On Company Time: Serendipity Center

The world can be a lot – and for kids, that experience is often amplified. Fortunately, there are places like Serendipity Center: a private, nonprofit K-12+ therapeutic school located in Portland, Oregon. Since 1979, Serendipity Center has provided an essential alternative for thousands of students who weren’t getting the support they needed in traditional school settings.

Rachel Gardell, beloved LD Producer and a long-time Serendipity board member, has thoughtfully utilized her production expertise, helping tell the school’s story through compelling video. For the recent 2025 fundraising event, she teamed up with filmmaker (and LD superstar editor) Kel Embry, who wrote, directed, and edited a powerful video that captures the heart of Serendipity’s mission. Check it out 👇

Serendipity Center envisions a world where every child has access to education that empowers them to succeed, where therapeutic support is not only available but tailored to meet emotional and behavioral needs. The school champions a model of therapeutic education that prioritizes mental health, fosters understanding, and creates real pathways to learning for children facing unique challenges because every child deserves to be seen, supported, and provided with effective pathways to learning.

We all have causes and communities we care about. If Serendipity’s mission resonates with you, there are plenty of ways to get involved and help make a difference. 

Rachel, Kel, and Kyle at the recent Serendipity "Shining Stars" fundraiser