Portland, OR. Lilianna “Lili” Rosebrook from Valley Catholic High School was crowned the 2021 Rose Festival Queen on June 18th. Deanna Connell, Lili’s mom, represented St. Mary’s Academy on the 1989 Rose Festival Court and was chosen that year’s queen.
Lili poses with her family including her mother, 1989 Rose Festiva Queen Deanna Connell, in navy blue. When asked on her Court application to name her favorite place to visit in Portland, Lili Rosebrook mentioned the International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park, where she and her family would visit her mother’s signature plaque on the Queen’s Walk.
Lilianna “Lili” Rosebrook learns she has been honored with the crown.
2021 Queen’s Coronation returns to Washington Park Amphitheater and the International Rose Test Garden. Hosted by the Royal Rosarians, the Pageantry of Rosaria included: The Annual Honorary Knighting Ceremony, the Queen’s Coronation, the Queen’s Plaque Laying Ceremony and the Queen’s Garden Party.
Respecting current conditions, the Princesses families, and Rose Festival and Rosarian members had plenty of space in the arena to safely participate in the open-air ceremonies.
Queen Lili would like to pursue a degree in chemical engineering and then go on to medical school. She is a member of the National Honor Society and an AP Scholar who loves running, cooking, singing and dancing with her team. Lili showcased her language skills during her official Court introduction and spoke fondly of cooking traditional Cuban dishes with her grandmother.
Inspired by her dad Philip Rosebrook, who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, Lili has volunteered as a fundraiser the National Multiple Sclerosis Society where she was honored with the “Bright Star of the Year” award in 2018 after raising $25,000 through the Bike MS campaign. “The National MS Society has had a profound impact on my life,” says Lili.
The Rose Festival Queen serves for a full year and will represent Rose Festival at special events and appearances throughout the year. The Rose Festival Court program awards a $3,500 scholarships to each Princess, generously provided by The Randall Group. The program promotes community outreach and volunteerism and perpetuates an appreciation for Rose Festival history and tradition. Court members are offered networking opportunities through the Unitus Community Credit Union mentorship program, which assigns a female executive mentor to each young woman. Queen Lili’s Unitus Community Credit Union Mentor is Megan Snyder, Assistant Vice President of Loan Operations.
From Rose Festival:
The Portland Rose Festival Foundation is grateful for the vital financial support provided by our five Premier Sponsors: Spirit Mountain Casino, Alaska Airlines, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, Fred Meyer, and Portland General Electric.
A special presentation of the 2021 Queen’s Coronation will be broadcast on FOX 12 Oregon and FOX12+, on Sunday, June 20, at 4:00 p.m.
The Portland Rose Festival Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that serves families and individuals with programs and events that promote the arts, education and volunteerism. We value environmental responsibility, diversity, patriotism and our historic & floral heritage.
Portland, OR. On June 20, the summer solstice, people from across the world will fight the darkness of Alzheimer’s through a fundraising activity of their choice. In the Portland area, supporters are doing all kinds of activities. They’ve already raised $100,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association. They’re encouraged to participate in any activity and ask for donations. Jill Watson’s team (seen above) played tennis to raise funds for the Longest Day. Front row: Holly Weyrauch, Andria Neathamer, Nancy Ansboury, Jill Watson, Alisa Rakoz, Carol Luckette, Top row: Delena Palena, Maggie Huck, Trish Peters, Donna Weyand, Joey Erin Ince.
Below are some of the varied ways local volunteers have raised funds.
Colleen Hoss honors her grandmother with the help of Menchie’s restaurant.
Beverly Brooks, used social media campaigns to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Association.
Tiffany Carter bakes in honor of Grandma Drury.
Marie Jennings raises money for the Alzheimer’s Association with team ‘Words When They Can’t Read.’
June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month — the perfect time to join the fight to end Alzheimer’s. Help us provide compassionate care and support and advance critical research with a generous gift today. Here’s a link where you can donate.
Lifestyle Story: Portland, OR. Bumble recently conducted research on how the pandemic has changed dating as singles head into the ‘summer of love.’ The women-first dating app and social networking platform, is revealing how the pandemic has shaped the way that single people are dating this summer and beyond as restrictions are beginning to ease and more people are becoming fully vaccinated within the United States every day.
Nearly 90%4 of American users who have selected their first date preferences within Bumble’s COVID Preferences Center are ready to date In Real Life (IRL) again. Of those ready for an IRL first date, there’s nearly an even split between those who are comfortable with a regular IRL first date (46%)4 or a socially distanced one (41%)4. Bumble has also seen growth particularly in those states and cities where there are higher vaccination rates.
“The pandemic has leveled the dating world like never before and has brought about meaningful changes in behavior that we see having a positive impact on our community long term,” said Whitney Wolfe Herd, CEO and Founder of Bumble. “Historically, this is a time of year where the dating industry sees a considerable increase in activity and we’re experiencing that more than ever heading into this summer season. As our research illustrates, daters are entering this ‘summer of love’ with more intentionality than ever before and are prioritizing safety, compatibility, and shared values as restrictions ease and vaccination rates increase.”
Ahead of the official first day of summer on June 20, Bumble is sharing new research and insights about dating during this ‘summer of love.’
Here’s all the current research from Bumble:
Dating has changed for the better. The time that people spent in lockdown really allowed them to focus on what they are truly looking for while dating, giving them a renewed sense of clarity and confidence in taking control of their dating lives as they begin to meet new people this summer. Through recent research, Bumble has found that people are now dating more intentionally than before the pandemic – they’re being more honest about what they’re looking for in a relationship, whether it’s something casual or serious.
55%2 of Bumble’s global users have said that they are now feeling less willing to compromise on what they want and need from a potential relationship, according to a recent survey.
Nearly 40%1 (38%) of Americans surveyed have noticed an increase in clear communication of expectations and intentions while dating throughout the pandemic.
Nearly 30%1 (28%) have seen a meaningful decline in dead-end conversations as people are being more honest about what they’re looking for in a relationship.
Nearly 40%1 (39%) respondents have noticed a meaningful decline in ghosting while dating throughout the pandemic.
Over 30%1 (31%) have said that they noticed a meaningful decline in catfishing.
Online dating is just… dating
It’s no surprise that people have adapted to new ways of communicating and dating to find and explore meaningful connections throughout the pandemic.
91%1 of the Americans surveyed believe that there is no longer a stigma attached to meeting someone online or through a dating app since the pandemic began.
An overwhelming two-thirds1 (65%) think that it’s possible to fall in love with someone that they’ve never met in person before.
Nearly 40%1 (38%) enjoy going on virtual dates as they find that it’s safer to engage with a match virtually before meeting in person.
1 in 31 (31%) like virtual dates because it saves them time and money.
1 in 41 (26%) appreciate that they only have to get partially ready (“half-glam”) when going on a video date.
Many are also leaning more into other means of virtual communication – 1 in 41 (25%) of those surveyed have sent someone an audio message this past year.
Safety is still top of mind
Following a year in quarantine, safety is still top of mind and many are continuing to prioritize discussions on precautions and COVID vaccination statuses before meeting someone in person for the first time.
More than 54%2 of Bumble’s global users feel more safety conscious than before the pandemic.
Vaccination status is essential to many, as 30%1 Americans surveyed would not go on a date or have sex with someone who hasn’t received the COVID vaccine.
Bumble announced its plans to launch a “Vaccinated” Badge in profiles this summer within the US and the UK. By adding the badge, people will be able to show on their dating profile whether they have been vaccinated for COVID-19. Bumble will also offer complimentary credits for premium features, such as Spotlight and SuperSwipe, to those who enable the “Vaccinated” Badge later this summer.
To help its community feel comfortable dating right now and to help normalize conversations about dating during the pandemic, Bumble has added a COVID Preferences Center that can be accessed by tapping the profile icon within the Bumble app. After matching with someone, both individuals will be able to see what the other person’s dating preferences are – such as meeting outdoors and in uncrowded places only – and what precautions they want to take.
Bumble also offers a Safety Center, which is available online and within the app by tapping the profile icon. Bumble’s Safety Center provides a compilation of resources and tools to help its community date confidently.
Shared values are more important than ever before
The way that people are now approaching conversations around race and intersectional inequalities while dating has completely shifted after a year that re-ignited powerful social justice moments.
Since the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in 2020, nearly 2 in 53 (38%) Americans surveyed said that they have re-evaluated how they approach race and inequality in their romantic relationships.
This number is even more significant for Black respondents, as more than 1 in 23 (53%) Black Americans are now re-evaluating how they approach race and inequality while dating since last year’s events.
62%3 of respondents say that it is important for them to talk about key social issues on a first date, such as gender equality, politics, race, or the environment.
75%3 would only date someone if a majority of their political and social views align.
1 in 23 (51%) respondents believe that activism is now a more important part of society than their parents considered it to be during their generation.
Wolfe Herd continues: “Over the course of the pandemic, we’ve remained intently focused on listening to our community to understand how their needs have evolved and we have continued to innovate our product to meet that demand. We are always looking for ways to enhance the user experience by listening closely to user feedback and will continue to do so moving forward.”
Over the past year, Bumble has made several updates to its platform, including introducing 150 new interest badges in dating profiles and launching its “Night In” feature, where two people can participate in an interactive game during a video chat. The company also recently launched Snap’s AR Lenses within Bumble video calls and launched video notes that utilize Snapchat’s technology.
Research background:
1 Based on insights commissioned by Bumble and carried out online by Censuswide. Surveys were conducted with a sample of 1,003 single adults in the United States between May 4th to 10th, 2021. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society, which is based on the ESOMAR principles.
2 Based on a survey conducted on the Bumble app among those based in Australia = 1,215, US = 1,598, UK = 1,272 during Q2 2021.
3 Based on insights commissioned by Bumble and carried out online by Research Without Barriers (RWB). The survey was conducted with a sample of 1,002 adults in the United States between May 14 to 17, 2021. All research conducted adheres to the UK Market Research Society (MRS) code of conduct (2019) and ICC/ESOMAR (international). RWB is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office and complies with the DPA (1998).
4 Based on proprietary Bumble platform insights in the US, June 2021.
About Bumble app: Bumble, the women-first social networking app, was founded by CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd in 2014. Bumble connects people across dating (Bumble Date), friendship (Bumble BFF) and professional networking (Bumble Bizz). No matter the type of relationship, women make the first move on Bumble. Bumble is built on the importance of equitable relationships and how crucial they are to a healthy, happy life. They’ve built their platform around kindness, respect, and equality – and their community plays an important part in that. Bumble holds its users accountable for their actions and has zero-tolerance for hate, aggression, or bullying. Bumble is free and available worldwide in the App Store and Google Play.
Portland, OR. Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) hosted its annual Canine Heroes Gala on June 6th. This year the event took place on a free, virtual platform that allowed for viewers from across the U.S., Canada, and beyond to see both GDB campuses and enjoy stories and photos of heroic guide dogs. Some guide dogs were dressed in superhero costumes to illustrate their life-changing actions. Others appeared in pictures, like the 8-week old guide dog puppy in training named Beatrice who is seen above.
Guide Dogs for the Blind President and CEO, Chris Benninger with Liam Mayclem, an Emmy award-winning radio and TV personality, GDB Vice President of Outreach, Admissions, and Alumni Services, Theresa Stern, accompanied by two guide dogs.
This guide dog shows off his superhero cape.
The Virtual Canine Heroes Gala was hosted by Liam Mayclem, an Emmy Award-winning TV and radio personality, and GDB Vice President of Outreach, Admissions, and Alumni Services, Theresa Stern alongside her guide dog. The gala also featured several vignettes of some four-legged GDB friends which were narrated by Grammy and Emmy Award-winning composer, James Newton Howard.
GDB had 1,220 households register for the event which raised over $350,000. Donors all across the world provided a large amount of financial support to the nonprofit organization’s life-changing mission. After the live event ended, GDB hosted a virtual auction that ran from June 2nd-9th, which allowed people to bid on a wide range of items in support of the organization.
The President and CEO of GDB, Chris Benninger, provided updates on the nonprofit’s plans and topped the evening off by delivering a GDB puppy. The adorable 8-week old black lab puppy, Beatrice, was given to a volunteer puppy raiser to begin her journey to becoming a fully-trained canine hero.
Here’s a video from the organization which also has spoken narration for those with limited sight. Meet GDB client Walter Elias and his black Lab guide dog, Frommer. Walter was interviewed on the grounds of GDB’s Oregon campus. Other footage and photos show Walter and Frommer hiking through a forest, and walking through neighborhoods with his two instructors.
From Guide Dog’s for the Blind: Guide Dogs for the Blind is a passionate community that prepares highly qualified guide dogs to empower individuals who are blind or visually impaired to move through the world more safely and confidently. GDB not only improves mobility for its clients, but it also furthers inclusion and advocates for policy reforms that change how the world views blindness. All of GDB’s services are free to participants and the organization receives no government funding, which makes events like the Canine Heroes Virtual Gala such a pivotal fundraiser each year.
Portland, OR. Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is restoring much of its summer programming in 2021 with resources from the Parks Local Option Levy which passed in November of 2020. Click here for an interactive map to find a park.
All seven outdoor public pools and five indoor pools will open on Tuesday, June 22nd. Additionally, Free Lunch + Play will be off and running. It supports families by offering nutritious meals and recreational activities during the summer recess. Free Lunch + Play runs from June 21st through August 20th. Click here for a link to that program.
During the school year, 57% of young Portlanders qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Without school lunches, summer becomes the time when nearly 50,000 Portland children face hunger daily.
Free Lunch + Play offers accessible meal service and engaging activities for kids age 18 and under.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the summer will still look a bit different. In summer 2021, Portland Parks & Recreation’s primary goal is to keep our community healthy and to protect the public from the spread of COVID-19. PP&R designed outdoor summer programming to meet public health guidance and to be flexible as conditions change. Due to public health guidance, some PP&R sites and programs may need to operate at reduced capacity or change locations.
Arts classes and camps
Multnomah Arts Center will offer outdoor camps and virtual classes. Community Music Center will offer outdoor classes at Kenilworth Park and virtual classes.
Fitness in the Park PP&R has ten parks (twice the amount of last year!) featuring outdoor fitness programs such as yoga, exercise, and Zumba classes.
Free Lunch + Play
Free nutritious meals for youth ages 1-18. Plus free, drop-in activities and special events including art and music activities, pop-up performances, book/reading events, sports, games, and more. No registration required.
Pop-up Performances
Summer Free For All will present small, surprise, “pop-up” performances by local artists at Free Lunch + Play sites and other parks around the city.
Interactive Fountains and Splash Pads
Interactive fountains are open during park hours starting in mid-May, remaining on through early autumn. Splash pads are open daily from June 11 through September 6, between 11:00 am and 7:00 pm.
Ladybug Nature Walks
Guided family programs to connect Portlanders to the natural environment.
Lifelong Recreation (formerly known as Senior Recreation)
Virtual programs and outdoor activities available to Portlanders ages 60 and up.
Nature Day Camps
Summer day camps for kids to hike and explore nature.
Summer Camps
Outdoor day camps, sports, and art camps for ages 5-12 at 20 locations across the city. Camp group sizes are limited and campers will remain with other participants of similar ages.
Swimming pools and lessons*
All seven outdoor public pools and five indoor pools will open on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, if health conditions and staffing allow. Pools will have swim lessons and water exercise classes by reservation only, and limit other offerings to protect public health. Lap swim and water fitness reservations at indoor pools are available between 5:30 am and 12:30 pm.
Here’s a video about Portland Parks:
Community Centers
Community centers will support outdoor COVID-19-responsive programming this summer. Community centers will not be open to the public this summer, regardless of public health guidance. PP&R looks forward to the centers reopening in the fall of 2021.
NONPROFIT BENEFIT TICKET GIVEAWAYS!
Sign up for our free weekly highlights for the chance to win two tickets terrific nonprofit events! If you "like" us on facebook, or sign up for our weekly news highlights, you'll be entered to win! Sign up today!
Look for another ticket giveaway soon! Are you a nonprofit looking to bolster your publicity with facebook and tweets? Email us and we'll run a contest with tickets to your event! [email protected]
