Awards & Accomplishments

Working Hard to Make Our Community Stronger

REACH Executive Director Dee Walsh was presented with the “Ross Dey Award” for demonstrated excellence over a lifetime. The award was presented by the Metro Multifamily Housing Association on May 21st 2008 at their annual Apartment Community Excellence Awards.
REACH received a national Award of Excellence from the Home Depot Foundation for Station Place Tower, REACH’s 14-story apartment building for people over 55 in the Pearl neighborhood.
Completed the ninth year of Youth$ave, a matched savings and money management program for youth living in REACH housing
The Community Builders Program has completed over 3,500 free home repair projects for over 1,000 elderly and disabled homeowners since 1996.
Nearly 275 volunteers served 20 homeowners at the 2007 Paint & Repair-a-thon in August. Neighbors, local businesses, community groups, and trades professionals made monetary or in-kind donations totaling $98,000 to pay for the event and fund the Community Builders Program
530 volunteers donated 4,440 hours to REACH projects and programs in 2006-07

2006 “Affordable Housing Built Responsibly” National Runner Up for Station Place Tower, from The Home Depot Foundation
2005 James A. Johnson Fellowship Award, for Dee Walsh, Executive Director, from Fannie Mae Foundation
1996 “Building Innovation for Homeownership Award” for the City Life project, from the National Partners in Homeownership
1993 “President’s Volunteer Action Award” for West Clinton Action Plan. Awarded by President Bill Clinton
1991 “Organization of the Year” awarded by National Congress for Community Economic Development
1991 Rudy Bruner Award of “Excellence in Urban Environments” Finalist, from Rudy Bruner Foundation
1990 “National Award of Excellence for the Production of Affordable Housing” for the Rose Apartments, from Fannie Mae Foundation
1989 “Research and Development Fund Award” for outstanding achievements in the field of community economic development, from National Congress for Community Economic Development
1984 Low-Cost Housing Competition Third Prize. From the Enterprise Foundation’s Rehab Work Group

2005 BEST Award – for Station Place Tower - stormwater management system; from City of Portland Office of Sustainable Development
2004 Urban Pioneer Award from Portland State University
2004 Gilman Award for Exemplary Achievement for the Community Builders Program from Community Development Network
2002 Property and Asset Management Best Practices Award from Community Development Network
2001 CDC of the Year from Association of Oregon Community Development Organizations
1996 “Crowded House Award” for the development project with the most partners, from the Community Development Network
1992 “REACH Community Development Day” in recognition of REACH’s work to revitalize inner Southeast Portland, proclaimed by Mayor J.E. “Bud” Clark on November 19, 1992