BRIEF: Regional United Way gets $700,000 Gates grant.

Byline: Tom Vogt

June 05--United Way of the Columbia-Willamette will receive a $700,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to reduce intergenerational poverty in the Portland-Vancouver area. More than 550,000 people live in poverty in its four-county area (Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington counties in Oregon and Clark County), according to a news release from the Portland-based organization. About two weeks ago, the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington received a similar four-year, $700,000 grant from the Gates Foundation. Rick Melching, Community Foundation executive director, said he has talked with Keith Thomajan, …