Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2025 Cinnamon Bear Cruise! We had such a great time celebrating the season with UCP families. If you took photos during the cruise, we’d love to see them! You can email Grace, or use the form below. And, as always, thanks for being part of the UCP Family Support community. 
This week, millions of people around the world are celebrating generosity in all its forms.
At UCP Oregon, we’re grateful for a community that shows up—year after year—to support Oregonians who experience disabilities and the families who love them. Your GivingTuesday gift helps power everything we do:
Every donation—big or small—helps create a more inclusive Oregon where everyone can live the life of their choosing. If you’re able, we’d be honored to have your support today. Give today. Give inclusion. Give possibility. 
As we shared recently, our longtime board member, colleague, and friend Molly Holsapple passed away peacefully on October 23rd, 2025. Molly shaped Oregon’s disability services system for more than forty years, and her impact on UCP Oregon—and our entire community—will be felt for generations. A celebration of Molly’s life will be held:
A livestream will be available for those unable to attend in person. Read Molly’s obituary here. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Molly may donate to UCP Oregon or to one of the organizations she cared deeply about; please see her obituary for more information. 
UCP Oregon has been part of the community since 1955—through good times, hard times, and everything in between.
No matter what’s happening in the world, one thing stays the same: our commitment to the people we support. Right now, many Oregonians with disabilities are facing a new challenge. Because of the federal government shutdown, SNAP benefits (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—also known as food stamps or Oregon Trail cards) have been temporarily suspended. This change has left many of the people we support without their main source of grocery assistance, and has highlighted the barriers that people face in accessing nutrition. And, even though SNAP benefits may be restored, there is still much uncertainty into the near future. So we’re taking action. We’ve launched the UCP Oregon Food Access Fund—a community effort to make sure everyone we support has enough to eat. At the same time, our Brokerage Department has been hard at work building a three-county Food Access Resource List to help people find reliable, up-to-date food supports across the Portland metro area. Your donation will help provide grocery gift cards, connect customers and families with local food resources, and bring a little peace of mind during uncertain times. Thanks for your support! 💛 Learn more. 
We’re deeply saddened to share that our long-time board member, colleague, and friend Molly Holsapple passed away peacefully last week. Molly was a tireless advocate, community leader, and friend to so many. For more than forty years, Molly helped shape Oregon’s disability services system—creating new opportunities, expanding inclusion, and helping thousands of Oregonians with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) live fuller, more self-directed lives. Molly’s impact at UCP Oregon and across the state can’t be overstated. Her leadership, warmth, humor, and fierce commitment to doing what was right continue to inspire us every day. UCP Oregon’s Executive Director, Ann Coffey, worked closely with Molly for many years—and was grateful to call her a friend. Read Ann’s letter celebrating Molly’s extraordinary life and legacy below. 
Each December, dozens of UCP Oregon families raising children with cerebral palsy or other disabilities climb aboard the Portland Spirit for one of our most beloved traditions—the Cinnamon Bear Cruise.
You can help make this special day possible by sponsoring a family’s spot on the cruise. UCP families love this event! They get to meet Cinnamon Bear, share breakfast, connect, and relax as they enjoy a magical cruise down the Willamette River. Every year, UCP covers the full cost of this event so that every family can participate. But this year, as event costs rise, we’re inviting our community to help keep the magic afloat. Your gift can make a difference:
 
What a night! Last evening, we opened our doors and welcomed our customers, employees, and the whole UCP Oregon community into our new office space. It was such a joy to see so many familiar faces—and plenty of new ones, too! Guests toured our beautiful new home, met staff, shared stories, and celebrated the next chapter of UCP Oregon together. Events like this remind us what makes UCP Oregon so special: our people. Whether you’ve been with us for decades or are just joining the UCP family, you’re part of the community that keeps our mission alive. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to celebrate with us—we can’t wait to see what’s next! PS: we'll be sharing some photos from the event soon. If you'd like to share your photos from the event, please email Corrie, UCP Marketing Coordinator. Did you know that UCP Oregon is part of a powerful national network of United Cerebral Palsy affiliates driving change across the country? Recently, the national UCP organization (United Cerebral Palsy) shared some powerful statistics about their work, and the work of all the affiliates over a 2024-2025 fiscal year.
Read the full national UCP 2024–2025 Annual Report below. 
Just a reminder...
UCP OREGON'S OPEN HOUSE is happening next week, and we can’t wait to welcome you! Take a tour, say hi to the team, and help us celebrate our new space. When & Where:
We are so excited to share one of UCP Oregon's upcoming Family Support events: “Collaging It Out.”
The event will be hosted by fellow UCP mom and artist Lenore Eklund, and is available both online and in person. Lenore will be there to offer ideas and support for anyone who wants it, but you're also welcome to work at your own pace and in your own way. The event is all about expressing yourself, letting go of stress, and enjoying the process. You’ll also be able to connect with fellow parents and caregivers. The event will be held on Thursday, November 6th (from 6-7:30pm). |