Salem Foundation

02/18/2026

🧠An org who helps youth understand their emotions - and thrive ❤️

WiseMind Educational Services and the Emotion Coaching Project addresses critical challenges in youth emotional wellness and social-emotional development. Using neuroscience-backed strategies, coaches help youth manage emotions and thrive.

WiseMind shared this story about Kaylyn and her transformation through the program:

“When we first met, Kaylyn sat with her head down, arms crossed, avoiding eye contact. She mumbled responses and kept her earbuds in, though she lowered the volume slightly as we spoke.

She shared that she felt misunderstood, overwhelmed by school tasks, and unable to focus. She also admitted to having frequent angry outbursts that were worsening, leaving her feeling out of control.

Kaylyn was open to learning the tools we offered—heart-focused breathing, sensory awareness, and self-regulation techniques. Using Heart Rate Variability (HRV) biofeedback, she could see in real-time how these strategies impacted her nervous system. We explored the concepts of the Protector Brain and Wise Mind, helping her recognize when she was in a reactive state and how to shift back into balance.

Beyond the techniques, we built trust. We sat together, listening and drawing, sharing lighthearted moments, and talking about science. She received one of our guidebooks with more tools and a small button; simple gestures that nurtured connection and engagement.

By week five, the changes were undeniable. Kaylyn sat up straight, made eye contact, and spoke with confidence. She reported sleeping better, feeling more focused, and, most notably, hadn’t had an angry outburst in weeks. She had been practicing heart-focused breathing almost every day and described feeling much better overall. More than just a reduction in stress, Kaylyn was experiencing life in a new way; clear, empowered, and present.

Kaylyn’s story is one example of how these tools help students reclaim their emotional well-being. And, Kaylyn is one of many. To date, WiseMind has served more than 350 youth in our community through emotion coaching; equipping students with lifelong tools to help them navigate stress and emotions more effectively.

We recently expanded into the Silver Falls School District as well as continued to work with partners at Salem Keizer School District, the innovative iBuild Program at the Kroc Center, and Career Connected Learning in Eugene.”

WiseMind continues their mission ensure that more students gain the skills, confidence and resilience they need to thrive in school, and in life. See more at their website: wisemindservices.com.

02/12/2026

🍎Supporting the health of vulnerable people, HIV Alliance achieved outcomes in Marion County 2025:

- 125 HIV rapid tests provided
- 111 hepatitis C rapid tests provided
- 89 syphilis rapid tests provided
- 3 HIV, 7 hepatitis C, and 5 syphilis tests were positive
- 100% of individuals with positive test results were referred to treatment and offered care coordination at HIV alliance, if applicable

The Salem Foundation is proud to support such an important organization to the health of this community.

02/11/2026

🎓Scholarship Application is now open!🎓

For deaf and hard of hearing students attending Chemeketa, Fall 2026 - we're accepting applications until March 31, 2026.

Apply now by clicking the link below:
https://www.salemfoundation.org/scholarships/the-salem-foundation-oregon-deaf-and-hard-of-hearing-scholarship/
Chemeketa Community College

02/04/2026

Thank you CASA of Marion County Oregon! We are proud to support such an amazing organization.

CASA of Marion County is deeply grateful for the Salem Foundation's recent grant dedicated to our Fostering Futures Program. Fostering Futures provides specialized training, resources, and support to our teenagers in foster care. Thanks to supporters like the Salem Foundation, CASA will help teens graduate on time, apply for college, find their first jobs, and more. Visit casamarionor.org/fosteringfutures

12/08/2025

Donations made this month will be matched by the Salem Harvest board of directors, up to $10,000!

Help meet the match and you will be feeding TWICE as many kids healthy food!

To donate, pop over to the SalemHarvest.org website and click the Donate button. Thanks in advance!

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11/06/2025

Helping out in any way you can makes sure we all stay healthy and strong!
Marion Polk Food Share

The last week has shown that people in this community need SNAP to survive. For the first time ever, the Food Share is trying to serve people without the support of SNAP, which is leading to record numbers of families being served at our partner programs and pantries.

At the same time, it's clear to us that this community comes through for each other -- no matter what. Businesses, religious organizations, community groups, other nonprofits, government agencies and more are stepping up to make sure folks are fed during this chaotic time. All we can say, from the bottom of our hearts, is THANK YOU.

THANK YOU for showing up for your neighbors right now.
THANK YOU for practicing kindness and patience at our partner pantries.
THANK YOU for organizing food drives, volunteering your time, and giving what you can.

Just thank you. 💚

08/20/2025

We just wrapped another school year of Emotion Coaching in Salem-Keizer Schools and, new in 2025, Silver Falls Schools— and what stands out most isn’t just the numbers (though they’re powerful), but the felt impact.

✨ A student told us:
“I never really tell people how I’m feeling, so this experience helped me reconnect with myself.”

✨ A principal shared:
“We want to work with you as long as possible.”

Educators noticed students becoming better friends. More focused. More expressive. More themselves.

This is the heart of what we do at WiseMind — nurturing spaces where young people feel safe enough to grow.

Thank you to every school partner, teacher, administrator, and student who made this work possible in 2024–2025.

Thank you to our funding partners, including the Edna L. Holmes Fund of Oregon Community Foundation for our Silver Falls project.

We’re just getting started.

08/14/2025

C@P has been communicating with downtown businesses and city leaders about a proposal to provide safety and sanitation services in the downtown area. The program is called Clean Start and it would offer unhoused individuals supported employment opportunities as sanitation workers who work to keep their community safe and sanitary.⁣⁣
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𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭, 𝐂@𝐏 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲, 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲.⁣⁣
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Similar efforts across the nation have demonstrated effective outcomes including:⁣⁣
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𝐂𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐍𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘: Clean Start helps keep the city clean by employing unhoused individuals to remove litter and maintain public spaces, improving the appearance and health of our community.⁣⁣
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𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏𝐒: Clean Start strengthens relationships between the unhoused community and the City of Salem by fostering visibility, trust, and mutual respect.

𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐘𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓: Clean Start increases employment outcomes for unhoused individuals by providing paid, low-barrier job opportunities, hands-on work experience, and connections to long- term employment pathways.⁣⁣

07/03/2025

06/20/2025

Fun awaits for participants in our 8th annual Race to Save the Harvest on June 28! Stick around after you run, walk, skip, or hop through our 3k or 5k race courses at Minto Brown Park to try your luck on some raffles, enjoy some snacks, play yard games, and much more!

Learn more about the Race to Save the Harvest here: https://www.salemharvest.org/events.php

04/16/2025