Oregon Entrepreneurs Network Announces 2008 Non-Profit Award Finalists

BRING Recycling to be honored at 15th OEN Annual Tom Holce Awards for Entrepreneurship Dinner:

[OEN release] July 28, 2008, Portland, Ore.- The Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN) is pleased to announce the 2008 finalists and award recipient for the non-profit category of the OEN Tom Holce Awards for Entrepreneurship: BRING Recycling of Eugene, Oregon; Bonneville Environmental Foundation of Portland, Oregon; and Verde of Portland, Oregon.

BRING Recycling was selected as the winning non-profit organization for 2008, and will be honored at the 15th Annual OEN Tom Holce Awards for Entrepreneurship at the Oregon Convention Center on September 18, 2008.

BRING Recycling collects and resells low-cost used building materials as well as provides deconstruction and recycling services.  Revenues generated fund conservation and education programs about the best way to reuse and recycle. BRING Recycling collaborates with schools, agencies and businesses and serves more than 70,000 people a year in Lane County.

“OEN established this award as part of its annual awards to recognize the creativity, sustainability and management of successful non-profit organizations in Oregon,” said Linda Weston, President and Executive Director of OEN. “OEN believes that the entrepreneurial spirit should be celebrated in our non-profit community as well as in our business community.”

The OEN Tom Holce Entrepreneurship non-profit award is given annually to an organization that has shown entrepreneurship and creativity in addressing business and operational issues, achieving strategic goals, and/or creating jobs. The award is based on the entrepreneurial nature of how the organization approaches its management and activities, including sustainability, management and successful implementation towards a stated mission.

“We had more and stronger applications than ever before, making it an extremely difficult decision this year,” said Kandis Brewer Nunn, Judging chair for this year’s awards. “The three finalists were each exceptional in their receptive industry and for the stage of their organizational life. That made the decision difficult because they each shined in distinctive ways.”

“BRING Recycling was selected for its organizational and entrepreneurial strengths overall.  The tipping point for the panel was their strong action in devising a new core business to ensure their survival in the face of a rapidly cannibalized market.  Changing course, after having helped create that market, is difficult enough for a private sector entity; it is doubly difficult for a non-profit to take similar action given the general conditions present in that sector,” said Brewer Nunn.

In addition to Kandis Brewer Nunn who is Principal of Strategic Resources LLC, the panel of judges included Jay Bloom, President/CEO, Bloom Anew; Mark Holloway, Executive Director, Social Venture Partners; Isaac Regenstreif, Principal, IHR Consulting; Paul Reich, Program Officer, Meyer Memorial Trust; and Joyce White, Executive Director, Grantmakers of Oregon & SW Washington.

About Bring Recycling

BRING Recycling is one of the nation’s oldest non-profit recyclers. Since 1971, they have encouraged people to rethink what they use and what they throw away. They help the community keep useful items out of the landfill, find ways to use less stuff, reuse as many things as possible and recycle the rest. From collecting and processing household recyclables to teaching kids about using earthworms to compost, BRING has a wealth of information, practical tips and programs to help people live sustainably in Lane County. For more information, visit www.bringrecycling.org.

About OEN

Founded in 1991, the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to providing opportunities for Oregon entrepreneurs and improving the business climate for emerging, growth-oriented companies statewide. The organization has members throughout Oregon and southwest Washington. For more information about the OEN, visit its website at www.oen.org.

For more information, press only:

Jessica Foote
OnPR
503-802-4406
[email protected]


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