UCP Oregon announces that Executive Director Ann Coffey will retire effective January 30, 2026, concluding a distinguished career dedicated to advancing opportunity, independence, and inclusion for people with disabilities across Oregon. During her many years with UCP Oregon, Ann provided steady leadership, helped guide significant organizational growth, and played an important role in shaping services and advocacy within Oregon’s intellectual and developmental disabilities community. Reflecting on her journey, Ann shared, “The work we’ve done together—the growth, the advocacy, the courage, the change—has been the honor of my professional life.” UCP’s Board of Directors is currently developing a thoughtful transition plan and will share additional updates as they become available. Our programs and operations will continue without interruption. We are deeply grateful for Ann’s extraordinary service and leadership, and we wish her the very best in retirement. 
Hello, UCP Community.
Our Family Support Department is excited to share an upcoming community event. Brian Trapp, director of Disability Studies at the University of Oregon, would like to invite members of the UCP community to Broadway Books on Thursday, January 29th at 6pm to talk about his novel, Range of Motion. Brian says, “Range of Motion is about the secret language of siblings and the resilience of special needs families. It’s partly based on my experience growing up with my twin brother, who had cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities and was also a funny, playful, and complex person. I’ll be in conversation with PSU Professor Gabriel Urza, author of the novel Silver State. I’ll talk about growing up in a special needs family, writing caregiving and disability, and how to think about people like my brother in more profound ways. I think this is an important story for caregivers, parents, sibs, and disabled people alike.” 
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” — Martin Luther King Jr. Every year, Martin Luther King Jr. Day invites us to pause and reflect on Dr. King’s words and the values he stood for. His message always resonates—but this year, it feels especially present. Dr. King challenged us to look beyond ourselves, to notice where injustice exists, and to recognize our shared responsibility to one another. Dr. King’s vision reminds us that justice isn’t abstract or distant. It shows up in everyday choices—in how communities care for one another, and in whether everyone is given the opportunity to belong, participate, and thrive. And so we pause today, and consider—individually and together—what it takes to build A Community for Everyone. 
Dear UCP Oregon Community, As 2025 draws to a close, now more than ever, we’re grateful for the extraordinary community that surrounds UCP Oregon. All year long, we’ve watched people show up for one another in ways both big and small. Employees going the extra mile. Families and partners stepping in with generosity. Supporters cheering us on from near and far. And the people we support—whose strength and spirit ground everything we do. It’s impossible not to feel proud of this community. The kindness, the creativity, the everyday problem-solving, the way people simply show up—it’s all remarkable. We’re lucky to be part of it. We wish each of you rest, warmth, and moments of connection. May the holidays bring peace, and may the new year bring hope. Sincerely, UCP Oregon's Leadership Team 
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:
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