Portland, May 3rd, 2014. Masked and costumed, over 200 revelers took to the OHSU Center for Health and Wellness atrium at the base of the tram for the annual Sunstone Montessori School gala. With an Italian Carnavale! Theme this year, the featured cocktail, Il Sunstoni was concocted by Aria Portland Dry Gin’s creative distilling geniuses. Over $91,000 was raised for classroom supplies, landscaping and playground upgrades, emceed by the lively Todd Mansfield, strolling accordion by Todd Bayles, and auction services by Mitch Lambley. Auction Chair Tricia Leahy remarked, “We knew we had a winner when we sold a quarter of the capacity last November!”
Sharon Moliken, Hanisi Accetta and Marilyn Bishop
Craig and Cheron Calder
Accordian player and Cathy Newman, Head of School, Sunstone Montessori School
Sponsors include Elliot Ostrander & Preston, PC, UPM Telecom, Kaiser Permanente, Capital Pacific Bank, D.A. Davidson & Co., Bateman|Seidel law firm, Melvin Mark and Young Design Studio.
Sunstone Montessori School Educates by fostering the physical, academic, social and emotional intellect of children. We Engage by guiding children to stewardship; and we Explore, believing children are the seeds of a sustainable world.
Portland, April 24th, 2014. A spirited talent competition between local celebrities and over 50 Portland-area students raised $128,000 for Camp Fire Columbia, a nonprofit youth development organization. Camp Fire Columbia held its 4th Annual Celebrity + Youth Talent Show at the Crystal Ballroom in downtown Portland in front of 400 attendees. Celebrities performed along with Camp Fire youth representing four different elementary schools in Portland Public, David Douglas, and West Linn-Wilsonville school districts. Student talent acts included dancing, singing, and comedy.
Camp Fire kids kick off the festivities with a flash mob dance to Pharrell’s mega-hit “Happy.” The Talent Show gave youth the opportunity to showcase skills they’ve developed through arts education they receive in Camp Fire’s after school programs, including dance, music, and comedic performance.
Pink Martini’s Thomas Lauderdale cheers on audience donations during his music set with The Von Trapps.
The Von Trapps harmonize…minutes before children jump on stage to dance with them!
Camp Fire kids sing and dance to Stevie Wonder during their set as “The Fedora-bles.”
Attendees “voted” between celebrities and youth with pledged donations after each performance. All proceeds from the event benefit Camp Fire’s programming, which is located in 21 schools in the Portland area and includes before and after-school programs, in-school curricula, and summer learning.
Celebrity acts included:
· Thomas Lauderdale (leader of Pink Martini) & the Von Trapps
· Timber Joey (Portland Timbers) and a group of local sports mascots from the University of Portland, and the Eugene Emeralds.
· Brad Fortier & The Knockouts (comedians)
· Shoehorn (local musician)
· Local actor Dale Johannes (event MC/host)
The evening culminated with a 30-minute performance by Lauderdale & the Von Trapps, which included music from their recently released album “Dream a Little Dream.” The performance earned a standing ovation. The Von Trapps are the great-grandchildren of Captain and Maria von Trapp, whose story was portrayed in the popular musical, TheSound of Music.
The event was sponsored by a number of local companies including: Fred Meyer Fund, Bank of America, Comcast, NW Natural, KeyBank, The Standard, Matisse, Cambia, Mattecheck & Associates, Capital Pacific Bank, Chase Bank, Northeast Family Dental, and Live 95.5.
About Camp Fire Columbia: Camp Fire Columbia is a co-ed youth development organization that directly serves over 3,500 youth in grades K-12 annually. Camp Fire partners with 21 schools to provide in-school and out-of-school time programs that: support academic achievement, build social and life skills, foster community engagement, and develop career and college readiness. Visit www.campfirecolumbia.org for more information.
Portland, April 28th, 2014. The second annual Ageless Award Luncheon for the Jessie F. Richardson Foundation (JFRF) was held at the Multnomah Athletic Club. With nearly 300 people in attendance, including Keren Brown Wilson, President and Founder of the Jessie F. Richardson Foundation and Former Governor Victor Atiyeh, JFRF raised $102,000.00 for programs that support vulnerable elders around the globe, and the Oregon-based students and volunteers helping to carry them out. Kay Toran of Volunteers of America Oregon emceed the event, and special guest, the honorable Ted Wheeler, Oregon State Treasurer, helped to pay tribute to the 2014 award recipients: Ken and (posthumously) Joan Austin, Serge D’Rovencourt, and Pat and Irvan Guss.
Ted Wheeler, Oregon State Treasurer, with Ken Austin, Ageless Award recipient.
Jilma Meneses, Chief Diversity Officer of Portland State University, with Kay Toran, President and CEO of Volunteers of America Oregon.
JFRF’s goal is to not only address the immediate needs of indigent older adults, but also to help them realize their maximum potential for purposeful living. For more information visit www.jfrfoundation.org.
Beaverton, April 15th, 2014.NIKE, Inc. has announced that grants totaling $250,000 will go to 25 local nonprofits and schools through the Nike Employee Grant Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation’s latest funding cycle. (Grant applications due June 1 for next round of funding.)
Representatives from select Nike Employee Grant Fund recipient organizations (Parks Foundation, Virginia Garcia Memorial Foundation and Health Center, Elevate Oregon, Rosie’s Room, See Ya Later Foundation, McMinnville School District #40, I Have a Dream Foundation and Sabin School) with Kathy Webb (center). (Photo credit, NIKE)
The Nike Employee Grant Fund supports projects that encourage physical activity in meaningful ways, especially those that create early positive experiences for children through physical education, sports and play. Since its launch in 2010, the Fund has provided almost 200 grants to organizations and schools that contribute to making Oregon and Southwest Washington great places to live and work.
“Nike believes in the power of human potential and we are proud to support these 25 outstanding organizations, whose innovative programs are creating positive change in our community,” said Kathy Webb, Nike Community Impact Manager. “These grants also provide an important opportunity to connect Nike employees with our communities, not only through the grant-making process but through continued volunteerism with the organizations. Together we can create strong and healthy communities.”
This cycle’s award recipients feature a wide variety of organizations in greater Portland, including Elevate Oregon, a nonprofit that uses outdoor adventure and athletic activities with urban youth to inspire school success, leadership and self-reliance; and McMinnville School District #40 in support of its JumpStart – Ready for Kindergarten program for low-income families.
“We are tremendously grateful to the Nike Employee Grant Fund for helping strengthen our organization and community. Our students live in an urban environment where activities like rock climbing, snowboarding, camping and river rafting are not available to them. With Nike’s support, 150 at-risk high school students will learn how to overcome challenges though these outdoor adventures – giving them the skills and confidence they can draw on to overcome obstacles in their everyday lives,” said Joe Bergen, Executive Director of Elevate Oregon.
Nike employees are deeply involved with the Nike Employee Grant Fund grant-making process. With Oregon Community Foundation oversight, a Nike employee advisory committee develops grant recommendations. Employees at Nike World Headquarters continue their involvement by volunteering their time and professional experience to help the winning nonprofits achieve their objectives.
Next Funding Cycle Open Now
Applications are due June 1 for the next round of Nike awards, with $300,000 in cash grants being offered to nonprofits and schools in the greater Portland area (Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington, Yamhill, and Columbia counties in Oregon and Clark County in southwest Washington). Grants are one-year awards totaling between $5,000 and $20,000 each. 80 percent of grant awards support organizations and projects that are creating a world where physical activity, play and sports are highly valued, and 20 percent support organizations and projects that address community challenges through innovative community-based solutions.
Nike Employee Grant Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation Awardees
The following 25 organizations received grants with this funding cycle:
Organization
Project Description
Ackerman Academy (Canby)
Reduce barriers to health and wellness by creating a sports, fitness and nutrition program for at-risk youth and their families.
Albertina Kerr Centers Foundation (Portland)
Create an outdoor sport area in secure residential psychiatric treatment center for teenage youth with severe mental health challenges.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metropolitan Area
Create sustained sports and fitness activities across six Boys & Girls Club sites that engage youth in developing lifelong healthy habits.
Bridger PTA (Portland)
Support fitness through physical education by providing equipment that will keep students moving during class.
CASA For Children, Inc. (Portland)
Provide a Court Appointed Special Advocate, known as a CASA, for 67 more foster children this year.
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (Portland)
Provide stable housing for homeless youth attending Beaverton School District high schools, so they can thrive in health and wellness, graduate, and pursue life goals.
Elevate Oregon (Portland)
Provide new experiences for at-risk 8th-12th grade students using outdoor adventure and athletic activities to inspire school success, leadership and self-reliance.
Girls Inc. of Northwest Oregon (Portland)
Support Project BOLD, a violence-prevention and self-defense program that addresses the individual girl within the context of larger community and societal issues.
Grow Portland (Portland)
Empower the community by growing healthy food, building and managing community gardens on under-utilized urban land.
I Have a Dream Foundation – Oregon (Portland)
Support year-round sports and fitness opportunities for low-income children as part of the Dreamer School Project to provide comprehensive support to help children succeed in school.
Kinship House (Portland)
Create an outdoor space to help children move, learn how to heal from trauma, and develop healthy body awareness and calming techniques.
McMinnville School District #40
Provide child development instruction, coaching and resources to low-income parents of children ages zero to five, through the Jumpstart program.
Meals on Wheels People (Portland)
Support EnhanceFitness, an evidence-based exercise program for seniors that emphasizes strength, flexibility, improving balance and fall prevention.
Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp (Portland)
Create an adaptive playground in which campers of all abilities can gain independence and confidence through the power of play.
Multiple Sclerosis Society of Portland
Support the wellbeing of individuals living with MS in Oregon, by providing air-conditioning units to alleviate heat-induced MS symptoms.
Parks Foundation (Vancouver)
Provide youth in Clark County the opportunity to participate in recreation programs offered through Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation Department.
Portland After-School Tennis & Education, Inc.
Make the sport of tennis accessible to disadvantaged children and provide them with positive role models, tutoring and life skills through neighborhood tennis programs.
Regional Arts & Culture Council (Portland)
Bring integrated arts education to every child in Portland-Metro school districts, regardless of language, neighborhood, or income.
Rosie’s Room (Beaverton)
Transition from an all-volunteer organization to paid staff in order to serve the homeless and prevent their return to the streets.
Sabin School PTA (Portland)
Provide a safe, functional environment for students and community, including physical education, youth soccer and baseball, by restoring the Sabin School field.
See Ya Later Foundation (McMinnville)
Provide youth with an opportunity to grow as athletes and as people through See Ya Later Kids Camps.
SOLV (Portland)
Provide underserved youth with hands-on, science-based, service-learning opportunities at nearby rivers and streams, while also teaching them to become lifelong stewards.
Straightway Services (Portland)
Offer a basketball camp experience for children with autism and underserved youth.
Virginia Garcia Memorial Foundation and Health Center (Cornelius)
Promote wellness, with a focus on healthy activity and nutrition, for Hispanic children and families in Washington County.
YMCA of Columbia-Willamette (Portland)
Develop the Healthy Eating and Physical Activity (HEPA) program at 46 YMCA of Columbia-Willamette childcare programs in five counties.
About NIKE, Inc.
NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world’s leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly-owned NIKE subsidiaries include Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories and Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes surf and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories. For more information, visit www.nikeinc.com and follow @Nike.
The Oregon Community Foundation (OCF)
The mission of The Oregon Community Foundation is to improve life in Oregon and promote effective philanthropy. OCF works with individuals, families, businesses and organizations to create charitable funds to support the community causes they care about. Through these funds OCF awarded more than $66 million in grants and scholarships in 2012. Information at oregoncf.org.
Portland, April 25, 2014. Human Solutions raised $62,500 at its “Tonight’s the Night” auction and gala at the Melody Ballroom. The event featured silent and live auctions, a buffet dinner, and signature cocktails. The 140 guests in attendance embraced mobile bidding on their smartphones during the silent auction. The evening’s auctioneer was Jason Demicheli of Demicheli Benefit Auctions. Tony Starlight and the All Star Band entertained guests with classic hits from the past three decades. Proceeds from Tonight’s the Night support Human Solutions’ emergency shelter and housing programs that serve more than 550 homeless people in 200 families on any given night. (photo credit, Andie Petkus Photography)
Guests at Human Solutions’ Tonight’s the Night auction included Mike Steffen, Vice President/General Manager at Walsh Construction; Rich Miller, Owner, Affinity Property Management; and Carla Piluso, Board President, Human Solutions. Walsh Construction and Affinity Property Management were gold sponsors of Tonight’s the Night.
Crowd favorite, Tony Starlight, entertained guests with hits from the past three decades at Tonight’s the Night with help from his All Star Band.
Human Solutions Board Member Jesse Smith and guest Maryann Yelnosky were enthusiastic about mobile bidding on their smartphones during the silent auction at Tonight’s the Night.
Human Solutions wishes to thank the generous sponsors of Tonight’s the Night, including: Gold Sponsors, Affinity Property Management and Walsh Construction; Silver Sponsor, Kantor Taylor; Bronze Sponsor, JD Fulwiler & Company Insurance; and Empowerment Sponsors Tonkon Torp LLP, OnPoint Community Credit Union, and Adventist Health.
From Human Solutions:
To help combat poverty and homelessness, Human Solutions provides services in four interrelated areas:
*Eviction and Poverty Prevention: Each year, over 7,000 households avoid having their utilities shut off and remain warm and safe in their homes through the utility assistance Human Solutions provides. The agency also helps over 500 households facing eviction remain in their homes each year through short-term emergency rent assistance.
*Direct Services to Homeless Families: Human Solutions provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, “Housing First” programs, and permanent supportive housing. The agency moves homeless families into permanent housing as quickly as possible and then offers them the supportive services necessary to overcome their homelessness and reach self-sufficiency.
*Employment and Economic Development Programs: Human Solutions operates three distinct employment and economic development programs that help more than 600 individuals with significant barriers to employment find family wage jobs and/or improve their job skills to increase their household incomes each year.
*Affordable Housing: Human Solutions owns and operates 18 high-quality affordable housing complexes containing 701 apartments. At each property, the agency offers Resident Services, which help families maintain housing by connecting them to quality social, educational and employment services (both within Human Solutions and in the wider community) so they can move forward in their lives. Last year, about 820 families comprised of nearly 2,000 people resided in Human Solutions’ affordable housing.
Portland, April 26th, 2014. “Swing Into Spring” lived up to its name at the annual fundraiser for The Northwest Catholic Counseling Center on April 26 at Riverside Golf and Country Club. 135 people enjoyed music, food and friends while raising money to pay for mental health care services for those without resources. The event raised nearly $65,000. A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Compassionate Heart Award to Mercedes Loprinzi, a longtime Center supporter. (Photo Credit: Kim Oanh Nguyen, Photos by Kim)
Ken Willett and Doody Boliba get into the spirit of the evening.
Event volunteer Diane Millemann does her best to convince guest Ron George that buying beads will add some fun to his evening.
Magician Dan Waterman (left) dazzles Karen Wegener while her husband Brian Wegener (center) looks on.
From Northwest Catholic Counseling Center:
The Northwest Catholic Counseling Center supports and strengthens our community by providing professional mental health services to all, regardless of faith or finances.
All people, regardless of social, economic or religious circumstances, have access to professional mental health counseling. The community recognizes the importance of good mental health and value of accessible mental health care, understanding that appropriate counseling and medication management leads to positive social outcomes: healthier relationships, more stable families, more effective parenting, decreased domestic violence, more productive employees, decreased criminal activity, and wiser use of financial resources.
The Northwest Catholic Counseling Center commits its professional, creative, and fiscal resources to the compassionate care of each person it encounters. The non-profit agency serves a wide variety of people and has a special commitment to women and children, who bear the greatest weight of the dual burdens of poverty and mental health issues. Staff members employ a broad range of therapeutic models and tools, all focused on the healing and well-being of clients. The organization draws support from a broad cross-section of community partners, including clients, care-providers, organizations, and individual supporters. While always keeping client care at the forefront, the organization utilizes a successful business model and sound fiscal policies, ensuring its ability to always provide mental health care for those requesting it.
We believe in:
Justice – receiving health care as a basic right
Compassion – nurturing hope and healing
Collaboration – partnering with clients, the community and our staff
Excellence – assuring the highest level of care for all
Portland, April 26th, 2014. Over 500 supporters, including Dean Watanabe and BreAnn Ervin, came together for two “Great Gatsby” events to support the Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp at the Oregon Golf Club.
MassMutual’s Ryan Wayman with Adrian Brown
Organizers say the enthusiasm and fun at both events was over the top. The morning began at the Gatsby Garden Party Brunch with live music, guests in 1920s daytime attire, a silent and live auction, and 106.7’s Jim E. Chonga as the emcee. The evening event was a swanky affair where guests donned their fancy “glad rags.” Attendees enjoyed music by Portland’s Boy & Bean, and silent and live auctions featuring exciting vacation packages like a trip to Fiji and a day trip on a private plane to play golf at Bandon Dunes. The evening event was emceed by KGW’s Nick Allard.
The record-breaking events raised a combined total of over $238,000 for Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp, which allows children and adults with disabilities to experience a week at camp, building their self-confidence and enhancing personal growth goals.
Presenting sponsor was MassMutual Oregon SpecialCare Planning Team.
Portland, April 23rd, 2014. Supporters of Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East packed the Oregon Convention Center Ballroom for its Habitat HopeBuilder Breakfast. Fans donated $240,000 which is used to build homes for low-income families in need. Dick Fournier and Carol Blanusa enjoyed the gathering. (photo credit, Heather Binns and Bill Purcell)
Carla Van Hoomissen, Kay Morse, Phil Grillo
Dayna Corwin and Larry Corwin
Habitat President and CEO, Steve Messinetti and Portland City Commissioner Dan Saltzman
Dr. Donna Beegle keynotes on the war against poverty
Over 1,100 people came out to support the cause.
The mission of Habitat for Humanity Portland/ Metro East revitalizes neighborhoods is to builds affordable and sustainable homes and empowers families through successful homeownership.
Portland, April 17th, 2014. A record crowd of over 550 business and community leaders gathered at the Oregon Convention Center to stand against discrimination. Attendees at the Basic Right Oregon luncheon included Dan Yonker, Kimberlee Stafford, Basic Rights Oregon Board Chair Vanessa Usui. (photo credit, Byron Beck)
Basic Rights Oregon Executive Director Jeana Frazzini and Melanie Davis Photo Credit: Frank Miller Photography
Peter Johnson, Secretary of State Kate Brown, George Vranas Photo Credit: Byron Beck
Organizers say it was an inspiring event as emcee, Jonathan Nicolas of Moda Health, guided the audience through a series of special guests who spoke eloquently about the work being done across our state to advance equality for LGBT Oregonians. The program culminated with a powerful show of support from the business community to stand together in opposition to the pending Arizona-like discrimination measure.
From Basic Right Oregon:
Since 1988, Oregonians have voted on five statewide and over 25 local anti-LGBT ballot measures. Basic Rights Oregon (BRO), a 501(c)(4) organization, was formed in 1996 to sustain and strengthen Oregon’s LGBT rights movement between and beyond measure campaigns. In 1999, the Basic Rights Education Fund (BREF), a 501(c)(3) organization, was formed to supplement the electoral and legislative work of Basic Rights Oregon through education and advocacy for LGBT Oregonians.
Since the last statewide ballot measure campaign in 2004, BRO/BREF started a new proactive chapter in Oregon’s movement for LGBT rights. In 2007, we passed two landmark laws to establish Domestic Partnerships and ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. These are two of the most substantial legislative victories the organization has won, yet the work of Basic Rights Oregon is far from over.
We know that our movement for equality is bigger than one vote, broader than one issue, and stronger than the fear and intolerance that we must overcome.
Portland, April 12th, 2014. St. Mary’s Academy’s 26th annual auction, Roman Holiday, raised more than $900,000, the largest amount in the event’s history and $100,000 over last year. The Fink Family enjoyed the event including: David Wilson, Patrick Soong, Molly Fink Soong ’99, Jeani Fink ’97, Marilyn and Tom Fink, Amy Fink Wilson ’95.
St. Mary’s Academy auction chairs Marypat and Steve Hedberg, Carolyn DeLanyReif and Chuck Reif, Annie and Rollie White, Eden Jamison
Brittney Clark ’94 and Tracey Clark
More than 700 guests joined St. Mary’s Academy at the Oregon Convention Center for the annual auction, the largest fundraising event for Oregon’s premier Catholic college-preparatory high school for young women. Proceeds from the auction are critical to the financial strength of St. Mary’s Academy and benefit each of the school’s 660 students.
St. Mary’s Academy students shared their dreams and ambitions at the 2014 Roman Holiday auction.
“We are grateful to all who attended and helped create the April 12 auction, which celebrates our school community. Participation in this event helps reaffirm the belief that St. Mary’s Academy transforms students’ lives by combining the best features of a Catholic high school with the opportunities offered by an all-girls environment. Event success such as this sets the stage for an exciting future,” said St. Mary’s Academy President Christina Friedhoff.
St. Mary’s Academy, a Catholic high school for young women, provides a challenging college-preparatory education in a vibrant learning environment. St. Mary’s, a diverse community, educates the whole person by nurturing spirituality, encouraging creativity, promoting justice, and inspiring a sense of global interdependence to prepare students for service and leadership.
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