Friends of the Children’s Benefit Raises Over $1.93 million

Portland, May 9th, 2013. Friends of the Children’s “Friend Raiser” drew 720 of Portland’s business and community leaders to celebrate 20 years of Mentor Power. Priscilla Bernard Wieden & Dan Wieden, founder of Wieden+Kennedy, made their way through the high-five tunnel. The inspiring event, presented by Key Bank, raised over $1.93 million to continue to transform the lives of Portland’s most vulnerable children. This record-breaking fundraising exceeded the prior year’s total by almost half a million dollars. (photo credit, Phototainment and Studio McDermott)

Friends of Children exceeded its goal for the Quest Foundation challenge match of $168,000. The funds will support five professional mentors (known as Friends) and 40 youth in the program. Friends of the Children provides our most vulnerable children a stable relationship with a professional mentor for 12 ½ years – from kindergarten to high school graduation. 12 ½ years. No matter what.

The Friend Raiser benefit was held at the Friends of the Children offices. The steering committee was led by Cindy Campbell, Diana Hall, Geri Miner, and Pam Strickfaden. It was an uplifting party with gourmet food from some of the best restaurants in town. Thanks to the continued success of this event, Friends of Children has been able to provide professional mentors to more vulnerable children than in the past; currently the nonprofit serves over 400 children in over 100 schools in the Portland metropolitan area.

From Friends of Children:

Mission
To provide our most vulnerable children a nurturing and sustained relationship with a professional mentor who teaches positive values and has attainable expectations for each child to become a healthy, productive member of the community.

Vision
To provide a Friend to all vulnerable children who need one and to change the way the world views and treats our most vulnerable children.