THE DALLES — Four Rivers Family Early Learning & Parenting hub has recently announced the recipients of its Spring 2026 Regional Funding Opportunity (RFO), awarding approximately $36,000 to programs supporting young children, families, and early learning communities across Gilliam, Hood River, Sherman, Wasco, and Wheeler counties.
Four Rivers Family works to connect families of the Gorge to local resources and programs to support positive outcomes for children. The RFO, a grant program designed to invest in community-based programs for families, is supported through investments from the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care, Oregon Department of Human Services, and private partners including Oregon Community Foundation.
The 2026 spring RFO award recipients are: Sherman County Prevention for Sherman Prevention Parenting; Hood River County EI/ECSE Program for Literacy Night; Hood River County EI/ECSE Program for Kindergarten Transition Night; Columbia Gorge STEM Hub for Unplug & Play: Parent Education and Screen-Free Activity Boxes; Mid Valley Elementary for Hood River County School District for Pampers to Preschool to Pumas!; Mid-Columbia Children’s Council, Inc. for Father & Male Caregiver; Leadership Advisory Collaborative Community Enrichment for Klickitat and Skamania Counties for Wasco County Perinatal Support Groups; and Columbia Gorge ESD Department of Education and Innovation for CGESD Positive Indian Parenting Facilitator Training.
“These projects represent the creativity, collaboration, and commitment of organizations throughout our region,” said Shira Skybinskyy, Director of Four Rivers Family. “We’re excited to invest in programs that create more opportunities for families to connect, learn, and access support in ways that reflect the needs of their communities.”
The funded projects will operate between Oct. 1 and June 30, 2027, bringing programming and resources directly to children, families, caregivers, and educators throughout the region.
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