Sisters couple makes major donation to SOAR

Jan and Mike Morgan surprised the SOAR Foundation on Tuesday, January 9, with a check for $10,000. The personal donation is to be used to support youth programs and develop recreation programs for adults.

"We have not heard anything but good reports about SOAR and what it offers to the Sisters community," Mike Morgan said.

"We live in a neighborhood with lots of children and teens who have been participating at SOAR since we have lived here. They talk about it all the time, and a few of them have had jobs in SOAR programs."

Locally, over 40 individuals or families and 20 businesses or non-profit organizations donated nearly $50,000 to SOAR in 2006. Financial gifts covered a range from $25 to $7,500. The Morgans hope their donation will remind and encourage other members of the community to donate to SOAR.

"We have many newer residents in the Sisters area with discretionary income who might want to take a closer look at all the things that happen at the SOAR Community Center. The programs for kids are really impressive," Morgan said.

Other grants and donations totaled over $110,000 in 2006. These included restricted funds for the skate park, trails, Frisbee golf, scholarships and the Teen Center remodel.

"The funding demands for SOAR far exceed the monies supplied from user fees and taxes," said Carrie Ward, Managing Director. "Our excellent staff works with far less than what would be desirable, and our hours of service are limited by financial constraints. Without the support of local donations, we would be far more limited in the great choices of programs we do offer."