Milwaukie, OR. The Dream Dinners Foundation hosted its first local meal packing event at La Salle Catholic College Preparatory on October 13th. Two-thirds of the 40,668 meals (packed by Dream Dinners Clackamas and Beaverton) will be sent to the Bahamas to feed those affected by the recent hurricane and one-third will be distributed locally to feed children primarily in the North Clackamas School District. The meals will be distributed through Friends and Family Community Connection. (Photo credit, Ashley Stanford Cone)
More than 40,000 meals were packed in just two hours.
Over 300 volunteers, students, and families gave of their time to help those in need.
As part of the event, La Salle Prep made the October meal packing event a school-wide service project, for its homecoming week. A portion of the meals will go to families of Lot Whitcomb elementary school. La Salle Prep regularly shares food with students through their Backpack Buddies program.
“We are excited to work with students and families from La Salle Prep and our friends, customers, and neighbors, to help feed children in our community,” said Mel Murdock, owner of Dream Dinners in Clackamas. ” Children without enough to eat are severely affected both mentally and physically. They see smaller gains academically, and they struggle to learn, concentrate and adapt to their surroundings. This event is not only helping meet the basic needs of local children, but it’s bringing us together as a community in our fight against hunger.”
Murdock went on to share that in Oregon, more than 500,000 people (almost 13 percent) are food insecure. That is one in eight adults, and one in five children that do not have adequate access to food. Of that group, over 200,000 have very low food security and often do not have access to the healthy food they need. Although hunger rates have improved over the last few years, Oregon is still the 20th hungriest state in the country.
Partnering together, the local Beaverton and Clackamas Dream Dinners owners hope to host yearly meal-packing events, shared between the west and eastside, to support the region and kids within their surrounding communities.
About Dream Dinners:
Founded in 2002, Dream Dinners’ mission is to make gathering around the family table a cornerstone of daily life. Dream Dinners guests choose from seasonal, rotating monthly menus and prepare their dinners in-store without the hassle of planning, shopping and chopping. Dream Dinners lays out the ingredients in an easy-to-follow format so guests can assemble a month’s worth of meals in about an hour. A pioneer and leader of the meal assembly industry, Dream Dinners brings Homemade, Made Easy to local communities through its 72 retail locations across the US. Learn more at w ww.dreamdinners.com.
Started in 2005, Dream Dinners Foundation works to connect heart to service through meal packaging events in communities Dream Dinners’ stores serve.
Portland, OR. The Oregon Humane Society (OHS) is now accepting nominations for animal heroes and heroic humans who have had a positive impact on the lives of animals. They will be honored at the OHS Heroes Luncheon on February 20th, 2020 in downtown Portland.
Do you know an animal who has made a difference in the life of a special needs child or someone with an illness? Do you know a person who has helped animals in some unique way? The Oregon Humane Society (OHS) is looking to shine the spotlight on animals and animal lovers who are true heroes.
The OHS honor is called the Diamond Collar Hero Awards. It recognizes animals who have acted to save a human or animal life in peril, performed services within the community with undying loyalty, or overcome incredible odds in order to survive. Winners can also be humans who have had a positive impact on the lives of animals, exhibiting courage and compassion in the pursuit of animals’ well-being.
Oregon Humane Society, Diamond Collar Committee, 1067 NE Columbia Blvd., Portland, OR 97211, and postmarked by January 27, 2020 to ensure arrival by February 1.
The winners will be notified early February 2020 and will accept their awards at the OHS Heroes Luncheon to be held Thursday, February 20, 2020 at the Multnomah Athletic Club in downtown Portland.
About the event
The OHS Heroes Luncheon presenting the Diamond Collar Awards will be held on Thursday, February 20, 2020 at the Multnomah Athletic Club, 1849 SW Salmon St., Portland, OR 97205. Tickets are $60 per person.
Here’s a video about how you can adopt at the Oregon Humane Society:
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The Oregon Humane Society is the Northwest’s oldest and largest humane society, with one of the highest adoption rates in the nation. OHS receives no government funds for its adoption, education, medical and behavior programs. Visit oregonhumane.org<http://www.oregonhumane.org/> for more information.
Portland, OR. The Children’s Cancer Association (CCA) raised $1.27 million at its 19th annual Wonderball gala on September 28th. It was CCA’s biggest event of the year, which helps fuel its mission to prescribe joy to seriously ill children through free innovative programming that leverages music, friendship and nature. Founder Regina Ellis, who is pictured with friends and family, welcomed more than 950 supporters to the Oregon Convention Center for the gala. A Joie de Vivre theme celebrated French culture and the joy of life.
Cedric Berry, Board Member, CCA and Insurance Agent, State Farm; Sarah Berry, Vice President and Director of Business Development, McGee Wealth Management; and Campbell Kidd, Managing Partner, Red Hills Acquisitions, LLC
Kristofor Lofgren, CEO and Founder, Sustainable Restaurant Group
Ron Penner-Ash, Board Member, CCA and Winemaker
Clare Hamill, Founding Board Chair, CCA and VP, Nike Growth Initiatives and Judi Davis
Scott Burton, Vice Board Chair, CCA and Director of Revenue Management & Portfolio Positioning, Cambia Health Solutions; Allison Clarke, Co-Chair, Ambassador Board, CCA and President, Allison Clarke Consulting; Brian Dickinson, CEO of Asset Protection Partnership; Regina Ellis
Ed Kinateder; Andy Lytle, Board Chair Emeritus, CEO, At the Joy, and Co-Founder Lytle-Barnett; Tara Kinateder, Board Treasurer & Finance Chair, CCA and Executive Vice President, Ferguson Wellman Capital Management
Kevin Dodson, Vice President/CFL, Global Basketball Footwear, Nike; Susan Dodson, Partner, Right On Accounting LLC; Jim Ford, NIKE SuperCore Footwear, DVP; Greg Smith, Category Footwear Leader, Men’s Training Footwear, Nike; Kim Smith; Aaron Cooper, Innovation Expert, Nike, Inc.; Barry Naone, Senior Director Product Creation, Nike Basketball; Julie Moraes; Myron Moraes, Sr. Development and Innovation Director at Nike
Mimes interacting with guests in the hallways before the main event
Erin Tamblyn performing in opening number, “Lady Marmalade.”
Anthony Chan dancing in opening number.
Family speaker, Heidi Bruno shares emotional story before live appeal
CCA-served Levi Seed shares an inspiring speech CCA’s impact during his cancer treatment
John Simpson, Board Member, CCA and startup advisor; and his guests
Blisan and Bill Foudy, President, Target Sourcing Service and CCA Board Member
Eric Gill, President/CEO, Gill’s Point S Tire and Auto; Peter Kwong, Board Member, CCA and Audit Shareholder, Director of Assurance & Advisory, Perkins & Co; Brent Bracelin, Managing Director and Senior Research Analyst, Piper Jaffray; Ian Lombard, Scott Lawrence, founder of Breakside Brewery and CCA Board Member
Eileen McNulty, Physician Assistant, NW Dermatology Institute; Carlene Pride-Sarpong, Founder of Pride Group NW and Managing Broker and Development Specialist at Compass; John Powers, Co Ambassador Board Chair, CCA and Director of Sales, Xperience Real Estate, PDX Property Group; Stephen Bowdon, Department of Neurological Surgery, OHSU; Chris Suarez, CEO of PDX Property Group at Keller Williams; Kristi Weidner
Jesuit High School students and Paul Hogan, (4th from left) Board Member, CCA and Principal, Jesuit High School
John Duley, Co-Founder, Dream Again; Genesis Trujilo, Design Project Manager, Portland General Electric; Chase Renton, Owner and Winemaker, L’Angolo Estate; Noelle Harvey; Marcus Harvey, Founder, Portland Gear; Kelsey Fuson, Marketing Manager, BurnCycle; Jessi Duley, Board Member, CCA and Founder, BurnCycle
CCA-served child, Maria, and CCA Chemo Pal Specialist, Amelia, selling raffle tickets in French attire
Mary and Dana Braner, Chair, OHSU Department of Pediatrics
“Because we know that joy is medicine. We are creating a gold standard for delivering joy-based programming that will one day reach every child in the country who’s facing serious illness,” said Regina Ellis, Founder and Chief Joy Officer at CCA. “Together we have fought to deliver joy to the children and their families of this community. And now we have the opportunity to take what we’ve made here and share it with children across the nation.”
Guests enjoyed live gypsy-jazz music courtesy of the Hot Club on Hawthorne, as they explored a curated silent auction room decorated to resemble a French outdoor marketplace.
The French outdoor theme followed throughout the lobby with vintage bicycles, an antique Citroen car, fresh baguettes and lavender, live painting and, of course, mimes. In addition to creating an outdoor French marketplace environment in the lobby and halls, CCA recreated imagery of the Moulin Rouge inside the main ballroom, including a miniature model of the windmill on the main stage.
The main event opened with a rendition of Patty LaBelle’s “Lady Marmalade” sung by Erin Tamblyn and Malia Tippets and augmented with performances by local drag queens: Anthony Chan, Jeremy Sloan, Chadwick Anderson and Erin Shannon. The master of ceremonies for the night, Stacey Murdock, who recently played Gaston in the Portland Opera’s recent production of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” carried the program through to the end, where Danielle Barker performed an upbeat cover of “La vie en Rose” to close out the night.
The dinner program featured a record-breaking paddle raise led by auctioneer Kelly Russell of Artisan Auctions. Late-night revelers also enjoyed an after-party with DJ Stray at District East, which carried over the French theme and was hosted by CCA’s young professional board.
Here’s a video about CCA’s programs:
Here’s a link to more information about the Children’s Cancer Association: JoyRx.org/donate.
Portland, OR. The Metropolitan Family Service (MFS) A Gathering of Good took place on September 18th at the Loft in Portland. 290 guests helped raise $250,000 at the benefit. Bruce Whiting, Board Chair of CASH, (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope) posed for a photo with MFS CEO Judy Strand, and CASH Oregon Executive Director Sarah Adams. They celebrated the announcement that CASH is now part of the MFS family of services and will be able to reach more people who are struggling to make ends meet. (Photo credit, Andie Petkus)
Cobi Lewis, Senior Vice President & Director of Umpqua Bank, speaks about tackling complex challenges around economic opportunity and equality in the Portland Metro Region. Umpqua’s significant grant to the MFS Economic Empowerment programs helps people move people beyond the limitations of poverty and inequity.
Mei-Ling Shiroishi, Dr. Margaret Neal, MFS CEO Judy Strand and Anne Marie Johnson proudly display the Eileen Johnson Award. Anne Marie’s mother, Eileen, was the inspiration for this award due to her exuberant and steady commitment to the community throughout her life.
Long time MFS supporters Eva Kripalani and Dave Johnson return to celebrate A Gathering of Good. Eva is a former member of the MFS Board; and Dave’s beloved late wife Eileen is the inspiration for the entire event. This year, the Eileen Johnson Award for Community Leadership honored Age-Friendly Portland and Multnomah County. PHOTO: Andie Petkus
Richard Diforio, Partner and Co-Founder of Gorge Holdings; Trevor Graves, Principal and Co-Founder of Nemo Design; and Travis Kindler, President of Kinco, bring the entrepreneurial spirit to their support of the families, youth, and older adults in the MFS family of services.
Multnomah County Commissioner Sharon Meiran, District 1; Former MFS Board Member and Multnomah County Commissioner Susheela Jayapal, District 2; and Oregon State Treasurer Tobias Read ready for the evening’s dinner and program. As a featured speaker, Treasurer Read urged investing in Oregon’s kids and creating a culture of savings an inclusive economy.
A 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization for more than six decades, we have earned the community’s trust. We recognize our responsibility to use resources efficiently, maximize every opportunity and deliver on our promises. It’s what you expect and we’re proud to deliver.
Portland, OR. The state’s largest public charity announced it is the recipient of $75 million from the Ann & Bill Swindells Charitable Trust. The assets were bequeathed as part of the late Bill Swindells’ estate. The contribution will be added to Oregon Community Foundation’s existing endowment and will honor the Swindells’ vision and legacy of strengthening communities in Oregon through philanthropy.
The Oregon Community Foundation thanked the family in a written statement:
The Swindells family has a long tradition of charitable giving in Oregon. Bill Swindells’ father William Swindells, Sr., was the founder of forest products company Willamette Industries and co-founded OCF in 1973. From its early days with an initial gift of $63,000, Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) has grown in 45 years to more than $2 billion under management through 2,800 charitable funds.
Bill Swindells served on the Oregon Community Foundation board from 1983 to 1991 and helped lead the foundation’s growth. He and his wife Ann formed the Ann & Bill Swindells Charitable Trust in 2002. Other Swindells family members are involved with Oregon Community Foundation as donors, advisors and volunteers.
“This donation—one of the largest in Oregon Community Foundation history—represents the tremendous and lifelong commitment to Oregon of Bill and Ann Swindells, and the entire Swindells family,” said OCF President Max Williams. “Bill and Ann knew the value of investing in the success of all Oregonians, and we are committed to continuing that legacy at Oregon Community Foundation in the years to come.”
In a community foundation, donor funds are pooled under shared management to maximize community benefits and impacts. Though some donors request funds be used for specific purposes, the Swindells’ estate directs the fund administered by the Oregon Community Foundation Board, a diverse group of 14 volunteers, representing all areas of the state of Oregon, who govern the work of the Foundation.
“It was very important to my dad that his estate be transferred to Oregon Community Foundation as an unrestricted gift, for the use of the OCF Board on priorities they identify,” said William R. Swindells, Bill’s son. “As someone intimately involved with philanthropy, he understood the value of such flexibility as Oregon’s needs change.”
A strategic priority for Oregon Community Foundation is bridging the “opportunity gap”—decreasing inequities in access to education, health care, services and jobs, particularly for Oregon children born into poverty and children of color. Nearly half of all children born in Oregon are born into low-income families, and these children are less and less likely to reach the middle class. To combat the persistent gap in access to opportunity, Oregon Community Foundation deploys research, advocacy and grant-making to:
Strengthen neighborhoods and communities. This includes developing new affordable housing and preserving existing affordable housing; providing opportunities for economic mobility out of high poverty neighborhoods; and improving low-income Oregonians’ access to financial services.
Create economic security. This includes supporting paid family and medical leave, expanding the earned income tax credit and increasing subsidies for childcare for low-income families.
Expand access to education and jobs. This includes expanding apprenticeship programs; services for young people not currently in school or working; providing access to quality early childhood education and scholarships for disadvantaged students.
“Today, access to opportunity and a healthy, successful life can be predicted by the zip code into which you are born,” said Williams. “At OCF, we are on a mission to ensure that no matter where an Oregon child is born, they have the chance to achieve and thrive.”
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