Northwest Association for Blind Athletes Raises Over $327,000 at Gala

Portland, OR. Game Changer was the theme of the Northwest Association for Blind Athletes (NWABA) eighth annual Dinner & Auction. The gala at the Red Lion Jantzen Beach on February 25th raised more than $327,000 to provide life-changing opportunities through sports and physical activity to more than 1,300 children, youth, adults and military veterans who are blind and visually impaired. Nearly 500 guests attended to support the organization’s programs for individuals with visual impairments. Jovany Bautista, an NWABA athlete, co-hosted the evening along with Kim Capelelo, Chief Retail Banking Officer, Riverview Community Bank. (Photo credit, Grant Mott) The event celebrated NWABA’s ten-year anniversary of improving the quality of life for individuals with visual impairments in the community.

Billy Henry, Founder & Executive Director, Northwest Association for Blind Athletes thanks the crowd for supporting Northwest Association for Blind Athletes throughout the last decade of delivering programming.

Supporters bid high and often during the organization’s most successful live auction and special appeal to support programs.

About NWABA:
The mission of Northwest Association for Blind Athletes (NWABA) is to provide life-changing opportunities through sports and physical activity to individuals who are blind and visually impaired. The Association was formed by a group of visually impaired students in 2007 to ensure that people who are blind were participating in sports and physical activity. Today, NWABA is a rapidly expanding 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides more than 1,300 children, youth, adults and military veterans with visual impairments tailored programming which improves self-confidence and self-esteem, promotes independence, creates an inclusive community of supporters, and builds the skills necessary to succeed in all areas of life including school and employment.

For information: http://www.nwaba.org or
Contact: bhenry@nwaba.org
Phone: 1-360-718-2826

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.