(Pam Stevenson for Awesome Bend | Photo by Tori Youngbauer)
When it comes to success in Central Oregon, Pam Stevenson is a prime example of a woman taking the business world by storm and giving back to her community. She is known for her efforts in establishing the Bend chapter of The Awesome Foundation, a project dedicated to giving grants to individuals who are working towards making the Bend community a better place.
Stevenson has worked over the years as a entrepreneurship coach, helping start-up companies get their footing and develop creative and innovative solutions within their businesses. Being heavily involved in shaping local entrepreneurs, she was the perfect candidate to take on the task of creating the Awesome Bend project.
“I love Bend and I love this community. Awesome Bend is not just about the projects themselves, but it is about inspiring ideas within others to do something creative,” says Stevenson.
The overwhelming success of the Awesome Bend Pitch Nights have proven this to be true. Gathering not only applicants seeking the grant money Awesome Bend provides for projects, the Pitch Nights are open to anyone in the community who is ready to listen to the thought provoking ideas from fellow community members. The Pitch Nights create a sort of chain reaction of inspiration and creativity, which Stevenson says is the overall goal of the program.
When she’s not working on Awesome Bend projects, Stevenson is still actively changing the Bend community for the better. She has been hosting regular charity concerts in her backyard, where everyone is invited to picnic, listen to music and help raise money for various non-profits. “I enjoy using something I have to do good in our community,” Stevenson comments.
Stevenson is looking forward to getting the word out about the Awesome Bend chapter and raising awareness about the awesomeness that can be cultivated in the community. The next Pitch Night on October 20 coincides with the Bend Venture conference, a private investment vehicle established annually to help finance the most promising business startups emerging from the event each year. This will be a week packed with the celebration of innovative thinkers.
Her other goals include growing Awesome Bend to its full potential and bringing the community together for an Awesome Day, which will get the whole city involved and aware of the projects people are pursuing to make Bend a better place to live, work and play.
The Awesome Foundation is an ever-growing worldwide community devoted to forwarding the interest of awesome in the universe. The Foundation distributes $1,000 grants, no strings attached, to projects and their creators.
