Portland Chapter
Serving Portland families and volunteers since 1997.
About this Chapter
The AMIGOS Portland Chapter is part of a 9 Chapter Network that recruits, trains, and supports AMIGOS volunteers and families in their local community. Volunteers from the Pacific Northwest/Portland, Oregon area train together as a group before leaving for their summer experience in Latin America. Our board supports volunteers and families with group fundraising, service learning, community building, and overall preparation. Learn more about our Summer Programs here!
Since the Portland Chapter’s incorporation in 1997, over 550 youth from Portland and its suburbs have volunteered through the chapter path, fundraising and training locally before the summer.
Current Portland Chapter Volunteers Attend
Abiqua School
Catlin Gabel
Central Catholic
Churchill
Cleveland
Corvallis
De La Salle
Franklin
Franklin
Ida B. Wells
Lake Oswego
Lincoln
Milwaukie
North Clackamas
Oregon Episcopal
Riverdale
Riverdale
Southridge
St. Mary’s
Tigard
Tualatin
Support the Portland Chapter’s volunteers and families.
Dona ahoraChapter Contact Information
Portland, OR 97217
How to Únete
AMIGOS gives you an exciting chance to have an adventure and explore the world outside of a classroom.
Get to Know the Portland Chapter
Check out our programs, review our admissions requirements, and learn more about the Portland Chapter activities by exploring this website.
Attend an Information Session
The Portland Chapter will be hosting a virtual information session. This meeting reviews basic program information and chapter specifics such as financial assistance, funding, training, and service learning. More information will be shared here about the date/time.
Applicants are required to attend one virtual HQ information sessions.
Apply Online
Submit your application (it should take around 30 minutes or less) and pay the deposit to hold your spot.
Questions or tech issues? Reach out to our Admissions team at admissions@amigosinternational.org.
Interviews
Once you submit your application, you will be invited to sign up for a family interview that takes place in-person. The interview is an opportunity for you to learn more about AMIGOS and our chapter, and for us to learn more about you! It consists of conversations between chapter representatives, the applicant, and one or more of the applicant’s parents/guardians.
At least one parent or guardian is required to attend, and the interview lasts approximately 1 hour. Interviews will take place December 21, 2025 between 1:00pm-5:30pm and Sunday, January 11, 2026 from 1:30pm-4:30pm.
Application Deadlines
The deadline for Portland Chapter applications is January 20, 2027. Late applications may be considered on a case-by-case basis until training starts. Please contact outreach@amigosinternational.org for more information.
Missed the local chapter deadline?
You can still join us for summer 2027 through the National Chapter and complete training virtually!
Explore Our Host Countries
Local Chapter Requirements
The transformative AMIGOS experience starts before leaving home.
Pre-Departure Training
With over 60 years of experience preparing young people for travel and service abroad, AMIGOS training offers unparalleled global youth leadership development. Pre-departure training equips volunteers with the critical thinking, communication skills, and technical knowledge they need to make a meaningful impact across cultures while staying healthy and safe. The Portland Chapter AMIGOS training is experiential learning that prepares volunteers for their AMIGOS experience, builds a community of youth and families with shared values, and develops life-skills to help students succeed beyond AMIGOS. Training sessions are facilitated by the Training Team and Portland Chapter Board of Directors.
Training Program Highlights
Unparalleled leadership development
Cross-cultural awareness and understanding
Health and safety training
Opportunities to practice Spanish
Creating a community of young people with shared values
Training Schedule
- Orientation: Sunday, Feb 8, 2026, 12:30-5:30 pm
- Training: Saturday, Feb 21, 2026, 9:00-4:00 pm
- Letters Party: Sunday, March 8, 2026, 2-5 pm
- Community Service & Training: Saturday, April 18, 2026, 9:00-5:00 pm
- Chrysalis Farms Retreat: Saturday & Sunday, May 16/17, 2026, 10:00-4:00 pm
- Departure Party: Sunday, June 7, 2026, 4:00-6:00 pm
- Return Party: Sunday, August 23, 2026, 4:00-6:00 pm
Service Learning
The Portland Chapter incorporates service learning into the AMIGOS training to add depth and first-hand experience to the curriculum. Service learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility and strengthen communities.
Group Fundraising
The Portland Chapter offers significant reductions in program fees through letter writing to donor contacts (February-March). We chose this activity to maximize our ability to provide the AMIGOS experience to all volunteers without regard to family financial circumstances. The individual fundraising goal is approximately $3,000 to cover fee reductions and chapter expenses.
All volunteers are required to fully take part in letter writing, as fundraising skills are an important component of the AMIGOS training program. Fundraising also raises awareness of AMIGOS programs in the Portland community. Detailed financial information, including fundraising and financial assistance are discussed at our Information Sessions and then again more completely at Candidate and Parent Interviews.
Letter Writing/Doner Contacts
Each volunteer is required to send out 100 letters to friends, family and other contacts, requesting individual tax-deductible donations to the chapter (the revenue from this effort is pooled). Letters are written by the volunteer with considerable help provided by the chapter during the process.
Portland Chapter Family Fees
Need Assistance?
AMIGOS actively recruits and supports inclusion of volunteers from diverse backgrounds. AMIGOS Portland provides need-based financial assistance (FA) with distribution determined by family income, number of dependents, and special financial circumstances.
The Portland Chapter has $20,000 of FA for families who qualify. In some cases the chapter has assisted with over 85% of the cost. Priority for FA will be given to families with adjusted gross incomes of $160,000 per year or less. Families that earn more than this amount will be considered for FA if there are extenuating circumstances. Applications for FA should be completed on the AMIGOS website.
On the application, students should select “Yes” that they intend to apply for financial assistance. Students must select “Yes” to this question in order for the Financial Assistance Application to appear on their dashboard. Then, at the end of the application, they should select, “I request a waiver”.
Applicants applying for financial assistance may request a temporary waiver of the $75 non-refundable application fee. The waiver is temporary while the chapter reviews the financial assistance application and determines an award offer (if any). If the volunteer and family accept the offer to join AMIGOS, they will then be required to pay the $75 non-refundable application fee.
Additional Funding Opportunities
All alumni interested in volunteering again with AMIGOS qualify to apply for the Alumni Award. We highly encourage you to apply for financial assistance.
Alumni and parents of alumni can earn discounts or cash payments for referring the next cohort of AMIGOS volunteers! Learn more about our Alumni Referral Program and sign up to receive your unique referral code.
Contact
- Please reach out to Alexi Bernagros, Portland Chapter Financial Assistance Contact, via email at abernagros@gmail.com with any questions about financial assistance.
Board of Directors
Jeff Spalding
Co-President/Fundraising (Grapefruit)
Alysha Catalano
Co-President
Eric Hill
Treasurer
Jennifer Schmidt
Parent Support/Recruitment
Linda Ganzini
Fundraising (Letters)
David Pribnow
Paperwork/Workspace
Riley Stevenson
Recruitment/Newsletter/Community Events
Alexi Bernagros
Financial Aid
Recruitment and Training Team
Get Started with AMIGOS Portland
Explora nuevas culturas, sirve a las comunidades y forma amistades duraderas en el camino.
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