Gala Under the Stars Sparkles at the Portland Japanese Garden

Portland, OR. The Portland Japanese Garden celebrated its 55^th Anniversary Gala on August 4th. Gala Co-chairs Robert Zagunis, Wayne Drinkward and Julie Drinkward welcomed guests for the Garden’s first formal dinner under the stars in its new Cultural Village. Gala fundraisers at the Portland Japanese Garden occur only once every five years. For this 55th Anniversary Gala, more than $350,000 was raised for expanded artistic and cultural programming.

Designed by world-renowned Japanese Architect Kengo Kuma and Garden Curator Sadafumi Uchiyama, the Garden’s award-winning expansion was unveiled in 2017.

Gwyneth Gamble-Booth

The Cultural Village and Gardens themselves now provide a stunning backdrop for a summer evening.

Jordan Schnitzer visited with guests. Arlene Schnitzer and Jordan Schnitzer were presenting sponsors for the event.

It was a lantern-lit evening.

Honored guests, who made remarks at the event, were His Excellency Shinsuke Sugiyama, Ambassador of Japan to the United States and The Honorable Kate Brown, Governor of Oregon.

The artistic highlight of the evening was a performance by Japanese pianist, Junko Ichikawa, whose appearance was made possible courtesy of the Omomuki Foundation.

From Portland Japanese Garden:

THANK YOU TO OUR GALA PLANNING COMMITTEE

Julie & Wayne Drinkward, Co-chairs
Deborah & Robert Zagunis, Co-chairs

Decor: Sandra Chandler, Dede DeJager, and Rebecca Teasdale
Invitations: Katherine Frandsen and Dorie Vollum
Menu: Cathy Rudd and Dorie Vollum
Hospitality: Julia Drinkward

Gwyneth Gamble Booth
Dean Dordevic
Gail Jubitz
Piper A. Park
Lucy Reynolds
Steve Bloom, CEO

THANK YOU TO OUR GALA SPONSORS

PRESENTING SPONSORS

Arlene Schnitzer and Jordan Schnitzer

PHOENIX

Julie and Wayne Drinkward
Gail and Fred Jubitz
Deborah and Robert Zagunis
The William G. Gilmore Foundation

CRANE

Dr. Jack Blumberg
Hoichi Kurisu, Kurisu International
Piper A. Park, The Park Foundation
Cathy and Jim Rudd
Catherine and Taisuke Sasanuma
Delta Air Lines and Port of Portland
Piacentini Investments
Torii Mor Winery

EGRET

Gwyneth Gamble Booth
Sandra Chandler and Chris Schaefer
Dede and Joe DeJager
Susan and Greg Fitz-Gerald
Katherine and Mark Frandsen
Janelle and Lee Jimerson
Salena Johnson
Drs. Mayho and Calvin Tanabe
Priscilla Bernard Wieden and Dan Wiedan
Brown Printing
Devil’s Food Catering
Joto Sake
Moonstruck Chocolate Co.
Omomuki Foundation
The Party Place

SWALLOW

Suzanne Storms Berselli and Dr. Robert Berselli
Evona Brim, Julia Brim-Edwards, and Randall Edwards
Cameron and Dick Davis
Kerstin and Joshua Husbands
Rebecca and Dr. Russell Teasdale
Dorie and Larry Vollum
Carmen Wong and Arjun Chatrath
Ajinomoto Foods
Geffen Mesher

PATRON TABLE HOSTS

Kathi and Dean Dordevic
Fran and John von Schlegell

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.