SOLVE Celebrates 45 Years with 2014 Tom McCall Leadership Awards Banquet

Portland, October 24th, 2014. SOLVE supporters enjoyed a night of celebration at The Tom McCall Leadership Awards fundraising banquet. SOLVE honored one of Oregon’s Premier Citizen, Gerry Frank, with the Tom McCall Leadership award. The event took place at The Benson Hotel and presented Oregon Parks and Recreation Department with the inaugural Oregon Champion Awards. The evening raised over $180,000 for SOLVE’s mission and statewide signature programs.

Mark O. Hatfield, Jr. presents Lisa Van Laanen of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department with the inaugural Oregon Champion Award.

Gladstone High School student, Emily Doll, displays trash artwork pieces she created during the live auction.

About SOLVE: SOLVE is a statewide non-profit organization that has been bringing Oregonians together to protect the environment since 1969. The organization has grown from a small, grassroots group to a national model for volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains tens of thousands of volunteers across Oregon to clean up beaches and rivers, and restore watersheds. Visit solveoregon.org for more information.

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.