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Assistance League of Greater Portland Offers Black and White Affair

Dr. Phil Marucha, Dean of OHSU Dental School; Kay Gebhart, President of Greater Portland Chapter, Margaret Asiello, Dr. Noel Larsen and Jamie Marucha

Portland, April 12th, 2014. Members and guests of Assistance League of Greater Portland rolled back time to Vintage Hollywood: A Black & White Affair at the Multnomah Athletic Club. Supporters included Dr. Phil Marucha, Dean of OHSU Dental School; Kay Gebhart, President of Greater Portland Chapter, Margaret Asiello, Dr. Noel Larsen and Jamie Marucha.

Hank and Margie Grootendorst, Carol Bray, Gala Chairman; Jean Armstrong, Advisory Board and in the background Poison Waters, emcee of the event.

Everything was in black and white including all of the photos.

Patrons entered the evening on the stage setting of Casa Blanca where they enjoyed tasty appetizers and champagne before proceeding to the silent auction. Silent auction items included a man’s watch, diamond and pearl cocktail ring, Disney for the kids, hand crafted jewelry items, and Kate Spade purse to name just a few of the items. Trips were the featured items of the oral auction: Bali, South Africa, Italy, Las Vegas and closer to home with Manzanita and SunRiver, diamond earrings, wine tastings and dinners out on the town. The evening netted $75,000 for the chapter’s philanthropic programs

Attending the gala was Jason Zacher who is running 187.8 miles in June for the chapter’s Operation School Bell® philanthropic program. He plans to accomplish this feat in 48 hours. Attendees sponsored his run with a direct donation to the program.

National Assistance League® and its Greater Portland chapter honored Jay and Diane Zidell with The Operation School Bell Award® Saturday April 12 at the chapter’s annual fundraising gala. The Zidells were presented the award for their generous support of the chapter’s philanthropic program Operation School Bell that provide new clothing for over 2600 children in need attending Beaverton and Hillsboro Public Schools.

From the Assistance League of Greater Portland:

We are a nonprofit 501(c)(3) philanthropic organization. Our all volunteer membership is nonsectarian and nonpolitical. Our mission is to perform charitable work within the local community.

Assistance League of Greater Portland has been serving the greater Portland area since 1961 when we were established as a guild. In 1965 we met all the requirements to become a chapter of National Assistance League® which was founded in 1935. Our chapter is one of more than 120 chapters and guilds in 26 states.

Annually, Assistance League returns over $37.7 million to local communities, assisting 1.4 million people. This is made possible by the 26,000 member-volunteers in 120 chapters who contribute 2.86 million service hours.

Operation School Bell®, our signature national program, served 337,000 children last year. Since 1958, more than 3 million children have been assisted.

Elisa Klein

I’ve been a professional journalist and writer since 1987, (and long-time reporter for KOIN-TV.) As a nationally published reporter, with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I love to report positive news and information. Journalism has also connected me with another non-profit where I served as a leader; the Northwest’s biggest writer’s organization: The Willamette Writers.