Young Audiences of Oregon & SW Washington Raises $115,000 at Gala
Portland-based nonprofit provides arts in education to more than 80,000 K-12 students each year.
Emcee Adam Bjaranson, the TV studio host of the Portland Trail Blazers, followed a welcome by Isabella Trinchero, a 12-year-old who has participated in Young Audiences programming for years. Bjaranson talked about how becoming a father was a turning point for his understanding of the importance of art in the lives of young people.
City Commissioner Nick Fish also took to the stage with Executive Director Cary Clarke, reprising a reading of a proclamation by Mayor Charlie Hales the preceding Wednesday declaring March 15 to 21 to be Young Audiences Arts for Learning Week.
Throughout the evening, guests gave generously through live and silent auctions, and during a rousing paddle raise. Cheers rang out when Isabella drew the winning Golden Ticket (which helped raise $10,000 for youth arts!) Golden Ticket winners Keith Daly and new fiancé Jake Goage, selected a private party at Holocene as their auction prize – for just $200, and just three weeks after their engagement, they’ve secured a venue and party planner for their upcoming wedding reception!
The reception featured music by the Patrick Lamb Band, who kicked up their energy levels to close the program and extend the evening with dancing.
Young Audiences of Oregon & SW Washington inspires young people and expands their learning through the arts.