Imagine a future where every family in our community has the opportunity to shape their legacy, where the values that matter most endure for generations to come. Unfortunately, many families are unprepared for this responsibility; only 35% have a will, and even fewer include charitable intentions.  

A united consortium of passionate non-profits including The Next Door Inc., Thrive Hood River, Gorge Grown, Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP), Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC), and the Columbia Gorge Community College (CGCC) Foundation believe in the transformative power of community, connection, and the legacies we create together. We invite you to join us for the Community Legacy Initiative on Sunday, March 2^nd, from 2-4pm at the Ruins in Hood River.  

The Next Door Inc. (TNDI) is honored to announce Robert "Bob” Kenyon as the recipient of our 2024 Philanthropist of the Year award. This recognition celebrates Bob’s commitment to our community, his devotion to philanthropy, and the inspiration he is to those around him. 

At The Next Door (TNDI), we understand that true systemic change begins from within. While we work to help other individuals, businesses, and organizations see their blind spots and address barriers to success, we also embrace those same initiatives to enhance our own services. Creating a diverse workforce with lived work experience is one of the many ways we incorporate systems change within our own organization to strengthen our team and amplify our impact on the people and communities we serve. 

Nine years ago, Carmen heard an advertisement on the radio about Abogadores de la Comunidad, or Advocates of the Community. Abogadores is a health equity group facilitated by The Next Door and they were looking for community members who wanted to join a new subgroup called Unidos Por Poder, or United by Power, to advocate for Latino community needs such as education, free or low-cost physical activities, access to healthy foods, and transportation in The Dalles. Carmen had heard from her sister-in-law that she, along with other local parents of school-aged children, had some grievances about the school district’s transportation, so she decided to attend the group’s next meeting. Not long after, Carmen learned just how dire the need was for safer transportation. 

At the heart of The Next Door lies an unwavering commitment to creating lasting change that fosters a supportive community where all children and families are safe, healthy, and valued. Over 38 programs at TNDI work diligently every day to address the immediate needs of our community and strive to change systems for the better. We prioritize not only helping those who are struggling in the moment, but also identifying the root causes of why they've fallen into hardship in the first place.