Aloha, August 15th, 2014. Pioneering smooth jazz pianist Tom Grant, Oregon’s sixth Poet Laureate Paulann Petersen, and platinum-selling singer, songwriter, and composer Gino Vannelli performed at a special benefit concert dinner in Edwards Center’s Lampros-Hedinger Performance Hall. Tammy Beckley, event MC Janet Chvatal, and Portland philanthropist Howard Hedinger pose together during dinner. Presented through the generous support of Portland’s Fournier Group, The Tree of Life Benefit Concert Series brought these outstanding Oregon artists together in an intimate atmosphere for a once-in-a-lifetime musical encounter. Over 80 guests were treated to an evening of music, poetry, and culinary Plates of Passion prepared by renowned local chefs.
Pianist and film-scorer David Goldblatt accompanies pop legend Gino Vannelli at Edward Center’s Tree of Life “Up Close & Personal” concert.
Over 80 guests enjoy pasta and wine on Edwards Center’s lovely garden patio.
Brian Joelson and Natalia Lampros enjoy the Plates of Passion pasta dinner.
Portland’s own smooth jazz pioneer Tom Grant performs with poet Paulann Petersen, Oregon’s sixth poet laureate.
About Edwards Center
Edwards Center began as a day program serving 6 individuals and in 1975 opened Washington County’s first group home housing developmentally disabled adults in the community. Today they provide homes, jobs, and recreational opportunities in 18 locations serving over 300 Oregonians with disabilities in Washington and Clackamas Counties. Edwards Center’s mission is to enhance the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities by helping them reach their highest potential through training, education, employment, housing and social opportunities in safe, healthy and stimulating environments. http://www.edwardscenter.org/
Portland, April 3rd, 2013. Excited supporters of the Edwards Center dedicated the new Aloha Community Center. The singers of the Voices Unlimited choir performed in the Community Center’s “Great Room”. The new center, dedicated by special guest Washington County Commissioner Dick Schouten and Edwards Center founder Dr. Jean Edwards, hosted over 100 supporters, families, funders, and community members for a lively open house and dedication ceremony. Portland jazz pianist Tom Grant (a family member of one of Edwards Center’s clients) performed, as did opera singers Janet Chvatal and Marc Gremm. Chvatal and Gremm then introduced the Voices Unlimited choir to unveil the new Edwards Center theme song to the packed house.
Exterior of Edwards Center’s Aloha Community Center
A longtime dream of its founders, this community center is a place where people with developmental disabilities can take part in a variety of activities including adult education, job training, nutritious meals, and community events. The building was built with a barrier-free philosophy, featuring accessibility accommodations for people with a variety of abilities, well beyond ADA requirements. However the vision for the center isn’t just a place where adults with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other conditions can feel welcome, but a resource for the wider community as well. By opening its services beyond its usual clients, Edwards Center is creating a place where people across a wide spectrum of abilities can interact and learn from each other.
Dr. Jean Edwards prepares her remarks before the dedication.
Janet Chvatal and Marc Gremm, two internationally known opera singers, perform during the dedication ceremony.
A packed open house proceeded the event.
About the Aloha Community Center
The 11,000 sq. ft. Aloha Community Center features four classrooms, a meeting space for community groups, a kitchen and dining room that serves nutritious, low-cost meals in partnership with Meals on Wheels People, and a cafe to enable job training for adults with developmental disabilities. Open 7 days a week, the center provides meaningful daily activities for people with developmental disabilities and increase interaction with the wider community. The center is part of a larger neighborhood development planned by Edwards Center called the Aloha Project. Later this year ten homes will be built on the adjacent property to support life-long, multi-generational family living for adults with disabilities.
About Edwards Center
Edwards Center has served adults with developmental disabilities since 1972, when there were few services outside of the state institution, the Fairview Training Center. Edwards Center began as a day program that served just 6 individuals and in 1975 opened the first group home in Washington County housing disabled adults in the community. Today they provide homes, jobs, and recreational opportunities in 18 locations serving over 300 Oregonians with disabilities in Washington and Clackamas Counties.
Edwards Center’s mission is to enhance the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities by helping them reach their highest potential through training, education, employment, housing and social opportunities in safe, healthy and stimulating environments.
Beaverton, November 14th. The staff, Board of Directors, and clients of local non-profit, Edwards Center, Inc. came to Beaverton Toyota to receive a very special donation: a custom, wheelchair-accessible 2013 Toyota Sienna Mobility. The Aloha-based Edwards Center has been working to support adults with developmental disabilities, such as autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other conditions, since 1972. However, despite having a sizable vehicle fleet to meet the needs of nearly 300 Oregonians with disabilities and 40 years of service, this is their first new car. (Photo credit, Betty Coulson)
Lisa K., Edwards Center client; Heather Self, Edwards Center Residential Manager.
Clients, client family, staff, and Board of Directors of Edwards Center.
All of this was possible through the generosity of Toyota, Beaverton Toyota, and Toyota Financial Services through the 100 Cars for Good Campaign. Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program solicited 5,000 applications from non-profits around the US, of which 500 were selected. Each day for 100 days, 5 deserving non-profits competed to win the most votes through a Facebook app, with Toyota donating a brand new vehicle to the winning organization. Through the hard work and determination of their staff, Board, client family, vendors, business partners, and the Portland-area community, Edwards Center was able to win their voting day.
Monique Jackson, Toyota; Jessica Leitner, Edwards Center; Jean Edwards, Edwards Center; Russ Humberston, Jr., Beaverton Toyota; Ann Humberston, Beaverton Toyota.
Jeff Greer, Edwards Center Personnel Manager; Kevin K., Edwards Center client; Heather Self, Edwards Center Residential Manager.
In addition to this new vehicle, Toyota Financial Services surprised everyone in attendance by providing an additional 10,000 mile, 6 year maintenance contract. The vehicle was locally retrofitted for wheelchair access by longtime Performance Mobility, of whom Edwards Center has been a customer for many years. Besides the organization’s staff and Board of Directors, the residents of Edwards Center’s Oak Street residence were especially excited to receive the new van. The 5 ladies of Oak Street were featured prominently in the video that accompanied Edwards Center’s voting page on the 100 Cars for Good Facebook app and their story was a major part in the success of Edwards Center’s voting campaign.
It is our mission to enhance the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities by helping them reach their highest potential through training, education, employment, housing and social opportunities in safe, healthy and stimulating environments.
We believe that every individual has their own unique potential and that they deserve the opportunity to reach it. So we provide the motivation, encouragement and support to help them do just that.
We work tirelessly to erase the lines of perception that separate the “abled” from the disabled, which is what makes us such a driving force in preserving the dignity and independence of the developmentally disabled – not just in Oregon, but in the nation.
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