Awards & Accomplishments

Working Hard to Make Our Community Stronger

Recent Activities and Accomplishments

  • 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

National Awards

  • 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

Select State & Local Awards

  • 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