Portland, November 30th. The 19thannual Food for Thought Tuition Assistance Luncheon raised more than $355,000 toward the school’s commitment to financial aid for the current year. Olympian and 2012 Food for Thought keynote speaker Joan Benoit Samuelson, student speaker Ellen Patterson and Food for Thought Committee Chair Mariah Scott enjoyed the event. The signature annual event was held at the Hilton Portland & Executive Tower and drew more than 740 attendees united in their passion for ensuring that a St. Mary’s Academy education remains accessible to all young women.
Missy and Jamie Hartnell
From St. Mary’s Academy:
Founded in 1859 by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, St. Mary’s Academy is Oregon’s oldest continuously operating secondary school, with nearly 10,000 alumnae.
St. Mary’s is the only school in Oregon to have received three U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools Program Awards.
St. Mary’s celebrates the achievements of the 152 accomplished young women comprising the Class of 2012: two National Merit Scholarship Program Finalists, seven National Merit Scholarship Program Commended Scholars and two National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholars. These seniors earned nine National Art Honor Society Honor Cords, 57 Service Honor Cords, 44 Scholar Athlete Cords, 19 Thespian Honor Cords, 21 Tri-M Music Honor Cords, 14 OSAA Music Scholar Cords and 64 National Honor Society Stoles.
On Advanced Placement exams, 92 percent of students earned a three or better, with 35 percent of students earning the highest score of a five. Tests are scored from one to five, and a score of three or better will earn college credit at many universities.
Portland, November 2nd. The Oregon Zoo Cascade Crest Banquet Center was filled with four-legged friends for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Fall Luncheon. 330 people attended and raised $75,000. Proceeds support programs at GDB’s Oregon campus in Boring including training for dogs and students and veterinary care for working guides and puppies in training. (Photo Credit, Deb Ryan)
The program featured a dog training demonstration, a keynote address by Paralympic Downhill Skiing Bronze Medalist Danelle Umstead with her Guide Dog Bettylynn, as well as the ever-popular puppy delivery where puppy raisers received their new charges.
Guide Dogs for the Blind veterinarian Dr. Patti Van de Coevering and Arnie.
Guests at Guide Dogs for the Blind’s Oregon Fall Luncheon.
CEO of Guide Dogs for the Blind, Paul Lopez and his wife Deirdre enjoying the Oregon Fall Luncheon hosted by Guide Dogs for the Blind.
From Guide Dogs for the Blind:
It all began with a dream—the dream of creating the first guide dog training school on the West Coast. It was a dream shared by Lois Merrihew and Don Donaldson, who volunteered their efforts along with many others. They recognized the need to help wounded servicemen who would return from World War II without their sight. They believed in the potential of dogs to serve as guides for the blind.
Our school was incorporated in May of 1942 and began instruction of students in a rented home in Los Gatos, California, south of San Jose. A German Shepherd named Blondie was one of the first dogs trained. Blondie had been rescued from a Pasadena dog pound. She was later paired with Sgt. Leonard Foulk, the first serviceman to graduate from the new school.
Today…
In 1947, the school moved to our present 11-acre location in San Rafael, California, 20 miles north of San Francisco. In October of 1995, we held the first graduation at our new campus in Boring, Oregon, 25 miles east of Portland. We have graduated more than 10,000 teams since our beginnings in 1942.
Both campuses house students in exceptional dormitory facilities which include dining rooms, exercise rooms, libraries, computer rooms and social areas. Both are located near major metropolitan centers, providing graduated training from quiet rural areas to congested city streets and public transit. The dogs and puppies are cared for in meticulous kennels and state-of-the-art veterinary clinics. Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and Labrador Retriever/Golden Retriever crosses are the breeds used. Professional staff and veterinarians nurture, groom, train and prepare the dogs for their futures as guides.
Portland, November 15th. After 15 years of bringing joy, support, and just plain fun to hundreds of HIV/AIDS-affected and –infected children, Cascade AIDS Project (CAP) announced that Camp Starlight is now an official program within the agency’s Housing and Support Services department.
Though housed at CAP since 2007, Camp Starlight was not fully incorporated into CAP programs until October 2012. This integration gives CAP full administrative, programming and financial oversight for Camp, including recruiting volunteers, raising the money needed to fund the effort, and collaborating with organizations to make sure HIV-impacted families throughout Oregon and SW Washington are aware of the opportunity to send their children to the free, week-long Camp on the Oregon Coast. The Camp Starlight Commission will serve as the Camp Planning Committee offering invaluable insight, volunteer support in planning and implementing the camper experience, assisting in fund raising activities and keeping Camp successful.
Though integrated with the Kids’ Connection program, cash and in-kind gifts specifically designated for Camp Starlight will be applied solely to Camp Starlight expenses.
“With so much to celebrate, 2013 is going to be an absolutely incredible year for kids who are affected by HIV/AIDS,” said Kristin Kane, CAP’s Director of Housing and Support Services.
Incorporating Camp fully into CAP has another advantage: Camp Starlight and Kids’ Connection can be even more closely coordinated. Kids who are affected by HIV will not only benefit from a fun week away at Camp, but they’ll have the opportunity to get year-round support and stay connected to each other, to our volunteers, and to CAP staff.
“The integration of camp with Kids’ Connection only makes sense. Many of the kids are served by both programs,” said Kevin Cook, aka Poison Waters, of the former Commission and Current Advisory Committee. “This creates a powerful opportunity to support the campers year round. I’ve been involved for 13 years and look forward to continuing on the committee, raising funds and donating while encouraging others to volunteer and donate as well.”
To solidify the transition, in January 2013 CAP staff and the former Camp Commission, now the Camp Advisory Committee, will hold a retreat to review volunteer positions, Camp policies, and map out next steps for the next Camp Starlight, which will be held in August 2013. Also, details about volunteering for Camp will be posted on CAP’s volunteer resources page of our website next year.
Information submitted by Michael Sorensen | Director of Development Cascade AIDS Project
Portland, November 9th. More than 400 of Portland’s finest packed the Portland Art Museum to raise over $288,000 for DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital. Beverly Young celebrates wildly after winning an exhilarating live auction bidding war to claim a surprise behind-the-scenes auction package for the hit NBC television series, Grimm. (Photo Credit, K&K Graphics and Erik Schultz of Rad Photography)
The sold-out gala and fashion show benefited Portland’s Nonprofit Emergency Animal Hospital’s Unrestricted Fund, which supports the hospitals donor-funded community programs, including one of America’s largest volunteer-based animal blood banks, a nationally recognized pet loss support program, 24-hour stabilizing care for lost, stray, abused and wild animals, and financial assistance for low income families.
The highly anticipated mystery model, Azazyel a six-month-old Nigerian Dwarf Goat, strutted in a one-of-a-kind jacket designed by Lifetime’s Project Runway winner Seth Aaron Henderson. Azazyel was accompanied by his owner and DoveLewis Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Lee Harold.
Over 400 guests raised a glass to celebrate DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital at the inaugural DoveAdore featuring Boutiques Unleashed gala event.
Event emcees; KPTV’s Wayne Garcia and Kimberly Maus, hosted the event which combined a dinner, live and silent auction and Boutiques Unleashed, a fashion show for both ends of the leash.
Visionary DoveLewis donor, Howard Hedinger, celebrated with guests, Morgan Lutgens and Annie Heisey.
Chez Joly Catering hosted a table for the evening with guests; Charles Frasier, Annette Joly, Chrys Martin, Christian Joly, Dawn Davis, Steve Rickles and Jack Pessia.
Charlie Swindells, representing the Ann and Bill Swindells Charitable Trust, raises his paddle during the live appeal. The Ann and Bill Swindells Charitable Trust generously offered a $100,000 matching gift to the DoveLewis building fund over the next year.
Oregon Ballet Theater’s Principal Ballerina, Allison Roper, walked with Twinkie in the Boutiques Unleashed fashion show.
Many local celebrities graced the runway, including KGW’s Drew Carney who shared the spotlight with Zoey the dog.
Crowd favorite, Rojo the Llama, and his handler Shannon Gregory made an appearance at this year’s fashion show. Rojo, a certified therapy animal, is a regular at many DoveLewis events.
“The compassion and generosity of the Portland community never ceases to amaze me,” says Ron Morgan, DoveLewis Chief Executive Officer. “To sell out the event and see so many people turn out to support the work we do in the community is truly amazing. We couldn’t be happier.”
This year, the re-imagined event put a fashionable spin on the typical gala and featured a dinner, exhilarating live and silent auctions, and culminated with the outrageously popular Boutiques Unleashed fashion show for both ends of the leash. KPTV personalities Kimberly Maus and Wayne Garcia emceed the event which featured special runway celebrities; KGW’s Drew Carney, K103FM’s morning radio personalities Bruce Murdock, John Erickson and Janine Wolf, KOIN’s Jenny Hansson, and The Oregon Ballet Theatre’s Principal Ballerina Allison Roper. The night’s special surprise model, a six-month-old Nigerian Dwarf Goat named Azazyel, made a fashionable statement in a one-of-a-kind ensemble designed by Lifetime’s Project Runway winner Seth Aaron Henderson.
About DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital
DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital, established in 1973 and based in Portland, Ore., is the only nonprofit, 24-Hour Emergency and Intensive Care Unit in the region. DoveLewis provides donor-funded programs to the community including one of the United States’ largest volunteer-based animal blood banks, a nationally recognized pet loss support program, 24-hour stabilizing care for lost, stray and wild animals and financial assistance for qualifying low-income families and abused animals. For more information, please visit dovelewis.org.
Portland, November 19th. Being the doc on call when an elephant goes into labor is not a job for the faint-hearted. Mitch Finnegan, the zoo’s senior veterinarian, knows: He was present 18 years ago at the birth of Rose-Tu, and four years ago at the birth of Samudra, her first calf at the Oregon Zoo.
“That last birth easily took a year off my life,” Dr. Finnegan said. “I hope this one goes easier.”
Samudra, born Aug. 23, 2008, had a rough start to life. Topping 280 pounds at birth, he was a large baby, which contributed to a long and difficult labor for Rose-Tu. Rose-Tu, who had never experienced a birth before, became confused and agitated after delivering her baby, which can happen with first-time mothers. Keepers quickly intervened to prevent any harm to the baby. They then worked around the clock during the calf’s first week of life to help ensure the critical mother-calf bond became a strong one.
“Rose had never experienced a birth before, so we think she may have been confused by what was happening,” Finnegan said. “She was the last elephant born at the zoo until her own calf arrived. This time, we think things will go much better.”
Still, with Rose-Tu just weeks — perhaps days — away from giving birth again, Dr. Finnegan and the rest of the zoo’s elephant-care team are doing their best to make sure they’re ready for anything.
“We’re expecting the best and preparing for the worst,” Finnegan said. “We’ll have several carts of equipment and hopefully we’ll use none of it.”
Last week, emergency medical supplies were assembled at the elephant barn in preparation for the birth. Medications are on hand in case labor needs to be induced. Oxygen is available in case the newborn calf shows any signs of difficulty breathing.
There can be complications to both mother and calf, according to Finnegan. One major risk to both is dystocia, or a difficult labor. Elephants are prone to a form of dystocia in which their labor stalls, requiring veterinarians to administer medications to stimulate the uterus in order for labor to continue.
But such a move brings another risk.
“Normally, elephants are delivered rear feet first,” Finnegan said. “In very large animals like elephants, it’s sometimes difficult to know whether the calf is positioned normally. Palpation and ultrasound are our best tools, but they provide relatively limited information in elephants compared to smaller animals like horses or dogs. The risk is that if drugs are used to stimulate labor and the baby is malpositioned, intense contractions could tear the uterus. Since we often don’t have all the information we would like, it can be a harrowing experience if labor does not progress normally and medical intervention is necessary.”
Ultrasound, Finnegan says, offers too small a field of view, so he relies on an age-old, hands-on veterinary approach. If labor stops progressing, he will examine Rose-Tu, feeling inside her for the calf’s feet and toes, so he can determine how best to help labor proceed.
But if labor proceeds normally, Finnegan will keep out of Rose-Tu’s sight.
“Ideally we’ll leave her alone and only have people in the barn that she’s really comfortable with,” he said. “As much as possible, we want it to be just another day for her. Animals are very good at sensing our emotions and stress, so we want everyone to be upbeat and mellow.”
For months, the zoo’s elephant-care staff has been working with Rose-Tu to ensure she is calm, comfortable and confident on the big day. All that training and preparation — along with Rose-Tu’s own experience as a mother, the presence of other elephants and the staff who has cared for her for years — give Rose-Tu the best possible chances for the outcome everyone is hoping for: a healthy, strong calf.
The Oregon Zoo is recognized worldwide for its successful breeding program for Asian elephants, which has now spanned 50 years. Rose-Tu’s mother, Me-Tu, was the second elephant born at the zoo (just months after Packy in 1962), and her grandmother, Rosy, was the first elephant ever to live in Oregon.
Asian elephants are considered highly endangered in their range countries, threatened by habitat loss and conflict with humans. According to estimates, fewer than 40,000 may remain in fragmented populations from India to Borneo.
The Oregon Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, whose species survival plan for Asian elephants is striving to establish a self-sustaining population in North America.
The zoo is a service of Metro and is dedicated to its mission of inspiring the community to create a better future for wildlife. Committed to conservation, the zoo is currently working to save endangered California condors, Oregon silverspot and Taylor’s checkerspot butterflies, western pond turtles and Oregon spotted frogs. Other projects include studies on Asian elephants, polar bears, orangutans and giant pandas. The zoo relies in part on community support through donations to the Oregon Zoo Foundation to undertake these and many other animal welfare, education and sustainability programs.
The zoo opens at 9 a.m. daily and is located five minutes from downtown Portland, just off Highway 26. The zoo is also accessible by MAX light rail line. Visitors who travel to the zoo via MAX receive $1.50 off zoo admission. Call TriMet Customer Service, 503-238-RIDE (7433), or visit www.trimet.org for fare and route information.
General zoo admission is $10.50 (ages 12-64), $9 for seniors (65 and up), $7.50 for children (ages 3-11) and free for those 2 and younger; 25 cents of the admission price helps fund regional conservation projects through the zoo’s Future for Wildlife program. A parking fee of $4 per car is also required. Additional information is available at www.oregonzoo.org or by calling 503-226-1561.
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