Elevate Portland Initiative

Launched in 2015 The Elevate Portland Initiative has become a popular outreach program for The College of Business. The College of Business faculty, staff, and students have provided tablets, warm clothing, snacks, and most of all encouragement to the students of Portland Elementary. The Elevate Portland Initiative is designed to provide students the basic needs that support a higher quality learning environment and to nurture aspirational goals that will encourage a path to higher education.

The Portland neighborhood is one of the poorest in Louisville and the majority of the children in this school live below the poverty line. The initiative is designed to provide the students with basic needs that support a higher quality learning environment and to nurture aspirational goals that will encourage a path out of poverty. 

Past Elevate Portland Initiatives

  • Lemonade Day
  • Clothing drives
  • Earth Day project
  • Career Day presentations

Portland Principal Angela Hosch gets emotional when she talks about the UofL effort. “They kept coming back,” she said. “I’m humbled that we’ve been embraced that way.”

Student Involvement

Many College of Business students help volunteer with our events and drives. In addition to volunteering College of Business students may take a management course where they create different events for the students of Portland Elementary. We have found this is a great way for students to gain project management skills while also helping the Louisville community.