Portland, OR. “It is rare for a school to be around for 150 years, especially in Oregon,” Head of School Mo Copeland said at OES’s 1869 Philanthropy Leadership Reception on October 23rd. “One reason we’re here celebrating this milestone is that we’re blessed with strong leadership. We have donors such as you to thank for their time, their generosity, and their continued support of our mission all these years.”
Known for excellence in preparing students for higher education and lifelong learning, Oregon Episcopal School in southwest Portland, celebrated its sesquicentennial at an annual reception for leadership donors. Parents Shubha Venkatesh, Sesha Varadarajan, Dr. Ralph Schweinfurth, and Dr. Leyan Fernandes-Schweinfurth, posed for a photo at the 1869 Philanthropy Leadership Reception.
OES Board of Trustee Member Lucy Reynolds with OES Head of School Mo Copeland.
Dr. Vivek Deshmukh and his wife, OES Fund Chair and current parent Kristin Deshmukh
Founded as St. Helen’s Hall, an independent day and boarding school for young women, the school opened its doors on September 6, 1869, at 4th and Jefferson (today the site of City Hall) with 50 students enrolled. Today, on its fourth campus with 880 students in grade PreK-12, OES remains one of the few independent, co-educational, day and boarding Episcopal schools in the country, and is the oldest school of its kind west of the Rockies.
Parents, alumni, faculty, and staff celebrated the school’s sesquicentennial at the annual reception, with student group Cø7 playing instrumental music in the background.
Board of Trustees Chair Dan Drinkward `95, noted that 2018-19 was a historic fundraising year for the school, with more than $10 million raised in annual giving and for a new athletic facility.
“Because of you, we’re able to make important investments for the classroom today, and the campus in the future,” he said. “Thank you for your leadership!”
From OES:
Among the woodlands, wetlands, and wildlife of the hills of Southwest Portland lies the unique educational experience that is Oregon Episcopal School. The school occupies a 59-acre campus where 870 students in Pre-K– Grade 12 share an excellent faculty, a college preparatory curriculum, and a strong sense of community.
Offering a true liberal arts curriculum, OES is dedicated to scholarship and an enriched academic environment of “learning by doing” that strives to help each individual reach his or her fullest potential. Small classes provide intimate learning environments that allow teachers to instill in each student a love for learning and the joy of discovery. Learn more about our Academic philosophy and Essential Competencies.
The oldest Episcopal school west of the Rockies, OES values developing the spirit as well as the mind. Though steeped in Episcopal heritage and tradition, the school welcomes students of all beliefs. We provide instruction about all major faiths, and encourage individuals to discover their own spiritual path. Learn more about our Episcopal tradition.
Portland, OR. United Cerebral Palsy of Oregon & SW Washington (UCP) honored business leaders committed to employing Oregonians who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities. The happy hour event on October 24th was held at The Armory. UCP Employment Solutions Director Melissa Miller posed with a group from Bridge Law including Partner Kelsyn Bevins, Jay, who is a Bridge Law supported employee, and Bridge Law Partner Lewis Farmer.
Ryan Farrow, Supported Employment Program Manager at CBRE, Nike Account
Travis Bernard, UCP Oregon Recruiter presents in one of three micro-workshops at the event.
Melissa Miller, UCP Employment Solutions with Kathy Allsworth, HR Manager with Fred Meyer receiving the Disability Leadership Award.
Fulcrum Fitness, Employer of the Year Award. Pictured: Owner, David Levy (Center), with supported employees, Henry, Serena, and Olivia.
Adam Hewitt, Employment Specialist with UCP Employment Solutions speaks to the group.
The happy hour event included micro-workshops to educate businesses interested in supported employment. Partnering for Easy Recruitment, The Etiquette of Inclusion, and Diverse Job Descriptions. More information about Employment Solutions can be found under Services at ucporegon.org.
From UCP Oregon:
UCP Oregon began in 1955 by supporting adults who experienced cerebral palsy. But today we do so much more than that! We assist adults and kids of all ages, who experience all kinds of developmental disabilities.
About Employment Solutions:
Employment Solutions is a service of UCP Oregon and has been connecting businesses with qualified candidates since its inception in 2006. Candidates are vetted to determine their best job match and supports are put into place to ensure employment success. Employment Solutions partners with hundreds of businesses in Portland, Clackamas, WA County and Hood River to increase diversity, productivity and profitability for local businesses. Some of the benefits of partnering with Employment Solutions are no-cost, on-site coaching, assistance with accommodations, and consultation on topics such as ADA compliance and filing tax credits. Our experienced team customizes the level of supports based on the needs of each business.
About AbilityAware:
An AbilityAware employer is a community-focused business, committed to advancing employment opportunities for people with disabilities, and in turn cultivating a strong local economy. Employers have earned this designation and can proudly display the AbilityAware plaque and signage in their workplace. Learn more about being an AbilityAware employer here.
Portland, OR. “We are not the survival of the fittest. We are the survival of the nurtured,” explained Central City Concern (CCC) President and CEO Rachel Solotaroff during the nonprofit’s annual Compassion In Action luncheon. Rachel posed for a photo with Bobby Tsow, Medina Kurney, Bobby Watts. The benefit took place at the Downtown Hilton on October 15th and was a celebration of four decades of CCC helping people find home, hope and healing. In total, the CCC 2019 Compassion In Action campaign raised over $290,000. (Photo credit, Andie Petkus)
David Northfield, CCC Board Members, Andy Davidson and Dr. Richard Gibson
Central City Coffee Crew
Onlookers learn of Central City Concern’s roots by viewing timelines created for each decade. For 40 years, Central City Concern has provided recovery treatment, housing, health care and employment services for hundreds of thousands of people in Portland impacted by homelessness.
Presenting sponsor US Bank and Rachel Solotaroff, M.D., Central City Concern, President & CEO
With a blast of horns, Portland-based 12-piece funk and soul band Soul Vaccination kicked off the day’s program, performing their hit song “Funk P-Town” with several lyrics altered to celebrate CCC’s 40th anniversary.
CCC President and CEO Rachel Solotaroff then took the stage, thanking elected officials in attendance; the event’s Presenting, Home of Our Own and Ready to Work sponsors; and several corporate partners who have given to CCC for more than 20 years. Rachel went on to speak about a concept that is vital to the staff members, clients and the very spirit of CCC: resilience. She shared that resilience “isn’t something people are born with. It’s something people are given, and they are given it through human connection…resilience requires relationships, not rugged individualism.”
G. Robert (Bobby) Watts, CEO of National Health Care for the Homeless Council, served as the luncheon’s keynote speaker. Bobby tapped into the deep familiarity with CCC’s work that he’s developed as the leader of the nation’s preeminent membership organization of homeless health care organizations, people with lived experience of homelessness and advocates. CCC is, Bobby said, “doing some things that no one else is doing and they are doing some things better than most others are doing. We, as a council, are going to rely on them.”
Bobby then pivoted to speaking about homelessness as a national epidemic. He shared that our collective hope and goal should be moving toward “compassionate justice”: a society that not only sees housing and health care as human rights, but provides them as such. Our path toward that goal consists of doing what we know works: affordable housing and housing subsidies, health care to people experiencing homelessness, supportive housing, medical respite, practicing a Housing First approach, trauma-informed care, harm reduction and addressing racism.
The audience was treated to the premiere of “40 Years of Hope and Healing: The Human Connection,” a video feature that showed the transformative ripple effect of making a human connection through the stories of two long-time CCC employees, Bobby T. and Medina.
Here’s the video:
Stacey Dodson, market president at U.S. Bank, followed the video to make the pitch. Before she began her ask, however, she shared about her intimate connection to the devastation that addiction can ravage on families, making the work of CCC all the more vital to our community.
Soul Vaccination closed the program with three more songs, including a raucous version of Earth Wind & Fire’s “September.”
From Central City Concern:
Central City Concern meets its mission through innovative outcome-based strategies that support personal and community transformation.
Direct access to housing which supports lifestyle change.
Integrated healthcare services that are highly effective in engaging people who are often alienated from mainstream systems.
The development of peer relationships that nurture and support personal transformation and recovery.
Attainment of income through employment or accessing benefits.
Portland, OR. Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) raised over $810,000 at its annual Hearts & Hands Gala, on October 5th. It was RMHC’s biggest event of the year and funds will help provide thousands of families with compassionate hospitality at the four Oregon Ronald McDonald Houses so that they can focus on the health of their child. At the benefit RMHC kids, 4-year-old twins John & Glen Letos, help auctioneer Dale Johannes draw the winning ticket for a 1.0-carat diamond. They were among the 500 supporters who gathered at The Nines to raise money, and also celebrate the opening of two new Ronald McDonald Houses earlier this year in the South Waterfront and Springfield. “Before 2019, it wasn’t unusual for us to turn away 20 families a day – but not anymore,” said Jessica Jarratt Miller, CEO of RMHC. “Thanks to our generous community, like our presenting sponsor, John L. Scott, we are now able to welcome 79 pediatric patient families every night – providing a home away from home to more families than ever before. Our amazing community of supporters means so much to us and every hospitalized child and family that we serve!”
Charlene Zidell and Jessica Jarratt Miller, CEO of RMHC, share a hug before the auction.
Guests from Presenting Sponsor John L. Scott Foundation are all smiles.
Long-standing donors and supporters including Claudine Tanner (third from right) enjoy the cocktail hour.
Joe Ness, SVP and Chief Operating Officer at OHSU, (second from right) enjoys the silent disco with his family.
Cylie Lagaos, an RMHC guest, pulls the Golden Ticket for auctioneer Dale Johannes.
Angie Fogg (center) and Marquis supporters share a celebratory toast.
Jessica Jarratt Miller, CEO of RMHC, 2019 Kilts for Kids Kiltmasters, Josh Johnston, Owner of Paddy’s Bar & Grill, Alisa Mussone, and Joe Squires, President of Squires Electric.
RMHC Friends of the House Young Professionals Board members: Sean Ray (Barran Liebman), Evan Hayashi (Hayashi Wealth Management), Hank Iba (Deloitte & Touche), Lily McFadden, RMHC Director of Programs & Community Engagement, Danielle Fogg, Trisha James (Marquis Companies), and Katy Zahrte (Marquis Companies).
Board Chair, David Payne, (fifth from right) and guests from The Standard raise their paddles to support a family for one night.
Guests browsed items in the silent auction as they enjoyed wines from the critically-acclaimed Ken Wright Cellars. Emcee Shauna Parsons, of KPTV-TV, introduced guests including several RMHC kids. There was also a record-breaking paddle raise led by auctioneer Dale Johannes of Artisan Auctions.
Here’s a video about 4-year-old twins, John & Glen Letos and their family’s journey:
From Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Oregon & SW Washington:
Our Mission
Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Oregon & SW Washington provides access to medical care, a “home away from home,” and a community of support for seriously ill or injured children and their families.
Keeping Families Close Since 1984
After two years of planning, the first Oregon Ronald McDonald House opened in 1984 within walking distance of OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital and Shriners Hospital for Children. In 1997, two more Ronald McDonald Houses opened: one in Bend, serving families who traveled for care at St. Charles Medical Center, and a second in Portland, just steps away from Randall Children’s Hospital on the campus of Legacy Emanuel Hospital.
In order to meet the evolving needs of our families and to increase capacity, our Houses have undergone various remodels and relocations. What began as one House with 17 guest rooms has evolved into four beautiful Houses with 79 rooms. For more than three decades, our dedicated staff and volunteers have offered comfort and support, a well-stocked kitchen, and a comfortable bed to more than 35,000 families, reminding everyone who enters our Houses that they are always at home and never alone.
Here’s a link to more information about Ronald McDonald House Charities of Oregon & SW Washington: https://rmhcoregon.org/
Portland, OR. Store to Door‘s Nourish to Flourish gala at the Exchange Ballroom raised more than $148,000 to help homebound seniors. Annabella Domenighini and Trish Bennett were among the more than 250 friends, who enjoyed a lively evening of Golden Tickets, Blinky Rings, a Store to Door version of ‘The Price is Right,’ and auction packages. Funds from the event will help Store to Door continue to support independent living for seniors and people with disabilities in the Portland area.
Ashleigh Adams and Jerry Stewart visit at the September 12th benefit.
Ana Colombia Munoz Romero and Laura Kuperstein
Presented by Fred Meyer, the event began with a reception sponsored by Bank of America, during which attendees enjoyed refreshments and took part in a wine wall, a gift card drawing, and previewed auction items. “Fred Meyer is proud to work with Store to Door as a partner in our Zero Hunger | Zero Waste social impact plan, to end hunger in the communities we call home by 2025,” says Fred Meyer Director of Corporate Affairs Jeffery Temple, “Store to Door’s efforts to end hunger by providing an affordable, personal, volunteer-based grocery shopping and delivery service has made the organization a uniquely important solution. We look forward to a strong ongoing partnership.”
For more than 28 years, Store to Door has supported independent living for Portland seniors and people with disabilities by providing an affordable, personal, volunteer-based grocery shopping and delivery service. When the program began in 1989, five volunteers shopped for twenty-five local seniors.
Today, more than 600 clients are supported by more than a thousand dedicated volunteers, donors, and community partners who make over 10,000 grocery deliveries possible annually.
Store to Door’s envisions a Portland community in which seniors and people with disabilities are nourished, connected, and able to age with dignity in the setting of their own choice. More photos of the evening available on Store to Door’s website here.
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]
