: Reenact the Afghan Children`s Fund

Come on President Obama, please do this for Afghan kids

(SALEM, Ore.) - When then President George W. Bush enacted the Afghan Children's Fund, most Americans were still trying to get their minds around what was actually going on there.

The fund was a good idea, but Bush apparently decided that the kids of Afghanistan had received enough help, and the program was abandoned by the White House on April 1, 2005. We need it to revive it.

Report Finds `Alarming` Rise in Global Hunger

Financial crisis and gender inequality worsen malnutrition.

(NEW YORK) - Underscoring the warning issued by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Program that hunger is worsening around the world, the 2009 Global Hunger Index (GHI) records “alarming” levels of hunger and malnutrition in 29 countries.

Released 14 October, the GHI is published each year by the international humanitarian agency Concern Worldwide, the German NGO Welt Hunger Hilfe, and the International Food Policy Research Institute.

Family of 7 in Gervais Sees Home Go Up in Flames

Contact your local Red Cross to help families like this one.

(GERVAIS, Ore.) - A late evening fire Monday left a family of 7 without a home. Paul Iverson, Fire Marshal with the Woodburn Fire District, says fire crews were dispatched to a report of an attached carport on fire at 9:30 p.m. Monday evening.

"The first arriving engine called for a second alarm due to the fire extending into the home," Iverson said.

Salem-News.com Newscast for Friday (VIDEO)

Recorded live Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. in our Downtown, Oregon news studios.

(SALEM, Ore.) - In tonight's news, Police investigate a serious crash on Turner Road that injured a Eugene Woman, in the same set of curves that saw a recent fatal crash. And an Israeli peace activist visits Salem from Jerusalem, to talk about solutions for Mideast peace.

Bonnie King will have the weekend weather forecast, and we'll introduce you to a team of local ghosthunters who are on the trail of some interesting and hard to explain events in some of Oregon's lonelier locations.

500 Mile March for PTSD Will Happen in Spring

The March from Oregon to California will take place after winter thaws.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The date for our planned 500-Mile March for PTSD has been moved to Spring. We had originally intended to conduct the march in September, but the extension will allow us to be fully prepared and not operating in haste.

The march will raise funds for our hour-ling television documentary on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, commonly known as PTSD. We completed a production trip just weeks ago in Oregon, California and Arizona, gaining significant material for the program.

Community Encouraged To Attend Local Hunger Discussion

The bottom line is that local food banks need the community’s help if we are to answer the sharp increase in need.

(KEIZER, Ore.) - Local hunger is at all-time record levels. Join Keizer Community Food Bank and Marion-Polk Food Share in a very important discussion on how hunger is effecting families in the Keizer community.

This special community meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 29th, 2009, at Keizer Community Center, 930 Chemawa Rd NE.

Yamhill County Charity Director Indicted for Embezzlement

Elizabeth Rhode was arrested on September 15, 2009.

(MCMINNVILLE, Ore.) - Elizabeth Anne Rhode faces seven counts of forgery and aggravated theft for allegedly stealing more than $50,000 from the Crystal Dawn Smith Rilee Foundation, Yamhill County Sheriff Jack Crabtree said.

The Sheriff joined Yamhill County District Attorney Brad Berry and Oregon Attorney General John Kroger today, to announce the indictment and arrest of the local charity director on charges of embezzlement.

Night of Fire 2009 Will Light it Up This Weekend (VIDEO)

The shows helps children that have cancer or other serious illnesses.

(SALEM, Ore.) - One of the Northwest’s hottest summer events returns Friday, August 21, with the 10th annual Night of Fire Benefit Car Show in Salem, Oregon.

This year’s Night of Fire benefits 10-year old Daisy Keiffer of Salem who is battling Ewing’s Sarcoma, an aggressive form of cancer. The public can help by attending this super fun family event.