Portland, March 7th, 2015. The 31st Annual Classic Wines Auction (CWA) raised almost $3.2 million for charities in Portland and southwest Washington. Former New England Patriots Quarterback and Proprietor of Doubleback Winery, Drew Bledsoe, was bidding during the live auction. More than 875 people attended the event at the Oregon Convention Center. Fundraising from this year’s auction, and related events, benefit five charity partners dedicated to helping youth and families in the metro area: Metropolitan Family Service, New Avenues for Youth, Friends of the Children-Portland, YWCA Clark County and Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel.
Roger Hinshaw with Classic Wines Auction Main Sponsor, Bank of America, enjoys the evening with his wife Margaret and fellow Auction guest, Starla Goff
Speakers representing Classic Wines Auction charity partners, Metropolitan Family Service (MFS), New Avenues for Youth, Friends of the Children, YWCA Clark County and Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel pose in front of the BMW i8 before taking the stage
Chris Hermann, Classic Wines Auction Board Chair, is congratulated after placing the top bid for the highly coveted 2015 BMW i8 hybrid sports car
Auction guest Joe Aholt celebrates after an exhilarating live auction battle to win the second BMW i8. Thanks to presenting sponsor Kuni Automotive, two BMW i8 cars were auctioned off
Classic Wines Auction Executive Director Heather Martin (far left), poses with the 2015 Auction Co-Chairs (left to right) DJ Wilson, Peggy Maguire and Greg Goodwin
Auction guests toasted to another successful year and helped raise nearly $3.2 million to benefit children and families
The 2015 Classic Wines Auction Honorary Wine Ambassadors (left to right), Tony LeBlanc from Silver Oak (Calif.), Chris Mazepink from Archery Summit (Ore.), Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta from Sassicaia (Italy), and Drew Bledsoe from Doubleback Winery (Wash.)
Auction guests enjoyed wine tastings from more than 50 producers during the tasting reception, as well as chef presentations from six guest chefs representing some of Portland’s top restaurants
“With support from our incredible sponsors, donors, charity partners, winemakers and volunteers, we are able to significantly impact the lives of over 82,000 children and families in our community who are in need,” said CWA Executive Director Heather Martin.
Auction fundraising totals were announced on the heels of Wine Spectator releasing its annual list of the Top 10 Charity Wine Auctions in the country. The prestigious list is made up of major auctions from around the country, including events in Napa Valley and Sonoma.
“We are delighted to be recognized by Wine Spectator as one of the top ten charity wine auctions in the country. It’s a tribute to the generosity of our supporters and the importance of our fundraising efforts,” Martin added.
A wide range of packages, vintage wines and international excursions were auctioned off during the course of the evening. Following in the footsteps of the previous year, Kuni Automotive and Kuni BMW again donated two BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports cars. Two bidders in Portland each paid $160,000 for the cars, raising $320,000.
Other auction items included a luxury trip to Tuscany; wine tasting tours in France and Germany; trips to Pebble Beach, Calif., Whitefish, Mo., and the U.S. Open; and a heli-skiing vacation in the Canadian Rockies, among other packages.
Next year’s auction is scheduled for Saturday, March 5, 2016.
About Classic Wines Auction:
Consistently recognized as one of the top ten charity wine auctions in the country by Wine Spectator, the Classic Wines Auction has raised more than $36 million for Portland-area charities since its inception in 1982. Based in Portland, Ore., First Growth Children and Family Charities is a nonprofit organization dedicated to producing the Classic Wines Auction and related food and wine events to raise funds for local charities benefiting children and families, including: Metropolitan Family Service (MFS), New Avenues for Youth, Friends of the Children-Portland, YWCA Clark County and Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel. For more information about the Classic Wines Auction and each of its annual fundraising events, visit www.classicwinesauction.com.
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:
Portland, July 2nd. The Classic Wines Auction, Inc. handed out 1.7 million dollars to four worthy local nonprofits. Classic Wine Auction (CWA), presented by Bank of America and US Trust, delivered a check for $455,000 to Metropolitan Family Services (MFS) . The donation will help MFS continue to service 37,000 low-income individuals and families. Pictured (from right to left) are: George Hosfield, CWA Board Member; Karen Hinsdale, CWA Board Member; Eva Kripalani, MFS Board Vice Chair; Jim Fitzhenry, CWA Board Member; Keith Barnes, CWA Board Member; Krista Larson, MFS Executive Director; and Heather Martin, CWA Executive Director.
Metropolitan Family Service is the original auction beneficiary and remains highly involved with CWA to this day. “With the support of the community, the Classic Wines Auction has been able to help four charities serve roughly 44,000 children and families annually in Oregon and southwest Washington,” said Roger Hinshaw, Bank of America President of Oregon & Southwest Washington. “I am so honored to be part of an organization that gives back to such deserving charities as Metropolitan Family Services.”
Brian Rice (New Avenue’s Board President and KeyBank District President), and Roger Hinshaw (CWA Board Member and Bank of America president of Oregon & Southwest Washington) display the over-sized check of $505,000 presented to New Avenues for Youth from the Classic Wines Auction.
The Classic Wines Auction, Inc. delivered a check for $505,000 to New Avenues for Youth. The amount reflected the second largest disbursement New Avenues has received from CWA in more than eight years. New Avenues is a Portland-based nonprofit that prevents and intervenes in youth homelessness.
Heather Martin (Classic Wines Auction Executive Director),Terri Sorensen (Friends of the Children Executive Director) and Ken Thrasher (FOTC Board Chair) display the donation from the Classic Wines Auction.
The Classic Wines Auction, Inc. delivered a check for $390,000 to Friends of the Children, representing the largest distribution from CWA to FOTC since 2008. Friends of the Children is a Portland-based nonprofit that provides vulnerable children a nurturing and sustained relationship with a professional mentor who teaches positive values and has attainable expectations for each child to become healthy, productive members of the community.
The donation to YWCA Clark County from the Classic Wines Auction (CWA) is proudly displayed (from right to left) by: Paul Vogel, CWA Board Member (Pacific Power); DJ Wilson, CWA Board Member (KGW Media Group); Heather Martin, CWA Executive Director; Sherri Bennet, YWCA Clark County Executive Director; and Kelly Walsh, YWCA Clark County Board President (Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt)
The Classic Wines Auction, Inc. delivered a check for $350,000 to YWCA Clark County on June 27, 2012. The donation amount represents roughly fifty percent of YWCA Clark County’s philanthropic-related income for the year.
The majority of the funds given out were raised during the annual Classic Wines Auction fundraising gala this March. As one of the largest fundraisers in Oregon, CWA is dedicated to producing premiere food and wine events to raise funds for local charities.
CWA partners with organizations with the following characteristics: mission compatibility, effective organizational management, sound financial practices, board-led fundraising, sustainability and a solid volunteer network.
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