Coalition for Kids was founded in 1991, born from the shared vision of community partners who believed young children and their caregivers should have the opportunity to thrive. For several decades, Coalition for Kids staff, administrators, board members, and donors worked together to strengthen families across Josephine County.
In 2020, as the organization prepared to close its doors, the Board of Coalition for Kids partnered with the Redwood Foundation for Education to ensure their mission would endure. Together, they established the Coalition for Kids Fund, a 10-year commitment projected to distribute more than $1.4 million in grants to community-based organizations supporting family stability and school readiness.
Today, grant applications are reviewed by a dedicated advisory committee composed of community members and subject-matter experts who help ensure funding decisions remain aligned with the original vision and responsive to emerging local needs.
Quin Pehrson, Executive Director of the Redwood Foundation for Education, shared the Foundation’s enthusiasm for continuing this important work. “The Redwood Foundation has been committed to supporting youth in our community for many years, and the launch of the CFK Fund ensured children and their caregivers would have access to support earlier in life. Research shows these early investments lead to meaningful, long-term impacts, helping families remain healthy, stable, and prepared for success in school.”
In 2023, a generous donor expanded this legacy with an additional $1.2 million gift, ensuring the continuation of the grant program and creating new opportunities to invest in programs aligned with Coalition for Kids’ mission, vision, and values. With deep roots in Josephine County and decades of experience stewarding charitable funds, the Redwood Foundation for Education brings trusted local expertise, strong community partnerships, and careful financial oversight to this work. Thanks to the foresight of its Board and the generosity of its supporters, the legacy of Coalition for Kids lives on, carefully stewarded and strengthened by the Redwood Foundation for Education for the benefit of future generations.
In 2025, Redwood Foundation for Education gave $250,000 from the Coalition for Kids Grant Fund to the Oregon Center for Creative Learning to support the Capital Campaign for the Grants Pass Children’s Museum and Ivy School.
