Heart of Oregon Corps received a $500,000 grant from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust in support of its planned central Redmond campus.

This grant will help build Heart of Oregon Corps’ centralized campus that will work to empower youth in Central Oregon. The campus campaign aims to create a unified hub in Redmond where young people can access job training, education, mentorship and support services.

“The support from the MJ Murdock Charitable Trust represents a significant endorsement of our mission and the impact we strive to make in the lives of young people in our community,” said Laura Handy, executive director of Heart of Oregon Corps in a release. “This transformative grant moves us forward toward the realization of our Centralized Campus, ensuring that young people will have access to the tools and opportunities they need to succeed for decades to come.”

Heart of Oregon Corps works to empower youth through hands-on learning experiences, leadership development and workforce readiness training. By constructing a central campus, the organization aims to pull together resources from its satellite offices to increase efficiencies in programming, travel, equipment usage and staffing.

“Our benefactor, Jack Murdock, believed strongly in the importance and value of youth empowerment, including education, job training, and professional mentorship,” said Jeremy White, senior program officer, M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, in a release. “We are grateful for organizations like Heart of Oregon Corps that provide access to these resources in a connected and thoughtful way.”

Heart of Oregon Corps has now secured 46% of the project’s $9.5 million budget. Additional grants from private foundations, civic groups, federal congressionally directed support, and a community campaign to engage local donors, businesses and community partners are planned.

Committed funders of the $4.4 million raised to date include: State of Oregon ($2 million), Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund ($500,000), The Roundhouse Foundation ($500,000), Marie Lamfrom Foundation ($150,000), Deschutes County ($100,000), Hayden Homes ($100,000), PGE Foundation ($75,000), Clark Family Foundation ($60,000), Bend Foundation ($45,000), Crevier Foundation ($35,000), First Interstate Bank Foundation ($25,000), and Autzen Foundation ($9,000).

For more information about Heart of Oregon Corps and its central campus campaign visit www.heartoforegon.org.