Events

2020 Legal Citizen of the Year Award Virtual Paddle Raise

Donate online and raise your virtual paddle in support of civics education in Oregon!

Raise your paddle for Civics Learning Project! Choose a contribution level below. For help with your donation, contact us.

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Civics Learning Project has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Legal Citizen Dinner. In light of the rapidly-changing landscape caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, we have chosen to model the civic leadership we seek to inspire in Oregon’s students and place public safety first. That’s why we’ve decided to have our traditional paddle raise – virtually!

As you may know, the Legal Citizen Dinner is our largest fundraising event of the year, accounting for nearly 20% of our operating budget. Thanks to the generous support of our Circle Members and Legal Citizen Dinner Sponsors, we have already reached $75,000 of our $175,000 goal — but we need your help to make it the rest of the way!  Join our virtual paddle raise and help us ensure access to civics education for young Oregonians this year — and beyond.

We are honored to recognize Oregon Chief Justice Martha Walters as the 2020 Legal Citizen of the Year. When you raise your paddle, you will have to chance to leave a note of congratulations for Chief Justice Walters that will be recorded in a special commemorative book to mark the occasion. Simply fill out this form and submit after you’ve made your online donation.

Want to make your paddle raise anonymously? Just make a note in the Additional Information section when you are checking out! Otherwise, we will add your name, along with our other supporters, on our progress page.

Check our progress and see our donors!

As events continue to unfold around us, the critical importance of our own civic engagement and of educating our students to become well-informed, active citizens becomes even more clearWe truly appreciate your continued support in helping us equip students with the knowledge, essential skills, and motivation to participate in our democracy.


The Jonathan U. Newman Legal Citizen of the Year Award recognizes the late Judge Newman for his leadership in encouraging and instilling respect for civic education in Oregon. Each year, a leader is honored for demonstrating a commitment to the mission and principles of Civics Learning Project including advancing the ideals of civic education and inspiring future citizens.

At the Legal Citizen of the Year Award Dinner, Civics Learning Project also honors an exemplary educator in Oregon with the Civic Educator of the Year Award. The 2019-20 honoree, announced at the annual Oregon Civics Conference for Teachers, is Courtney Wertz of Paisley Middle / High School.

If you have any questions, please contact Robert Hulshof-Schmidt, Director of Development and Communications, at [email protected].