Portland, OR. The Junior League of Portland celebrated women leaders at its Annual Luncheon at the Portland Golf Club after 2 years of being canceled due to the pandemic. The nonprofit organization gathered generations of women leaders to honor the significant achievements of honorees; Jillian De Garmo 2022, Julie Branford 2020 and Kaycee Wiita 2021. Above, Judy Jorgensen, Sustainer Representative & Board Member, Jillian De Garmo, 2022 Sustainer of the Year, and Alex Johnson, 2022 Junior League President pose for a photo during the May 19th, luncheon.
The Junior League of Portland, Oregon is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.
Julie Branford, 2020 Sustainer of the Year, and Alex Johnson, 2022 Junior League President
Award winner for 2020, Julie Branford has been with the Junior League since 1977. Julie Branford is a trailblazer and has been pushing the envelope. As a working professional during her time as an active, when most women in the League did not pursue work outside of the home, she successfully challenged the Junior League of Seattle’s rule that members were required to move to Sustainer status when they turned 40. Outside the League, she has received numerous accolades for her service to several community organizations. One of Julie’s main volunteer activities includes being a Past President and board member of the BRAINet (Brain Research Awareness and Information Network), a community outreach group for the neuroscience department at OHSU. She has sat on the Board of Trustees for Willamette University for 13 years, earning the title of Life Trustee Emeritus. Her board experience includes being Alumni Association President for two years, the Alumni Association President for Cleveland High School, and receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award Committee Chair award for her outstanding service and commitment. Julie has also held several leadership positions with the Multnomah Athletic Club, including Membership Committee and Human Resources Committee for the Board, the Communities Committee, and House Committee. She was President of the Canyon Creek Homeowners Association for four years and has sat on the Governance Committee for Nordic Northwest. Recently Julie has been involved with the ARCS Foundation (Advancing Science in America). Oregon Chapter and is their current President.
Kaycee Wiita, 2021 Sustainer of the Year and Alex Johnson, 2022 Junior League President
Award winner for 2021, Kaycee Wiita has been a dedicated member of the Junior League since 1988. She has served on numerous committees within both the Junior League of Orange County and Portland. She has served as the JLP President from 2003-2004 as well as Treasurer and the Nominating Chair. She has also taken on leadership roles as the At-Large Director and Area VI Director for the Association of Junior Leagues International. Kaycee served on the board of directors of the Association of Junior Leagues International (New York, NY) where she served on the Linkage and the Advancement Committees. As one of her peers stated; “She has been an outstanding member of the community doing exceptional volunteer work to benefit immeasurable numbers of people. She has always been willing to step forward to lend her exceptional skills and talents.
Jillian De Garmo, Judy Jorgensen, Kaycee Wiita, Julie Branford and Alex Johnson
A few of the honorable mentions regarding the leadership attributes of the honorees: Award winner for 2022, Jillian De Garmo has been a dedicated member of the Junior League of Portland, having served as the President in 2002-03, a Chair of the Sustainer Engagement Committee in 2017-2018, and the Sustainer Representative to the Board from 2019-2021. As one of Jill’s many nominators stated, “For over 20 years Jill’s wisdom and continuity have been instrumental in moving JLP forward to be a viable and modern organization that trains women to be leaders in the community while addressing pressing community needs.”
From Junior League of Portland:
A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT
Since our founding in 1910, the members of the Junior League of Portland have been developing programs and partnering with organizations in the area to improve our community. Our mission is to promote voluntarism, develop the potential of women, and improve the community through effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. The Junior League is a women’s organization for leadership and volunteerism. It is a place to find like-minded women who value making a positive difference in the community, serving their community, and developing their leadership skills.
Junior League of Portland is the fourth oldest League in the Association of Junior Leagues International and the first on the west coast. Through our 110 years, several of Portland’s nonprofit programs and agencies that have improved the well-being of women, children, and families in the Portland community can attribute their roots to the Junior League of Portland. Some of our accomplishments are programs and services such as Kids on the Block, establishing Race for the Cure in Portland, and launching the “Between the Lines” program.
Our members are passionately committed to our community and are accomplished leaders who have used their Junior League training to develop programs, serve on nonprofit boards, serve in public office, and enhance their leadership skills related to their professional work.
Our current focus is Ending the Cycle of Violence Against Women and Children. We regularly review our focus to be sure we are helping to close the gap on unmet or underserved needs in our community. We are in the process of a full assessment of our Portland community to be sure we are active in serving the current needs of our community.
The Junior League of Portland welcomes all women who work to make a difference in their community through volunteering and activism. If impacting your community in a positive way and developing or refining your leadership skills while having fun with remarkable women interests you, the Junior League of Portland may be the volunteer organization for you!
The work of the Junior League of Portland could not be accomplished without the support of our partner organizations, generous donors, passionate advocates, and friends. Thank you for choosing to support the Junior League of Portland and joining us as we continue to improve our wonderful community.
Portland, OR. Receiving the keys to a home you helped build is a dream come true for families who participate in the Habitat for Humanity program. The ‘Hard Hat & Black Tie’ virtual benefit on September 17th raised over $405,000 to further the mission of the nonprofit. It works alongside families to, “instill the core values of self-reliance, stability, and strength. With the help of our local community and through sweat equity, families can have a safe and comfortable place to call home.”
Organizers planned what they described as an inspirational evening to hear stories from the community, “and learn how we can be a part of building strength, stability, and independence through affordable homeownership.”
Habitat for Humanity volunteers help first-time homeowners with landscaping, gardening, building projects, clean-up, painting and assembling flat-packed furniture, and more.
Here’s a video about the program:
From Habitat for Humanity:
At Habitat for Humanity, we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, and that starts with a stable and healthy place to call home. Founded in 1981, we have built and repaired homes in partnership with over 1,700 people right here in the Portland Metro region. With plans to triple the number of people we serve every year, we are invested in creating a Portland where everyone has the opportunity to build a better life.
Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East is a part of a global nonprofit housing organization that works in communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in 70 countries.
Our Vision: A world where everyone has a decent place to live.
Lake Oswego, OR. The Lake Oswego Art Council‘s public gallery is reopening to the public on February 23rd. There’s a new exhibition features photographs from four photographers called “Visions of 4.” The photo seen above is in the exhibit. It’s called Cape Kiwanda by John Lesch. The work of Reagan Ramsey, Richard Blakeslee, Kevin Felts are also featured. Organizers have are following precautions to keep the staff, volunteers, and the public safe. Face masks will be required, hand sanitizer will be available, social distancing will be enforced, and all areas will be cleaned and sanitized between visits.
This exhibit is on view through April 2nd. Each artist’s work represents their varied and multifaceted cultural background with their personal ethos, immersion, and passion driving their art. The gallery will kick off the exhibit with a “Virtual Opening Reception & Artist Talk” on February 26 (5-6 PM). Here’s the zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83687099581?pwd=OHhsRGJRdE5aSUM5Vys5OXYveG9EZz09
The exhibit is at the ARTspace Gallery (41 B Avenue, Lake Oswego) with visiting hours from 10 AM to 5 PM.
Old Barn Hurricane, NE Oregon (Kevin Felts)
Graffiti a la Pollock, Portland, OR (Richard Blakeslee)
About the Arts Council of Lake Oswego:
Works to ensure the arts are an integral part of life in our community now and into the future with the purpose of placement and preservation of public art in Lake Oswego, providing access to art exhibitions for residents and visitors, and advance the lifelong learning about the arts through educational programs and docent tours.
Portland, OR. The Portland Book Festival will look different than the picture above this year. Book Lovers won’t be crowding in to hear from noted authors as in the past. The literary staple of the Pacific Northwest since 2005 is changing its long-standing event from in-person to entirely online. This news comes in the wake of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic that has essentially curbed all social events and gatherings for the foreseeable future. Rather than canceling the annual festival scheduled for November, event organizers at Literary Arts say they want to continue community outreach during a time when people need it the most.
In years past, Portland Book Festival focuses on bringing families and the community together by offering their events for free and across many platforms.
Perhaps the most important change that Literary Arts has offered is to make the festival almost entirely free this year. This change comes during a time when many individuals may be uncertain about their financial stability and may not have been able to afford the previous cover charge for the event. Andrew Proctor, Executive Director of Literary Arts, says that this decision was made in order to better support the community during a national pandemic
Author readings will be viewable both live and backlogged for the attendee’s convenience.
Alongside the change in format, the festival will also be held across a fifteen-day span (Nov. 5-21) rather than staying as a single-day event. For this year’s attendees, that means that every seminar, class, and author reading can be accessed over the two week period, and often at their own leisure. It also means that the event becomes more accessible to everyone living here in Portland or anywhere else in the world. With formats ranging from podcasts, online blogs, and live streaming events, participants will have a range of options to suit their needs and limitations during these unprecedented times.
While things like book signings may not be available this year, online formats will still allow for attendees to interact with the festival’s many artists.
From Literary Arts:
To find out more about the upcoming 2020 Portland Book Festival, check out the Literary Arts website page on the event here. If you’d like to support a great organization, you can donate here.
Portland, OR. “JDRF is the world’s largest nonprofit funder of type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Our focus is on finding a cure; until we do, the advancements we’re making every day ease the burden of those living with the disease.” That’s the message the JDRF of Oregon/SW Washington wants you to hear. It offers many programs to support the community, like youth art groups for kids with T1D.
Summer Art Group is just one of the offerings of the local nonprofit, others include advocacy, outreach and research advancements.
JDRF has been leading the charge against diabetes for 25 years and leaders want you to be a part of their anniversary celebration. There are many ways to become involved and contribute to JDRF of Oregon/SW Washington. One is to support JDRF’s ticket sales for the VIP Sneak Peek at the Portland Auto Show on February 19th, 2020 at the Oregon Convention Center. You’ll see 600 of the best production, exotic and concept vehicles 2020 has to offer. $100 of your $125 ticket will benefit JDFR.
Last February many JDRF supporters took advantage of the Charity VIP event. They were among the first to attend the Portland International Auto Show, minus the crowds. JDRF is one of the 8 Charities who benefited.
The annual JDRF Hope Gala is another way to celebrate and support the nonprofit.
Here’s information about the 2020 Hope Gala: On April 25th, 2020 the annual JDRF Hope Gala will bring together over 500 passionate community leaders and T1D leaders at the Sentinel Hotel to reflect on the past 25 years and to raise much-needed funding for fulfill JDRF’s mission of improving lives today and tomorrow by accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat type 1 diabetes and its complications. Click here for more information about the event.
JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Our strength lies in our exclusive focus and singular influence on the worldwide effort to end T1D.
Vision: A world without type 1 diabetes
Mission: Improving lives today and tomorrow by accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications
Why we fight type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that strikes both children and adults suddenly. It has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle. There is nothing you can do to prevent it. And, at present, there is no cure.
In T1D, your pancreas stops producing insulin—a hormone the body needs to get energy from food. This means a process your body does naturally and automatically becomes something that now requires your daily attention and manual intervention. If you have T1D, you must constantly monitor your blood-sugar level, inject or infuse insulin through a pump, and carefully balance these insulin doses with your eating and activity throughout the day and night.
However, insulin is not a cure for diabetes. Even with the most vigilant disease management, a significant portion of your day will be spent with either high or low blood sugar levels. These fluctuations place people with T1D at risk for potentially life-threatening hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic episodes as well as devastating long-term complications such as kidney failure, heart attack, stroke, blindness, and amputation. Learn more about T1D.
JDRF wants a world without T1D
JDRF works every day to change the reality of this disease for millions of people—and to prevent anyone else from ever knowing it—by funding research, advocating for government support of research and new therapies, ensuring new therapies come to market and connecting and engaging the T1D community. Founded by parents determined to find a cure for their children with T1D, JDRF expanded through grassroots fundraising and advocacy efforts to become a powerhouse in the scientific community with dozens of U.S. locations and six international affiliates. We’ve funded more than $2 billion in research to date and made significant progress in understanding and fighting the disease. We must keep up the pace of funding so progress doesn’t slow or stop entirely.
You’re the reason for our success.
Every dollar we put toward research comes from donations. So when you support JDRF with your time, talent, voice and, yes, your money, you enable us to advance even more research.
There are many ways to join the JDRF family, but for 47 years there has been only one reason—because we are the organization that will turn Type One into Type None.
We have some of the best ratings for an organization focused on a single disease from charity watchdog groups and media. In 2012, Forbes named JDRF one of its five “All-Star” charities, based on its evaluation of our financial efficiency.
What’s in a name? A bit of “JDRF” history
JDRF has led the search for a cure for T1D since our founding in 1970. In those days, people commonly called the disease “juvenile diabetes” because it was frequently diagnosed in, and strongly associated with, young children. Our organization began as the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. Later, to emphasize exactly how we planned to end the disease, we added a word and became the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Today, we know an equal number of children and adults are diagnosed every day—approximately 110 people per day. Thanks to better therapies—which JDRF funding has been instrumental in developing and making available—people with T1D live longer and stay healthier while they await the cure. So a few years ago, we changed our name to JDRF:
To remove the misconception that T1D is only a childhood disease
To acknowledge that nearly 85 percent of people living with the disease are over age 18
To reinforce our commitment to funding research that improves life for people of all ages and all stages of the disease
*This informational feature story is a sponsored story from Portland Society Page.
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Since our founding in 1910, the members of the Junior League of Portland have been developing programs and partnering with organizations in the area to improve our community. Our mission is to promote voluntarism, develop the potential of women, and improve the community through effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. The Junior League is a women’s organization for leadership and volunteerism. It is a place to find like-minded women who value making a positive difference in the community, serving their community, and developing their leadership skills. 
