Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest Creates Connections

Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest Creates Connections

by | Nov 19, 2022 | Events, Features, News

Portland, OR. Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest (BBBS) raised  $475,000 at its “Impact of a Connection” gala. After a two-year Covid-prompted hiatus, the benefit was held at The Redd on Salmon Street on September 22nd. It raised funds to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that supporters say help to ignite the power and promise of youth. At the event, Nick Kristof, New York Times Columnist, and Artis Stevens, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters America posed for a photo together. (Photo credit, Adam Levy)

Artis Stevens, President, and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters America

Beach Pace, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest

Lindsey Murphy, event emcee, and Alumni Little Sister

Owa Odighizuwa, Former NFL Player and Alumni of Little Brother, and Artis Stevens, President, and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters America

From Big Brothers Big Sisters:

The sun shined bright as guests arrived to enjoy the cocktail hour, packed with entertainment featuring saxophonist Eldon “T” Jones, Finn the Magician, a 360 photo booth, and delicious cocktails from Tito’s Handmade Vodka. We were joined by a special guest speaker, Artis Stevens, President & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, who gave a moving speech about the importance of mentorship in the lives of youth. Alumni Little, Lindsey Murphy, celebrated her 30th year in contact with her Big Sister, Melissa, a science teacher that inspired her to start her wildly popular Youtube show, the FabLab.

The night concluded with a celebration of the 2022 Bigs and Littles of the year highlighting the matches of Big Brother Gus and Little Brother Jason and Big Sister Monica and Little Sister Jeni who took the stage to accept their awards. As a community, we were able to raise a record-breaking $475,000 in support of our one-to-one mentoring programs here in Portland and SW Washington. One of the best parts of the night happened among all the staff and event volunteers after the event when, Beach Pace, BBBSCNW CEO, rallied everyone together to take a moment to take pride in all the work we had all put into this event.

A sincere thank you to everyone who made this event a beautiful success. It takes a village, and we are so glad you are a member of our village. Our sincerest appreciation goes out to our 2022 Gala Committee led by co-chairs Suzy Alexander, and Lee Lenker. A BIG thank you to our Presenting Sponsors Twenty Four 7 and Concentrix Catalyst, our Ignite Sponsors The Standard, OnPoint Community Credit Union, Nike, M Financial Group, Cambia Health Solutions, Anderson Construction, our Inspire Sponsors KPMG, Moss Adams, Comcast, Baird, General Sheet Metal, Hillsboro Hops, M Science, Sheldon Warmington & Janel Warmington and Table Sponsors @ACME, Advantis Credit Union, Brown & Brown Insurance. Barran Liebman LLP, Natasha Elhaj-Hedinger, Kaiser Permanente, Moda Health, North Highland, owamagbe odighizuwa, Pacific West Bank, Parker, Smith & Feek, TM Rippey Consulting Engineers and Xenium HR!

The Portland Children’s Museum Expands with Outdoor Adventure

The Portland Children’s Museum Expands with Outdoor Adventure

by | Jun 14, 2013 | Events, Features, News, Uncategorized

Portland, June 6th, 2013. The Portland Children’s Museum broke ground on the Museum’s largest capital expansion since moving to Washington Park in 2001. The new exhibit, Outdoor Adventure, will transform 1.3 acres of land around the Museum into year-round outside play space.

Museum staff were joined by the board of directors at the groundbreaking with major project funders, including representatives from The Standard, The Blazer’s make it better foundation, Cambia Health Solutions, Knowledge Universe, Wells Fargo and Maybelle Clark MacDonald Fund. Executive Director Ruth Shelly and board president Shawn DuBurg led the charge. Officials from Andersen Construction, the exhibit’s lead contractor, also joined in the celebration.

ABOUT OUTDOOR ADVENTURE

Outdoor Adventure will invite children and their families to play and connect to the natural world. The exhibit will provide environments that stimulate curiosity and creativity, where children of all backgrounds and abilities are free to explore, and adults can see the outdoors through a child’s unique perspective.

The all-weather, all-seasons exhibit will include trails and ravines, a campsite, a meadow, and a creek, as well as a pavilion and amphitheater, among other exhibit features. Phase I of the exhibit, Zany Maze, opened on April 22, 2012. Phase 2 is currently slated for opening in spring 2014.

The all-weather, all-seasons exhibit will include trails and ravines, a campsite, a meadow, and a creek, as well as a pavilion and amphitheater, among other exhibit features. Phase I of the exhibit, Zany Maze, opened on April 22, 2012. Phase 2 is currently slated for opening in spring 2014.

The exhibit seeks to follow LEED standards for structures to model resource conservation and environmental stewardship. Settings are designed to be sustainable by preserving and incorporating natural features, including current trees, plants, and rocks; landscaping to support visual and acoustic separation of spaces using plants that are non-toxic and non-invasive; creating ground features that take advantage of Portland’s climate; and designed to follow the natural contours of the land. For more about Outdoor Adventure, and to view artist renderings, visit portlandcm.org/outdoor-adventure/.

ABOUT PORTLAND CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

Portland Children’s Museum is the museum that doesn’t act like a museum. You won’t find any velvet ropes inside, and playing with and touching our exhibits is strongly encouraged. Our main exhibit is the imagination of the children who play here. Every activity from permanent and traveling exhibits to art studios and classes is designed to encourage children to play and wonder while they learn about themselves and the world around them. For more about Portland Children’s Museum, visit portlandcm.org.