About the fund
Executive Director Ilene McClelland’s enthusiasm for the Vina Moses Center is palpable “I get to work with an amazing group of board members, volunteers, and staff – it’s a really exciting time to be here.” Ilene joined the staff in 2020, during the global pandemic, a major time of change and uncertainty for communities everywhere.
In service to the community for more than 100 years, the Vina Moses Center is a grassroots organization that has long been a cornerstone of Corvallis. The team at Vina Moses Center had been putting in the hard work of planning for the future while adapting to the ever-changing present, when a donor approached them about starting an Agency Fund at Benton Community Foundation. It was shortly after Ilene started at Vina Moses, and the team had been busy – they’d revamped the client shopping spaces, supported families fleeing the 2020 forest fires, and changed services throughout the pandemic. Ilene considered it another opportunity to provide for the continued growth of the organization.
“We know there is more work to be done, and an Agency Fund at BCF will help us do that work,” remarked Ilene. “Opening an endowment is just the start for what our future holds.”
The central mission of the organization will continue to be focused on helping people through times of hardship, engaging the community to build resilience, and improving the well-being of our neighbors. These ideals form the cornerstones on which healthy and supportive communities are built.