Many "Thanks!" to each and every one of you for supporting all our 2009 projects!!!!
We have several exciting new things to update you about.

2010 Portlight/Weather Underground Honor Walk

Weather Underground has again graciously stepped up to the plate as National Sponsor of our 2010 Honor Walk. And it's going to have a new look and feel in the new decade.

The Honor Walk concept springs from our grassroots nature. The idea of participating in a personal fundraising project - on the Honor System - rather than as part of a big event, seems to resonate with many people. By the same token, some folks have enjoyed bringing friends, co-workers, etc., into their efforts. We have found, over the last two years, that our Honor Walk works well for everybody. People who want to create a large group event of it can easily do so...people who just want to solicit a few sponsors and walk at a time and location of their choice can easily do so as well.

This year, we are approaching the Honor Walk in a way which will give everyone in our community more flexibility. Rather than focusing on one specific date, we're spreading the fun out throughout the year. We are reaching out to groups and individuals to participate at whatever time...and in whatever way...works best for them. And we're beginning to see that not limiting people to a certain date is opening up the prospect of much broader participation.

Please begin to give some thought as to when, and to what extent, you'd like to participate in the 2010 Portlight/WU Honor Walk. If you're a lone wolf...and just want to do something individually...that's great!!! And...if you want to make a somewhat bigger production of it...and involve friends, co-workers, etc., ...that's great, too!!!!!!! We are updating the website (www.portlight.org) with all the documentation you'll need to solicit sponsors...just keep us posted.

All funds raised through the 2010 Portlight/Weather Underground Honor Walk are earmarked for our disaster relief work. We have worked hard to prepare effective response strategies and are confidant that, with your continued support, we can really make a difference in the lives of unserved, under served and forgotten people.

Another important Portlight project has nothing whatsoever to do with disaster relief. But it's a crucial initiative...and we want to take a moment to tell you about it.

Veterans Mentoring

For many years we have worked quietly to facilitate and nurture personal and career mentoring relationships between young people with disabilities and older...well, 'more seasoned'...professionals and business people. Our theory is this: there are a wide variety of employment programs for people with disabilities. But getting a job is only part of the solution. Over the long haul, developing a career...and nurturing ones' personal life... are essential for full independence. In the last thirteen years we have made hundreds of such matches. And the feedback we've gotten has been universally positive.

Frankly, this outreach is impossible to quantify. How do you measure the effectiveness of human relationships? As you've all seen and experienced with our disaster relief work, we focus on building community. And, by doing so, most of the details fall into place. This is exemplified by our mentoring program: we'll never know exactly what successes we've had...so...creating relationships is success enough.

This year, we are focusing our mentoring program specifically on working with injured military veterans. These men and women have a lot to offer. And we are excited about the prospect of helping them realize new potential.

Please feel free to forward this to whomever you feel appropriate. Our e-mail and phone number are below.
or you can send checks to:

Portlight Strategies on Facebook

...offers a unique way for you to help people in need help themselves...since 1997, we have provided medical equipment (such as wheel chairs, walkers, and crutches), ramp construction and minor home modifications, and post disaster relief free of charge to people with disabilities and others in need.

...these efforts - which all too often are not covered by private insurance, government assistance programs, and large, bureaucratic organizations - can open the door to new, independent lives for people critically in need of a little help.

...most of the equipment we distribute is donated by institutions, individuals, and families.  We never charge recipients, and our budget is raised entirely from individuals and small businesses.

Portlight Stratgies, Inc. - a 501(c)(3) tax exempt nonprofit organization created by people with disabilities for the purpose of building personal and community empowerment.