Meet Della Rae

Performing 1000 mitzvahs makes hip Jewish mama Linda Cohen an expert on do-gooding. So we got very excited when she suggested another do-gooder as her most fascinating person. Heres' what Linda had to say about Della Rae:

Donors Resource is an online service that connects donors who have stuff to give away with non profits that need their stuff. It's an immediate connection. Kind of a Craig's List but one that goes both ways and is a bit more specific. She found a need in the community and met it. She is definitely a do gooder but also one of the most "real" people I have met in a while. No pretention. Just the real deal.

Welcome Della.

1. What motivates you to get up in the morning?

Morning is my favorite time of day and the thought of being able to have another chance to learn, be of service and further mold the print I plan to leave behind motivates me.

2. What keeps you awake at night? What obsesses you?

I practice meditation and I can’t say that much obsesses me or keeps me awake at night. Sure, I mull over things, some more than others, but at the end of the day I sleep!

3. What do you struggle with most?

I struggle with being the focus of DonorsResource.org. It’s not about me. It’s about the connections being made. It’s about the people who want to give and those in need. It’s about the opportunity where anyone can pay it forward.

4. What is the most valuable lesson you've learned?

The past several months left me faced with three significant hardships that presented in different forms but led back to the same two lessons; “The first law of the jungle is self survival” and “We give our power away when become concerned with other peoples opinions.”

5. What is your personal philosophy or motto?

I say what I mean and I mean what I say.

In 2005, Della Rae realized the magnitude of poverty in the Portland area and co-founded Sisters of the Community, a nonprofit organization committed to distributing household goods to families in need. After distributing over 20,000 items within 18 months she realized the need for an online solution and created DonorsResource.org, an online hub that connects people who want to give in-kind donations with nonprofits that need them.

Della’s professional awards include ’07 Regence BlueCross BlueShield Hero Award, ’08 Portland Business Journal 40 under 40 Award, ’08 SAFECO Foundation National Hero Award and ’09 Delta Sigma Theta Woman of Excellence Community Service Award.

A Portland native and jazz enthusiast, Della is passionate about bringing people together and providing an arena to pay it forward.