[VIDEO] 75 Years of Moving Lives Forward: The Story of Metropolitan Family Service (Copy)
From a small family counseling agency founded in 1950 to a cornerstone of equity and connection across generations, Metropolitan Family Service (MFS) has been helping Portland-area families thrive for over 75 years.
Now, you can see that story come to life.
Our new short film traces MFS’s journey—from our post-war beginnings to the community-based organization we are today, working in schools, neighborhoods, and homes across the region. In just a few minutes, you’ll see how one agency grew from counseling into a wide range of services, including:
Transportation for older adults and people with disabilities
Early learning and extended-day programs for kids
Free tax preparation and financial coaching
Hunger relief, community wellness, and more
Along the way, you’ll hear directly from past and current leaders, including Ron Yoder, Gary Withers, Christa Larson, and Judy Strand. They share what it’s meant to walk alongside families for decades—and how our mission has stayed remarkably consistent even as the community and our programs have evolved.
At its heart, the film is about the core promise that continues to guide MFS today:
helping people gain prosperity, promoting equity, and building a connected community for all ages.
Whether you’ve been part of the MFS story for years or you’re just getting to know us, we invite you to take a few minutes, press play, and see what “moving lives forward” looks like across generations.
