The $6,000 grant to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon supports the Big Futures Program, which targets low-income middle and high school students for academic and mentorship help. These youth may be at risk of dropping out, chronically absent or disengaged or performing significantly below grade level in reading and math.

Another $7,000 was awarded for scholarships for kindergarten through 5th-grade students to attend Camp Fire out-of-school programs on-site at Three Rivers School and La Pine Elementary from June 2025 to May 2026. Rosland Elementary students will be bused to La Pine Elementary.

Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC), via the partner fiscal agent East Cascade Works, was given $3,500 to help low-income youth attend driver's education and get a driver's license and improve school attendance. The COIC Youth Compass Program is an alternative education system that provides employment that earns high school credits while a student works toward a GED or high school diploma.

Friends of the Children Central Oregon provides young children facing several “adverse childhood experiences,” such as parental divorce or domestic violence, with a professional mentor for at least 12 years. The $3,000 award supports one-to-one activities with La Pine youth. These activities focus on the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication, hard work, perseverance, problem-solving and self-determination.

Heart of Oregon Corps oversees the Central Oregon Youth Conservation Corps, which provides an eight-week summer jobs program for youth 16-18 who are disconnected from school and work but are ready to thrive with support in a “work, earn, learn” model. The  $5,000 grant helps fund five south Deschutes County youths to serve on environmental conservation crews this summer. 

The $3,000 award to SMART Reading allows all kindergartners at La Pine, Rosland Elementary and Three Rivers School to receive weekly one-to-one reading support with volunteers and books to keep. The aim is to give more than 1,800 books to 132 kindergartners.

Meals on Wheels is a south Deschutes County staple: hot meals three times a week in La Pine and two times a week in Sunriver. With the addition of frozen meals with fresh salads, fruits, desserts and beverages, this equates to five full meals a week. The $4,500 grant helps serve a minimum of 145 community members. 

The La Pine Activity Center (LPAC) received $5,000 to help provide 1,000 nutritious meals for low-income and disabled seniors through communal dining or a drive-through option. LPAC partners with Meals on Wheels and St. Charles Health Systems. 

About 9 percent of La Pine students struggle with food insecurity. La Pine Middle School was awarded $3,000 to distribute 120 weekend food backpacks for students in the five La Pine schools for the remaining weeks of the 2024-25 school year.

Girls on the Run teams blend physical activity with social-emotional skill development as they work towards a 5K run. A $3,000 grant helps with program supplies and coaching support. One team is at La Pine Middle School, and a second team will serve third through eighth-grade girls at Three Rivers School.