PGE’s Drive Change Fund Grant Will Power NHC’s Mission to Remove Patient Barriers to Care
PORTLAND, Ore., October 20, 2025 – Neighborhood Health Center (NHC) has been awarded funding through Portland General Electric’s 2022 Drive Change Fund (DCF) to purchase a 2024 Kia EV6 Wind, expanding its free pharmacy delivery program.
The new electric vehicle will strengthen NHC’s pharmacy services by ensuring patients—particularly those who are uninsured, underinsured, or facing barriers such as transportation, language, or geographic isolation—have reliable access to their medications. The NHC Canby Pharmacy serves patients across Washington and Clackamas Counties, helping remove barriers that too often prevent timely care.
“Oregon ranks second to last for pharmacy access due to the increasing number of chain and independent pharmacy closures,” said Michele Taney, NHC’s Director of Pharmacy. “This grant allows us to address that challenge directly.”
Easy access to prescription medications offers a range of benefits for patients, including reduced emergency room visits, improved health outcomes, and better adherence to preventive care.
“As a community health center, we focus on the challenges our patients face in their health, wellness, and environment,” said NHC CEO Jeri Weeks. “This investment allows us to deliver essential medications more sustainably, linking patient health with community well-being.”
The PGE DCF is funded via the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s Clean Fuels Program. The fund supports projects that expand electric mobility options and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, prioritizing those serving vulnerable and underserved communities.
“Portland General Electric is excited to award funds from DEQ's Oregon Clean Fuels Program to support our partners in expanding cleaner transportation systems across the state,” said Elyssia Lawrence, senior manager, Product Manager, and head of PGE’s Transportation Electrification team. “Transportation electrification plays an essential role in accelerating the clean energy transition. It is going to take all of us working together to achieve a cleaner and more equitable future for all Oregonians.”
Transportation is the single biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon and a major source of other air pollutants. By adopting this EV, NHC will help accelerate the transition to clean transportation while serving community health.
In addition to the positive impacts on our environment and communities, EVs are a better consumer choice:
- Cleaner air. EVs have zero tailpipe emissions and reduce carbon monoxide emissions, nitrogen oxide emissions, and other toxic compounds
- Safety and comfort. EVs are quiet, reducing noise pollution in our communities
- Cost of ownership. Less maintenance, no more oil changes or trips to the gas station! And the price of electricity is regulated, unlike gasoline.
For more information about Neighborhood Health Center, please visit nhcoregon.org.
About Portland General Electric Company:
Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) is a fully integrated energy company that generates, transmits and distributes electricity to over 900,000 customers in 51 cities across the state of Oregon. For more than 130 years, Portland General Electric (PGE) has powered the advancement of society, delivering safe, affordable, reliable and increasingly clean energy. To deliver on its strategy and meet state targets, PGE and its approximately 3,000 employees are committed to partnering with stakeholders to achieve at least an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from power served to customers by 2030 and 100% reduction by 2040. PGE customers set the standard for prioritizing clean energy with the No. 1 voluntary renewable energy program in the country. Additionally, for the fifth year in a row, PGE was recognized by the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index which highlights companies committed to creating a more equal and inclusive workplace. As a reflection of the company's commitment to the community it serves, in 2022, PGE employees, retirees and the PGE Foundation donated nearly $5.5 million and volunteered more than 18,000 hours with more than 400 nonprofits across Oregon. For more information visit www.PortlandGeneral.com/news.
About Neighborhood Health Center:
Neighborhood Health Center is a nonprofit community health center serving a federally designated Medically Underserved Population (MUP) in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA). Governed by a patient-majority Board of Directors, we are committed to building healthy communities—one neighbor at a time—through patient-centered healthcare, no matter your income or current health. Discover more about how we're making quality healthcare accessible for everyone at nhcoregon.org.
Media Contact: Penny L. Moore
Director of Advancement
Tel: (503) 941-3054
Email: moorep@nhcoregon.org