Portland, OR. The Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation is announcing a significant increase in funds that will be distributed to nonprofits throughout Oregon and Washington. The foundation, founded by Dave and Sally Bany in 1998, is named for Sally’s grandmother, Marie Lamfrom seen above. Marie Lamfrom, who lived from 1896 to 1982 was the mother of Columbia Sportswear Company Chairman Gert Boyle. The foundation received additional funds after the passing of Gert Boyle in 2019. Currently, the Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation has approximately $150 million in assets to support its mission and is on track to donate $9 million this year.
Marie Lamfrom’s Family: Sally Bany, Eva Labby, the late Gert Boyle and Rachael Bany Sneddon. Sally serves as the Chairman of the Foundation, while her daughter, Rachael Sneddon, is CEO. Additional trustees include Sally’s daughter, Annie Bany, and Sally’s son-in-law, Russell Sneddon.
With the increase in giving capacity, the Foundation will continue to support nonprofit organizations focusing on education and mentorship, arts and creativity, and health and well-being, with the majority of funds benefiting programs based in the Pacific Northwest. “I started this Foundation with my late husband, Dave, 23 years ago to honor the life of my amazing grandmother, Marie Lamfrom,” said Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation Chairman Sally Bany. “ At age 18, Marie served in World War I as a nurse on the Russian front, then returned to Germany, where she married and had three children. As the Nazis rose to power, Marie and her family fled to Portland, Ore.
After her relocation, Marie became known as Bluebird thanks to her support of the Girl Scouts, where she served as a troop leader at Shriners Hospital for Children.
“I feel so fortunate to come from a family of such strong, independent, and philanthropic women,” said Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation CEO Rachael Sneddon. “I grew up watching my mother and my grandmother continue the work of my great grandmother Marie, and I feel so honored to step into that role as we continue the Foundation’s support of so many important nonprofits. We want to encourage nonprofits doing work in education and mentorship, arts and creativity, and health and well-being to reach out. We would love to hear your story and explore ways we might be able to collaborate.”
The Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation was established by Dave and Sally Bany in 1998 to support nonprofit organizations throughout the Pacific Northwest. The Foundation now focuses on nonprofit programs that support education and mentorship, arts and creativity, and health and well-being. The Foundation was named for Sally’s grandmother, Marie Lamfrom. For more information, please visit marielamfrom.org.
The Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation, a local non-profit founded by Dave and Sally Bany in 1998. Named for Sally’s grandmother, Marie Lamfrom, the foundation has recently been granted additional funds after the passing of Marie’s daughter and Sally’s mother, Columbia Sportswear Company Chairman, Gert Boyle.
The current fund amount of $150 million will be used to support nonprofit organizations focusing on education and mentorship, arts and creativity, and health and well-being, with the majority of funds benefiting programs based in the Pacific Northwest. Past recipients of the Foundation include everything from Dress for Success and Girl Scouts Beyond Bars to Oregon Food Bank and the Pleasant Hill Community Theatre.
For decades, Marie gave to the people of her city and state through her numerous volunteer efforts and support of community causes. She served in World War I as a nurse, working on the Russian front at the age of 18. At the end of the war, she returned home to Germany and married Paul, then had three daughters. As the Nazis rose to power, Marie and her family fled to Portland, Oregon.
Marie (fondly known as “Bluebird”) was involved in Girl Scouts for over 44 years as a troop leader, board member and delegate to the national convention. She is lovingly remembered for her 20-year commitment to her Girl Scout troop at the Shriners Hospital for Children. She held an annual barbecue in the parking lot, and all the children attended, even wheeled down in their beds.
Perhaps her greatest legacy is the founding of a similar troop at Providence Hospital, a troop that continues today with 28 members. All the Girl Scouts are medically fragile, but–just as with Marie’s Shriners troop–they give back to their community by preparing and serving meals to the elderly.
Marie Lamfrom inspired countless young women. Girl Scouts is better because of her dedication, compassion, energy and commitment. Her long, rich legacy of Girl Scouting is now in its fourth generation.
The example that Marie set for all of us remains the goal even today. Since 2013 the Girl Scout Marie Lamfrom Women of Distinction Luncheon each year showcases the women who have followed her lead in choosing to make an impact with their work.
Portland, June 21, 2013. The feisty Tektronix team won the Golden Trophy and title of 2013 Playworks Corporate Kickball Champion. (photo credit, Nicole Ishida) Playworks 4th Annual Corporate Kickball Fundraiser drew top Portland employers to to the PCC Rock Creek Campus including: lead sponsor – hubbub health, Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield, Columbia Sportswear, Moss Adams, Randall’s Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel, Kohl’s, Nike, Keen, Schwabe Williamson, & Wyatt, Salesforce.com, Kaiser Permanente, and Waggener Edstrom. Over 200 supporters turned out for the friendly kickball tournament to benefit Playworks, a national non-profit dedicated to physical activity and anti-bullying in schools. The event raised a record-breaking $41,950 in donations to benefit 13 Portland area schools.
Team Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt (green shirts) and Team hubbub health (white and orange shirts) start the game with high-fives.
Team Regence (blue shirts) and Team Kohl’s (grey shirts) in a high-five line and the end of the game.
Umpire, John Wallace, calls it safe as Principal Jill Sage gets a high-5 from her teammate, Principal Andrea Porter-Lopez.
Laura Martini, from hubbub health, kicks a home run.
Additionally, hubbub recognized an individual embodying the spirit, passion and energy of the day while promoting collaboration and teamwork. hubbub chose to honor Paul Davis of Waggener Edstrom by donating an additional $500 on his behalf. Playworks also recognized exceptional spirit and gave the spirit award to Kaiser Permanente for outstanding sportsmanship and enthusiasm.
“Playworks mission embodies what hubbub health hopes to achieve – increased activity and inclusion in wellness initiatives,” said Director of Business Development Brian Berchtold. “The goal of the day was to play and have fun. I’m very proud of our hubbub team who made it to the finals this year. Not only did we win a few games, but we had fun along the way.”
“Support from hubbub this year was key in deepening meaningful relationships with partners who share our values to bring the wide span benefits of positive play to thousands of children across the region, “said Playworks Portland executive director Jonathan Blasher. “Businesses coming together to support the future workforce is critical. Together, we are changing lives by helping thousands of kids in the Portland metro area.
About Playworks
Playworks is a national nonprofit organization that provides safe, healthy, inclusive play and physical activity to schools at recess and throughout the entire school day. Celebrating 17 years, Playworks is the only nonprofit organization in the country to send trained, full-time coaches to low-income schools. Playworks currently serves more than 170,000 children in 360 low-income schools in 22 cities throughout the country every school day.
Playworks will be celebrating their fifth year in the Pacific Northwest, where it has grown to serve more the 80 schools across the area through a combination of training and direct service with 13 low income schools providing 5,500 students with safe and inclusive play daily, improving school climate and transforming the educational environment. Please visit their website for more information on how to get involved: http://www.playworks.org/portland.
Portland, September 6th. The Rose City was transformed into a model’s runway for Portland’s 3rd Annual Fashion’s Night Out. Local fashionistas were checking out the latest styles at shows in Directors Park and doing some evening browsing at over 25 stores which stayed open late for the occasion. Shoppers were treated to free munchies, mini-makeovers from Sephora, pedicab rides and swag bags.
The event drew thousands downtown for the warm September evening.
A raffle, with the prize of a $1,500 downtown shopping spree, benefited New Avenues for Youth. New Avenues for Youth provides a variety of outcome-based programs and services designed to empower youth to exit street life. The event was a collaborative effort between the City of Portland, Downtown Marketing Initiative and the Downtown Clean & Safe District managed by the Portland Business Alliance.
Here’s a video clip:
This fall, jackets are big. Designers suggest you choose traditional fall jacket fabrics like tweed, corduroy, denim or menswear plaids; or go luxe with velvet, leather, brocade.
Retailers from across the country joined in the after-hour festivities.
Fashion’s Night Out was originally created in 2009 by Vogue‘s Anna Wintour to celebrate fashion, restore consumer confidence and boost industry sales during the recession. Since then, the event has been launched in dozens of US cities and internationally. In many communities, charities benefit. For example, in New York a portion of the proceeds went to the New York City AIDS Fund.
Participating retailers for Portland Fashion’s Night Out are located in the retail core, Pioneer Place and West End District. All hosted in-store events including fashion presentations, designer appearances, refreshments and gifts with purchase. (Thanks Director’s Park for the nice photos.) Participating stores include:
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