Case Studies

“Portland General Electric invests in the arts as a means to strengthen the social, economic and educational fabric of our community.”
— Peggy Y. Fowler, Chief Executive Officer and President

• Portland General Electric (PGE) collaborated with the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center (IFCC)—a small multicultural arts organization located in northeast Portland, to develop Creative Differences, an innovative workplace program facilitated by visual and performing artists, which addresses issues of diversity and inclusiveness.
• In addition to providing funding, PGE funded the IFCC’s workplace training sessions and provided grants to Portland-area nonprofit groups so they were able to participate in the program.  The company also worked with the IFCC to market the initiative to other businesses.
• Various PGE departments schedule full-day or half-day Creative Differences programs for their teams, which take place in the IFCC’s historic 90-year-old firehouse.  Among the programs were: receiving project instructions in an unfamiliar language, exchanging poetic insights, completing exercises that simulate the challenges of a physical disability and using dance as a vehicle for cultural sharing.

“Our founder Amon Carter said, ‘A man cannot live off his community.  He must live with it.’  He believed that the arts improved the quality of living for all and I count it a pleasure to continue that tradition."
— Wesley R. Turner, President and Publisher

• As a sponsor of the annual Stock Show, Star-Telegram produces an art show for local schoolchildren ages 6-18.  It attracts hundreds of entries every year and winners receive ribbons and cash prizes.  The art is exhibited before more than 500,000 attendees of the Stock Show, and the winning art works are published in the newspaper.
• The company promotes ticket sales to arts events through its Press Pass program by advertising discounted tickets and sponsoring contests for free tickets in the newspaper.  It produces a daily ARTS section, as well as an entertainment section – Startime – which provide expanded news and information about the arts, designed to pique interest, broaden horizons and invite participation in the arts.
• It provides free advertising space to promote major museum and arts festivals and to celebrate cultural heritage and diversity.

“We feel it is important to give back to the community in which we do business.  When we give to the arts, we are exposed to a creative and artistic perspective that we do not experience in our traditional business lives.”
— David McQuiddy, President and CEO

To enhance the overall quality of life of the community by investing in local arts organizations.

• When two professional sports franchises moved to Nashville, many art organizations were concerned that money would be redirected from the arts to sports.  McQuiddy met with the city’s performing arts groups to assure them this would not happen and to offer them assistance with pro bono and low-cost services to produce marketing and development materials.
• Instead of recycling the ends of a 900 pound printing paper roll too small for a press, the company donates them to arts teachers with limited budgets or to the education program of the Nashville Zoo.
• Students are invited to the company’s Lunch and Learn Programs, where the company invites clients and prospects to come hear a guest speaker on something industry related.  The company held one such program at Watkins Art Institute, giving students the opportunity to see the school’s gallery and to network with company clients.