LOWENSTEIN TRUST
Recognizing those who are making a difference for the underserved
The Lowenstein Trust is seeking nominations for its annual $10,000 Lowenstein Trust Award.
The award will go to the nominee who has demonstrated (in the opinion of the Trustees) a significant but perhaps under-recognized contribution to assisting the disadvantaged and underserved within the City of Portland. For criteria details see our To Nominate page. The nomination form may be easily completed and submitted online. The awardee will be publicly recognized in a ceremony at Portland City Council.
Deadline to submit nominations is November 7, 2022.
The Lowenstein Trust proudly announces 2022 Award Winner
ERIC KNOX
for his work as a mentor and coach for BIPOC youth in East Portland
The Award was presented at the Portland City Council
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
The Board of the Lowenstein Trust is proud to present the 31st annual Steve Lowenstein Award to Eric Knox for his outstanding work as a mentor and coach for BIPOC youth in East Portland.
Over many years, Eric has demonstrated effective leadership and creativity through the design and delivery of successful student-focused programs. He founded HOLLA Mentors, a campus-based program based in East Portland, where many members of BIPOC communities reside. HOLLA pairs students with mentors to serve as positive role models, providing them with the support they need to be both safe and successful. Trained culturally-responsive mentors cultivate trusting relationships with family members and engage school representatives and the broader community who surround students, helping them stay on a positive path to a brighter future.
Eric’s work re-writes the narrative of Black, Brown, and Indigenous youth by honoring their lived experience and unlocking opportunities to realize their full potential. Though the majority of the students HOLLA serves live in East Portland, Eric’s influence also extends to the Rockwood community through the HOLLA Charter School, and to Newberg where young black youth and their parents engage in community projects. A former 4-year starter for the OSU basketball team, Eric also coached the Benson High School Girls team to win two State Championships.
Those interested in learning more about the work of Eric Knox visit the HOLLA website at www.hollamentors.org.
Each year, the Lowenstein Trustees solicit community members to identify an individual whose contribution to people in need within Portland upholds the spirit of Steve Lowenstein’s memory. In his will, Steve specified that the recipient of the annual Lowenstein Trust Award “shall be that person who demonstrated (in the opinion of the Trustees) the greatest contribution to assisting the poor and underprivileged in the City of Portland, Oregon. “
We look for someone who has dedicated themselves to a particular cause that benefits others. Often this person has been working for years behind the scenes in a volunteer capacity or receiving low compensation. The recipient must be in need of these funds to help carry on his or her work and must use the award to further the type of work for which it was given. The $10,000 honorarium is typically given to the individual and funneled through the organization affiliated with the award recipient to strengthen and continue their work. A list of past recipients can be found here.
In his own right, Steve Lowenstein was a model of public service. Steve joined the Peace Corps after law school in the early 1960s and wrote a textbook on Ethiopian law. He worked in Washington DC for the Office of Economic Opportunity and in Chile for the Ford Foundation. He was founding Director of Oregon Legal Services, authored a groundbreaking history – The Jews of Oregon 1850-1950 – and at the time of his death in 1990, had served for six years as Executive Assistant to former Portland City Commissioner Mike Lindberg. Steve’s sense of purpose, integrity and perseverance inspired many of us who have worked on human rights and social justice issues.
For more information about The Lowenstein Trust you may email pdxmargie@gmail.com or write:
THE LOWENSTEIN TRUST
C/O Charles Williamson
5304 SW 34th Place
Portland, Oregon 97239-1125
Trustees
Art Alexander, Ronault LS Catalani, Jamaal Folsom, Monica Goracke, Michelle Harper, Margie Harris, Joe Hertzberg,
Marc Jolin, Paul Kelly, Adrienne Livingston, Xavier Pierce, Shelli Romero, Charles R. Williamson
Honorary Trustees
Sandra Haefker, Daniel Jacobs, Mike Lindberg, Chris Lowenstein, Lee Rosner, Kris Wilkinson
In Memoriam
Nick Fish, Gretchen Kafoury, Ron Paul