Portland, OR. Supporters rallied to offer hope to families and support mental health in Oregon by attending the fourth annual Trillium Family Services “Keep Oregon Well” Gala on Saturday, May 18th at The Sentinel Hotel. Trillium Group CEO Kim Scott presented Joanne McClarty with the Lifetime Achievement Award. (Photo credit, Tom Cook)
Emma Chamberlain & Dr. Andy Adler raise their paddles
Emcee: Anna Mallery
Trillium Family Services President Jamie Vandergon
Entertainment by Hit Machine
From Trillium Family Services:
Trillium Family Services is Oregon’s largest provider of mental and behavioral healthcare for children and families and has been ranked as one of the most effective children’s mental health organizations in the state. From residential psychiatric treatment to mental health advocacy in the streets, we are committed to transforming the state of Oregon into a safer, more supportive place for all people to live, work, play and learn. A special thanks to all of our sponsors and table hosts who made this event possible, including:
Presenting Sponsor Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon
Gold Sponsors CareOregon Jean Meaks-Koch/Positively People The Standard
Silver Sponsors Concordia Kaiser Legacy Park Academy
Lifetime Achievement Award Sponsor David & Shirley Pollock
Portland, OR. The 24th JDRF Hope Gala honored Arlene Schnitzer and Jordan Schnitzer with a “Living and Giving” Award. Board President Merrie Kay Alzola helped honor Arlene and her son Jordan as JDRF Executive Director Judy Summers assisted. The ballroom of the Sentinel Hotel was filled with 450 supporters for the May 4th benefit. Families affected by Type 1 diabetes say they hope to turn “type one” into type none. The over $640,000 raised at the gala for JDRF was record-setting for the nonprofit. JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research.
Lisa Tran and KPTV Celebrity Emcee Elizabeth Dinh
Friends of JDRF raised their bid cards high.
Hope Gala Chairs, Suzanne and Larry Mackin
Youth Ambassadors thank supporters for their help
From JDRF:
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that strikes both children and adults suddenly. It has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle. There is nothing you can do to prevent it. And, at present, there is no cure.
In T1D, your pancreas stops producing insulin—a hormone the body needs to get energy from food. This means a process your body does naturally and automatically becomes something that now requires your daily attention and manual intervention. If you have T1D, you must constantly monitor your blood-sugar level, inject or infuse insulin through a pump, and carefully balance these insulin doses with your eating and activity throughout the day and night.
However, insulin is not a cure for diabetes. Even with the most vigilant disease management, a significant portion of your day will be spent with either high or low blood-sugar levels. These fluctuations place people with T1D at risk for potentially life-threatening hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic episodes as well as devastating long-term complications such as kidney failure, heart attack, stroke, blindness and amputation.
JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Our strength lies in our exclusive focus and singular influence on the worldwide effort to end T1D.
Vision: A world without type 1 diabetes
Mission: Improving lives today and tomorrow by accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications
Portland, OR. Approximately 200 guests attended Ride Connection’s first annual “Lunch in Motion” on May 9th at the Sentinel. This new benefit raised a record-breaking $130,000 for the nonprofit, which provides rides for older adults and people with disabilities. At the event, Ride Connection CEO, Julie Wilcke Pilmer and Keynote Speaker and Ride Connection Board Member, Vicki Schmall posed for a photo. (Photo credit, Andie Petkus)
Representatives from Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon pause for a photo before the program.
The Enterprise Car Sales Team kicking off a $1,000 level of giving.
Washington County Chair Kathryn Harrington shows support with leaders from AARP and Washington County Health and Human Services.
Here’s a video about the nonprofit:
Supporters raising bidder cards high.
The program featured three customers who utilize Ride Connection services to access healthy foods and fun social interaction on one of Ride Connection’s community shopping shuttles as well as a keynote speech from Executive Director and Gerontology & Training Specialist with Aging Concerns, Dr. Vicki Schmall.
From Ride Connection:
The success of the event is largely attributed to generous matching donors, The Maybelle Clark MacDonald Fund, Fred Meyer and Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon. Funds raised at the event will help Ride Connection provide the vital services to keep older adults and people with disabilities moving and healthy in the Portland metro communities.
Ride Connection is a private, non-profit organization based in Portland, Oregon, dedicated to coordinating and providing transportation services to people with limited options in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties. Our organization has been linking transportation to people in our communities for over 25 years.
We believe transportation is a basic human right. Access to transportation means mobility, and being mobile allows a person to connect with his or her community and other essential life destinations.
Portland, OR. At this year’s Portland Community College (PCC) gala, a sold-out crowd of 600 was taken on a “Voyage to Success”. The evening featured a steampunk theme, student speakers, and a choral performance by Julianne Johnson-Weiss and a group of PCC Sylvania students. Ross Leinhart, Janeese Jackson, Kimberly Cooper and Congressman Earl Blumenauer were on hand. The April 27th benefit at the Portland Hilton raised over $636,000 to support student scholarships. Since its inception in 2012, The PCC Foundation’s Evening for Opportunity has raised more than $3.4 million to help Portland Community College students achieve their dreams of entering the region’s workforce with a family-wage job and become contributors to a vibrant community. (Photo credit, Ronald Cooper and Tom Cook Photo)
Chris and Tom Neilsen, 2019 Patron Award Honorees
PCC President Mark Mitsui addresses supporters
Christy Gardner, PCC Foundation board member John Gardner and former member of the Oregon State Senate and The Campaign for Opportunity Committee Volunteer Chip Shields
PCC Music Department Co-Chair Julianne Johnson-Weiss, Billy Ladd and PCC Elected Board Chair Kali Thorne Ladd
After party entertainers the MarchFourth marching band.
The crowd also celebrated the launch of PCC’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign, The Campaign for Opportunity, a movement toward a sustainable, equitable future for Oregon.
“PCC’s Campaign for Opportunity will provide thousands of students with critical
education, and our businesses with the skilled, trained workers we all depend on,” said PCC President Mark Mitsui. For more information, visit pcc.edu/opportunity.
From PCC:
Portland Community College is the largest, most accessible institution of higher education in Oregon. Every year, the college serves about 70,000 students, who go on to become our community’s nurses, firefighters, welders, Web developers, teachers and more.
As the only nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Portland Community College, the PCC Foundation helps students access education by awarding scholarships and building the capacity of PCC to provide vital educational opportunities for our community.
Vancouver, WA. Bank of America announced Meals on Wheels People as its 2019 Neighborhood Builder grant recipient for the Portland-Vancouver market. The Bank of America award includes a $200,000 gift that is being used to open a first-of-its-kind diner for seniors and community members in Vancouver. David Reiter, Senior Vice President, Bank of America, and Suzanne Washington, Chief Executive Officer, Meals on Wheels People, cut the ribbon with the Vancouver Chamber of Commerce for The Diner Vancouver’s grand opening on May 20th.
The Diner Vancouver is located at 5303 E. Mill Plain Blvd. in Vancouver, Wash. It’s open from 7:00am to 2:00pm daily.
More about The Diner Vancouver, including the menu offerings, is at the link: www.thediner.org.
Marcie Kessel, Development Officer, Meals on Wheels People, with the check from Bank of America.
The diner’s unique model aims to achieve several things: provide choice for senior diners, create a welcoming atmosphere with high quality, locally sourced food, and establish an eating establishment that appeals to seniors, families and the business community. Those age 60 and older who enroll in the Meals on Wheels People program have the option of ordering off a special menu, which meets Older American Act dietary guidelines, and is available on a donation basis. Revenue from paying customers will help support the Meals on Wheels program in Clark County and allow the nonprofit organization to better serve more rural parts of the county. The diner is open daily for breakfast and lunch, is on a bus line for access, and serves comfort food sourced from local ingredients.
Tony Staser, from Meals on Wheels People, poses with attendees from the Vancouver Chamber of Commerce.
Marcie Kessel, Development Officer, Meals on Wheels People, holding the Neighborhood Builders Award with David Reiter, Senior Vice President, Bank of America.
Through the Neighborhood Builders program, each year the bank provides a local nonprofit with a unique combination of leadership training, $200,000 in flexible funding, volunteer support, and a network of peer organizations across the country. Last year’s local winner was All Hands Raised.
“In every community we serve, we’re continuously assessing that community’s changing, evolving needs. And while many of our core clients are homebound seniors who benefit from our home delivery services, our research showed that more seniors locally are actually healthy and mobile and would benefit from more socialization opportunities. Out of that, the idea for this new diner was born,” said Suzanne Washington, Chief Executive Officer of Meals on Wheels People.
Washington adds that seniors will now have choices around when, what and with whom to eat. She noted that today’s seniors do not fit into the same demographic as seniors a decade or two ago, as they want more menu choice, flexibility in dining times and a more traditional restaurant experience. Besides providing a reliable place for seniors to get a meal, the restaurant — which is called The Diner Vancouver — also allows them to socialize with family, friends, neighbors and patrons.
“This is a new approach that hasn’t been done before within the Meals on Wheels organization. Here in the Portland-Vancouver area, we’re both an entrepreneurial and philanthropic community, and the thoughtfulness that went into this new diner model really interested us at Bank of America. This project is truly addressing an identified community need in a creative and innovative way,” said Roger Hinshaw, Bank of America’s market president for Oregon and Southwest Washington. “This unique project is an example of what our Neighborhood Builders program seeks to support, which is impactful programs and solutions that address local community needs.”
Monique Barton, senior vice president at Bank of America, added: “Over the many years that we’ve partnered with Meals on Wheels and supported them philanthropically, we’ve seen first-hand how impactful their work is. We’re excited to be directing this additional support to ensure even more local seniors have nutritious options while maintaining their independence. We’re optimistic that this new diner will make a real difference in helping Meals on Wheels People achieve even more financial sustainability, to further expand its resources to address need in Clark County and throughout the Portland Metro region.” Barton noted that over the past 15 years of the BofA Neighborhood Builders program operating in the Portland market, this is the first time it’s being earmarked for a project in Vancouver, Wash.
Suzanne Washington said that so far, feedback from the community has been strong. “Right out of the gate, business has been robust. In the first few days we were open, we’ve had amazingly positive response from seniors and the community alike. We’ve also seen a lot of multi-generational diners coming in together. The Diner is truly moving us closer towards achieving our vision of no senior going hungry or lonely — all while providing an additional revenue stream, and creating new workforce development opportunities in the region,” she said. “I’d call that a win-win-win!”
In addition to sharing the news about 2019’s Neighborhood Builder winner, BofA’s Hinshaw also relayed that going forward, the Portland-Vancouver market will select two local nonprofits each year to be recipients of Neighborhood Builder $200,000 awards, up from one in recent years. Local nonprofits can learn more at www.bankofamerica.com/neighborhoodbuilders.
From Bank of America:
Through the Neighborhood Builders program, we deploy capital and build cross-sector partnerships to advance nonprofit leaders addressing economic mobility and social progress issues in the communities we serve. Since 2004, we’ve invested more than $220 million in 49 communities — including Portland — partnering with more than 1,000 nonprofits and more than 2,000 nonprofit leaders by delivering flexible funding, leadership development and a network of peers. Fifteen years on, Neighborhood Builders is one of the nation’s largest philanthropic investments in nonprofit leadership development. Learn more at www.bankofamerica.com/about or www.bankofamerica.com/oregon.
From Meals on Wheels People:
Meals on Wheels People has been changing lives one meal at a time since 1970. They provide 5,000 nutritious meals every weekday at dozens of neighborhood dining sites throughout Multnomah, Washington and Clark counties and through Meals on Wheels delivery to homebound elderly. Their service not only alleviate hunger and social isolation, but allow seniors to live independently with dignity in their own homes. Aging in place reduces depression, falls and hospitalization as well as the high cost of institutional care. For more information, visit www.mowp.org.
Boring, OR. Families with blind or visually impaired children came out to the Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) Campus to learn about the K9 Buddy program on April 27th. At an afternoon picnic, Kids like Charlie and his parents learned about the program, and were able to interact with GDB employees and families that have a K9 Buddy dog to see if the program is a fit for them.
Owen and Theodore
Jazzy and Henrietta
The K9 Buddy program matches carefully selected dogs with youth in Washington, Oregon, and California who are blind or have low vision, but are not yet ready to care for a guide dog. These “K9 Buddies” offer comfort and companionship while teaching the child responsibility, and give the child an opportunity to begin exploring the guide dog lifestyle at a young age.
Four current K9 Buddy child and dog pairs were in attendance, along with their families. Chris Benninger, President and CEO of Guide Dogs for the Blind, also flew up from the organization’s campus in San Rafael, California to attend the picnic. Other GDB instructors and employees, as well as several working guide dogs and guide dogs in training, also made appearances. After an educational session about the K9 Buddy program, lunch was served. The families attending then had time to socialize, make crafts, and say hi to the dogs.
Here’s a video about the program:
From Guide Dogs for the Blind:
Since 1942, Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) has been creating partnerships between people, dogs, and communities. With exceptional client services and a robust network of instructors, puppy raisers, donors, and volunteers, we prepare highly qualified guide dogs to serve and empower individuals who are blind or have low vision from throughout the United States and Canada.
All of the services for our clients are provided free of charge, including personalized training and extensive post-graduation support, plus financial assistance for veterinary care, if needed. Our work is made possible by the generous support of our donors and volunteers; we receive no government funding.
At GDB, we believe that a dog can make a remarkable difference in any child’s life by fostering a sense of caring, companionship, and a sense of responsibility through the human/animal bond. Our K9 Buddy Program matches specially selected dogs to become wonderful pets and buddies to children and young adults who are blind or visually impaired and their families. A dog can contribute to heightening of sensory development, motivating a child to learn and enhancing self esteem. The K9 Buddy program connects the child/family with our community of puppy raisers and other supporters, including agencies and organizations for the blind. K9 Buddies are offered free-of-charge.
Portland, OR. The Oregon Convention Center’s Portland Ballroom was filled with over 550 supporters who are working to “Strike Out ALS.” The April 27th baseball themed benefit raised $435,000. Jim Criswell hugged his granddaughter to thank her for a donation to the cause. With this funding, the ALS Oregon and SW Washington Chapter will continue to participate in critical public policy, enhancing care services programs and funding promising research.
Athan & Eliza Sircy give their piggie bank as a contribution in honor of their Papa, Jim Criswell, who is living with ALS
Special Appeal speaker, Nicole McCabe, sharing her personal journey with ALS.
Dr. Lou Libby of The Oregon Clinic and his wife, Jocelyn sporting their best baseball attire
Bidders enjoying the festivities
The ALS Association Oregon and SW Washington Chapter:
We want to share our gratitude to Valerie Hurst for emceeing the evening, and to Graham Crow for helping make it so fun to participate! Many thanks to all of our sponsors and underwriters. We are also appreciative of all of the local businesses that contributed items to the auction! We want to express our gratitude for the 50+ volunteers that make the event possible.
Most of all, thank you to our amazing donors who helped make this event a record breaking gala for our chapter!
Portland, OR. White Bird Co-Founders Paul King and Walter Jaffe posed with Emcee Poison Waters at the nonprofit’s annual gala. “S’Wing Ding” was the benefit’s theme and featured 1940s and 50s dance numbers. The fundraiser to support White Bird’s dance programming was held on May 4th at Vibrant Table’s Loft at 8th Avenue in Southeast Portland. The event featured Art Abrams Swing Machine Big Band, performances by the Jefferson Dancers and Swing dancers Austin Buchholtz and Phoenix Gray. White Bird raised $98,000 to continue its diverse dance programing that brings dance companies from around the country and around the world to Portland. (Photo credit, Michael Cary Photography)
Regional Arts and Culture Council’s Helen Daltoso (center), joined in the celebration as one of the many arts community guests.
Jefferson Dancers dazzling the crowd during one of the evening’s dance performances.
The White Bird team members Ivy Farrell, Rya Greene, Matthew Bade, David Nolfi, Beth Whelan, Paul King, Walter Jaffe
The 2019 White Bird Awardees, Left to Right: Michael Curry, Trevor Wilde, Subashini Ganesan, Beth Whelan, Shaun Keylock. Not pictured: Darci and Charlie Swindells
The 22-year-old organization presented the 2019 White Bird Awards to esteemed members of the arts community: Michael Curry, Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award; Darci and Charlie Swindells, Angel Award; Subashini Ganesan (New Expressive Works), Community Engagement Award. White Bird also presented the Barney Commissioning Prize to emerging northwest choreographers Shaun Keylock, Beth Whelan and Trevor Wilde who will be using the prize to create new works for a future White Bird season. Other celebrated guests included Jacques Heim, Artistic Director of Diavolo in Los Angeles and local swing dancers Kali Henson and Austin Neverman. The gala brought 100 guests together to celebrate White Bird’s dedication to presenting world-class dance to the Portland community.
Portland, OR. Lithia Subaru of Oregon City is “sharing the love” with the pets at the Oregon Humane Society in the form of a $51,080 donation. The gift marks the largest donation from Subaru’s Share the Love event in the five years since OHS was first selected as one of the local participating charities. At the check presentation were Jason Hirata, District Sales Manager – Subaru of America; Ryan Vaughan, General Sales Manager – Lithia Subaru of Oregon City; Sharon Harmon, OHS President and CEO; Sarah Yusavitz, OHS Corporate Relations Officer; Diego Montoya, Zone Retailer Development Manager – Subaru of America; Peter Holt, District Parts and Service Manager – Subaru of America.
During the Share the Love event, which ran Nov. 15, 2018 to Jan. 2, 2019, $250 was donated for every new Subaru vehicle purchased or leased. This was the 11th year for the campaign which is expected to bring $140 million to local and national charities.
Since 2013, Lithia Subaru of Oregon City has selected the Oregon Humane Society as the local beneficiary of the Share the Love event. “This year’s total was an absolute record – a testament to our staff and customer commitment to OHS,” says Ryan Vaughan, General Sales Manager, Lithia Subaru of Oregon City.
“We are so grateful to Lithia Subaru of Oregon City for this generous donation,” says Sharon Harmon, OHS president and CEO. “These funds will provide medical care, behavior support and other services to pets in need.”
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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 for more information.
Portland, OR. Over 200 guests attended De La Salle North Catholic‘s 14th annual Changing Destinies Luncheon. At the April 25th event, Ashley Campion and Vice Principal for Student Life James Broadous posed for a photo. The program at the annual luncheon is student led, with speakers, performers and a paddle raise. A current senior sits among table guests to share about their journey at De La Salle and where they are headed next year. The Changing Destinies Luncheon raised $252,000 for financial aid.
De La Salle North Catholic President Oscar Leong welcomes guests.
Lynn Brown speaks with a graduating senior.
Puji Sherer and Summer Widmer
Karen Radditz and Kris Wilkins visit with a student at De La Salle North Catholic High School.
From De La Salle North Catholic High School:
De La Salle North Catholic High School opened in 2001 to provide a faith-based, college preparatory high school education to underserved students from the Portland area. These families needed and wanted a viable and affordable choice of schools to send their student. Other private high schools in and around Portland were not an option for most of them because of the cost and the distance their student would have to travel to go to school each day. They spoke out and said “put your school right here in our neighborhood.”
De La Salle was the first school to replicate the innovative corporate work study program pioneered by Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago. There are now over 30 schools throughout urban America that model their school after this Cristo Rey model.
De La Salle North Catholic is sponsored by The De La Salle Christian Brothers and is a part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland/Western Oregon. And a nation-wide, independent rating agency has identified De La Salle North Catholic High School as the most diverse private high school in all of Oregon.
Students at De La Salle North Catholic High School attend class four days per week and work for a local company one day each week as part of the Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP). The CWSP provides work experience, business contacts, and helps offset the cost to educate them. This school exists to provide this unique educational opportunity to families who would not be able to afford a private, Catholic education. Our goal is to develop tomorrow’s community leaders by making high-quality education accessible to motivated young people in a learning environment that values cultural, spiritual, and ethnic diversity. We don’t turn away any capable, motivated or interested student because they cannot afford our modest tuition.
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