Portland, September 27th, 2014. CCA’s 14th Annual Hero Gala was dubbed an evening of romp & circumstance,. The event rocked the Oregon Convention Center to the tune of $1.16 million with a star-studded crowd. More than 850 guests were entertained by the likes of The Decemberists, Patrick Lamb, Ural Thomas with Ragen Fykes and Moorea Masa, Luz Elana and Tiburones, March Fourth Marching Band, Wanderlust Circus, Sneakin’ Out, and Nu Shooz. Taylor and her Chemo Pal mentor, Alyssa Willamson, were shining bright with their beautiful face paintings.
Dr. Janice Olson, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Program, Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel, Regina Ellis, CCA Founder and CEO, and CCA Board Member, Andrea Corradini, Senior Merchandising Director, Emerging Markets Running, Nike, Inc., get into the spirit of the playful night.
Former Portland Trail Blazer, Terry Porter, Suzie Porter, CCA Board Chair, Andy Lytle, and Mary Lytle.
Nike’s Tinker Hatfield, Vice President, Design & Special Projects, and CCA Chemo Pal mentor and longtime supporter, David Brown, Merchandise Director, NIKE Inc.
The Wanderlust Circus entertained Gala goers throughout the entire Wonderball.
Portland Trail Blazer, Steve Blake, and his wife, Kristen, longtime supporters of CCA.
Artist Rochelle Carr with CCA Ambassador Board Member, Bryce Amato, posing in front of Rochelle’s wall of cheerful and thoughtful artwork.
Regina Ellis, CCA Founder and CEO, with Chris Funk, from The Decemberists and Black Prairie.
Paul Gulick, CCA Board Chair Emeritus, Co-Founder, In-Focus, Founder, Clarity Visual Systems, and Michelle Decourcy of Michelle Decourcy Collection.
Dynamic duo Valerie Day and John Smith, aka Nu Shooz, get Wonderball guests off their feet with a live performance of their Billboard Top 100 song that spent 15 weeks in the Top 40 in 1986 – “ I Can’t Wait.”
Chemo Pal mentor, George Mollas and his mentee, Nicholas, celebrating the occasion in style.
Members of The Decemberists, Patrick Lamb, Ural Thomas with Ragen Fykes and Moorea Masa, Luz Elana and Tiburones, March Fourth Marching Band, Wanderlust Circus, Sneakin’ Out, and Nu Shooz goofing off during rehearsal for the Wonderball.
CCA Founder’s Society member, Marsha Brockmeyer, celebrates with CCA VP Brand, Abby Guyer.
The sign says it all 14th Annual CCA Hero Gala: Wonderball!
Opus Events Agency CEO and CCA Board Member, Grant Hammersley, with CCA Board Member Tim Cooper, Senior Vice President, Brown & Brown Northwest.
The Decemberists front man, Colin Meloy, serenades Wonderball guests with the help of bandmates, Jenny Conlee and Chris Funk (not pictured), and the March 4th Marching Band.
Jennifer and Jeff Nyburg, Wonderball Presenting Sponsors Angela and CS Sheffield, and Wesley Sheffield.
Jordan Roquemore, Beaverton High School Marching Tech, leads members of the Beaverton Marching Ensemble, in a rousing rendition of “When the Saints Go Marching In” to transition revelers to the Portland Ballroom for the evening’s program.
CCA Board Member, Andrea Corradini, Senior Merchandising Director, Emerging Markets Running, Nike, Inc., and Cholee Thompson, Owner and President, Ryan Artists, share a ballerina/fairy bonding moment.
“We invited our best friends to “come out and play with CCA” and that they did. We are blown away by their generosity and so grateful they stand united with us in the belief that JOY MATTERS for seriously ill kids, teens, and their families.” said Regina Ellis, Founder and CEO of CCA.
Portland, February 14th, 2014. It was the most successful Valentine’s Day fundraiser for the Children’s Cancer Association (CCA) with $670,000 pledged and counting. Donations will help seriously ill kids, teens, and their families. CCA organizers say, “We are honored and humbled by this outpouring of generosity and love.” KPTV FOX12 Oregon’s Amy Troy, CCA Founder and CEO, Regina Ellis, and KPTV’s Shauna Parsons bonded in the studio during the Valentine-A-Thon.
CCA staff members Angela Long, Christina Heesacker, Meg Byrtek, Nicole MacDonald, Jenny O’Brian, Sierra Smith, Regina Ellis, Katy Moore (The BUZZ), Dave Schaeffer, Kacy Smerke, Cheryl Kanekoa, and Willow Bacon. Top row: CCA staff members Greg Pokarney, Nonda Hanneman, The BUZZ’s Mitch, KPTV’s Mark Nelsen and Corey Hansen, The Buzz’s Daria, KPTV’s Shauna Parsons and Amy Troy, The BUZZ’s Ted, Brian, and Kent, and CCA’s Diana Szymczak.
Director of Marketing at Dick Hannah Dealerships, Kent Van Arnam, Ryland, Caden (who picked the winning raffle ticket), and Blake, and KPTV’s Mark Nelsen.
KPTV’s Pete Ferryman, Tony Martinez, Andy Carson, CCA’s Regina Ellis, KPTV’s Kimberly Maus, and CCA Board Chair, Andy Lytle, Division Vice President, Estates – West, Jackson Family Wines.
Nike’s Vice President for Design and Special Projects, Tinker Hatfield and CCA Board Member, Andrea Corradini, Nike Senior Merchandising Director, Emerging Markets, Running, captained a man vs. woman donation challenge for CCA raising more than $110,000! They are pictured here flanking KPTV’s Amy Troy.
Many friends came together to donate their time and talent to create this milestone:Daria, Mitch, Ted, and the rest of the crew at 105.1 The BUZZ
Melissa Maag and CCA Ambassador Board Member, Allison Clarke, President, Allison Clarke Consulting, rally the phone bank volunteers.
CCA Ambassador Board Members Sabrina Snow, Vice President, Washington Trust Bank, and Jenifer Nelles, National Accounts Consultant, Standard Insurance Company
WayneGarciaFox12 KPTV’s Wayne Garcia encouges viewers to become a King or Queen of Hearts by making a $1,000 donation to CCA.
Melissa Maag and CCA Ambassador Board Member, Allison Clarke, President, Allison Clarke Consulting, rally the phone bank volunteers.
ThompsonsKingAndQueen (left to right) Former CCA-served parents and long-time CCA supporters Mike and Wendy Thompson manned the phone bank, taking donations from the community. Mike’s stack of five hats represents a $5,000 donation!
Portland, Sept. 21, 2013. A superhero themed gala had super-sized results as organizers proclaimed, “CCA’s League of Extraordinary Friends unleash a force of goodness for seriously ill children and teens.”James Mercer of the The Shins, Stephanie Schneiderman, CCA Founder and CEO, Regina Ellis, Patrick Lamb, and Amy Maxwell took the stage to celebrate. (Photo credit, Michael Gary) Portland-based Children’s Cancer Association (CCA) celebrated hitting $1,000,000 for the first-time ever. “For one magical night, the Portland Art Museum was converted into the Hall of Justice and welcomed more than 600 honored super-powered guests,” the nonprofit reported.
Kristen and Shane Schweitzer, 2013 Hero Gala Presenting Sponsors Angela Sheffield and CCA Ambassador Board Chair, CS Sheffield, and Wesley Sheffield
Patrick McCreery, VP, General Manager, FOX 12, and CCA Communications Director, Diana Szymczak
CCA Ambassador Board Member, Aaron Cooper, Innovation Design Director, Nike, Inc., Rob Stone, Co-CEO, cornerstone/The Fader, Lauren Gonzales, Megan Cooper, and CCA Founding Board Chair, Clare Hamill, Vice President and COO, Nike Affilates, Nike, Inc.
CCA Ambassador Board Chair, Kristin Duval, Regional Sales Manager, PacificSource Health Plans, and CCA Founder and CEO, Regina Ellis
The highlight item of this year’s auction was a private dinner with, and concert by, kd Lang and Black Prairie for 50 guests.The appeal raised money to support CCA’s innovative programs that serve thousands of seriously ill children, teens, and their families locally, and reach across the nation, and will fund:
New mobile music carts, instruments, and technology for MusicRx®, CCA’s flagship in-hospital music medicine program which serves six area pediatric healthcare facilities, including Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel and Doernbecher Children’s Hospital
Technology to expand MyMusicRx.org, the online extension of MusicRx
Family retreats at the Alexandra Ellis Caring Cabin™ in Pacific City, OR
Wishes and creating unique life experiences through the Link program
Chemo Pal® Mentor Matches for kids and teens undergoing treatment
MusicRx expansion into the pediatric Emergency Room at Randall Children’s Hospital
The Printing of CCA’s Kid’s Cancer Pages, a nationally-distributed comprehensive resource guide for families with seriously ill children
And, more!
CCA Board Chair, Andy Lytle, Division Vice President, Majestic Fine Wines, and his wife, Mary
Chemo Pal Mentor, Brian, and Joe
CCA Board Member, Lisa Thompson, and CCA VP, Development, Dave Schaeffer
Holley DeShaw, Melissa Maag, CCA Ambassador Board Member, Allison Clarke, Kirsti Holley, Antje Fimmel, and Kendra Matthews
Brad Durham, CCA Board Member, Katherine Durham, VP, Marketing & Communications, The Standard, and Paul Gulick, CCA Board Chair Emeritus, Co-Founder, Infocus, Founder, Clarity Visual Systems
Gerardo Carucci, GM Brasil World Cup, Nike, Inc., Tancredi Vitale, Senior Director, Global Nike Sportswear Football Apparel, CCA Board Member, Andrea Corradini, Senior Director, Emerging Markets Running Merchandising, Nike, Inc., Cholee Thompson, Owner, Ryan Artists, Greg Thompson, VP, Global Nike Sportswear Footwear, and, Emanuele Granalli, Seniro Director, Brasil Merchandising, Nike, Inc.
The grand finale!
From CCA:
This event was made possible by presenting sponsor, the Sheffield Family, through a matching grant by The Eranda Foundation, and through the sponsorship of other generous individuals, including: Andy and Mary Lytle, Jeff and Malia Owens, The Standard, Momentus Insurance Brokerage Inc., Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation, Regence, Randall Children’s Hospital, USB, HealthNet, Genenetech, Beecher Carlson, Reliable Credit, Cresna, Fred Meyer, Columbia Distributing, Opus Events Agency, CenturyLink, Cigna, ClubSport, D6 Inc., FOX 12 Oregon, The Fuerst Family, Geffen Mesher, Gentech Dentist, Icebreaker, J&M Homes, LAIKA, Moda Health, Portland Trail Blazers, Skanska, Target, and The Clymb.
The Children’s Cancer Association didn’t start with a foundation, it started with a family. One who faced its own battle with serious pediatric illness almost two decades ago in Portland, OR. From that experience came a passionate commitment and focus: To deliver the resources, the friendship and the healing power of music to families facing the same challenges.
Unlike many organizations dedicated to the worthy goal of someday finding a cure for cancer, CCA is all about today. We specialize on the moment, delivering immediate help to kids and teens facing life-threatening illness. When seriously ill children and their families need more than medicine, CCA’s innovative programs create joy one moment at a time.
For more information about the Children’s Cancer Association, contact Diana Szymczak, CCA Communications Director, at (503) 200-5115 or [email protected].
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