Lotus Blooming
Dharma Rain Zen Center’s Lotus Blooming fundraising campaign for Planting Zen in Siskiyou Square is an effort to transform a 14-acre brownfield in a long-neglected part of our city into an urban campus for spiritual practice and study, community connection and native habitat. Dharma Rain raised more than $1.3 million in individual donations to make Phase 1 of Planting Zen a reality.
Phase II of the Lotus Blooming Capital Campaign has now begun. This campaign will be simpler than Phase I with a goal to raise $55,000 in the next year. These funds will finish the rehabilitation of two dormitory buildings on our property, benefiting the sangha by:
- Creating classroom space for Dharma School, bringing all activities onto our campus and integrating them with the adult sangha.
- Expanding Frog Song Preschool, giving us space to serve twice as many children with full day programming, while increasing revenue for the temple.
- Accommodating attendees of retreats and sesshin, deepening our practice opportunities and increasing access to intensive training.
- Providing residential space for our monks and residents.
- Redirecting the money we have been paying to rent two nearby houses.
The total cost of the dormitory project is estimated at $336,000. We have spent $210,000 to get the buildings to this point, and loans and grants for $71,000 will allow us to continue work for now. To complete the project and bring these improvements to the sangha, we need to raise only $55,000 more in gifts and pledges.
Lotus Blooming Phase I $500,000 Matching Gift Challenge. We Did It! Thanks to the generosity of our Sangha and friends, we exceeded our $500,000 Matching Gift Challenge by raising $389,530. Coupled with the $250,000 matching challenge gift from our anonymous donor, our challenge fundraising totaled $639,530. As a result, we were able to complete our Sodo (meditation and event hall), workshop, recycling/trash enclosure, and portions of our courtyard. We also paid down a portion of the debt we incurred to purchase Siskiyou Square, improving our financial position and saving on interest payments over time.
Since our groundbreaking ceremony, our sangha and friends have stepped up to our vision for Planting Zen with generosity – not just financially, but with time, sweat equity, enthusiasm, donated goods and services, and word-of mouth support. Of course, raising money is simply a means to an end. Planting Zen is about Buddha, Dharma and Sangha – for all of us, and for future generations of way-seekers.
Scroll down or click on the links to see a list of Lotus Blooming contributors.
More To Do. Future Phases. Much more remains to be done. Future phases of Lotus Blooming include a dedicated building for our Dharma Garden programs, a permanent building for our offices and library, and a hondo (ceremonial hall). You can help make this vision a reality. A one-time gift or multi-year pledge to Planting Zen will help this lotus continue to blossom.
We thank those who have contributed thus far, and accept their generosity with bows.
Gifts & Pledges
$250,000+
Anonymous
$100,000 – $249,999
Kyogen & Gyokuko Carlson
Peter Norton – Isambard Kingdom Brunel Society of America
Carlene Zoki & Bob Orman
$50,000 – $99,999
Howard & Carol Fields – Euclid Fund
Gary & Mary Lee Oshiro
Aaron & Diana Shin’yu Vitells
$25,000 – $49,999
Jeff Stookey & Ken Barker
$17,500 – $24,599
Gay Kei’un Lewis & Steve Tai’an Blackwood
Eric Kosen Johnson & Lisa Dunitz
Linda Hoka Bebernes & Kate Gawf
Joe Shisei & Nanette Niski
$10,000 – $17,499
Anonymous (3 gifts)
Chozen & Hogen Bays
Thomas Bruner
Gabe Fields & Julie Burtis
Sherman Coventry
Randall Daigai & Marianne Filbert
Valerie Kaishin Kelly
Julie, Munnie & Karuna Kettler
LaShelle Yoan & Kakumyo Lowe-Charde
Sokuchu
Dan Myoan McCarty
Richard Fumyo & Paula Mishaga
Annen Moyer
Todd Tsuho & Amy Sattersten
Mark Sosetsu Stauffer & Sonia Arion
Sallie Jiko Tisdale
David Tweet
Emilie Teiko Cartoun & Kip Frey/Wy’East Zen Center
Maya & Harold Williams
Christina York
$5,000 – $9,999
Anonymous (6 gifts)
Ken Arnold
David & Moira Bell
Doug & Linda Carnine
Val Cashman, Keith Kellerman & Family
Kevin Ansui & Amy Geoffroy
Jim Holston
Rob Ki’an Holt
Mike Gyoshi Kaplan
Polly Gemmon & Ron Lauser
Pam Leitch
Suzanne Michalik
Zen Community of Oregon
Chuck Eishin Powers
Margaret Sanger
Kathryn Schmerber
Becky Smith & Jody Luth
Joseph Walder
$2,500 – $4,999
Anonymous
Alison Shin’ei Brown
Nancy Kodo Conover
Patricia Josu Dahlgren
Jody Shintai Dungay
Empty Field Zendo
Joseph Mugaku Engum
Scott Teijin & Rhonda Grim
Virginia & John Lowell
Debra Seido Martin
Nicole Ko’in Newsom
Suzanne Shushin Ragsdale
Sylvan Genko Rainwater
Amanda Risser
Melissa & Bobby Robertson
David Choten Robinson
Yvonne Brown & Michael Dochin Rowell
Katherine Kichizo & James Still
John Urbanowski
Jay Dosho VanSant
Jill Bukkai & Brad Washburn
$1,000 – $2,499
Anonymous (4 gifts)
Sonja Rinsho Aikens
Ray Bard
John & Lisann Baumann
Terry & Ginnie Carnahan
J Christian
Tom & Jeanne Clegg
Jonathan Crighton
Kimberly Koyo Deckman
Brooke Fabricant
Deborah Ryotan Gant
Robert Reian Glass
Laura Jomon Martin & Patrick Bansho Green
Sharon Hall
Richard Hindman
Heidi Enji Hoogstra
MeiToku KoShin
Elizabeth Erin Luthy
Phyllis Maynard
John Dainin Morse
Zoe Mullee
Dorothy Newman
Mikio Daicho & Sarah Ohgushi
Annie Popkin & David Parker
Mary Power
Patrick O’Herron & Diana Rempe
Dorothy Mokuren Robinson
Judy & Roger Rowell
Sally Schoolmaster
Sue St. Michael
Steve Stadtfeld
Anthony Fujaku Stevens
Karen Sokyo Swallow
$500 – $999
Anonymous (4 gifts)
David Birkes & Lois Abbruzzese
Renee Takara & Ken Bareilles
Isabel Beaton
Rene Chogen Berblinger
Jean Berg
Leonore Bittner
Billie Blain
Domyo & John Burk
Larry Christensen
Curtis Clink
Annette Demsey
Frank Sanje Elliot
Wayne Lowe & Rebekah Elowyn
Pactrick Yuzen Evans
Joan Anraku Harmony
Briana Healy
Daijaku Judith Kinst
Sabra Chitsu Larsen
Alejandra Nava-Replolge
Rich Koken Mackin
Fjyzj Maile
Trevor March
Tom & Heather Miewald
Harry Hesselgesser & Mary Fushin Payne
Francois Shokei Raynal
John Schultz & Teri Ruch
Jim Schultz-Browning
Sally Tomlinson
Derrell Wheeler
Kimberly Wood-Saldana
$100 – $499
Anonymous (32 gifts)
Sam Adams
Aesthetic Appeal
Candace Gibson Bailey
Jessica Bartlett
Renee Takara & Ken Bareilles
Sheley Baxter
Spencer Beard
Tsarra Berger
Guy Berliner
Ross Betzer
Christa Black
Elizabeth Blades
Jean Bond
Hilary Bradbury
Bright Way Zen Center
Catherine Brown
William Brown
Paul Daniel Bruner
Danielle Brunner
Mary Buckley
Judith Bunce
Stephan Burckhardt
Doug Burgess
Mia Carlstrom
Donna Cassidy
Sibelia & Simon Chaiyahat
Thubten Chonyi
Jyoshin Clay
Rhonda Coleman
Julie Colley
Jerry Colonna
Linda & Robert Crocker
Blifford Crown
Abby Cunningham
Jimmy Curry
Carla Danley
Kirsten Davis
Lisa Dickinson
Janet Doetsu Dodd
Phyllis Duncan
Alison Dunfee
Frank Sanje Elliott
Brian Farr
Larry Wilson & Robert Fernandez
Robert Flory
Sarah Flynn
Bill Frazier
Heather Fulton
Gabe Genauer
Dun Gifford
Jen Gilden
Marilyn Gohl
Lynda Golan
Sunyana & Jed Graef
Leslie Grayfort
Douglas Hagen
Joan Hanna
Pamela & John Harp
Emily Herbert
Doug Ikuo Hull
Ellen Kosen Hynson
Margo Jeanchild
Judith Meiko Jones
Dominique Kang
Janice Karpenick
George Kastner
Susan Leslie Kaufman
Diane & John Kelly
Mike Kelly
Grace Kim
Lisa Jo King
Brenda Kleysen
Joyce Kyles
Wendy Hodson
David Lacka
Peggy Lavelle
Jim Lewinson
Beth Lucchi
Madison South Neighborhood Association
Michael Mallagh
Daniel Malmon
Elizabeth Margeson
Roberta Margolis
Genjo Marinello
Lisa So’on Markel
Merisha McClaren
Susan Zenho McDaniel
Alan Grandstaff & Kim McLaughlin
Brad & Julie McMurchie
Jeffrey Miller
John Yudo Mogey
Amber Geiger Morgan
Jennifer Murphy
Kathy Myers
Joe Ryan & J. Lee Nelson
Rob Oberdorfer
David Olobo
Scott & Nicole Oshiro
Steven Page
Kathy Parker
Mark Rinzan Pechovnik
Pat Phelan
Zen Center of Philadelphia
Karen Pollach
Jacqueline Porter
Gary Randles
Carol Raphael
Travis Raybold
Stacy Riger
Ruben Rivera
Bruce Watt & Carole Romm
Jessica Sall
Alejandro & Emiliano Santana
Alan Senauke
Kathy Schrier
Carrie Schultz
Frank & Joy Shea
Grace Schireson
Melissa Skorpil
Rachel Stevens
Katherine & James Still
Jennifer Souza
Charlie Stookey
Kazuaki Tanahashi
Lloyd Tappan
Nathan & Melanie Templeman
Great Tides Zen Center
Karen Weisz
Jen Wentzien
Nancy & Allen Whitaker-Emrich
Jeffrey Wilson
Jim Withington
Ben & Allison Hulse Wood
John Wong
Grants
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Brownfields Cleanup Grant – $200,000
City of Portland
Bureau of Environmental Services, Brownfield Program Revolving Loan Fund – $200,000
Metro Regional Council
Nature in Neighbohods, Capital Grant Program – $93,781
City of Portland
Bureau of Environmental Services, Brownfield Program Assessment Grant – $53,781
East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District
Partners in Conservation Program – $40,000
Oregon Community Foundation
– $35,000
Oregon Business Development Department
Brownfield Redevelopment Fund – $32,300
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
– $30,000
Oregon Business Development Department & Regional Solutions Center
Brownfield Redevelopment Fund – $25,000
Metro Regional Council
Nature in Neighborhoods Conservation Education Program – $25,000
City of Portland
Bureau of Environmental Services, http://www.oregonmetro.gov/tools-partners/grants-and-resources/nature-grants – $25,000
Spirit Mountain Community Fund
– $20,000
City of Portland
Bureau of Environmental Services, Community Watershed Stewardship Program – $7,500
The Tributary Fund
– $300
In-Kind Donations & Reduced-Interest on Loans
$10,000+
Anonymous (2)
Kyogen & Gyokuko Carlson
Doug & Linda Carnine
Jeff Stookey & Ken Barker
Nancy Kodo Conover
Gay Kei’un Lewis & Steve Tai’an Blackwood
Ater-Wynne LLP
CWK2 Land Development Consultants
Michael Eiko Howells
Michael Kieran
John Shultz
Becky Smith & Jody Luth
PAE Engineers
$5,000 – $9,999
Anonymous
Jyoshin Clay
Genko Rainwater
The Rebuilding Center
Northwest Tree Specialists
Friends of Trees
$2,500 – 4,999
Linda Hoka Bebernes
Wu-chang Feng
Rob Ki’an Holt
Jim Hencke
Ann Lameka
Debra Seido Martin
Annen Moyer
Joe Shisei & Nanette Niski
Noguchi Museum
Francois Shokei Raynal
David Choten Robinson
Todd T’suho Sattersten
Karen Sokyo Swallow
Sallie Jiko Tisdale
Studio Knot
Ecology in Classrooms & Outdoors
$1,000 – $2,499
Randall Filbert
Richard Hindman
Linda Neale
Jordan’s Mushrooms
Tanya Peterson
Anastasia Roderick
Groundwork Portland