The 2026 Bill Porter Memorial Fund is Now Open! Woo hoo! The 2026 Bill Porter Memorial Fund (BPMF) is officially open for applications! The fund supports UCP Oregon customers in pursuing opportunities that enhance their quality of life. Previous recipients have used their BPMF awards for:
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March 6th is Employee Appreciation Day, and we want to take a moment to say thank you. The people who make up UCP Oregon bring care, skill, and dedication to their work every single day—across every program and department. This past year brought a lot of changes and new challenges. Through all of it, our team kept showing up for the people and families we support, and for each other. We're so proud of you. Thank you for everything you do. —UCP Oregon’s Leadership Team 
Hey, UCP Oregon friends! March is a busy one for us—it's Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month, Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, and later this month we'll have an exciting announcement about our Bill Porter Memorial Fund (stay tuned!). But first: let's talk about Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. This year's national theme is "We're Here: Then, Now, Always." It's a simple but powerful message: people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) have always been part of our communities. They're here--advocating, working, volunteering, creating, leading, and living. Not just in March. Every single day. DDAM started in 1987, when President Reagan officially declared March a time to raise awareness about inclusion and equal opportunities for people with disabilities. Nearly 40 years later, there's so much to celebrate—and still so much worth fighting for. At UCP Oregon, we see that every day. Our job is to keep pushing—for open doors, and fewer barriers in the way. Want to be part of this month's celebration?
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. |