Portland, OR. More than 600 guests joined Portland State University and Viking Athletics for the grand opening of the Viking Pavilion at the Peter W. Stott Center, a new all-purpose arena and events space in the heart of the Portland State campus. Julie & Peter Stott are volunteers and major contributors to the Viking Pavilion campaign. “The new Viking Pavilion truly serves as a testament to the potential of what we can accomplish together,” said Peter W. Stott. “This is a place that makes us all proud to be Vikings.”
The gala, previously called Wine & Roses, raised a record-breaking $800,000 for the Viking Athletics program, the majority of which will be used to support student scholarships. This outpouring of support is the largest amount raised in the history of the benefit — and more than $200,000 than the previous year.
For The Viking Pavilion at the Peter W. Stott Center dinner, the program and auction were held on the new basketball court: “Stoller Court.”
President & CEO of PSU Foundation, Bill Boldt; President & Founder of Darkhorse Comics, Mike Richardson; Executive Director of Maurice Lucas Foundation, David Lucas; CEO & Founder of DB Western, Inc., Dennis Beetham.
The PSU Football team greeted all guests arriving at the event on the Park Blocks, including Phil & Shawna Cam.
Viking Athletic Director Valerie Cleary holds up her Viking “V” with pride in her new home that will change the game for the future of PSU Athletics.
“Our students are the heart of everything we do at Portland State,” said PSU Athletics Director Valerie Cleary. “I’m so thankful to our supporters for investing in their success.”
Trailblazer legend Brian Grant attended the basketball arena grand opening gala and has already scheduled an event of his own in the Viking Pavilion – the first Annual Maurice Lucas Foundation vs. Brian Grant Foundation basketball game scheduled for Saturday, August 18th.
Gordon Sondland, Julie Stott, Kelly Hale, Ann Thompson, & Katy Durant admire the new Walter C. Bowen Grand Hall in the Peter W. Stott Center overlooking the Park Blocks.
Viking student-athletes are excited to finally greet guests in their new home at the grand opening.
President of PSU, Dr. Rahmat Shoureshi enjoyed the evening with his wife (left) Azar Shoureshi and his daughter (right) Poone Shoureshi.
“We are grateful for everyone who attended this wonderful evening in support of PSU Athletics. This cornerstone program teaches teamwork and discipline — the building blocks for success in work and in life,” said PSU President Rahmat Shoureshi.
The Big Sky Conference’s two best freshman, both earning Freshman Player’s of the Year accolades, Holland “Booboo” Woods of the men’s basketball team and Kylie Jimenez of the women’s basketball team thank attendees for their support and for their new arena.
“On behalf of our teams and our fellow student-athletes, thank you for believing in us, for investing in us, and for cheering for us,” said Woods. “This is our new home. And when we win our first game on this court next year, we know you’ll be right here by our side.”
Highlights from the event included an exciting live auction, with prizes including packages for wine tastings, an Italian villa, and a trip to the Country Music Awards, as well as a paddle raise to directly raise support for student scholarships.
The evening recognized the contributions of all those who came together to make the Viking Pavilion project possible, including Peter W. Stott, a member of the PSU Board of Trustees who was an early advocate for the renovation. Stott’s advocacy garnered additional support for the capital construction project, which was completed and opened in April 2018.
From PSU:
The success of the event is attributed, in part, to premiere event sponsors, Jeff Eulberg and Joe Wiser of Evergreen Gavekal. Extra special thanks to event sponsors Peter and Julie Stott Foundation, Burns Brothers, Stewart Sokol & Larkin, Key Event Services and Les Schwab, and the many others who came together in support of Portland State Athletics.
About the Viking Pavilion:
The Viking Pavilion at the Peter W. Stott Center is the new home of Portland State Athletics Program. The 3,000-seat arena will host Big Sky Championship basketball and volleyball games. The facility also offers a new weight room, locker rooms, classrooms, academic center and administrative offices as well as the new OHSU Sports Medicine Center. A new Viking Athletics Hall of Fame display will open this coming fall. The $52.1 million renovation was designed by Woofter Architects and Perkins+Will, and completed by Fortis Construction.
For more information: https://www.pdx.edu/conferences/viking-pavilion-at-the-peter-w-stott-center
Portland, OR. Nearly 300 donors and community leaders joined scientists from OHSU, and around the world, to celebrate the launch of a collaboration between the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute and the British-based charity, Cancer Research UK. Jay Leno hosted the panel discussion featuring prominent leaders in the international fight against cancer. The event at the Sentinel Hotel preceded the three-day Sondland-Durant Early Detection of Cancer Conference presented by the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute and Cancer Research UK.
Sir Harpal Kumar, chief executive officer, Cancer Research UK; Brian Druker, M.D., director, OHSU Knight Cancer Institute; panel discussion moderator Jay Leno
Gordon Sondland, CEO of Provenance Hotels, and Katy Durant, managing partner of Atlas Investments (Gordon and Katy are founders of the Gordon D. Sondland & Katherine J. Durant Foundation); Mavis and Jay Leno
Portland mayor-elect Ted Wheeler; Brian Druker, M.D., director, OHSU Knight Cancer Institute; Travis Knight, president and CEO, LAIKA
The June 21st event was a kick-off for the “Reimagine Hope” conference.
From the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute:
The OHSU Knight Cancer Institute is an international leader in cancer research and personalized cancer treatment. The director, Brian Druker, M.D., helped usher in the era of personalized cancer medicine with his discovery that cancer cells could be shut down by disabling the molecules that drive their growth without harming healthy cells. The drug that resulted from that research, Gleevec®, revolutionized how cancer is treated. It also inspired a new wave of exploration of treatments that target cancer-causing molecules.
Ending cancer as we know it –
With the mission of ending cancer as we know it, the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute continues to build its scientific and clinical leadership and cancer treatment resources. Public support and private philanthropy – including a transformative $100 million gift from Nike Chairman Phil Knight and his wife Penny in 2008 – have provided crucial resources to advance our progress.
Most recently, Dr. Druker’s plans to advance the early detection of cancer beyond methods used today, so that it’s possible to catch and treat the biological triggers of the disease, inspired Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife, Penny, to pledge a $500 million donationto Knight Cancer if OHSU raised an additional $500 million as part of a two-year fundraising campaign. Thousands of donors from across the country and around the globe stepped up to the Knight Cancer Challenge, and OHSU announced the completion of the challenge on June 25, 2015. Read about our progress and learn more at onwardohsu.org.
Portland, January 15th, 2013. Organizers had to turn away people at the door during Oregon Film & Television’s Annual Meeting. Filmmaker Gus Van Sant, Gordon Sondland, chairman of the Governor’s Office of Film and Television and Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber exchanged pleasantries before the meeting. The event at Portland State University’s Lincoln Hall included news about the future of Oregon’s Film, Television, and Digital Media industry.
Governor Kitzhaber presented Film Advocate Awards to Catherine Comer and Jamie Johnk from Clackamas County Business and Economic Development.
Catherine Comer, (Business & Economic Development Manager) and Jamie Johnk (Economic Development Coordinator) were honored because they represent a “best case” example of the cooperation between the needs of the film and media production industry and the community at large. Often the needs of production temporarily inconvenience the public, but instead of seeing these instances as having a negative impact, Catherine and Jamie see them as opportunities. They understand that to facilitate production is to bring revenue and economic development to their county.
Additionally, organizers explained that storytelling has always been a part of Oregon’s DNA. We have great novelists, great song-writers, and great filmmakers. We also have great innovative storytellers. One such group of innovative storytellers is Second Story Interactive Studios. Founded in 1994 by Julie Beeler and Brad Johnson, Second Story is thought of as one of the leaders in the interactive industry, collecting over 400 awards and accolades.
Governor Kitzhaber presented the Award for Innovation in Media Arts to Second Story Interactive Studios’s Julie Beeler and Brad Johnson (photo: Frank DiMarco)
Guests at the GOFT Annual Meeting participate in an interactive display by Second Story (photo: Frank DiMarco)
Governor Kitzhaber presents the Film Advocate Award to Derrick Roberson, Sergeant Erin Smith and Sergeant Peter Simpson (photo: Frank DiMarco)
Derrick Roberson, the Recreation Coordinator for Portland Parks and Recreation, operates as a communication liaison between Location Managers and the Portland Parks and Rec. staff. Sergeant Erin Smith, Traffic Division Motor Sergeant for the Portland Police Bureau, ensures streamlined bookings of officers, motorcycles and cars when film crews need them on set.Sergeant Peter Simpson, Public Information Office for the Portland Police Bureau, helps when productions need PPB permissions or assets, for example whenever “Grimm” needs to use old Portland Police uniforms or the likeness of PPB vehicles for the show. (Pete also does the occasional guest appearance.)
Supporters were told the Oregon Film and TV industry is strong and growing.
Carrie Brownstein talked about ”Portlandia” (IFC – Season 3).
Board Member and Screenwriter Cynthia Whitcomb
Here’s a video of the meeting.
Part of the mission of the organization is to lobby for incentive money for filmmakers. The Northwest Economic Research Center at PSU drafted a report about the Economic Impact Analysis for the Oregon Governor’s Office of Film and Television. It found Since 2007, the Portland Metropolitan Area has seen a 24% increase in film and video production jobs. “While the industry appears to be healthy and growing (especially in Portland Metro), it is important to measure this success against the incentives needed to attract out-of-state productions. In 2011, the total amount used for all incentive programs was $11,824,973. The incentive funds come from the sale of tax credits and the return of some withheld income. The employment returns for the program are strong, but the tax revenue raised through increased activity did not fully fund the program.” Here’s a link:
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