The Association of Fundraising Professionals names Tillamook County Creamery Association its 2019 Outstanding Philanthropy Corporation

At its 33rd Annual Philanthropy Awards on Tuesday November 12th, the Association of Fundraising Professionals recognized the Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) as the 2019 Outstanding Philanthropy Corporation. Oregon State University nominated TCCA for its community enrichment work and employee volunteer program, Tillamook Cares.

As TCCA grows nationally, so has its Community Enrichment program, which directs funding to three primary giving areas: agricultural advocacy, food security and healthful children. TCCA increased investment in these priorities from 1.7 percent of profits in 2015 to a projected 4 percent of profits in 2019.
“Tillamook has been here 110 years, and if we want to be here 110 more, we have to do right by our communities. This region has given us so much, and we have a great responsibility to return the favor,” said Patrick Criteser, president and CEO of TCCA. “Tillamook is committed to ensuring our communities are healthy, vibrant and resilient for generations to come.”

One of TCCA’s hallmark community partnership is with OSU’s 4-H youth development program. Each year, the proceeds from TCCA’s ice cream booth at the Tillamook County Fair benefit 4-H, and Tillamook employees volunteer alongside 4-H kids to scoop ice cream. Through this ice cream booth partnership, TCCA has raised more than $140,000 since 2010 to support 4-H programs and scholarships.

TCCA also shares a commitment to ending hunger in Oregon and has supported the Oregon Food Bank in a variety of meaningful ways since 2004. In 2016, TCCA funded a study in Tillamook County to research the root causes of hunger and inaccessibility to healthful food, and plans to continue working together with the Oregon Food Bank to find solutions to food insecurity challenges in Tillamook County and throughout the state.
“Tillamook understands the importance that food plays in a community’s ability to thrive by not only meeting the needs of our neighbors today, but also identifying and addressing the root causes of hunger,” says Susannah Morgan, CEO of Oregon Food Bank.

Employee volunteerism is also part of TCCA’s culture of giving back. As part of the company’s Tillamook Cares program, TCCA’s 900+ employees each receive eight hours of paid volunteer time each year. In 2018, employees volunteered a total of 2,300 hours at organizations like Habitat for Humanity, SOLVE Oregon and Food Roots, among others.

Here is the video from the AFP about TCCA:

Click here to view: https://youtu.be/Id_m1vH4Y98

About the Tillamook County Creamery Association
Founded in 1909 as a farmer-owned cooperative, the Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) prides itself on its commitment and mission to connect farmers and food lovers through better made dairy products. Guided by the belief that everyone deserves real food that makes them feel good every day, Tillamook has earned top awards for their cheese, ice cream, sour cream, butter and yogurt products made with unwavering values that never sacrifice or compromise quality for profit. The TCCA is currently made up of about 80 farming families, primarily based in Tillamook County, Oregon. Tillamook operates production facilities in Tillamook and Boardman, Oregon and employs nearly 900 people throughout the state. The Tillamook Creamery visitors experience is the largest tourist attraction on the coast of Oregon and one of the most popular in the state, attracting more than one million visitors each year. For more information on Tillamook, visit Tillamook.com.