Portland, OR. This holiday season has been a busy one for local nonprofits with thousands of volunteers handing out gifts and making spirits bright for less fortunate members of the community.
Here are some of the heartwarming sights spotted around town:
Oregon food Bank volunteers were busy and Nike was honored as the Corporate Donor of the Month for December.
Portland Police Bureau Sunshine Division distributed nearly 500,000 pounds of food to families, seniors, and veterans in need, the most in its 95-year history.
The Sunshine Division offers free food and clothing assistance for qualifying Portlanders at its on-site food pantry and clothing room and through its food box programs and no-cost food bank.
The Portland Police Bureau Sunshine Division was started by Captain H. A. Circle in 1923. His thought was that no one should ever have to commit a crime to provide food for their family.
Over 100 Portland’5 volunteers donated over 200 stuffed animals. They were donated to Clackamas County Victim Association to be given out all year long.
Youth Villages was supporting kids and families this holiday season.
Volunteers were working overtime to make sure the holidays are special for youth and families from Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metropolitan Area
Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metropolitan Area had their gifts delivered by Santa.
A sleigh full of surprises was delivered to children at Bridge Meadows this week thanks to Wells Fargo.
Portland Rescue Mission is serving up hundreds of holiday meals.
If you’re interested in volunteering this holiday season, or right on into the new year, there are lots of opportunities. Nonprofits across the Greater Portland area are looking for volunteers like you to brighten the day by lending a hand.
Hands on Greater Portland has lots of great ideas:
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Sponsored: Portland, OR. When Donovan arrived at the Wind & Oar Boat classroom at Merlo Station High School in the fall of 2016, he was under fed, exhausted, and stressed from family care-taking responsibilities. He was carrying a full-time class load, working full-time at night, and trying to stay on track to graduate. He admits, “It was one of the hardest times of my life.”
Realizing that he was on an unsustainable track, he worked with his school counselors to adjust his priorities, allowing him to reduce in-school time, work the full-time job, and get rested. Fortunately, the school permitted him to attend the Wind & Oar “Boat Geometry” class, which meets two and a half hours a day, Monday through Friday. Donovan’s attendance was nearly perfect and as he says, “Being able to come to class every day and work on building something with my hands, and create something really helped me get through it, to make me want to come to school more…”
Wind & Oar Boat School engages students in learning by connecting hands and mind in relevant exercise of academic subjects. Math, science, and engineering are all integrated into crafting a wooden boat.
Finding relevance in math, creating with one’s hands, discovering inner resources like: critical thinking, collaborating, and communicating, are all a result of building a boat in a team setting. This is what Wind & Oar accomplishes with students in 5th grade through high school.
Getting students to actually come to school is a huge hurdle, and one that profoundly affects success in the classroom. It may seem obvious that attendance is critical. What is not so obvious is that absenteeism starts early, as does the track to dropping out. By 5th grade, many students destined to drop out 4 or 5 years later can already be identified. It is essential to engage these students and convince them that they can learn, and that they can become good learners.
Wind & Oar regularly runs a program for 5th graders at a Hillsboro elementary school. Roger Will, the former principal there, related that attendance on Fridays, boat-building day, was 100%. In fact, on a particular Thursday, with a snow day looming for the next day, the 5th graders were begging that school not get cancelled because they would miss a boat-building day.
Wind & Oar successfully engages students in learning not only because the learning activity involves using one’s hands, making the topics relevant, but also because the teacher/student ratio is very low. At the high school level, we often have three instructors in the shop and classroom, and in elementary and middle school, four instructors for a class of 20 plus is common. These low ratios are important because students can connect with an interested adult with nearly individual attention, thereby reducing the tendency to disengage. This benefit, however, comes at a cost.
Staffing multiple, concurrent classes with instructors qualified to ask essential questions, operate from a growth mindset, and build a boat, is a steep hill to climb. Wind & Oar’s success is profound but the training and personality required of each instructor to achieve that success demands that we invest in unique individuals willing to take a risk on a growing nonprofit. We also need to invest in comprehensive professional development. Both require time and money.
With recent investments in Wind & Oar by a generous family foundation, we have significantly grown our infrastructure, thereby positioning ourselves to potentially offer more quality classes to metro area schools, as well as offering classes to the community at large. This growth in physical capacity, however, places immense strain on our human capacity, so if Wind & Oar is to deliver on its potential, and bring high quality, engaging classes to underserved students, we need support from our community.
About Wind & Oar Boat School:Wind & Oar Boat School is an Oregon nonprofit, 501c3, youth development organization that engages young people and inspires learning through the art, science, and craft of building wooden boats. Our purpose is to promote self-confidence and perseverance in students’ approach to learning while increasing their ability to solve problems and apply conceptual knowledge to unique situations. Building wooden boats is an innovative and unique platform for developing an array of academic, practical, and social skills. Our projects provide space to develop critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity, essential skills for success in school and career. Through the integrated curriculum linking math, science, and design skills to wooden boat construction students gain practical woodworking skills and understand the application and relevance of academic skills. Most importantly, students gain confidence and embrace their own potential to learn, now and into the future.
Sponsored: Portland, OR. This year, the Children’s Cancer Association (CCA) was able to serve over 9,000 kids and teens—49% more than last year. The CCA delivers JOY to kids, teens, and their families who are fighting a serious illness. The nonprofit knows that for seriously ill children and their families every moment is precious so it uses music, friendship, play, and resources to create transformative moments of joy. Unlike many organizations dedicated to the worthy goal of someday finding a cure for cancer, CCA is all about creating joy today. CCA is now in the middle of its year-end fundraising drive, CLICK HERE for more information on how to give.
It was all smiles this week as kids gathered around the tree at the CCA family holiday party.
Founder and Chief Joy Officer, Regina Ellis, is sharing inspiring stories about special kids that CCA has served over the past year. She explains, “One incredible kid we had the privilege to serve in his time of need is six-year-old Otto, who after a nearly two year battle, recently completed treatment for neuroblastoma. Otto, also known as “Otto-bot”, is a huge fan of superheroes, and has displayed many heroic qualities himself. His incredible perseverance and determination throughout his journey with cancer even got him recognized as a 2017 CCA Hero.”
“Otto has had to put up with a lot of terrible things, but he never gives up,” his mom, Emily, said proudly.
Regina Ellis says Otto had a lot of support from his Chemo Pal®, Jerry, along the way. Together they spent lots of time playing video games and building LEGO sets, which allowed his mother, Emily the time and space to speak with doctors without isolating Otto.
Donations help keep the CCA program going strong. Gifts of $50 help Chemo Pals fill their activity bag with fun new toys and supplies, and a gift of $2,500 funds activities for an entire year.
Donations that support essential needs and resources through CCA’s Link Program make it possible to cover the cost of things like the airline tickets Otto and his mom needed to go to San Francisco for specialized treatment.
And when Otto was stuck in the hospital and needed to blow off some steam, CCA’s MyMusicRx® team was there with guitars, keyboards, and drums to jam with him at his bedside. Donors can help provide music as medicine for kids going through treatment with a gift of $250 to purchase instruments the CCA in-hospital music carts that help reduce stress, anxiety, and the perception of pain.
“During our toughest times, CCA was there to bring our family the friendship, music, resources, and JOY we needed most,” explained Otto’s mom, Emily.
All of CCA’s programs are free-of-charge to families thanks to the kindness and the generosity of friends in the community who believe that JOY matters.
This video shows how CCA brings moments of joy to kids.
Please CLICK HERE and join us by investing in the healing power of joy today to support deserving kids like Otto and the thousands of other children, teens, and family members who need a dose of JoyRx this holiday season. We believe kids deserve long, wonderful lives. Or, at the very least, short, wonderful lives. We believe cancer sucks. We’ve had it, or loved someone who did. We prescribe moments of joy for kids who are in the fight against all serious illness. We believe joy grows exponentially when it’s used collectively. We are music medicine pioneers. We believe in purple. We know joy comes in all colors, shapes, and sizes – just like the kids we help. We love to laugh. We are not afraid to cry. We spend every dollar wisely. We give hugs freely. We believe in today. We respect our history as a grassroots organization. We embrace our destiny as a global source of JoyRx. We believe these things matter.
Sponsored: Portland, OR. PlayWrite is a theatre-based program that builds resilience, creativity and success. Nearly a thousand young people have benefited from the program. During one of the groundbreaking workshops, eight students form an attuned working alliance with eight coaches, engaging in exercises involving movement, sound, scent and memory. Students create a play with unique non-human characters from the authentic emotions of their own life experiences, directing professional actors on the final day. The nonprofit is working hard during its year-end fundraising campaign so it can work with more students, CLICK HERE to learn more.
High school junior JT explains how PlayWrite has changed his life, “PlayWrite is my favorite program. The workshop provided me with a blank canvas; a chance to step back, to not take myself so seriously, and to be goofy and creative. I think every kid deserves that opportunity.”
Here’s a video to get a feel for what PlayWrite is all about.
PlayWrite coaches are deep listeners. They ask questions, and wait for answers. As long as it takes. PlayWrite coaches never offer suggestions for words or themes or ways of phrasing ideas.
Creating meaningful characters demands that the writer fully inhabit each character. Placing those characters into true emotional conflict builds awareness and empathy.
PlayWrite creates a safe space for participants to explore themselves in a new way – to build a story that’s never been written before.
Nothing matches the power of face-to-face engagement.
Executive Director, Bruce Livingston, explains how the story of high school student, JT is one of many success stories from the program.
From PlayWrite:
PlayWrite is a safe space in which teens grow—a place to explore and express themselves through creativity—is scarce for many of the youth we meet. More than 75% of PlayWrite participants have been exposed to childhood trauma, abuse, or neglect, and face barriers to success. Our workshop offers a place for “youth at the edge” to process their difficult experiences through creative expression.
Over the course of a 10-day PlayWrite workshop, young writers receive over 27 hours of one-on-one interaction with a highly trained coach. Coaches guide them through exercises involving movement, sound, scent, and memory. In this profound, attuned working relationship, youth are challenged and supported every step of the way. With their coach providing trust and acceptance, they tap into their emotions and creativity. And at the end of the process, they direct professional actors in the world premiere of their unique theatrical works.
For JT, the PlayWrite experience allowed him to find his “true self.” After working with his coach for two weeks, and then seeing his characters come to life onstage, his interactions with others changed:
“I understand the people I encounter a little bit better because I now know we all have unique strengths and weaknesses.”
Empathy, vulnerability, and a freeing sense of play: these are just a few of the skills JT developed through PlayWrite that will serve him in years to come.
Every kid deserves the opportunity to step back. To not take themselves so seriously, and to be goofy and creative. To find their true self.
We’re asking you to help us give more youth a chance. The PlayWrite workshop costs $1,200 per student, which allows us to provide each student like JT the one-on-one coaching they deserve. Will you help us provide this transformative opportunity to as many youth as possible in 2018?
JT’s play is about a young flower who wants to cross a river to find his family, and an old bear who wants to keep his friend safe. It’s about accepting others as they are. And it’s about facing fears. As JT explains:
“The last line of my play is “The rapids never stop.” By that I mean that the struggles in life are never going to stop. But we’ll overcome our challenges; we’ll ride the rapids just like my characters did in my play.”
In the PlayWrite workshop, youth at the edge learn to dive headlong into the rapids, emerging with a work of art that is uniquely their own.
Portland, OR. Veterinarians at DoveLewis Animal Emergency & Specialty Hospital are reminding pet owners to keep their animals safe during the holidays. While decorations, special foods and family gatherings make this time of year festive, they also provide potential hazards for the pets in your life. Many common seasonal items can be dangerous for animals. Below some fun holiday pet photos are a list of 12 hazards to avoid so that you won’t have to make a visit to the animal hospital over the holidays.
Pepper is a feline blood donor who recently made her ninth donation.
12 holiday pet hazards to avoid:
Christmas tree water – Some trees are treated with chemicals that can seep into the Christmas tree water. Also, stagnant tree water can build up bacteria over time, which is harmful if ingested.
Cords from holiday lights – Keep wires out of reach or covered to discourage pets from playing with or chewing them. If tampered with, lights can cause electrical burns and potentially lethal electric shock.
Decorative plants – Plants like mistletoe, holly and poinsettias can cause a range of problems if ingested, including vomiting, abdominal pain, cardiovascular problems, loss of appetite and diarrhea.
Candles – While it’s traditional for menorah candles to remain lit for at least half an hour, leaving your pet alone near an open flame is risky. Kennel your pets during this time or keep a close eye on them. Pets should never be left unsupervised around lit candles.
Turkey bones – These bones can easily splinter into sharp pieces. The splinters can get lodged in a pet’s throat or intestines causing punctures in the intestinal tract and blockages. Secure garbage cans and bags with food scraps.
Chocolate – DoveLewis sees an increase in animals suffering from chocolate toxicity over the holidays. Keep all food, especially food that contains chocolate, out of reach of animals, and monitor pets during food prep and feasts.
Alcohol – Most alcohol consumption by animals occurs as a result of drinking from unattended glasses, but it can also occur if a pet eats raw bread dough. The yeast in the dough ferments in the stomach and releases alcohol ethanol. Alcohol consumption can cause vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, tremors, coma, central nervous system issues, and even death in pets.
Tinsel and ribbon – Cats are especially attracted to tinsel and ribbon, which can obstruct the digestive tract and cause severe vomiting and dehydration if ingested. Avoid using tinsel at all if you have a feline friend in the house, and keep ribbon out of reach.
Ornaments – Any ornament on the bottom of the tree is a tempting toy for your pets. Though not poisonous, many ornaments (especially those made of glass or those with sharp edges) can be dangerous. Hang lightweight glass ornaments near the top of the tree or use shatterproof ornaments only.
Liquid potpourri – Cats are particularly attracted to liquid potpourri. The hot liquid can burn their fur and mouths in addition to causing gastrointestinal problems if ingested.
House guests – Stress from visiting relatives and friends, as well as an altered schedule, can manifest in a variety of ways, including vomiting and gastrointestinal issues. Create a “safe zone” for your pets where they can retreat until the increased activity of the holidays is over. Also, with people coming in and out of your house, your pet is at risk of escaping and getting lost. Be sure your pet’s microchip is updated just in case.
New Year’s distractions – Confetti, noisy poppers and fireworks are all potential hazards for pets. Confetti can get lodged in a pet’s intestines if ingested. Noisy poppers can scare pets and might do damage to sensitive ears. And fireworks scare most animals causing them to run if they escape. Keep them secured and safe around midnight.
The cold weather can be a little RUFF. Like people, cats and dogs are susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia and should be kept inside. Longer-haired and thick-coated dog breeds, such as huskies and other dogs bred for colder climates, are more tolerant of cold weather; but no pet should be left outside for long periods of time in below-freezing weather.
About DoveLewis
DoveLewis Animal Emergency & Specialty Hospital, established in 1973 and based in Portland, Oregon, is the only nonprofit, 24-hour emergency and intensive care unit in the region. DoveLewis also has seven donor-supported community programs that serve animals in need and the animal loving community. With 43 years of service, DoveLewis has treated more than 500,000 animals. For more information, please visit www.dovelewis.org.
Portland, OR. There’s a Darcelle-themed Turkish smoking room at the Pittock Mansion’s special Christmas display this year. The theme is “A Very Portland Christmas” and the display is on through December 31st. You can explore 20 decorated rooms, and see over 30 Christmas trees large and small. Iconic places, people, and events of Portland are featured like Powell’s Books, Packy the elephant, and Peacock Lane.
From the Pittock Mansion:
PTTOCK MANSION | With picture-perfect views of rivers, forests, bridges, and mountaintops — and 23 treasure-filled rooms — no other place in town offers a more breathtaking view and more revealing glimpse of Portland’s past. Portland pioneers Henry and Georgiana Pittock built Pittock Mansion in 1914 and it now stands as a living memorial of the family’s contributions to the blossoming city of Portland and its people. Situated on 46 acres of land almost 1,000 feet atop downtown Portland, the Pittock celebrated its centennial year in 2014.
Volunteers have always been key to Pittock Mansion’s holiday season. Over the years hundreds of people have donated their time and talents into transforming the Mansion into a festive wonderland.
Thank you to A Very Portland Christmas‘s volunteer decorators for all their creativity and hard work!
Room themes and decorators in tour order:
Library “Forest Park,” Anne Runde, Anne Runde Interiors, and Angie Morse, The Room Stylers.
Formal Entry “Bud Clark,” Nancy Kurkinen and Alison Chapman. Thanks for help from: Annie Bottinelli, Beard’s Framing Downtown, City of Portland Archives, John Helmer Haberdasher, Linda Jensen, and Mayor Bud Clark.
Music Room “Mount Hood,” Rosanne Sachson, The Sachson Group Architectural Interior Design.
Turkish Smoking Room “Darcelle,” Alison Chapman and Nancy Kurkinen. Thank you to Darcelle XV for loaning artifacts.
Dining Room “Celebrating 100 Years of Portland’s International Rose Test Garden,” Suzanne Barthelmess. Special thanks to Kim Foren, Kimberly Bown, Mary Suzanne Garvey, Marla Kazell, Harry Landers, and Rex Sustello.
Kitchen “Dragons of Portland,” Cate Anderson, Lee Brixius, Elaine Durst, Yoko Fukuta, Louise Jones, Judy Lyons, MaryAnne Nance, Jeannie Prindle, Burt Reif, Sue Reif, Caroleigh Robinson, Lewis Sprunger, Jean Weigant, Mary Ann Wish, and Sally Woolley. Special thanks: Larry Titensor, Portland Kaohsiung Sister City Association, DragonSports USA, Fire Breathing Blowfish, Tom & Cara Lee Crowder, and Marla Baker.
Breakfast Room “Rose Festival,” Barbara Masterson. Thanks to Jill Hrdlicka.
Writing Room “Adventure Bound: Find Your Favorite Book at Powell’s,” Cheryl Kennedy, Patt Lewis, & Jessie Smith. Special thanks to Powell’s Books, Leah Kohlenberg, Chris Quevedo, Christy Simon, and Jerry “Woody” Woodbury.
South Bedroom “Portland’s Iconic Transportation,” Portland Rose Society.
South Sleeping Porch “Meier & Frank,” Claudine Stock, Rita Devlin, Holly Fowler, Gayl Hauzenberger (26 years at Meier & Frank), and Tommie West (24 years at Meier & Frank).
Nieces’ Bedroom “Packy the Elephant,” Denise Chapman and Michelle Lamorie.
Henry’s Bathroom “Peacock Lane,” Eileen Giskaas.
Sewing Room “Two Portland Icons,” Gúy Holady, Holady and Holady Designs and Productions. Assisted by Kim Baggett, Jill Holady-Rauch, Kaye Holady, Patti Diebel, Barbara Zink, and Pamela Miller.
Georgiana’s Bedroom “Portland Art Museum,” Beth Clark of B. Clark Interior Design, LLC; Deb Zsori with Fabius Grange; and Framed By Design, Lake Oswego.
West Bedroom “Bridgetown: Portland, Oregon,” Jennifer Ballard, Jennifer Ballard Interiors.
Social Room Car Nooks “Postcards: Celebrating Portland Landmarks,” The American Sewing Guild – Columbia River Sewing, Sharon Sink, Lynn Towers, and Megan Garvey.
Social Room Display Cases “Mary Suzanne Garvey: Muse on the Loose,” Suzanne Barthelmess. Special thanks to Kim Foren, Kimberly Bown, Marla Kazell, Harry Landers, and Rex Sustello.
Grand Staircase & Landing Eileen Giskaas.
Grand Hallway Console Table Anne Dewing, DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen.
Portland, OR. The numbers are in and the 2017 Safeway/Providence Festival of Trees, public show and Gala dinner raised a record $1.4 million for Providence Children’s Health and family support services. Bob and Sharon Miller join friends and family at the November 31st gala which drew over 900 people. The public viewing of the trees took place December 1st and 2nd at Oregon Convention Center. Organizers say miles of twinkling lights, thousands of ornaments and even the fragrance of Christmas itself made the 35th anniversary of the festival a magical event.
13-year-old Bobbi MacKenzie opens the Gala dinner by singing “Oh Holy Night” a cappela.
Providence Oregon chief executive Dave Underriner and Providence Foundations of Oregon president and chief development officer Laurie Kelley welcome more than 900 guests to the Gala.
Nancy Lematta, center, leads a group of friends in celebrating the festival of trees.
Joey Harrington poses for a photograph with an Oregon Ducks fan in the midst of the Gala.
Organizers report that the holiday tradition dazzled people of all ages with its exquisite trees, mini-trees, wreaths, gingerbread houses, Lego displays and more. Over the last 34 years, the festival has raised more than $16 million. Those funds support Providence Children’s Health programs including Child Life Specialists, NICU Parent Liaisons, Swindells Resource Center and My Little Waiting Room.
Here are some photos of the those famous trees:
Letters to Santa – Sponsor: iHeart Media. Designers: Sandy Miller, Shelly Hamann, Mark Johnson, family and friends
Take Me Back in Time – Sponsor: Providence Hospice Designers: Jacquelyn Dunn, Kate Gober, Shawn Dunn and Judy Mimnaugh
A Coastal Christmas – Sponsor: Howard S. Wright, a Balfour Beatty Company Designers: Sarah Kennison, Danielle Smeraglio, Sue Jarmin and Kim Jarmin
Rose All the Way Sponsor: Providence Health Plan. Designers: Ronni Nichuals, Stacy Ryback, Velma Rodriguez, Tiah Kershaw, Erica Brill and Mary Nichols
Christmas in Rip City – Sponsor: Portland Trail Blazers Designers: Sandy Miller, Leslie Radke, Carol Nielson and Judy Han
Through a Child’s Eyes – Sponsor: Providence Portland Medical Center professional staff Designers: Leilani Wilson, Raji Chandrasekaran, Christine Riley, Karen Thiel, Nicholetta Vlandis and Elizabeth Wakeman
Have a Merry Elfin’ Christmas – Sponsor: Providence Medical Group Designers: Dominique Buhl, Damala Badon, Robin Birge, Amy Brittan and Min Stearns
This is a year-long, volunteer-driven project with nearly 75 professional and amateur designers volunteering thousands of hours to turn a corner of the Oregon Convention Center into a winter wonderland and holiday village. Nearly 20,000 people were expected to experience the 2017 festive gathering with 75 trees of all sizes decorated with nearly 100,000 twinkling lights. More than 600,000 people have attended the festival since it began in 1983. Safeway was the sponsor this year.
Here’s a time lapse video of the setup of the
The Festival of the Trees benefits these Family Support Services:
Providence cares for more than 100,000 Oregon children each year, and 1 in 5 children have a special health care need. These critical programs help keep the whole family healthy.
Our Family Support Services
Child Life Program
Imagine a hospital visit through the eyes of a child. Unfamiliar faces and equipment, examinations or tests for them or for a loved one, and scary conversations that they may not understand. Our certified child life specialists at Providence St. Vincent help children of all ages cope with their own or a family member’s illness, injury, treatment, or hospitalization through play, child-friendly explanations, and of course, a teddy bear.
My Little Waiting Room
Founded by mother and cancer survivor Amy Patterson, My Little Waiting Room provides free, fun, and safe drop-in child care for families on the campuses of Providence St. Vincent and Providence Portland Medical Center. Staffed by specially trained care providers and secure, parents can attend appointments or visit a loved one in the hospital knowing their children are in good hands.
NICU Parent Liaison
Spending time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with your baby is rarely a part of a family’s birth plan. Our NICU Parent Liaison provides peer-to-peer informational, emotional, and inspirational support to new parents of premature babies during their stay in the NICU at Providence St. Vincent.
Swindells Resource Center
Learning that your child has special needs, developmental delays or disabilities is life-changing, isolating and scary. Where do I go from here? What do I do next? Swindells Resource Center supports parents and caregivers of these children by providing free resources, information and education to communities throughout Oregon and southwest Washington – last year alone we helped tens of thousands of families throughout the region.
Portland, OR. Pacific University held its annual Celebration of Giving extravaganza on November 30th at the Portland Golf Club to recognize and thank the university’s most generous and loyal supporters.
Pacific University alumni Cathy Tran ’74 and Tim Tran ’74 were among those on hand. Earlier this fall, Pacific renamed the library on its Forest Grove Campus in honor of the Trans, who helped establish a scholarship fund for Pacific University Libraries. Tim Tran is also a member of Pacific’s Board of Trustees. (Photo credit, Robbie Bourland – Pacific University)
Pacific University trustee Kim Ledbetter (ret., The Standard) was among those honored at Pacific’s annual Celebration of Giving event. Earlier this year, a new playing surface at the university’s Hanson Stadium was installed and named Ledbetter Field in honor of Kim and his wife Barb, whose generosity helped finance the facility upgrade.
Pacific University alumni Lee Garboden ’77 and Sheri Garboden ’76 joined others at the university’s annual Celebration of Giving event.
Pacific University trustee Mark Frandsen (Grove Properties) was among the attendees at the university’s annual Celebration of Giving event at Portland Golf Club.
Earlier in the week, the university announced the public phase of Lead On, an $80 million comprehensive campaign to increase the university’s endowment and invest in educational facilities and resources and innovation.
The announcement of Lead On kicked off Pacific’s “Boxer Excellence Week,” which resulted in 720 donors giving or pledging more than $265,400. Lead On has already raised more than $44 million of the $80 million goal during the campaign’s silent phase, bolstered by a 112 percent increase in philanthropic giving to the university over the past five years.
Among those in attendance were current Pacific Board of Trustees members Mark Frandsen (Grove Properties), Sheri Garboden ’76 (ret., Flir Systems), Sen. Betsy Johnson (D-Scappoose), former OHSU president Dr. Peter Kohler, Kim Ledbetter (ret., The Standard), Martin Moll, JD (Aldrich Group), Cam Perry ’65 (ret., Cam’s Coffee Co.), Tim Schauermann ’66 (ret., Schauermann Insurance Associates), Tim Tran ’74 (ret., Johnstone Supply Co.) and Mike Wright (ret., Wellpartner, Inc.).
Portland, OR. Attendees at the Portland Jewish Academy auction dressed up in their totally tubular 80’s best. The academy raised $825,000 at its 56th Annual Auction on December 10th with 350 people in attendance. Organizers say this annual celebration and fundraiser ensures that PJA has the resources to provide an outstanding Jewish education to a diverse student body.
The Zidell Family pictured. PJA thanks the Zidell Family and Steve “Rosy” Rosenberg and Ellen Lippman for their generosity and commitment to Portland Jewish Academy.
PJA Auction Co-Chairs – Carol Richmond and Stacey Oller
From Portland Jewish Academy:
Portland Jewish Academy shares a building and campus with the Mittleman Jewish Community Center. As a result, PJA has access to spaces many schools may not have.
Portland Jewish Academy was established on the premise that the community needed a Jewish community day school with a truly superior academic education, built on years of Jewish tradition and values, but representative of the whole Jewish community. More than ever this holds true today. Academically, PJA is a power house. Our graduates are proof of this, from their performance in the areas best high schools to their acceptance at prestigious colleges and universities from across the country. Our students, parents and staff represent the diversity of Portland’s Jewish and non-Jewish community and are inclusive of all family types.
We are all proud to be part of the PJA community.
Please come tour the school and see for yourself why we are so excited about PJA. Call Inge Hoogerhuis, Admission Director, at 503.535.3599. She will happily assist you in setting up a personal tour.
Portland, OR. OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital had some holiday excitement when the Blazers came for a visit. A 15-year-old patient named Joshua got to meet Damian Lillard and Maurice “Moe” Harkless as team members visited the hospital on December 7th.
Faith and her brother Devin visit with members of the Portland Trail Blazers, including Jusuf Nurkic at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.
Jovante cheers as he wins a basketball game against Portland Trail Blazers player Caleb Swanigan, while Maurice “Moe” Harkless and assistant coach Dale Osbourne look on.
Cooper, 12, fist-bumps Portland Trail Blazers player Damian Lillard, while Maurice “Moe” Harkless and assistant coach Dale Osbourne look on.
Also at the hospital, this is the 6th year in a row that the Healing Hunter Foundation has “Decked the Halls” transforming the entire Oncology Unit into a magical Winter Wonderland. The Foundation was started on behalf of Hunter Zen Thawley, who was a, “Courageous and charismatic lil’ 3 yr. old who lost his battle to AML Leukemia in 2010.” Portland Fire & Rescue also graces the halls with the foundation on a yearly basis providing holiday cheer with an abundance of glitter, sparkle and shine. Here’s a look at their decorations:
Lieutenant Todd Thawley, (Hunter’s dad and Co-Founder of the Healing Hunter Foundation) helps decorate OHSU Doernbechers on his day off from fighting fires.
The decorated halls at OHSU Doernbecher Chidren’s Hospital.
The entire volunteer crew of the Healing Hunter Foundation that Decks the Halls for the holidays at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.
Bellagios Pizza, (Goose Hollow location) donated lunch to feed the entire volunteer crew. This is the 2nd year in a row that they’ve donated pizza and salad.
A Winter Wonderland has been created at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital by the Healing Hunter Foundation. This is the 6th year in a row that the foundation has transformed the entire Oncology Unit adding much needed sparkle and shine to lots of families staying at the hospital through the holidays.
Portland Firefighters, along with the Healing Hunter Foundation, help create the holiday magic at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital for the holidays.
Educating pediatric specialists throughout the region
• More than half of Oregon’s practicing pediatricians were trained at Doernbecher • Doernbecher offers the only pediatric residency program in Oregon – and each year more than 600 medical students from around the country vie for the program’s 16 spots • More than a quarter of all physicians in the U.S. pursuing pediatrics apply to Doernbecher each year as interns and residents • Doernbecher provides a wide range of professional development
Pediatric research
Finding cures and treatments, changing the face of pediatric medical science
• Part of OHSU, a nationally ranked research institution where more than 4,000 research studies are currently under way
• Testing the newest potential cancer therapies as one of only 21 National Cancer Institute-designated pediatric Phase 1 cancer centers in the nation; world’s first hospital to test the effectiveness of Gleevec, the revolutionary cancer pill* on kids
• Breakthrough research in the genetic and cellular causes of childhood diseases
Community outreach
Doernbecher experts collaborate to improve the health of children
• Doernbecher experts travel the region to provide specialty care at more than 150 outreach clinics in 13 locations so kids can receive care in their own communities
• Doernbecher’s telemedicine network includes sites in Eugene, Medford, Roseburg, Silverton, Astoria, Coos Bay and McMinnville – allowing Doernbecher specialists to partner with regional providers via state-of-the-art technology
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