Portland, OR. The Red Lion Jantzen Beach Hotel, was packed with over 600 supporters on February 23rd for the IMAGINE Dinner & Auction. The 10th annual event raised $460,000. IMAGINE is the theme because Northwest Association for Blind Athletes imagines life-changing opportunities through sports and physical activities for all children, youth, and adults who are blind or visually impaired. (Photo credit, Andie Petkus)
Speakers included Billy Henry (Founder & Executive Director), Erik Selden (Board President), C.S. & Angela Sheffield (Presenting Sponsor), as well as many NWABA athletes, like Octavio, and his family, who shared their personal stories and experiences. The evening was co-hosted by Mark Matthias and Kim Capeloto, along with assistance from local NWABA Athletes, Jovany and Gabe.
Board President, Erik Selden, thanks the community for coming out to celebrate and support NWABA.
In front: Dr. Robin Virgin, Jim Virgin, Harrison Lynch, Billy Henry, Ashlyn Salzman, Carly Lowder, and Mason O’Lennick. In back: Kimberly Woodside, Jeff Woodside, Monica Gilberg, Jay Gilberg, and Marty Forsmann
A sea of supporters hold up bid cards high to win trips to Paris, Edinburgh, and Iceland!
Stacey Gibbins, Gabe, and Jovany. In back: Ella, Anita, Rick, Elwin, Logan, and Lillian.
Our Mission: To provide life-changing opportunities through sports and physical activity to individuals who are blind and visually impaired.
Our Vision: To be the national leader in transforming the quality of life for all individuals who are blind and visually impaired through participation in sports and physical activity.
Portland, OR. Game Changer was the theme of the Northwest Association for Blind Athletes (NWABA) eighth annual Dinner & Auction. The gala at the Red Lion Jantzen Beach on February 25th raised more than $327,000 to provide life-changing opportunities through sports and physical activity to more than 1,300 children, youth, adults and military veterans who are blind and visually impaired. Nearly 500 guests attended to support the organization’s programs for individuals with visual impairments. Jovany Bautista, an NWABA athlete, co-hosted the evening along with Kim Capelelo, Chief Retail Banking Officer, Riverview Community Bank. (Photo credit, Grant Mott) The event celebrated NWABA’s ten-year anniversary of improving the quality of life for individuals with visual impairments in the community.
Billy Henry, Founder & Executive Director, Northwest Association for Blind Athletes thanks the crowd for supporting Northwest Association for Blind Athletes throughout the last decade of delivering programming.
Supporters bid high and often during the organization’s most successful live auction and special appeal to support programs.
About NWABA: The mission of Northwest Association for Blind Athletes (NWABA) is to provide life-changing opportunities through sports and physical activity to individuals who are blind and visually impaired. The Association was formed by a group of visually impaired students in 2007 to ensure that people who are blind were participating in sports and physical activity. Today, NWABA is a rapidly expanding 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides more than 1,300 children, youth, adults and military veterans with visual impairments tailored programming which improves self-confidence and self-esteem, promotes independence, creates an inclusive community of supporters, and builds the skills necessary to succeed in all areas of life including school and employment.
Vancouver, February 28th, 2015. Northwest Association for Blind Athletes hosted the organization’s sixth annual Dinner & Auction, Bring It! at the Hilton Vancouver, WA. More than 400 guests attended the event and helped the organization raise nearly $175,000 to support programming for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.  Mark Matthias, Owner of Beaches Restaurant & Bar, and Kim Capeloto, Executive Vice President of Riverview Community Bank, entered the room on a tandem bike. Both served as MCs throughout the evening.
Marla Runyan, the first visually impaired athlete to compete in the Olympic & Paralympic Games, was one of five inspiring athletes that addressed the audience during the event.
Attendees raised their bid cards high to make the event the most successful in the organization’s history.
NWABA Executive Director & Founder, Billy Henry, addresses the audience during the event.
About NWABA:
The mission of the Northwest Association for Blind Athletes is to provide life-changing opportunities through sports and physical activity to individuals who are blind and visually impaired. The organization changes the lives of blind and visually impaired youth and adults with sports throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Our athletes develop belief in themselves. Breaking down barriers and isolation, they become an active part of their schools and communities. Experiencing the power of sports, our participants aspire, excel and have fun.
Please contact Billy Henry at 360.718.2826 or [email protected] with any questions.Â
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