Portland

Leslie Works Wheary: "graceful, gracious, and competent"

Leslie Wheary was invested in the care and advancement of children and young adults for her entire adult life. She spent her life at the nexus of education, young people, and community service. In college, Leslie volunteered as a Big Sister/Little Sister mentor, during which she gained an understanding of the complexities that contribute to the success (or failure) of disadvantaged youth. Leslie then taught elementary school before starting her own family where the challenges and joys of mentoring youth continued. Leslie raised four children and provided a supportive, creative and engaging environment not only for her own children, but also for many of her children's friends. She had the ability to hear a dream and allow one to think that it was, indeed, possible. Leslie reached out to others in the community through local public schools and her church as she raised a young family. She sponsored Art Literacy programs, "adopted" families for whom she helped provide a solid infrastructure, and led youth activities and groups.

When she returned to work, she found herself immersed in a cross-cultural mecca as the Director of The International Visitors Program at the World Affairs Council. There, she engaged diplomats from all over the world promoting peace, justice and understanding. She acted as a liaison between foreign visitors, organizations and people from all walks of life in Oregon. Whether Leslie was interacting with a foreign dignitary or a farmer from eastern Oregon, she was genuinely interested in learning as much as she could from each person she met. One of her primary roles at the World Affairs Council was to mentor and coordinate subordinate volunteers and employees. One volunteer to whom she offered a full time position acknowledged after Leslie's passing: "I was a little in awe of her, always so graceful and gracious and competent. She taught me so much and was patient with my mistakes." Leslie worked with many organizations within the Portland Metro area after her retirement to promote social equity in tangible ways.

Leslie's life-long actions, which were timeless, selfless, and full of love, always matched her words. The Leslie Works Wheary Scholarship honors a wise woman with a big laugh ... and an even bigger heart!

Purpose of the Fund: to provide cash stipends to college bound seniors based on performance metrics as determined by Minds Matter of Portland and the Wheary Family. Metrics will include, but not be limited to, cumulative grade point, attendance, punctuality, classroom participation, SAT score improvement, attitude, vocabulary proficiency, leadership, community service, writing and critical thinking skills. Scholarships will be awarded in May of the senior year.

How to contribute: Contributors to the fund are asked to specify the "Leslie Works Wheary Scholarship Fund" on the memo line of checks or electronic funds transfers. Please send contributions to:

Minds Matter of Portland
c/o Macy Wall
PO Box 820023
Portland, OR 97282

For questions regarding contributions, please contact Macy Wall at wallm@portco.com or Terry Lock at trlock60@comcast.net, Co-Directors of Fundraising.

For additional financial information, please contact Todd Wall, Director of Finance, todd.wall@mossadams.com.

Minds Matter of Portland, Inc. (Employer ID No. 86-1166255) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt subordinate organization (Group Exemption No. 4358) of Minds Matter, Inc (EIN 13-3688434).

Minds Matter, Inc.
1120 Avenue of Americas
4th Floor
New York, NY 10036
info@mindsmatter.org
212.626.6584