Portland, OR. More than 100 guests turned out to dance the Charleston, and toast twenty years of Cast Iron Studios at its roaring twenties gala. The February 8th anniversary gala at Classic Foods in Northeast Portland was also a benefit for Stone Soup, which is a non-profit foodservice training enterprise providing life skills and hands-on culinary expertise to people who are at risk of homelessness.
Cast Iron Studios has found actors for projects including Timmy Failure, Wild, and Twilight, and over 300 hours of episodic television, including Trinkets, American Vandal, Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists, and Grimm. At the event, Josh Fuhrer, Cast Iron Studios’ Founder Lana Veenker and Brian Van Flandern posed for a photo. (Photo Credit, Flo Barth)
Cholee Thompson, Taylor Harris and Jennifer Arndt. Photo credit: Deneb Catalan
Jordi Barnes and Ted Douglass. Photo credit: Deneb Catalan
Ronit and Craig Gerard of Stone Soup. Photo credit: Deneb Catalan
Katie O’Grady. Photo Credit: Flo Barth
“It was heartwarming to be surrounded by so many friends, family and longtime colleagues, many of whom flew in from distant locations to attend,” said Cast Iron Studios’ Founder Lana Veenker. “We have such a wonderful community, and we know we wouldn’t be where we are without them.”
Sammuel Murry-Hawkins and the Ne Plus Ultra Jass Orchestra. Photo Credit: Flo Barth
Brian Van Flandern and Sean Dodder mix up “The Last Word”. Photo Credit: Flo Barth
Elegant hors d’oeuvres, cheese and charcuterie platters were prepared by the staff and students of Stone Soup, with the guidance of Chef Scott Dolich, multiple James Beard Award Nominee and former owner of Park Kitchen and The Bent Brick. A silent auction was held, with packages including everything from Blazers tickets, spa and restaurant gift cards, acting classes and hotel stays, to a private screening room at Living Room Theaters, a coffee date with Grimm star Sasha Roiz, and audition coaching with Grimm star Claire Coffee. In total, the event raised close to $10,000 for Stone Soup.
Staff and students of Stone Soup commandeered the kitchen at Classic Foods to dish out elegant hors d’oeuvres and platters. Photo credit: Lana Veenker
Dolich sourced the ingredients directly from Classic Foods, a locally-owned handmade pasta factory and purveyor of artisan specialty products located in Portland’s Dekum district.
Auction donors included the Ace Hotel, Acting for Kids & Teens, Artists Repertory Theatre, Aviation Gin, Broder Nord, Claire Coffee, Classic Foods, Gado Gado Restaurant, Hi-Lo Hotel, Hotel Eastlund, Hoxton Hotel, Kimpton Hotels, Kristen Arnett Celebrity Make-Up Artist, Levy Moroshan Photography, Living Room Theatres, My Path Wellness, Portland Center Stage at the Armory, Portland Film Festival, Portland Trail Blazers, Rejuvenation Day Spa, Sasha Roiz, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, Stone Soup and The Studio NW.
Check out more photos below, and at the following link, courtesy of our generous photographers, Flo Barth of Flo Barth Photography and Deneb Catalan of NebCat Photography.
As the Northwest’s leading casting company, we’ve been forging relationships with actors, directors, and producers for two decades.
We’re proud that we’ve helped develop the impressive pool of talent in the Northwest, which now rivals those in much bigger markets. What can we say? We’ve got an eye for actors who can deliver, and more than 20 years of experience creatively casting every kind of role. Consider us the foundation for solid performances, every time.
We’re here because we love living and working in the Northwest, but that doesn’t mean we operate in a bubble. We’ve traveled the world and chose Portland as our home. Our relationships have allowed us to branch out locally, nationally and internationally. Need a casting director in Paris? A nationwide search for a specific role? A keen eye at the Berlin Film Festival? We’ve got you covered.
We set the bar high, and deliver bang for your buck. Let our expertise alleviate your worries, save you money, and get you the best cast for your project.
After finishing our 12-week program, all graduates enter the job placement network, an informal cooperative of Portland area caterers and restaurants. This network ensures our program participants will have ample opportunities for job interviews and job placements. Our staff continues to be in touch with all the graduates, bringing them back to speak with current classes. This alumni network then ensures participants all have active mentors to help them through any challenges.
We also network with local restaurant groups and catering operations to identify employment opportunities with the potential for more sustainable employment than corporate foodservice might initially offer.
Portland, OR. Nearly 2,000 people filled New Hope Church in Happy Valley, Oregon, on November 23rd. The community came together for a free concert supporting local community aid organizations. Adventist Health Portland presented its annual Celebration of Thanksgiving concert as an expression of gratitude for the community’s faith and support. Adventist Health Portland includes Adventist Health Portland Medical Center in southeast Portland, a nonprofit, 302-bed acute care facility, offering a full range of inpatient, outpatient and emergency services throughout the Portland/Vancouver metropolitan area. Clinically integrated with OHSU, Adventist Health Medical Group represents more than 100 primary care and specialty physicians who treat and admit their patients to Adventist Medical Center. Pictured above are people sorting out the generous food donations.
Dr. Terry Johnsson
Matt Maher performs for the crowd
The event opened with performances by a praise band made up of Adventist Health employees, including Joyce Newmyer, Adventist Health Pacific Northwest Region president. Headliner and contemporary Christian artist Matt Maher took the stage, Maher has written and produced nine solo albums and penned many well-known praise and worship songs.
People enjoying the concert
Joyce Newmyer, president of Adventist Health, shares a message of thanks with guests at the 11th annual Celebration of Thanksgiving concert.
Collecting socks for Portland Rescue Mission
Young folks donating food
This year’s guests contributed 1,900 pounds of food for Portland Adventist Community Services (PACS) and more than 3,000 pairs of socks for the Portland Rescue Mission in place of admission for the concert. The celebration of Thanksgiving has raised more than 12 tons of nonperishable food donations since its inception in 2009. More than 10,000 pairs of socks have been donated since this emphasis was added in 2016. Previous performers include Phillips, Craig and Dean; Point of Grace; Rebecca St. James; Selah; and Sandi Patty.
From Adventist Health:
Adventist Health services in Portland are part of Adventist Health a faith-based, nonprofit integrated health system serving more than 75 communities on the West Coast and Hawaii. Our compassionate and talented team of 33,300 includes more than 24,600 employees; 5,000 medical staff physicians; and 3,700 volunteers working together in pursuit of one mission: living God’s love by inspiring health, wholeness, and hope. Founded on Seventh-day Adventist heritage and values, Adventist Health provides care in 19 hospitals, more than 280 clinics (hospital-based, rural health and physician clinics), 13 home care agencies, seven hospice agencies, and four joint-venture retirement centers.
From The Portland Rescue Mission:
The Portland Rescue Mission has had a tireless commitment to breaking the cycle of homelessness, addiction and despair in the lives of hurting people in need. We offer emergency services of food and shelter at our original downtown location at the Burnside Shelter. And we’ve expanded those services to include 24/7 restrooms, showers, clothing, mail service, referrals and community activities in the Guest Care Center.Thanks to generous community support, we’ve expanded our ministry to include a wide range of programs designed to meet a hurting person at their point of need and help them toward their journey home. This includes our 3-month Connect program for men and women, and our New Life Ministries for men and women at The Harbor and Shepherd’s Door, respectively. Portland Rescue Mission also includes our Drive Away Hunger car sales and donations program and Mission Bar-B-Que catering. Proceeds support all of our programs to give hope and restore life to hurting people.
Portland, OR. Nearly 700 people attended the St. Mary’s Academy 26th Annual “Food for Thought” luncheon. Organizers surpassed their fundraising goal of $500,000 which will support tuition assistance. The event on November 7th was held at the downtown Portland Hilton and attendees included Kelley Morrison Ogle ’94, Margueritte Vu Kim ’94, Rita Serralta-Poox ’20, Barre3 co-founder Sadie Lincoln, Jessica Hickox Meyer ’94 and Karis Stoudamire-Phillips ’94. Vice President of Development, 1986 graduate Emily Niedermeyer Becker, thanked donors. “We are so proud to announce we exceeded our goal of $500,000. This event has remained of the utmost importance to SMA each year, as every dollar raised allows us to continue providing exceptional education to young girls who deserve it.” The Food for Thought luncheon is the school’s largest fundraiser in support of tuition assistance. For the 2019-2020 school year, 42% of St. Mary’s Academy families were awarded over $2 million in tuition assistance.
Sam Romanaggi, Kathleen Dooney Niedermeyer ’83, Dr. Don Romanaggi
Gene Kim and Margueritte Vu Kim ’94
The luncheon was organized by graduates of SMA’s 1994 class, including Karis-Stoudamire Phillips, Joan Chaney, Margueritte Vu Kim, Jessica Hickox Meyer, Kelley Morrison Ogle, and Dr. Nundhini Thukkani. Sadie Lincoln, the keynote speaker and co-founder of Barre3, shared her message about wellness and finding confidence. She weighed in on her own personal struggles with self-confidence at a young age. Lincoln credits Barre3 with allowing herself to spread the message of internal resiliency to members across her studios, located locally and worldwide. “We can have a practice of being empowered from within, being confident, and standing up for ourselves,” she explained.
Another guest speaker was St. Mary’s senior and financial award recipient, Rita Serralta-Poox. She thanked her parents for their sacrifices immigrating to the U.S. in hopes of a brighter future for their family. She also thanked St. Mary’s for an array of opportunities during her four years, and allowing her to become her true self through its community, “St. Mary’s has taught me how to use my voice and I will never forget that. After high school, I plan to study law to become an immigration lawyer,” she stated during her speech.
Mary Mathews Stevens ’80, Virginia Mathews, Marilyn Whitaker and Molly Mathews Bjorklund ’85
(Clockwise from back left) Kellie Chauncey-Lance ’87, Tifani Jones Parrilli ’82, Melissa Abraham Hartnell ’87, Holly Abraham Safranski ’92, Alyx Abraham, Sara Parker, Melinda Lee
For the second year in a row, St. Mary’s Academy produced and debuted a video at the event. It focused on St. Mary’s wellness programs including athletics. In the video, current students and alumnae shared personal experiences and stories of how St. Mary’s empowered them both on and off the field.
A video about St. Mary’s Academy:
From St. Mary’s Academy:
St. Mary’s Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary since 1859, is a Catholic high school for young women, providing a challenging college-preparatory education in a vibrant learning environment. Guided by the values and charism of the Sisters, St. Mary’s fosters a diverse community, educates the whole person by nurturing spirituality, encouraging creativity, promoting justice, and inspiring a sense of global interdependence to prepare students for service and leadership. For more information, here’s a link to the SMA website: St. Mary’s Academy.
Portland, OR. Diverse communities came together for Q Center’s annual SHINE brunch on November 3rd at the Portland Marriott Downtown. The Q Center’s mission is to provide a space for togetherness, progress, and support people within the LGBTQ+ community. The annual SHINE brunch is meant to honor those who help the organization grow. There were 500 supporters in attendance and over $130,000 was raised. Pictured above, enjoying the photo booth, are state representatives Alissa Keny Guyer, Jennifer Williamson, and Margaret Doherty. (Photo credit, Marty Davis and Smirk Photobooth)
Bridges Voices Choir
Executive Director, Cameron Whitten
The Q Center’s values include bringing more safety, resilience, anti-oppression, learning, empowerment, inclusion and transparency into the world. The main purpose of the Q Center is to build community and host support and activity groups that are peer-led. Some examples of different types of groups include sexual orientation programs, gender identity programs, addiction & mental health support, help for veterans and more.
Board Treasurer, Erin Waters
Bill Dickey and John Salazar
From the Q Center:
Our Mission is to provide safe spaces, community building and empowerment for the positive transformation of LGBTQ2SIA+ communities and allies in the Pacific Northwest. As the largest LGBTQ+ community center in the Pacific Northwest, Q Center proudly serves the LGBTQ2SIA+ communities of Portland Metro and Southwest Washington. Our drop-in and event space on North Mississippi Avenue is a frequent first stop for new arrivals in Portland, and for longtime residents who are newly out or questioning their sexual or gender identity. Q Center also serves as an information hub for friends, partners, community, and family members of LGBTQ2SIA+ individuals. We pride ourselves on our collaborative approach and seek out ways to share resources with other nonprofits and public institutions locally and statewide.
Portland, Or. Edwards Center held its 13th annual fundraising luncheon, “Live Happy” at the Multnomah Athletic Club on October 10th. The luncheon was held to support the needs of Oregonians experiencing developmental disabilities. They have services pertaining to housing, employment, and recreational opportunities. During “Live Happy” the Edwards Center met their match offered by The Minson family. The offer was $100,000, and they ended up raising over $300,000. Dirk Fournier, owner of Fournier Group Insurance, emceed and introduced speakers, Doug Minson and Gail Grodem. The speakers shared their personal stories of how their lives are impacted by loved ones with developmental disabilities. Another highpoint of the fundraiser was Max Monty, owner and creative director of YesBox Digital along with Portland comedian, Susan Rice helped to highlight what it means to “Live Happy” each day. Pictured above is Paul Bryant, Marla Kleinheinz, Dr. Jean Edwards (Founder) and Chad Bode – interviewed about Living Happy in Edwards Center programs (Photo credit Andie Petkus).
Doug and Susan Minson – offered a $100,000 match for the day.
Pat Reser, Dr. Jean Edwards (founder) and Bill Westphal
The Edwards Center was founded by Dr. Jean Edwards, who dedicated her life to supporting people who have developmental disabilities. When Edwards was a child, she had a neighbor and friend named David. She noticed that he was unable to attend school or participate in the activities that his twin brother was able to enjoy. This started her journey of studying at the University of Oregon, and then Columbia College where she studied Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling. She planned what would eventually be known as Edwards Center, which provides programs and activities for people with disabilities and allows them to be able to live a more fulfilling life.
Former Governor Barbara Roberts and Donald Nelson
Donors Bobbi Lampros, Robbyn Foggia and Mary Lee Boklund
Here is a video from Edwards Center:
From Edwards Center:
“Our 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. Our vision is where adults with developmental disabilities enjoy opportunities in all aspects of their lives, including housing, employment, community activities, quality health care, and support, preserving their dignity & independence, while motivating, celebrating and connecting with family, and community across their life span. We believe that people with Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, and other developmental disabilities have tremendous potential. That’s why we’ve created a lifelong plan of services to provide our participants with homes, jobs, and a chance to participate in the world around them. Since 1972 we’ve worked with our clients, their families, and their friends to ensure that adults with developmental disabilities have the opportunity to live and thrive in Oregon.”
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