Membership
Donor Spotlight: Bill Weismann
Oregon Tradeswomen depends on the generosity of our supporters to continue providing free pre-apprenticeship training and support to those who need it the most. Monthly donors like Bill Weismann make a huge impact because they provide a predictable, steady income that expands our ability to plan strategically for long-term sustainability. When asking Bill what first drew him to Oregon Tradeswomen, he recounted how he had met Connie Ashbrook, Oregon Tradeswomen’s founding Executive Director, before Oregon Tradeswomen was the organization we know today: way back when there was no Trades and Apprenticeship Career Class, nor Annual Career Fair. Connie and the initial Oregon Tradeswomen Board connected with Bill to get assistance with non-profit startup and grant writing support in order to raise funds, hire staff, and open an office. Bill shares that, “It was an honor to put my personal values into action as a straight white man who has self-defined as a feminist since the early 70s and the rise of the women’s liberation movement.” Once Oregon Tradeswomen started to take off as a successful venture, Bill transitioned to being an event participant and monthly donor because “I knew that community-based groups need sustainable funding and monthly donors are a means to achieve that.”
Considering his commitment as a donor and supporter for all these years, we asked Bill how his sustaining gift reflected his values. Bill explained how “Oregon Tradeswomen directly aligns with my core beliefs and commitment to social change at the intersection of economic, social, and racial justice.” He goes on to say that “I strongly believe in fairness, justice, and equal opportunity, and Oregon Tradeswomen breathes life into these values every day of the year.” The fact that Oregon Tradeswomen’s graduates set an important example for other girls and women to follow, proving that women can do any job a man can do, is a driving reason why Bill believes that Oregon Tradeswomen is a vital part of the community and economy.
Bill’s message to Oregon Tradeswomen’s supporters and potential donors is simple: “As Oregon Tradeswomen matures, I see the demand for services growing, more girls and women engaged, more training programs and outreach being held, and yet costs keep rising. As my own ability to give increased, I choose to ‘put my money where my mouth is.'” In a recent move, Bill has increased his monthly giving by 50% because “I know that Oregon Tradeswomen needs a growing source of stable funding and individual supporters need to be a reliable income stream.” After 20 years of being a monthly donor, Bill also created an estate plan with a personal will. He shares that “I decided to include Oregon Tradeswomen in my will with a sizable, planned gift. I like knowing that my support will leave a legacy and make a lasting impact to benefit future generations of Oregon girls and women.” We are endlessly grateful for Bill and all our supporters who invest in this mission that is meaningful and makes our community stronger.
You can join The Builders, a community of Oregon Tradeswomen’s monthly sustaining donors by signing up on our donate page. If you are already a monthly donor and would like to update your contribution, please reach out to Paul Morris, Development Director, at paul@oregontradeswomen.org for assistance.
Now More Than Ever: Join The Builders and Stand With Trillium
We are in a critical moment, not just as an organization, but as a movement.
At Oregon Tradeswomen, we’ve spent more than three decades breaking down barriers for women and gender minorities in the skilled trades. But today, the political climate is threatening everything we’ve built.
As a nonprofit rooted in equity and inclusion, we’ve felt the direct impact of recent political attacks on DEI efforts. Several of our largest grants have either been rescinded or put on hold due to legal challenges, jeopardizing the programs that empower our students and sustain our mission.
In the face of this instability, we’re launching The Builders. A new community of monthly donors who are stepping up to help us weather this storm. Monthly giving allows us to plan ahead, keep our programs running, and continue offering life-changing training at no cost to our students.
Here’s what that impact looks like:
By joining The Builders, you’re not just giving monthly; you’re helping protect access, opportunity, and economic justice for the people who need it most. Even $5/month makes a meaningful difference.
Be part of the foundation that holds us together in hard times. Join The Builders today: Become a Monthly Donor
Thank You to Footwear Specialites!
Oregon Tradeswomen ensures that our students are properly equipped for the work they will be doing during the hands-on learning days of the Trades and Apprenticeship Career Class. For example, when welding, it is imperative to have sturdy boots, generally made of leather, with six- to eight-inch ankle coverage and safety-toe protection.
We know how expensive good boots are, and were ecstatic when a wonderful local company, Footwear Specialties, responded to our need for boots that are welding appropriate. Footwear Specialties generously donated 10 pairs of boots to us to be used by students in our pre-apprenticeship program. In addition, they’ve offered a 40% discount to all Oregon Tradeswomen members, staff, and board!
Footwear Specialties was started in 1996 by people who had worked in athletic footwear and who wanted to blend the lightweight features of athletic shoes with the safety features of work shoes/boots. The result is a growing line of innovative footwear. They offer over 200 different styles to meet the increasingly technical demands of industrial workers and working environments and even are committed to creating shoes and boots specifically designed for women.
There’s a warm, fuzzy feeling we get when local businesses, organizations, and folks from our community want to get involved or pay it forward. These actions show us that people value the work Oregon Tradeswomen does and that they want to support the incredible women who are changing their own lives by going through our pre-apprenticeship program. A big, gracious thank you to Footwear Specialties for their donation and continued support. We hope you will show them some love for their generosity and commitment to tradeswomen.
Thank you, Footwear Specialties!