Portland, OR. “Heart Is Where The Home Is” was the theme for a recent Cedar Sinai Park virtual benefit which raised over $533,000 to support local seniors. Ari Shapiro, one of the hosts of NPR’s All Things Considered, served as the benefit’s emcee on March 13th. The Beaverton HS grad, seen above, connected with guests from his home in Washington, D.C. He helped viewers understand the work of the mission-based nonprofit founded on Jewish values. Cedar Sinai Park offers a wide variety of residential settings and services on its SW Portland campus and in the community.
Daniel Shoemaker, the owner of Teardrop Lounge offers special virtual cocktail/mocktail lessons for supporters.
Six 13, a nationally-known a cappella group, performs an original song during the online event.
Cantor Eyal Bitton, Congregation Neveh Shalom, and Cantor Ida Rae Cahana, Congregation Beth Israel perform “Happy Days Are Here Again!”
Presenting Sponsors included Sandi and Ralph Miller, Jordan Schnitzer / The Harold & Arlene Schnitzer Family Fund, and Marcy Tonkin.
About Cedar Sinai Park: Cedar Sinai Park has been serving Portland’s seniors for over 100 years. Dedicated to helping people live life to the fullest at any stage, Cedar Sinai Park offers assisted living, nursing home, and rehabilitation services conveniently on 27 beautiful acres in SW Portland. Visit www.cedarsinaipark.org for more information! To schedule a tour, please contact 503-535-4000. Cedar Sinai Park is located at 6140 SW Boundary St., Portland OR 97221.Portland, OR.
Portland, OR. SOLVE volunteers are picking up trash in downtown Portland. The nonprofit is also gearing up for Earth day. The theme for Earth Day 2021 is Restore Our Earth, which focuses on natural processes, emerging green technologies, and innovative thinking. More than 1 billion people in 192 countries now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world.
SOLVE is launching a new statewide event this April, which coincides with Earth Day, called the Oregon Spring Cleanup. This new event has its roots in the Spring Oregon Beach Cleanup (created in 1986) and SOLVE IT for Earth Day (started in 1990). Organizers say, “We hope the Oregon Spring Cleanup will become a new family tradition for your loved ones to join with other Oregonians in making the state a better place for both humans and wildlife, from Astoria to Brookings, Bandon to Burns, and all points in between.”
Students from Rosemary Anderson High School recently removed 320 pounds of litter from the Piedmont neighborhood in NE Portland.
There are dozens of opportunities for celebrating Earth Day with SOVLE this year! Projects occur on various dates between April 10 and April 25. You can check out the list of projects and search by date and location, or you can check out the project map to find an event of interest to you. Here’s a link.
About SOLVE:
Founded in 1969, SOLVE’s mission is to bring Oregonians together to improve our environment and build a legacy of stewardship.
SOLVE restores and preserves Oregon’s environment by mobilizing the power of volunteers and partners with the generosity of donors. Across the state, we bring diverse communities together to improve the health and safety of our neighborhoods and natural areas including our coast, rivers, parks, and forests.
We implement litter cleanups because we know the importance of keeping our neighborhoods safe and healthy, while also understanding the importance of picking up litter before it heads downstream, impacting our shared ocean.
We orchestrate year-round beach cleanups because we know they are essential to reducing the harmful effects of plastic pollution and other marine debris.
We plant native trees and shrubs and remove invasive species to help Oregon’s habitats stay healthy, so they can continue to support a wealth of pollinators and other wildlife.
Beaverton, OR. The Assistance League of Greater Portland held a “No Fooling Fundraiser” on March 31st. Assistance League Board Members Janice Cushman and Mary Johnson helped promote the event.
Assistance League Good Fella volunteer Brian Farrell invited donations at the nonprofit’s thrift shop. Many shoppers donated, including one shopper who was moved to give $1,000.
With the cancellation of the nonprofit’s annual in-person benefit for a second year, and reduced hours for Assistance League Thrift and Consignment Shop, volunteers decided they needed to get creative. The Assistance League sent a series of emails, social media posts, and direct mail to supporters. The event raised over $68,000. Business sponsors included US Bank, Albina Co., Inc., Dustin Funes Real Estate Group, and OnPoint Community Credit Union.
A video starring local celebrity, Poison Waters, (aka Kevin Cook) thanked supporters.
Assistance League of Greater Portland:
Assistance League of Greater Portland has been transforming lives and strengthening community since 1965. Assistance League volunteers serve the community with local programs, including Operation School Bell®, which provides new clothes for children who are in great need; Assault Survivor Kits®, providing fresh outfits for victims after emergency care; activities for youth in residential treatment; and vocational scholarships. Assistance League Thrift and Consignment Shop is located at Assistance League’s office at 4000 SW 117th Avenue in Beaverton and is currently open on Saturdays from noon to 4:00 p.m. Visit the website for updates on hours open at https://portland.assistanceleague.org/###Our YouTube channel has both videos – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcUHrrVzU8RME2WeGWV3R9g
A Lifestyle story: The television show, Top Chef is back with its 18th season and this year features Portland, Oregon. The episodes air on Thursday nights on Bravo.
During the season, chefs are put to the test in a variety of challenges, including celebrating PDX’s Pan-African cuisine, feeding hundreds of frontline workers, a surf and turf elimination challenge honoring the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
Portlandia stars Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein also stop by the Top Chef Kitchen for a Quickfire Challenge.
Crabbing on the Oregon Coast features a tribute to the culinary icon and Oregonian, James Beard.
Contestants also visit some of Oregon’s most famous locations, including the Hood River Fruit Loop and Tillamook Creamery. This season’s Restaurant Wars will be unlike any other as the teams must execute a micro-restaurant concept with a cohesive seven-course tasting menu.
These executive chefs and restaurant owners from all across the country each bring a unique set of skills and a diverse culinary point-of-view to the competition. In addition to the coveted title of Top Chef, this season’s winning chef will receive $250,000 furnished by S.Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water, a feature in FOOD & WINE magazine, and an appearance at the annual FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen.
Host Padma Lakshmi is back to help determine who will be crowned this season’s Top Chef.
Meet the Top Chef Season 18 cheftestants, who head judge Tom Colicchio says “could be one of the best collections of chefs we’ve had on the show in 18 seasons” in the trailer for the new season, below:
In addition to the coveted title of Top Chef, this season’s winning chef will receive $250,000 furnished by S.Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water, a feature in FOOD & WINE magazine, and an appearance at the annual FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen.
Portland, OR. More than $400,000 was raised during the Oregon Episcopal School (OES) online auction and livestream with multiple outdoor-themed adventures up for bidding. Auctioneer Johnna Wells introduced items up for bid during the glamping-themed virtual event. It was the second virtual auction for OES during the pandemic. About $280,000 of the funds raised are for the school’s annual tuition assistance budget for families who need financial help.
Oregon Episcopal School (OES) Auction Chairs Tammy Moe and Janice Pulley embrace the glamping theme during their virtual address to online viewers.
Camping props like the realistic-looking cloth s’mores and fire were created by Raise Agent.
Under a twilight-inspired sky complete with shooting stars, a campfire, and s’mores, Oregon Episcopal School’s glamping-themed virtual auction on March 13th was a success.
“I never thought a year ago when we did our first virtual auction that we’d be doing a second virtual auction … but here we are,” said Board Chair Dan Drinkward ‘95, via videotaped message during the livestream. “And what a year it’s been.
“It’s been a challenging year for all of us, but we’ve come through as a community that is stronger and, I think, better. We have kids back on campus, which brought me so much joy to see that at the end of this challenging year, we have some hope for the long term.”
The auction chairs were Tammy Moe and Janice Pulley, and they donned glamping attire, fired up their electric campfire, and sent virtual greetings to attendees from a woodsey setting.
Said OES Head of School Mo Copeland to attendees: “We are here and doing the beautiful job we are doing because of the strength of our community. And that’s all of you, and every one of us who has made us function beautifully during this time.”
A handful of students, parents, and alumni spoke about the shining stars in their lives, and what the OES community means to them, especially during the pandemic.
Fifth grader Brady sent a taped virtual shout-out, thanking his teachers for their exceptional support over the past year. “I know [remote learning] is harder for them,” he said, “but they make it so it’s not like, impossible, for us to make it possible.”
Here’s a video overview of the independent, pre-k to grade 12, day and boarding school with input from students, faculty, the administrative team, and admissions staff: the 2020 Virtual Open House.
From OES:
Oregon Episcopal School offers an inquiry-based education that prepares students for higher education and lifelong learning. We are a community of learners in which excellent faculty engage small groups of students to foster their curiosity and inspire them to cultivate their power to do good work in the world.
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