Hopscotch Foundation

“Form 990 was reviewed by an independent cpa.”

“Documents available on request.”

“Hopscotch foundation continues its original mission to provide access to nutritious food and activities to students in low income communities in the portland, or area. Just how we do this continues to evolve. During the pandemic we provided many thousands of food boxes under the usda covid program throughout the area we had historically served. As this program ended, we continued to supply food boxes to low income areas during the first half of 2022. Those expenditures are reflected in the 2022 form 990. The need was still there and we were able to fill the void. During the first half of 2022, we began to look in to other methods to help serve these communities with other approaches. We identified controlled environmental agriculture (cea) as a promising method. Cea simply means growing food inside a controlled environment, such as a warehouse, where crops are protected from outdoor elements. Climate change is rapidly causing a greater problem for traditional farming. Temperature extremes, wildfire smoke, and lack of water, are major reasons why crops will need to be protected. Cea, or "urban farming," is exploding around the world. It is also beginning to be addressed in major us cities. Portland has been slow to react. Hopscotch changed that beginning in 2022. Significant funding was received from oregonask, in conjunction with the state of oregon, as part of the oregon student summer enrichment program. Hopscotch elected to use aquaponics, one form of cea, which uses fish and fish waste to fertilize plants in an optimal vertical environment with no worries of temperature swings, wildfire smoke, while using recycled water. The large aquaponics tower was built from the ground up by jefferson high school students from low income communities in portland. They were exposed to many life-long skills, including construction, plumbing, electrical and crop growing. A large amount of great produce is generated from the farm. That produce is then taken back to the food insecure areas where the kids live. The kids now know a great deal about an industry that will be massive in the future. The farm continues to generate produce. During 2023 most of our efforts were focused on continuing efforts around the aquaponics farm and beginning to sell produce from the farm at farmers markets. During 2024 most of our efforts were focused on creating a youth summer baseball league. We started the league because low income kids in the inner city did not have access to baseball. There was no charge to families who played in our league. The league was a tremendous success and continues to grow fast in 2025.”

“Volunteers assist with food distribution to needy families. Volunteers also assist with our youth baseball league by coaching, umpiring, and handing out food.”

“Providing a baseball program for low income kids in the portland area for ages 6 through 14.”

“The biggest change to the conducting of program services was the creation of a summer baseball league for low income kids in the portland area for kids ages 6 through 14.”