Top Ten Stories of 2012 on PortlandSocietyPage.com

Portland, April 20th. Supporters of the Children’s Relief Nursery raised over $216,500 at their annual gala. The event featured an Iron Chef competition. Adam Sappington won the top honor for the fourth time by besting Adam Higgs. Higgs was the 2011 Peoples Choice Winner and is the Owner of Acadia Bistro. Schnitzer Steel was represented by: Jamie Wilson, Andy Rohling, Brenda Hein, Isla Wilson, Hasina Squires, Jennifer Hudson, and Pat Christopher

Portland, May 5^th. Portland Center Stage hosted its annual gala and this year’s theme, Blue’s Rendezvous: A Night on the Bayou, was inspired by the soul and history of the blues. Guests included: Ryan Taylor, Angela Taylor, Zach Stepp, Dave Lofland, Briana Gonzales, and Tom Barreto. (Photo Credit, Joni Photo)

Portland, September 22nd. The Children’s Cancer Association’s Hero Gala was neon-bright at the Portland Art Museum. Founder, Regina Ellis, (pictured with KINK’s Sheila Hamilton and local fashion designer, Michelle DeCourcy) introduced a new upbeat program called Give Get Share. CCA parent Chunda Starr shared her personal experience with program and evening ended with a paddle raise, which raised $380,000. (Photo credit, Mariel Klein)

Portland, March 22nd. Friends and nonprofit leaders raised a glass in at Paragon Restaurant to toast the announcement of a special award to be given by PortlandSocietyPage.com. The “Bright Spot Award” is the heartfelt recognition of an event which captures the imagination of our PortlandSocietyPage.com readers. On hand for the announcement were Elizabeth English, Henry Hillman, Nancy Frisch, KINK’s Sheila Hamilton, Jill Schnitzer Edelson, and PortlandSocietyPage.com Editor, Elisa Klein.

Portland, April 14th. Over two-thousand devil-may-care Portlanders raised the roof on a Pearl District warehouse converted for one of the biggest charity benefits of the spring: The Red Dress Party. The massive event, organized by Red Dress PDX , had revelers on their feet dancing till the wee hours of the morning. Guy Bennette, Scott Ruben, Jan Bennette and Cameron Crook were all smiles at the party. Beneficiaries of the event include: Our House, The Cascades AIDS Project Kids’ Connection, The Quest Center for Integrative Health. 

Portland, May 4th. OMSI supporters were invited to a Gala of surprises benefiting future generations of innovators and problem solvers. Gala Chairs, Lynn and Scottie Johnson celebrated with OMSI President, Nancy Stueber at the event. Their objective is to, “Light the path of learning for children and families throughout the Northwest.”

Ashland, February 24th.  The Tony Award–winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival is off and running; watch out for flying pies because Animal Crackers is one of the eleven productions this season. It’s the 1930s vaudevillian musical farce made famous by the Marx Brothers. (Photo credit, Jenny Graham)

Here’s a photo to put you into the mood for Memorial Day weekend, it’s from a 1950′s beauty contest at Jantzen Beach. The photo, from our friends at the Oregon Historical Society, shows contestants Anne Lustavka, Kathleen Kinder, Jane Hoberg and Gloria Albertson. It’s typical of events held during the heyday of Jantzen Beach, on Hayden Island, when the location was an amusement park and and tourist destination (before it was the site of a shopping mall).

Portland, September 29th. Taking a page from P Diddy’s playbook, parents and community members converged on the newly-build home of Sheila Hamilton and Colin Maclean to raise money for their students. (Photo credit, Brian Black) The Riverdale School District Parent Teacher Club helped organize the party and white attire was a must.

Portland, December 7th. More than 800 supporters crowded the Left Bank Annex for Levé’s Ninth Annual Charity Ball. The grass-root charity created by young women in Portland selects a nonprofit each year and “I Have a Dream” Oregon was the fortunate recipient for 2012. The group is close to reaching its $50,000 fundraising goal. Levé board president, Megan Dobson (second from right), sells flair at the Ball to Abby Lee, marketing & communication chair Natasha Dagg and others.