Portland, September 3rd, 2015. Tom McCall Waterfront Park was filled with the sound of music for the Oregon Symphony’s annual concert. Closing festivities included the traditional grand finale—Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture with an elaborate fireworks show, complete with military cannons from the Oregon Army National Guard 218th Field Artillery. A host of warm-up performances preceded the concert. Waterfront Concert Leads a Spectacular List of September Concerts as Oregon Symphony Opens the 2015/16 Season The concert signals the opening of the music season in Portland and the 2015/16 Symphony season.
Hillsboro School District Mariachi Una Voz entertained the crowd.
Carlos Kalmar poses by the All Classical Cruiser at the family friendly event.
Mayor Charlie Hales, OSO President Scott Showalter, and Commissioner Amanda Fritz.
Fans said, “What a fantastic concert, a tour de force, a triumph!”
There were food options for everyone, Salt and Straw was a favorite.
From the Oregon Symphony: Since the was established more than 100 years ago, it has been recognized for its internationally acclaimed music directors, skilled performers, diverse programs and outstanding community services in education and regional touring. The Oregon Symphony now ranks among the largest orchestras in the nation and as one of the largest arts organizations in the Northwest, with an attendance of more than 225,000 people annually and 76 full-time musicians.
Portland, July 29th, 2015. The Portland Art Museum’s Patron Society members celebrated summer and the current Gods and Heroes exhibition under clear, warm skies. The courtyard of the museum was filled with good cheer and the sounds of Portland band, Boy and Bean. Members of the Patron Society, like David Lokting and Alysia Duckler, are the Museum’s most generous annual donors. Their donations help more than 300,000 visitors expand their minds through the power of art.
Portland Art Museum Patron Society Member, Jim Mark
Luke Short of Boy and Bean
John Goodwin and Keith Martin
Portland Art Museum Executive Director, Brian Ferriso.
Did you know….
The oldest art museum in the Pacific Northwest, the Portland Art Museum was founded in late 1892 when seven leaders from Portland’s business and cultural institutions created the Portland Art Association. The goal of the Association was to create a first-class art museum that would be accessible to all citizens.
The Museum purchased its first collection, approximately one hundred plaster casts of Greek and Roman sculptures, with a gift of $10,000 from prominent local citizen Henry Corbett. Two other local citizens, Winslow B. Ayer and his wife, selected the casts during a trip to Europe after receiving advice from professionals at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
The mission of the Portland Art Museum is to engage diverse communities through art and film of enduring quality, and to collect, preserve, and educate for the enrichment of present and future generations.
The Portland Art Museum believes that the experience of original works of art enriches and changes people’s lives. Art inspires new ways of understanding the present and our place in the world. By providing a welcoming environment for the public to look, talk, and reflect on works of visual and media art, the Museum deepens our collective understanding of humanity, builds community, and contributes to a thriving civic life. The following core values guide the Portland Art Museum:
Creativity
The arts are at the core of our humanity, representing a timeless human impulse.
Connection
The arts touch us and connect us across time, geography, and cultural differences, shedding light on how humans interact with their world.
Learning
The arts open us to diverse ideas and ways of knowing ourselves, our community, and our world.
Accessibility
The arts must be economically, intellectually, and physically accessible to everyone.
Accountability
Transparency and careful stewardship of resources—including collections, staff, facilities, and investments – are essential for mission fulfillment now and in the future.
The Portland Art Museum is the leading cultural institution in the state and region. Its hallmarks are innovation, excellence, and engaged community partnerships. The Museum presents a relevant and dynamic program originating from its collections and Film Center. With historically preserved and newly designed architectural space of the highest quality, the Museum invites, inspires, and fosters contemplation and discussion. As a beacon for culture and education for our growing and evolving community, the Museum is known for its exceptional trustees, staff, programs, collections, and visitor amenities.
Portland, August 11th, 2015. SEMpdx‘s seventh annual Rooftop Networking Party drew over 550 professionals. Members of the local nonprofit search engine marketing group kicked up their heels, including Founder and former CEO of Moz, Rand Fishkin, SEMpdx advisory board member, Anne Kennedy, and Geraldine DeRuiter.
Members gathered on the rooftop of the Embassy Suites downtown to enjoy the city view, music, food and giveaways (including a chance to win free tickets to SearchFest 2016).
Ten percent of the proceeds from the sellout event will benefit SEMpdx’s new charity of choice, the Brody Borlaug Foundation, which aims to help establish a world-class Pediatric Immunology Program at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. Moreover, SEMpdx will provide in-kind digital marketing expertise, such as advice on social media campaigns and SEO strategy, along with ten percent of its proceeds made throughout the year, to the Brody Borlaug Foundation.
Jeff and Tracy Borlaug, founders of the Brody Borlaug Foundation, pose with Alan George, SEMpdx President, and Cassidy Quinn, entertainment reporter at KGW.
SEMpdx President, Alan George, and Events Chair, Robert Frost, announce the winner of one of the many drawings guests were able to enter at the Rooftop Networking Party including a chance to win free tickets to SearchFest 2016. (photo credit, Nina Johnson)
John Alden, Lindsey Stier, Hannah Vincent and Eric Scriven from sponsor Logical Position hang out during the SEMpdx rooftop party.
John McPhee and Kevin Bekker from event sponsor, Oregonian Media Group, enjoyed some great brews provided by the Growler Guys during the SEMpdx Rooftop Party.
The event was sponsored by Moz, The Oregonian, the Growler Guys and Logical Position.
From SEMpdx:
SEMpdx was founded in 2006, because we felt that there was a lot of veteran talent here in PDX, but we weren’t really recognized for it because we were all so busy working that we weren’t self-promoting.
We also knew that the business community in Portland was coming around to SEM, but didn’t really know about the level of talent here in PDX. This led to our rather simple mission “put search on the map in Portland, and Portland on the map in search”. In other words – to get PDX recognized in the national SEM community, and raise awareness for search marketing in PDX.
We’re glad you’re here and we welcome you to become a member. If you’d like to learn more about becoming a member, check out our benefits and sign up information for Portland Oregon’s premier Search Engine Marketing Organization.”
North Plains, Oregon, July 20th, 2015. Over 250 Ronald McDonald House Charities supporters hit the courses at the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club. Mike Francis, General Manager of Nike Golf was joined by John Springer, Vice President of Supply Chain Operations and Rob Harris. At this year’s event, Nike hosted a Nike Mobile Pro Shop, which helped raise more than $6,000. (All golfers received a $100 gift certificate to spend then proceeds over and above $100 also went to support Ronald McDonald House Charities.)
Wade Chosvig, a former Ronald McDonald House guest, poses with CEO Jessica Jarratt Miller and Ronald McDonald. Wade spent the day on the links showing off his incredible golf skills and helped announce this year’s tournament winners.
Golfers got to choose between Ghost Creek or the private Witch Hollow for an afternoon of golfing. The 2015 fundraising goal was $240,000 for RMHC while helping to raise awareness of our programs and services. Golfers included business executives, community leaders and philanthropic donors who represented companies such as Coca Cola, Jeld-Wen, McDonald’s, Nike, Parr Lumber, the Portland Trail Blazers, The Standard and Weyerhaeuser.
David Payne (far right) is joined by his team representing The Standard, this year’s presenting sponsor. David, a long time supporter of RMHC, is a board member and also served as the chair on this year’s RMHC Golf Classic committee.
Hayley Mortensen, who played on the Tanner Family team, accepts her award as the winner of this year’s “closet to the pin hole.”
The next event coming up for the nonprofit will be the Hearts and Hands Gala;Saturday, Oct. 10 6-11 p.m. with an evening featuring a live and silent auction, gourmet dinner and cocktails, dancing and more.
Portland, August 9th, 2015. From the coast to the Cascades and canyons, the Bite of Oregon is a celebration of Oregon’s bounty and people. More than 25 breweries, wineries, distilleries, cideries, and distilleries poured craft beverages to help quench thirsts. Tom McCall Waterfront Park was packed with over 50,000 people during the three-day event, Oregon’s top chefs, best wineries, breweries, ciders-makers and distilleries, along with celebrity chef demonstrations and challenges, like the Iron Chef competition, were featured. (photo credit, Peter Van Houten Photography)
This year’s Iron Chef winner was James Williams from Omar’s Restaurant in Ashland. The winning dish included braised pork jowl, served with bacon corn puree, along with chili honey-glazed bacon.
All proceeds benefit Special Olympic Oregon. (This photo is from the 2015 summer state games.)
“Eat” the Oregon Bounty Chef’s table returned. In true farm-to-festival spirit, chef’s from around the state partnered with Oregon’s various agriculture commissions to prepare locally-sourced, gourmet bites for $4.
This year, the Chef’s table expanded and featured many Oregon Agricultural Commissions, including blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, potato, seafood and beef. Busy volunteers passes out the goodies.
SE Wine Collective, a unique urban winery in Portland, returned as the official host of the Wine Bar. Local wines were also honored.
Ice cream was a favorite with kids and their parents. The Bite offered a variety of kid-friendly activities including a stage with hourly interactive performances, puppeteers, arts and crafts projects and face painting.
Special Olympics Oregon provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children, youth and adults living with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.
Special Olympics Oregon serves more than 12,000 participants each year with intellectual disabilities, serving the largest disability population in the state. Every day, every month and every year, our programs and services provide our constituents with immense opportunities in life, yet nearly 100,000 individuals could still benefit from participating in Special Olympics Oregon programs.
Still growing, Special Olympics Oregon is efficiently expanding programs to get closer and closer to serving every individual with intellectual disabilities that qualifies to participate in Special Olympics. Our vision is to help bring all persons with intellectual disabilities into the larger society under conditions whereby they are accepted, respected and given the chance to become useful and productive citizens.
Sauvie Island, August 1st, 2015. It was a banner day for kids when Sauvie Island Center hosted its 7th annual Barn Dance and BBQ. The event, presented by Whole Foods Market, drew more than 225 people. Sponsors and guests help raise more than $17,500, which will go toward funding farm field trips for local school children.
Cory Schreiber, co-founder of Sauvie Island Center and Anna Goldrich, Executive Director of Sauvie Island Center.
Lyndsey Vaughn-Dieter, guest of Sauvie Island Center Board Member Lauren Johnson, collects her silent auction items.
Superman is in the house!
From The Sauvie Island Center:
We serve elementary school youth of Portland by providing hands-on educational field trips at our Sauvie Island location in Howell Territorial Park, managed by Metro. Through our education programs, the Center seeks to increase the food, farm and environmental literacy of the next generation.
The field trips take place on the Sauvie Island Organics farm, and the curriculum includes modules covering Soil Investigations, Plant Parts Investigations, and Wildlife and the Food Chain. Our trips also include the Grow Lunch Garden, where students plant, tend, harvest and eat fresh vegetables from their own field.
mission
Established in 2005, the Sauvie Island Center educates youth about food, farming, and the land.
what we do
The Sauvie Island Center increases food, farm and environmental literacy in the community by providing hands-on educational field trips for elementary school children. The trips, which take place on the Sauvie Island Organics farm and on the grounds of the 120 acre Howell Territorial Park managed by Metro, offer a rich and unique opportunity for Portland elementary school students to visit and explore a real, working farm.
our curriculum
Our farm-based curriculum was developed through a unique partnership between farmers, educators and culinary professionals. Currently, there are five curriculum modules, each designed to educate children about the relationship between the food they eat, farming and the land.
Soil Exploration – Students dig into the compost pile to discover what constitutes “healthy” soil, and to better understand its relationship to the farm system.
Seed to Harvest – Students plant, tend and harvest vegetables from their own farm row, the Grow Lunch Garden.
Plant Parts Investigation – Students explore the farm while searching for and tasting food that represents each of the six plant parts: roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds.
Wildlife & the Food Web – To learn about the food web, students hone their sensory awareness skills while inspecting the landscape for signs of wildlife foraging on the farm.
Pollination Station -Students search for pollinators at work in the native hedgerow, the heritage orchard and on the farm, while learning about the critical role pollinators play in our food system.
Portland, July 26th, 2015. Cascade AIDS Project (CAP) hosted the fourth annual “Bat ‘n Rouge” softball tournament and the names of the teams had a real TV tone: The Golden Girls, Baywatch, Orange is the New Black, and The Big Bang Theory! The ceremonial first pitch was thrown by Aydian Dowling, (on the right) one of most prominent faces in the trans visibility movement. The family-friendly tournament featured drag queens, music, and general hilarity at Erv Lind Stadium in Normandale Park. Bat ‘n Rouge raises funds to help those impacted by HIV/AIDS.
Aydian is From Eugene and was a recent contender for the cover of Men’s Health magazine. He was also recently featured on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. (More about his story below)
The Orange is the New Black batter faced off with one of the umpires.
The “Bat ‘n Rouge” softball tournament was hosted by Portland drag legends Carla Rossi and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were cheerleaders. The tournament is the vehicle though the fun is anticipated to come from the good-natured spectacle of the characters, peppered with comedic relief and spicy banter. The goal was to raise $20,000.
The Bay Watch team has a great time on the field.
About Aydian Dowling from Men’s Health:
Nearly 1,000 men entered this year’s Ultimate Men’s Health Guy Search, all with a story of personal transformation to share. But Aydian Dowling, one of the 10 semifinalists in the contest, has a transformation tale that’s a bit unlike any other contestant’s.
Event leader, Andrew Shayde posed with Aydian Dowling, calling him a cool cat on instagram.
The 28-year-old from Eugene, Oregon is vying to become the first transgender man to be on the cover of Men’s Health—a feat that would have seemed unthinkable 25, 10, and even 2 years ago. But in 2015, Caitlyn Jenner has undergone a male-to-female transition, Amazon’s trans-centric series Transparent is the reigning Golden Globes winner for best comedy, and trans actors have prominent roles in major movies and TV shows, like Laverne Cox in Orange Is the New Black.
Dowling, who won the readers’ voting portion of the Ultimate Guy contest and its reserved spot in the top 10, is hoping to make a similar wave. “Having a trans person on the cover would tell people that no matter who you are, you can be the man you want to be,” he says. “It’s fully possible if you put the time and effort and balance it takes to find the man in you.” (Want to know who else made the cut? Meet the Top 10 Ultimate Men’s Health Guys.)
It took 21 years for Dowling to find that man. Dowling was born female, and says “there were definitely signs” that he identified as male at an early age. “I just wanted to act a certain way,” he says, “but I was told that was not how girls act.”
At 13, Dowling developed a crush on a girl, and at 16, had come out as a lesbian to friends and family. By 21, he was dressing in masculine clothes, but it wasn’t until his then-girlfriend asked the pivotal question—“Have you ever wanted to be a boy?”—that Dowling gave any thought to being transgender. – Men’s Health
Portland, July 11th, 2015. Nearly 5,000 watched aerial dance performances during the Bastille Day festival on the Portland Art Museum’s grounds. This was the first time for a co-presented event by the museum and the Alliance Française de Portland, and the crowds enjoyed many educational activities, French food, vendors, music and more. The collaboration was a natural because the Portland Art Museum is currently featuring an exhibition of masterpieces from the École des Beaux-Arts—the original school of fine arts in Paris and a repository for work by Europe’s most renowned artists since the seventeenth century. The collection includes approximately 140 paintings, sculptures, and works on paper dating from antiquity through the nineteenth century and will be on display until September 18th.
The exhibition focuses on epic themes such as courage, sacrifice, and death, as well as the ways that changing political and philosophical systems affected the choice and execution of these subjects. Among the featured works are paintings by Jacques-Louis David, Jean-Honoré Fragonard, Anne-Louis Girodet, and Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres; sculpture by Antoine-Louis Barye, Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, Jean-Antoine Houdon, and François Rude; and drawings by Simon Vouet, Antoine-Jean Gros, and Théodore Géricault.
According to the Portland Art Museum, Gods and Heroes offers unique insight into the development of an aesthetic ideology that fostered some of western art’s most magnificent achievements. The epic deeds of gods and heroes, enshrined in the Bible and the works of Homer, were the primary narratives from which both aspiring and established academicians drew their inspiration. At the École, learning how to construct persuasive and powerful paintings from carefully delineated anatomy, expressive faces, and convincing architectural and landscape settings was understood to be the route to success and recognition.
The Alliance Francaise got the ball room for the celebration:
Rona Davis, Gordon Davis and Linda Fuchs.
Maury Hornstein (Hardy Cognac representative).
Mission Statement:
The Alliance Française, headquartered in Paris, is a worldwide non-profit organization with the mission of promoting Francophone culture and language and cross-cultural understanding. There are over 1,000 Alliances in the world. Of 100 Alliances in the U.S., the Portland group is the only Alliance in Oregon and ranks 7th in the United States.
Portland, June 19th, 2015. Playworks hosted its 6th Annual Corporate Kickball Fundraiser. Congratulations to team adidas for taking home the tournament Golden Trophy and Northwest Health Foundation for being the Spirit Award winners. There were 17 organizations, and more than 250 participants, took part in an afternoon of team building, networking, and fun.
Erin Chapman gets a high-five from Theresa Wright of Moss Adams for a job well done.
Colleen Finn (in pink) from Recesstime Sports helps start the game between Bryce Fowler (purple) from Waggener Edstrom Communications and Matty Merrill from adidas.
Together teams raised more than $40,000 to make it possible for 16,000 Portland metro area kids in low-income schools to reduce bullying, build leadership, foster teamwork and learn conflict resolution skills through safe and inclusive play.
Alison Arella goes for the home run kick
From Playworks:
Playworks’ vision is that one day every child in America will get to play – every day. We create a place for every kid on the playground, a place where every kid belongs, has fun and is part of the game. We offer an essential opportunity for children to explore their imaginations, to connect with other kids and to stretch and grow physically, emotionally and socially. Our experience is that diminishing opportunities for unsupervised play in our society have left kids with a very thin understanding of how to manage their own play and that it is important to have grown-ups introduce some basic rules to make play work. On our playgrounds, kids feel safe and included, a part of the action. Games are safe and organized. Any kid is welcome and able to play in any game. We believe that kids have innate leadership, and give them easy ways to take ever-increasing responsibility for the quality of play and for each other. Ultimately our unique brand of play fosters greater independence and leadership among children.In partnership with teachers, principals and parents, we build a culture of play that enables kids to feel a real sense of belonging and have the opportunity to contribute on the playground, in the classroom and into their communities. We are huge fans of rock-paper-scissors. Building a play culture that acknowledges the arbitrariness of most conflicts and provides a simple, playful tool for addressing them, ultimately makes it easier for kids to recognize and address more serious conflicts.
We believe there is value in having adults play alongside of children. A grown-up standing on the sidelines barking instructions only serves to perpetuate the less-than-playful status quo. But when adults get in the game and actually play themselves, it introduces an important element of whim and shared humanity, making the play more accessible, and helping children feel safer and more connected.
We incorporate competitive activities into our programming, but we strive to do it in a developmentally appropriate way. One amazing thing about play is this: kids’ desire to keep the activity going will motivate them to take actions that are actually in the best interest of the larger group. Most often this manifests as self-handicapping: switching players, adapting the rules, etc. to keep some balance and ensure that everyone is having enough fun to continue playing.
Our belief is that creating options for children to engage in healthy, inclusive play represents an important opportunity for learning to deal with both winning and losing with grace.
– See more at: http://www.pacificnw.playworks.org/about/why-playworks#sthash.eDI4erP2.dpuf
Lake Oswego, June 25th, 2015. Park Academy hosted its first ever benefit featuring a lighthearted talk with Larry King. School Founder, Piper Park, had a chance to pose with 81 year old news personality. The veteran news personality entertained the over 150 guests during an interview conducted by Margie Boulé. The event raised $256,800 for the school. Funds will benefit the Park Academy Scholarship Program, which ensures deserving students are able to receive the instruction they need to help address their dyslexia.
This inaugural event allowed the school an opportunity to share their mission and reflect on the critical need for students with dyslexia to receive an educational experience that meets their unique learning profiles.
The evening consisted of a cocktail hour, followed by dinner, a live auction, then an interview with Ms. Boulé and Mr. King. Being dyslexic herself, Margie shared how she has always seen her dyslexia as a gift rather than a deficit.
Using evidence-based teaching methodologies and individualized instruction, Park Academy serves grades 3-12 and fills a critical void in the traditional education system.
Park Academy, which is located in Lake Oswego, is unique because it provides articulated elementary through high school curriculum specifically designed for students with dyslexia.
Park Academy students are enjoying great success. According to Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity, “Dyslexia affects 1 out of 5 people. It crosses racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic lines, and with proper instruction and accommodations, it can be remediated.”
Park Academy serves students with dyslexia and other language learning differences in grades 3-12. Using the Orton Gillingham-based multi-sensory instructional methodology, students develop fundamental academic skills. The Academy offers a low student-to-teacher ratio with a complete range of core academic and enrichment classes, including Theater, Spanish, Visual Arts, Music, Videography, Culinary Arts and Physical Education.
Founded in 2015, Park Academy is located on South Shore Boulevard in Lake Oswego, approximately ten minutes south of downtown Portland. Park Academy is accredited by the Northwest Accreditation Commission (AdvancED) and is a designated Subscriber School with Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS). These organizations provide both program oversight and professional development resources.
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From The Sauvie Island Center:
