Portland, OR. There’s a plethora of terrific fundraising events that happen each fall in the Portland area. Last September, the Good Samaritan Foundation Fall Ball to support cancer services had guests like Barbara Young, Dr. William Johnson, Dr. Nathalie Johnson and Dr. George Brown, the CEO of Legacy Health. Other fall events included YouthBuilders’ Cornhole Classic, Bridge Meadows Annual IMAGINE Benefit, the LifeWorks NW Iron Chef fundraiser, The AIDS Walk, and “Red For Women” Luncheon. Those are just a few of the fundraisers happening in September!
Do you have a favorite nonprofit with a big event coming up this fall? We’d like to post details about the event on our Portland Society Page calendar. You can send us your information at [email protected].
While you’re at it…Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter to stay up to speed on all of your latest nonprofit news. Your privacy and security are our top priority!
The Impact NW Garden Party has supporters like Dennis Peck, Marcia Westcott Peck, Liz Burns and Andy Nelson. This year the party is on September 22nd.
The LifeWorks NW Iron Chef fundraiser will be at the Portland Art Museum on September 27th.
The YouthBuilders’ Cornhole Classic will be September 17th. In the past, event organizers closed the street at Castaway Portland in order for 56 teams to compete in the round robin cornhole tournament.
The AIDS Walk is September 8th. (Photo Credit Mike Burt)
That’s just a small sampling of what’s happening in September. Please give your favorite nonprofit a boost by letting us know about their big upcoming fall event. Later this summer we’ll be rounding up a list of seasonal benefits and nonprofit events you’ll love. To reach out and tell us about yours, send us a message at [email protected].https://www.portlandsocietypage.com/contact/
About us:
PortlandSocietyPage.com is a free public news source for nonprofits. Trusted, accurate and positive, we love our local charities and their vibrant events! We spotlight your luminaries and shine a well-deserved spotlight on outstanding nonprofits. With a free Sunday email, subscribers enjoy thoughtful information about positive and proactive movers and shakers in their hometown.
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter to stay up to speed on all of your latest nonprofit news. Your privacy and security are our top priority!
Milwaukie, OR. The Vital Life Foundation, a 503 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, held its Seventh Annual BridgeTown Bash on June 22. The local nonprofit announced that this year’s event raised a total of $715,772 in donations – the highest number in the event’s history, and over $100,000 more than 2017’s bash. To celebrate the organization’s tenth year, The Vital Life Foundation’s 2018 BridgeTown Bash hosted 300 valued donors and guests in Oregon wine country. Dubbed “Wine Country Wonderland,” the event featured gourmet food, drink, games, live music and surprise entertainment from fire dancers. (Photo Credit, Tom Cook)
This annual fundraiser benefits The Vital Life Foundation, with all proceeds channeled towards its mission to support organizations and programs that provide meaning and vitality in the lives of seniors and staff members living and working in long term care.
This year marks the organization’s 10-year anniversary. Additionally, The Vital Life Foundation announced donations to five of its key charitable partners including:
• Alzheimer’s Association, $90,000
• Friends of the Children, $150,000
• Meals on Wheels, $125,000
• Ronald McDonald House, $75,000
• Wish of a Lifetime, $100,000
“As we reflect on these past ten years as an organization, we feel so grateful for the incredible support we’ve received – particularly at this year’s Bridgetown Bash,” said Ann Adrian, executive director of The Vital Life Foundation. “We’re thrilled to have raised a record number of donations this year. Through these generous donations, we can continue to support our key charitable partners and create opportunities for seniors and staff members to stay vital within their communities.”
For more information on Bridgetown Bash, or how you can donate to The Vital Life Foundation, please visit: http://www.vitalifefoundation.org ABOUT THE VITAL LIFE FOUNDATION The Vital Life Foundation is a non-profit foundation that supports causes and resources that help seniors. Created by Marquis Companies, a long-term care, assisted living and home health care company, and its sister company that provides pharmacy, rehabilitation and PACT consulting to the long-term care community, Consonus Healthcare. The Vital Life Foundation has been in operation since 2008.
Lake Oswego, OR. The Lake Oswego Farmers’ Market in Millennium Plaza Park boasts an average of over 80 vendors each week. Many take “Farmers’ Market coupons” which are used by low-income families and seniors. The government program is aimed at helping farmers and offering fresh local food to help feed local women, infants and children (WIC). Statewide, 476 farmers’ markets and roadside stands accept the coupons. It’s part of the Oregon Farm Direct Nutrition Program.
Eligible participants receive $4 checks, specifically to purchase locally produced fresh fruit and vegetables directly from authorized farmers at farm stands and farmers’ markets from June 1 to October 31.
In 2017, Oregon farmers earned approximately $1 million in Farm Direct sales to seniors and WIC families.
Portland, OR. Ever wonder what it was like to eat and drink in the late 19th century? Pittock Mansion‘s latest exhibit – Dining in the Gilded Age – will immerse you in the manners and culture of a bygone era. For the next four months you can explore the gadgets used to prepare foods and feasts circa 1900 and the specialized china and silverware used to serve them. As cooks and hostesses responded to a new abundance of tableware, tools, utensils, and foodstuffs, American dining customs reached elaborate new heights, unmatched before or since.
Gilded Age dinners featured a style of glass for every type of beverage as well as specialized decanters, pitchers, and punchbowls.
Grand centerpieces and serving dishes demonstrated a household’s wealth and sophistication
Etiquette rules played a prominent role in Gilded Age parties including dressing for dinner.
The exhibit will also feature a new Hands-On History artifact cart, Kitchen Gadgets and Gizmos, that will allow visitors to get a feel for what it was like to use some of the innovate tools behind those elaborate Gilded Age dinners–with the help of Plah-Doh, of course.
Dining in the Gilded Age is on view July 14 – November 11 and is included with general admission. Admission for adults is $11.
Key themes of the exhibit:
1) The Gilded Age is defined by massive industrialization across America with economic focus shifting from agriculture to industry.
2) The Gilded Age was a time of innovations and inventions.
3) While the Gilded Age had a tendency to focus on the disparities between the wealthy and the poor, the era also saw the rise of the middle class who aspired to a higher level and often demonstrated their success by owning and displaying decorative objects as well as the latest in kitchen gadgets and dinnerware.
PITTOCK 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.
Portland, OR. The inaugural Oregon Croquet Classic, presented by Classic Wines Auction, took place at Stoller Family Estate on July 21st and raised nearly $38,000. Net proceeds will benefit five local nonprofits: Metropolitan Family Service, YWCA Clark County, Friends of the Children, New Avenues for Youth and Unity Center for Behavioral Health.
The object of the game is to hit your ball through the course of wickets in the right sequence and finish by hitting them against a centre peg.
Classic Wines Auction and related events have raised more than $46 million for local nonprofits since the organization’s inception in 1982.
Brian & Johnathan are social media influencers known as The Gay Beards.
Heather Martin, Executive Director of the Classic Wines Auction and Director of Development, Lisa Bergeson
Storm Large
Mercedes-Benz of Portland was a sponsor.
With more than 300 guests in attendance, the event included a BBQ lunch prepared by Stoller’s Executive Chef Becca Richards, live music by the Pete Krebs Trio and Jen Bernard, wine tastings by local wineries, and tasty treats from local purveyors. Guests also learned the finer points of croquet from local experts and played other games including bocce.
Throughout the year, Classic Wines Auction hosts a number of events in support of its nonprofit partners, including seasonal Winemaker Dinners and urban tasting events. The 35th annual Classic Wines Auction will be held on March 2, 2019.
From Classic Wines Auction:
Consistently recognized as one of the top ten charity wine auctions in the country by Wine Spectator, theClassicWinesAuctionhasraisedmorethan$46millionforlocalnonprofit partners since its inception in 1982. Based in Portland, Ore., Classic Wines Auction, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to producing the Classic Wines Auction and related food and wine events to raise funds for local organizations benefiting children and families, including: Metropolitan Family Service (MFS), New Avenues for Youth, Friends of the Children-Portland, YWCA Clark County and Unity Center for Behavioral Health. The organization recently received – for the third consecutive year – a four star rating from Charity Navigator recognizing exemplary performance in accountability, transparency, as well as strong financial health. More at www.classicwinesauction.com.
Olympia, WA. Members of the Grand Ronde Tribe have started their annual Canoe Journey and this year it’s called “Power Paddle To Puyallup.” The event is a Native American traditional canoe gathering with singing and dancing that takes place along the west coast of Oregon, Washington & Canada. 108 tribes are registered to participate.
The paddler’s journey began July 19th when they started practicing in the canoe.
The first stop for the Canoe Family is in St. Helens, where they will be joined by two Māori representatives from the Tauranga district in New Zealand, Tamahau Tangitu and Te Kerekau Nicholas. The Canoe Journey exchange with Grand Ronde has been ongoing since 2009.
The group will practice paddling in the Columbia River for three days to become adept at navigating before they begin the miles of paddling starting from Samish, Wash., and ending in Puyallup, Wash.
Stops are scheduled to occur at Swinomish, Tulalip, Suquamish and Muckleshoot.
This year’s Canoe Journey is hosted by the Puyallup Tribe of Indians and has the theme, “Honoring Our Medicine.”
Landing day will be Saturday, July 28 in Tacoma, Wash. Protocol began Sunday, July 29 in Puyallup and run through Saturday, Aug. 4. The order of protocol is the Tribe which travels the furthest to attend goes first.
Canoe Journey was designed as a family-friendly event to familiarize northwest Tribes with the trade routes used by their ancestors and to promote a healthy lifestyle free of substance abuse.
Mission:
The Tribe’s vision is to be a Tribal community known as a caring people, dedicated to the principles of honesty and integrity, building community, individual responsibility and self-sufficiency through personal empowerment, and responsible stewardship of human and natural resources; a community willing to act with courage in preserving Tribal cultures and traditions for all future generations.
Beaverton, OR. The Beaverton Arts Foundation announced a $13 million dollar pledge from Pat Reser, through the Reser Family Foundation, to help fund a new center for the arts in Beaverton. Chris Ayzoukian, Jordan Schnitzer, Lani Faith, Pat Reser, and Mayor Denny Doyle were on hand for the announcement on July 17th. It brings the private fundraising goal down to a little over $9M. With this news also came the announcement of the official name of the facility, the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts. (Photo credit, Andie Petkus)
Patricia Reser poses with the sign stating that the official name of the facility will be the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts.
Geno Biggi and Beaverton City Councilor Mark Fagin
Mark Reser, David Vernier, Christine Vernier, Francesca Kim, Julie Vigeland, Roy Kim, Bill Westphal
Vocalist Julianne Johnson with Mayor Denny Doyle and the ACMA Jazz Band
A large crowd gathered to hear the announcement
Here’s more information about the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts;
The Vision
Art has the power to transport us and inspire our imaginations—it enables us to imagine the unimaginable.
Art connects us to the past, the present and the future, sometimes simultaneously.
Art lets us see ourselves and our own community through a different and more compassionate lens.
Art dares us to dream.
Beaverton has always been a city where anything is possible and for years, our community has dreamed of a dedicated performing arts center in the heart of the city—a world-class destination that makes the arts possible for all and celebrates a thriving arts community.
With thought-provoking performances, stunning visual arts, educational programming and unique multicultural expression, the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts will be a breathtaking leap forward for our entire community.
As a state-of-the-art facility, the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts will present the best in local, regional and national concerts and touring productions. The center will welcome all and serve as a catalyst for personal, cultural and economic growth, as well as increased civic pride and engagement.
Features include:
Modern, well-equipped multipurpose theatre
Classrooms, meeting and conference rooms
Art gallery and exhibit space
Café
Outdoor plaza
Lobby and gathering areas
Visit the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts page on the City of Beaverton’s website to learn more.
The Location
The Patricia Reser Center for the Arts will be nestled adjacent to The Round, between SW Cedar Hills Boulevard and SW Hall Boulevard, accompanied by a public parking garage and just steps away from light-rail transit.
Why Now?
Greater Beaverton is an ethnically diverse area with so much to share, truly an international community poised to be the artistic and cultural jewel of Washington County. That’s why building a modern performing arts center is a key component of the Beaverton Community Vision action plan — and it’s why various partners and stakeholders have been planning for the Center for the Arts since 2004 (see The History below).
Together, we’ve created a vision that values connection to the arts and healthy collaboration, community access — so that every resident feels ownership — and excellence in design, amenities and impact. The time to make it happen is now.
“We know that arts impact communities in deep, meaningful and measurable ways. Arts of all types help to educate, entertain, bring together neighbors, newcomers and tourists, and ultimately celebrate the immense and beautiful assets of our diverse and culturally rich community. “
– Lorraine Clarno, ACE, President/CEO, Beaverton Area Chamber of Commerce
The Campaign
A unique public-private partnership was created to fund the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts, and 80% of the funding has already been secured. The Beaverton Arts Foundation is proud to serve as the project’s private fundraising partner, leading the drive to secure $9.6 million in remaining private capital needs. Ready to be a partner with us?
Portland, OR. This stretch of hot weather can not only be uncomfortable for people, it can be dangerous for dogs, cats and other pets. The Oregon Humane Society urges animal lovers to follow these simple tips to keep their pets safe:
Keep drinking water bowls full of cool, fresh water.
Provide shaded areas where a pet can rest if outdoors.
Keep an eye on pets around water—not all pets are natural swimmers.
If your pet is overcome by heat exhaustion, immediately immerse or spray the animal with cool running water (avoid cold water as that could cause shock) and continue until the body temperature lowers. Give your pet water to drink and consult your veterinarian right away to determine if additional treatment is needed.
Utilize a kiddie pool for dogs to splash and relax in.
Use a misting hose to provide a cool area for a pet while outside.
Do not leave pets unattended outside when it gets hot; bring them inside.
-colored pets can sunburn—check with your veterinarian before applying sunblock to your pet’s nose.
High energy dogs will likely not have as much energy on a hot day, so lowering the normal level of activity is very important. Walk or exercise your dog when the temperature is cooler in the early morning and late evening.
Brain work such as using puzzle toys and teaching a new trick can be a good way to keep a dog busy in an air conditioned environment.
Making sure your dog stays hydrated, especially during exercise. Reduce activity and give your pet frequent breaks to rehydrate.
Be aware of your pet’s specific needs based on age, level of fitness and breed.
Many dogs enjoy playing in a kiddie pool to keep cool.
If your home isn’t cool enough for you and your pets, options might include visiting a friend or family member, finding a doggie daycare for the day, or checking with your veterinarian or local animal services to see if they offer cooling stations. Plan ahead: know where you can go with your pets or arrange to have them stay during the heat.
If you see an animal in distress because of the heat, please take immediate steps to help, in addition to calling local police.
Provide the pet with a bowl of cool water; create a shady area where the animal can relax; set up a water sprinkler for the animal; knock on the doors of neighbors to see if anyone has access to the animal’s house. If possible, bring the pet indoors.
OHS and your local police agency typically can respond only to calls about pets who may not survive without immediate help.
If the animal is locked in a car, please see the section below about pets in vehicles.
Fleas: Summer is also the worst time of year for fleas. If your dog or cat gets them, their whole environment must be treated, including the yard. Diatomaceous earth is a natural way to treat fleas in both indoor and outdoor environments, and can be found at most grocery stores. If your dog or cat and their environment are not treated, your pet may eat fleas, which could cause internal bodily harm (including tapeworms). You may want to contact your veterinarian to determine the best way to treat your pet for fleas directly.
Parked Cars and Other Vehicles
Pets in Hot Cars – OHS Infographic
The Oregon Humane Society encourages you to leave your pet home and inside when you dash to the store or another errand. The inside of a car heats up very quickly. On an 85 degree day, a car’s interior temperature can climb to 120 degrees in 20 minutes, even with the windows slightly open.
What to do if you see a pet alone in a hot car:
Write down the car’s make, model and license plate number.
If there are businesses nearby, notify their managers or security personnel and ask them to make an announcement to find the car’s owner.
If the owner can’t be found, call the non-emergency number of the local police and/or animal control and wait by the car for them to arrive.
Can you break a car window to save a life?
The public, as well as police, can now break a car’s window to rescue a pet or child in imminent danger without fear of being sued for damages. The new law, which took effect in June of 2017, protects people from criminal and civil liability if they break a car window to save a child or animal who is left alone and appears to be in imminent danger. Breaking a window is a last resort: before a Good Samaritan chooses to break a car window, law enforcement must be contacted (call police or 911 in an emergency). Rescuers must stay with the animal until first responders arrive or the owner of the car returns. Be mindful that a dog or cat may feel protective of their space or even run off when faced with a stranger.
Symptoms of heatstroke include: restlessness, excessive thirst, heavy panting, lethargy, lack of appetite, dark tongue or gums, vomiting, lack of coordination or even collapse, and an internal temperature over 104° F.
Contact your veterinarian immediately if you notice these symptoms. Quick action could save your pet’s life.
Help your pet cool down: First, get your pet out of direct heat. Check for signs of shock and take your pet’s temperature if possible. Offer water to drink. Then: use a fan to blow cool air on the pet; place water-soaked towels (or running water) on the pet’s head, neck, feet, chest and abdomen; rub isopropyl alcohol (70%) on a dog’s footpads for cooling (do not allow dog to ingest). Do not use ice-cold water or ice—use cool water to avoid shock.
Safe cooling and consequences of heatstroke: “During a heat crisis, the goal is always to decrease the animal’s body temperature to 103° F in the first 10-15 minutes. Once 103° F is reached, you must stop the cooling process because the body temperature will continue to decrease and can plummet dangerously low if you continue to cool the dog for too long.
Even if you successfully cool your pet down to 103° F in the first 10-15 minutes, you must take the dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible because consequences of heat stroke will not show up for hours or even days. Potential problems include abnormal heart rhythms, kidney failure, neurological problems and respiratory arrest.” – from the American Red Cross
Highly susceptible pets: Animals with flat faces, like pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively. These pets, along with the elderly, the overweight, and those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible. Note that a dog’s or cat’s normal body temperature is between 101 and 102 degrees.
If you see an animal in danger: If you suspect an emergency situation has developed and an animal (not your own) is in immediate danger from the heat, first consult the owner if possible and then contact your local animal control agency or local police department.
Hot Pavement
Pavement, asphalt, metal, and even sand that have been heated by the sun can burn dogs’ paw pads. Remember: if the surface is too hot for your bare hand or foot, it’s too hot for your dog’s feet.
Post-Swim Sensitivity: Pads can be soft and more sensitive after swimming, so take heed if your pup refuses to walk on the pavement after a swim.
Some ways to avoid pad burns:
walk your dog early or late in the day, out of the heat
walk frequently when it’s cool to build up callus on the pads
walk on the grass when hot surfaces are unavoidable
moisturize your dog’s pads daily with paw balms or creams
lay down a wet towel for your dog to stand on when grassy areas are not available
Signs of burned pads include: limping or refusing to walk, licking or chewing at the feet, pads darker in color, missing part of pad, blisters or redness on the feet.
First aid for burned pads: keep the foot area cool and clean. Immediately flush with cool water and a gentle antibacterial such as betadine. Get the dog to a grassy area or if possible, carry him/her. Keep the dog from licking the wounds. For minor burns, spread the area with antibacterial ointment and cover with a loose bandage.
For serious burns, take the dog to your vet for further treatment. This is important to prevent infection and further damage.
Another concern is dogs riding on uncovered pickup beds. The sun heats up the metal truck bed and can burn your pet’s pads. Have Rover ride in the cab with you, put him in a secure crate, or please leave him at home and inside a cool place.
Generally speaking, keep your dogs off of hot surfaces whenever possible.
From OHS:
OHS is the largest humane society in the Northwest, and adopts more animals from its Portland shelter than any other single-facility shelter on the West Coast. OHS puts no time limits on how long animals remain at the shelter—a pet stays available for adoption for as long as needed to find a loving home. If a pet in the care of OHS needs medical attention, the OHS veterinary hospital provides the pet with same level of care you would want your own pet to receive.
Founded in 1868 by noted humanitarian Thomas Lamb Eliot, OHS is the third-oldest humane society in the nation and the oldest in the Northwest. Eliot initially established OHS to stop the neglect and abuse of draft animals. The mission expanded to include companion animals and, until 1933, orphaned children.
Community Services
OHS finds homes for more than 11,000 pets each year
OHS Humane Officers rescue neglected and abused animals, investigating approximately 1,000 cases annually
The OHS medical team provides free and low-cost spay and neuter surgeries for thousands of pets owned by low-income families
OHS educators reach more than 12,000 youths and about 2,000 adults annually through humane education programs
The OHS Second Chance program brings more than 6,000 pets annually to OHS from other shelters around the region
In the state capitol, OHS is the driving force behind efforts to improve laws that protect animals and punish offenders
Funding
OHS receives no tax dollars
OHS does not receive any portion of dues or donations paid to national organizations
OHS is an Oregon nonprofit that relies on donations
OHS operates independently of any other shelter group
Financial information, including annual reports and audited statements, can be found here »
OHS Mission
To foster an environment of respect, responsibility and compassion for all animals through education, legislation and leadership. To care for the homeless, to defend the abused and to fight with unrelenting diligence for recognition of the integrity of all animals.
Seattle, WA. The 2018 USA Games are in the books and Team Oregon returned home with eleven gold medals. Champions were crowned in 14 sports during the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games July 1st-6th in Seattle. 4,000 athletes from across the country participated. In swimming, Shawn Hinz won both the 100-meter individual medley and 100-meter breaststroke.
Shawn Hinz taking off from the starting block at the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games
Kimberly Forrer took two golds: 100m Free and 100m Backstroke.
Megan Patrignelli, Hayley Ruck and Molly Muir.
Gold Medal Winners at the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games
Molly Muir: Shot Put
CJ Billings: 50m Backstroke
CJ Billings: 50m Free
Victoria Peckerman: 25m Backstroke
Victoria Peckerman: 50m Backstroke
Victoria Peckerman: 50m Free
Kimberly Forrer: 100m Free
Kimberly Forrer: 100m Backstroke
Shawn Hinz: HP 100m IM
Shawn Hinz: 100m Breaststroke
Dominic Flesey-Assad / Colin Herring: Bocce Unified Doubles
Thank you to Microsoft at Pioneer Place for sending our athletes off to Seattle in style! On June 30, Microsoft warmly opened their doors to host the Team Oregon delegation and its community of supporters. From adaptive gaming controllers to VR, several interactive stations were set up to celebrate Microsoft’s dedication to inclusive design. A giant “good luck” sign, inspiring speeches and a tunnel of high-fives created an atmosphere of community support for these truly amazing athletes.
A very special THANK YOU to the parents, grandparents, family, friends, community businesses and more who helped raise over $13,000 in support of Team Oregon. Also, thank you to Nike who provided uniforms, Microsoft for its sponsorship and hosting the Sendoff Party, NW Navigator for providing transportation to and from Seattle, Jersey Mike’s & Papa John’s for providing meals and many others who helped Team Oregon succeed at the 2018 USA Games.
Your donation will help Special Olympics Oregon athletes reach their full potential on and off the field for years to come.
Portland, OR. This July, Portland Center Stage at The Armory celebrates the 20th Anniversary of JAW: A Playwrights Festival. The two-week festival — during which artists from across the country collaborate to workshop and develop new scripts — culminates in the Big Weekend of free staged readings, along with community classes, dance, music, and other events at The Armory.
The JAW Big Weekend is July 27-29. Free public readings of scripts in development will be presented at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. For more information visit www.pcs.org/jaw.
JAW 2017, “In Old Age” by Mfoniso Udofia in rehearsal, director Logan Vaughn, playwright Mfoniso Udofia, and actors Jenny Jules and Marcus Henderson.
Actors in rehearsal for “Testmatch” by Kate Attwell, JAW 2017, (L-R) Renata Friedman, Laura Faye Smith, Mahira Kakkar, Dana Green, Tanya Selveratnam.
JAW’s BIG 2-0H brings the work of four dynamic playwrights to Portland. Meghan Brown serves up power, complicity, pleasure, fear … and food … with her outrageously funny play The Tasters. Clarence Coo presents an unusual yet entirely understandable preference to jays, sparrows and warblers over humans with The Birds of Empathy. Emily Feldman challenges the way we hear women’s stories, using humor and arresting imagery in Pick a Color. Finally, Matthew Paul Olmos brings magical realism and visceral theatricality together to explore how children are impacted by complicated adult fears in three girls never learnt the way home. Developing short scripts alongside these seasoned playwrights are the JAW Promising Playwrights, local high school students from Portland Center Stage at The Armory’s Visions & Voices program, who have been commissioned to write new scripts for the festival’s kickoff event.
2018 JAW FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2018
8:00 p.m.
JAW KICKOFF: An evening of 10-minute plays written by six Portland-area high school playwrights
Ellyn Bye Studio
SATURDAY, JULY 28, 2018
1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Community Artist Lab: You in Your Play: Autobiographical Writing for the Stage with playwright Emily Feldman*
1:30 to 3:00 p.m.
Panel: Where Are They Now with guest playwrights from JAWs past
Ellyn Bye Studio
3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
In the Groove dance battle hosted by Michael Galen
Main Lobby
3:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Etsy Maker Fair
Mezzanine
4:00 p.m.
STAGED READING: three girls never learnt the way home by Matthew Paul Olmos
U.S. Bank Main Stage
7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Tribally influenced hip-hop with Stryk-9 and 2 8 THA NATIVE
Main Lobby
7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Food art installation from Shannon Sims, tasting at 7:45 p.m.
Mezzanine
8:00 p.m.
STAGED READING: The Tasters by Meghan Brown
U.S. Bank Main Stage
SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2018
12:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Community Artist Lab: Stumbling Upon It: Exploring Writing From the Subconscious with playwright Matthew Paul Olmos*
12:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Community Artist Lab: Table Work on Your Feet with Director Margot Bordelon*
3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Harmony driven folk band Five Letter Word
Main Lobby
4:00 p.m.
STAGED READING: Pick a Color by Emily Feldman
U.S. Bank Main Stage
7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Tracing the Essence by Subashini Ganesan and collaborators
Main Lobby
8:00 p.m.
STAGED READING: The Birds of Empathy by Clarence Coo
U.S. Bank Main Stage
MEGHAN BROWN
THE TASTERS BY MEGHAN BROWN With a rebel army poisoning government leaders left and right, the women known as Tasters have an important political role: Every day, they eat delicious gourmet meals and wait to see if it kills them. When the rebellious Elyse starts a hunger strike, she kicks off a series of events that could change the course of history — but not before she puts all of the Tasters’ lives in jeopardy. Meghan Brown’s new play about power and complicity (and pleasure and fear and food!) is outrageously funny and undeniably timely.
MEGHAN BROWN is an Ovation Award-winning playwright based in Los Angeles. Her full-length plays include The Pliant Girls, The Kill-or-Dies and Shine Darkly, Illyria. She is a founding member of The Temblors. Meghan wrote the book and lyrics for a new musical adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma with composer Sarah Taylor Ellis. Emma has been workshopped throughout the U.S. and in London, and was the pilot musical for Apples and Oranges Studios’ THEater ACCELERATOR. Meghan wrote the lyrics for the song cycle Untuned Ears Hear Nothing but Discord, which premiered at Lincoln Center as part of In Need of Music: The Songs of Ben Toth. Current projects include the original musical These Girls Have Demons (music by Sarah Taylor Ellis, workshopped as part of Pittsburgh CLO’s SPARK festival) and Cowboy Elektra (with Rogue Artists Ensemble, music by The Dustbowl Revival’s Zach Lupetin). meghanbrown.net
CLARENCE COO
THE BIRDS OF EMPATHY BY CLARENCE COO Nathan is alone. His ex-boyfriend has gotten engaged, his mom has retired to Costa Rica, and his social life has devolved into a parade of unsatisfying encounters. But Nathan loves birds — watching them, discovering them, identifying with them. So when an unexpected visit from an estranged neighbor threatens to destroy his routine, Nathan has to confront a crucial question: Does he even need people when he’s got jays, sparrows and warblers?
CLARENCE COO is the recipient of a 2017 Whiting Award and the winner of the 2012 Yale Drama Series competition. His plays include Beautiful Province (Belle Province), People Sitting in Darkness and The God of Wine. His work has been developed at Atlantic Theater Company, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, New York Theatre Workshop and Bay Area Playwrights Festival. He has received fellowships from The Dramatists Guild of America, Rita Goldberg Playwrights’ Workshop at The Lark, New York Foundation for the Arts and Playwrights Realm. He received his M.F.A. in playwriting at Columbia University. Currently he is a resident playwright at New Dramatists, a member of the Ma-Yi Writers Lab and the manager of academic administration for Columbia University’s M.F.A. Writing Program.
EMILY FELDMAN
PICK A COLOR BY EMILY FELDMAN
Pick a Color follows four women taking refuge in a local nail salon to momentarily escape the stresses, heartbreak — and joys — of the busy winter holiday season. Playwright Emily Feldman uses her consciously theatrical storytelling style to present intimate portraits of women digging within themselves for the strength to fight off an army of reasons to despair. Shot through with humor and arresting imagery, the play celebrates the resilient emotional lives of women of middle age living in the American present.
MATTHEW PAUL OLMOS
EMILY FELDMAN’S work has been developed by The Playwrights’ Center, Colt Coeur, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Magic Theatre, Alliance Theatre, Roundabout Theatre Company and Playwrights Realm. She has been an Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition finalist, an Ashland New Play Festival winner and a member of The Working Farm at SPACE on Ryder Farm. She’s currently a member of Interstate 73 at Page73 and The Orchard Project NYC Greenhouse. Emily is a recent Jerome Fellow at the Playwrights’ Center and is the 2017-2018 Shank Playwright in Residence at Playwrights Horizons. This summer, she’ll be working on a new play at The New Harmony Project and Wild Wind Performance Lab. She holds an M.F.A. in playwriting from University of California San Diego and a B.A. from Middlebury College.
THREE GIRLS NEVER LEARNT THE WAYHOME
BY MATTHEW PAUL OLMOS
Matthew Paul Olmos’ play focuses on the friendship of three minority girls, who find themselves straddling two different worlds after being bussed to a newly integrated school. Using elements of magical realism and visceral theatricality, three girls never learnt the wayhome explores the question of what happens to children caught in the middle of complicated adult fears.
MATTHEW PAUL OLMOS is a three-time recipient of a Sundance Institute fellowship/residency; a resident playwright for New Dramatists, Center Theatre Group and Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Black Swan Lab; and has received a Princess Grace Award and La MaMa’s Ellen Stewart Emerging Playwright Award, as selected by Sam Shepard. Mentored for two years by Ruth Maleczech (Mabou Mines/SUITE), he is a New York Theatre Workshop fellow, Baryshnikov Arts Center resident, Echo Theater resident, Ensemble Studio Theater lifetime member and proud Kilroys nominator. His work has been presented nationally and internationally, taught in university, and published by Samuel French and NoPassport Press. Current works include American Nationalism Project (New York Theatre Workshop’s Adelphi Residency); a play with music, We Walk Along the Christmas Bridge (Center Theatre Group’s L.A. Writers’ Workshop); a three-play cycle about questionable presidents; and his completed three-part cycle So Go the Ghosts of Mexico, Part Three (world premiere at Undermain Theatre in 2019).
Since launching in 1999, JAW: A Playwrights Festival has created a space for playwrights to have complete creative control and the resources to work on whatever they want to develop in their scripts. Each year, playwrights are chosen from nearly 200 submissions nationwide to collaborate with directors, dramaturgs, actors and other theater professionals from across the United States. Since its inception, 82 scripts have been developed at JAW and 17 JAW plays have received fully staged productions at Portland Center Stage at The Armory, giving Portland a strong national reputation for not only incubating new work, but helping to see that work to successful fruition. JAW plays have also gone on to receive world premiere productions at professional theaters across the country and beyond, including New York Theater Workshop, Steppenwolf Theatre and Berkeley Repertory Theatre.
THE JAW COMPANY
Portland Center Stage at The Armory’s Associate Artistic Director Rose Riordan is the JAW Festival Director. Joining her on the JAW team are JAW Festival Co-Producers Kelsey Tyler and Brandon Woolley; JAW Literary Manager Benjamin Fainstein; JAW Festival Company Manager Will Cotter; Education and Community Programs Associate Clara-Liis Hillier; Promising Playwrights Director Matthew B. Zrebski; a slew of guest artists, both local and from around the country, including directors, dramaturgs, actors and other theater professionals; and the hardworking staff and volunteers of Portland Center Stage at The Armory who bring their talents and energies to JAW each year.
LOCATION: All public JAW events happen at The Armory, 128 NW Eleventh Ave., Portland, Ore., 97209
ACCESSIBILITY: Portland Center Stage at The Armory is committed to making its performances and facilities accessible to all patrons. Learn more at http://www.pcs.org/access/.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: Most JAW events are recommended for high school age and up.
PORTLAND CENTER STAGE AT THE ARMORY
Portland Center Stage at The Armory is the largest theater company in Portland and among the top 20 largest regional theaters in the country. Established in 1988 as a branch of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the company became independent in 1994. Around 150,000 visitors attend The Armory annually to enjoy a mix of classical, contemporary and world premiere productions, along with a variety of high quality education and community programs. Eleven productions are offered each season, in addition to roughly 400 community events created — in partnership with 170+ local organizations and individuals — to serve the diverse populations in the city. As part of its dedication to new play development, the company has produced 26 world premieres and presents an annual new works festival, JAW: A Playwrights Festival. Home to two theaters, The Armory, which was originally built in 1891, opened its doors in 2006 as the first building on the National Register of Historic Places, and the first performing arts venue in the country, to achieve a LEED Platinum rating.
JAW: A PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL
JAW: A Playwrights Festival is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts; The Kinsman Foundation; and Don and Mary Blair. Portland Center Stage at The Armory’s 2017-2018 season is funded in part by Season Superstars Tim and Mary Boyle and Lead Corporate Champion Umpqua Bank. Further support comes from Season Sponsors the Regional Arts and Culture Council, The Wallace Foundation and the Oregon Arts Commission, a state agency funded by the state of Oregon and the National Endowment for the Arts. Mark Spencer Hotel is the official hotel partner. Portland Center Stage at The Armory was selected as a participant of the Wallace Foundation’s Building Audiences for Sustainability Initiative, a four-year effort with a nationwide cohort of 26 performing arts organizations.
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