Portland, February 23rd, 2013. Over 300 guests were, “Puttin’ on the Ritz” to support the Northwest Academy’s scholarship fund. Attendees enjoyed student performances throughout the evening, including the “shoe shine kids” who perform brief dance routines followed by a real shoeshine. The Jumptown Jazz Club benefit at the Portland Art Museum included hits like “Minnie the Moocher” and “Fascinating Rhythm.” (Photo Credit, Andie Petkus)
Jeff and Annette Johnson (Northwest Academy parents)
Guests bid on silent and live auction items, including a McKenzie River Fishing Excursions, a Private Dinner at Silk and a Jackson Hole Getaway. The evening raised over $97,000 in support of the Northwest Academy Scholarship Fund. One in four students at Northwest Academy receives financial aid to attend the college preparatory middle and high school located in downtown Portland.
Jumptown Jazz Emcees
Tom Manley, Pacific Northwest College of Art and Susanne Hashim (Northwest Academy Board of Trustees)
Mark Stevenson (Sponsor, Capital Pacific Bank) with Jilma Meneses (Northwest Academy Trustee and Alumni Parent) and her husband Nathan Reynolds
Molly Meier (NWA ’15) and Betsy Meier (Club Cabaret Chair)
Mary Vinton Folberg, Northwest Academy Head of School
Rajko and Vesna Kostur are in the mood for a Speakeasy at Club Cabaret’s Jumptown Jazz Club.
Molly Meier (Northwest Academy Class of ’15)
From Northwest Academy:
Northwest Academy is an independent school, grades 6 through 12, committed to education through academics and the arts. Founded in 1997 by Mary Vinton Folberg, Northwest Academy offers rigorous academic and arts programs that emphasize and value creative thinking, individual choice, and self-discipline. Classes are taught by master teachers and professionals active in their fields – from dance and the arts to the humanities and sciences. Northwest Academy prepares students for the demands of the twenty-first century through a strong focus on independent thought and problem solving combined with an emphasis on new approaches to contemporary issues. Northwest Academy is located at 1130 SW Main Street, Portland, Oregon 97205; 503-223-3367. For more information, please visit www.nwacademy.org. Follow us on Facebook at Northwest Academy.
Portland, February 15th, 2013. Spotlight on Kerr: Rock Around the Clock drew 317 people to the LeftBank Annex for a retro good time. The benefit raised $188,611 for the services Albertina Kerr provides to strengthen Oregon families by helping children and adults with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges. (Photo Credit, Andie Petkus)
The Blue’s Brothers, Chuck Sauvain, Tony Seashore, Ollie Collins, Peter Nielsen, Bill Ashenden, did their own special performance – in true Jake and Elwood Blues form!
The co-chairs were Kim Borton, Traci Richardson and Kirsten Chambers
Peter Nielsen and Bill Ashenden
Denise Smith, and Albertina Kerr board member Rich Smith of Kaiser Permanente Northwest at the Rock Around the Clock at Albertina Kerr’s Spotlight on Kerr Gala (Photo credit, Paparazzi Tonight)
Albertina Kerr governing board chair Priscilla Lewis of Providence Health and Services with board members Angela Hult of Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon and Celia Murphy
Bev and Bill Ashenden
The silent auction featured a host of hot items.
Erik Pierce from Paparazzi Tonight was snapping photos.
The gala raised funds for services benefiting children and support for their families.
From Albertina Kerr:
Our Mission Albertina Kerr partners with the community to support people with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges to lead self determined lives and realize their full potential.
Our Vision All children and adults with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges will thrive in nurturing homes and inclusive communities.
It is our goal that Albertina Kerr’s services will create a community where all children, adults and families facing mental health challenges and developmental disabilities:
Live rich and meaningful lives in their communities.
Have a sense of identity and learn successfully.
Are supported in connecting with their biological families and live with biological families whenever possible.
Enjoy the same educational opportunities as their peers.
Develop the capacity to earn a living wage.
Learn to live independently and in the least restrictive setting possible.
Have the choices to participate in the daily life activities of their non-disabled peers.
Have hopes, dreams, friends and the ability to shape their own futures.
Portland, February 13th, 2013. The Portland Children’s Museum is inviting supporters to step inside the pages of their favorite children’s books. A new interactive exhibit is transforming beloved stories like Peter Rabbit, Spot the Dog, and If You Give a Mouse a Cookie into 3-D literary adventures. STORYLAND A Trip Through Childhood Favorites runs Feb 9-May 5, 2013. The Portland Children’s Museum is located near the Oregon Zoo, just off Highway 26.
The kick-off party for Storyland at the Portland Children’s Museum featured a reading of “The Cat in the Hat!”
Brian Mitchell and Emma Mitchell enjoy a book together.
According to the Portland Children’s Museum, Storyland: A Trip Through Childhood Favorites is very much like a really great picture book. It has a strong storyline, reads well, and has vibrant, engaging images. It also shows the critical piece readers bring to books and stories to make them powerful and memorable.
STORYLAND A Trip Through Childhood Favorites runs Feb 9-May 5, 2013
Here’s a bit of history about the Portland Children’s Museum:
The Museum opened as the “Junior Museum and Adventure House,” and programs included natural history displays, arts and crafts classes, and a pet lending library! As research on children’s early learning expanded in the 1970s, the Museum’s focus shifted to one of hands-on, experience-based learning. Though much has changed, arts and crafts like those taught in the 1940s continue to delight children and families today.
The Downtown Portland Rotary spearheaded a capital campaign that raised $10 million to move the Museum to Washington Park in 2001. This successful effort led to the renovation of the old OMSI building, a space five times the size of the former Lair Hill location. With the help from Rotary and a successful partnership with Portland Parks and Recreation that continues today, the new facility endowed the Museum with accessible program areas, space for a café and store, and a large amount of new exhibit space, a traveling exhibit hall and performance areas. At the same time, the Museum became officially incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Since the move, the Museum has hosted over 1.6 million visitors from across the country and the world, is home to Opal Public Charter and Museum School, and has become a regional resource for early childhood development. Within the Museum Center for Learning, educators are studying the needs of young children and the kinds of environments and approaches to teaching that inspire children to grow and learn.
Portland, February 12th, 2013. The Baghdad Theater echoed with mortifying memories for the 4th annual Valentine’s benefit: “It’s Not Me, It’s You: Stories from the Dark Side of Dating!” Jimmy Radosta (center) hosted storytellers sharing about their worst dates: Clockwise from left, Meagan Kate, Meredith Shield, Lori Ferraro, Arianne Cohen, Michael Heald, B. Frayn Masters, Ted Douglass and Erin Ergenbright. (Photo credit, Andie Petkus.)
Attendees purchased “Love Boxes” containing mystery gifts donated by local businesses to support Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon. Photo by Andie Petkus.
“It’s Not Me, It’s You” drew hundreds of supporters of reproductive rights. Photo by Andie Petkus.
Bagdad Theater has served as the home for “It’s Not Me, It’s You” since 2010. Photo by Andie Petkus.
About Planned Parenthood Advocates
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon is an independent, non-partisan, not-for-profit organization formed as the political arm of Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon engages in educational and electoral activity including public education campaigns, grassroots organizing, and legislative advocacy.
In 2002, we formed Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon, which is a statewide, non-partisan political action committee that supports pro-choice, pro-family planning candidates for office. ChoiceAdvocates.org
Portland, February 9th, 2013. A capacity crowd of more than 300 supporters turned out for the SnowCap Community Charities 11th annual Valentine’s benefit. Solen and Jeremy Wilebski considered a game of Texas Hold ‘Em against past auction chair Tom Weldon, but folded. (Photo credit, LeeAnn Gauthier) Supporters donated a record $94,000 to help SnowCap provide food boxes to 8,000 needy people, per-month, in east Multnomah County. The need for assistance has doubled over the past few years.
Kirsten Wageman coordinated SnowCap’s event and thanked volunteer cashiers Debra Robertson and Rhonda Rowan. (Photo credit, LeeAnn Gauthier)
SnowCap Executive Director Judy Alley attributed the boost over 2012’s $63,000 to a $10 increase in ticket prices and, “an incredibly generous donation from Old Chicago Restaurants’ CraftWorks Foundation of $15,500.” Alley explained, “We were seeking $15,000 to pour new foundation slabs for the warehouse expansion and we received sufficient funds to get that project started right away.” She also credited a final donation of $1,600 from longtime SnowCap supporter Alyson Huntting. SnowCap is expanding its warehouse to meet increased food box demand from needy individuals and families in the east Portland area. Communities served by SnowCap include Gresham, Troutdale, Wood Village, Fairview and Parkrose.
Business partners like Vestas Americas make soup kits, candy bags for stocking stuffers, and raised $1600 dollars for Snowcap over the holidays.
“Our numbers grew during the recession from 4,000 served each month to more than 8,000 currently,” Alley adds. SnowCap provides a food pantry services at its location at S.E. Stark Street and 178th, and through a mobile food pantry that meets food needs at schools and low income apartment complexes. In addition, SnowCap provides heating assistance, a clothes closet and a community garden for low income people living in East County.
Major sponsors of the annual SnowCap fundraising event include Pacific Power, Alyson Huntting (cq), Portland General Electric, On Point Community Credit Union, Parkrose Community United Church of Christ, and Covenant Presbyterian Church. Auctioneer JillMarie Wiles sold vacations, classes, restaurant dining, private dinner parties, golf outings and fishing trips at the Holiday Inn Portland-Airport event.
“We are thankful the community has stepped up to support needy families in this serious economic downturn,” Alleys says. “Many people are struggling with unemployment and underemployment. Many are finding their low wage jobs are not sufficient to feed a hungry family. New requests for assistance are made every day.”
Here’s more information about the history of SnowCap:
In the mid 1960’s, the basic life needs of many in East Multnomah County were not being met by any agency or organization. About 25 area churches stepped in to help fill the void felt by so many residents. SnowCap — Suburban Neighborhoods Operation Witness Community Action Program — was born on January 16, 1967.
The purpose of SnowCap was to discover the real needs in the area, communicate them, and assist residents, church and community leaders to meet those needs individually and cooperatively. The organization adopted a philosophy that “SnowCap will cross lines of race, religion, national origin, and economic status, hoping to coordinate and act as a barometer, correcting conditions which call for improvement.”
The area covered by SnowCap was bounded by East 82nd Street, the Columbia River, and the Clackamas County line — including Troutdale, Fairview, and Wood Village.
Originally three centers were set up. Rev. Wendall Jacobsen, pastor of Epiphany Lutheran was overall coordinator. SnowCap — the church-community action program of the Greater Portland Council of Churches — was born.
The three centers merged in 1968 and headquartered at Savage Memorial Presbyterian. SnowCap was run entirely by volunteers until 1969 when Sister Gemma Kennedy was voted in as full-time director. She was released indefinitely from her teaching assignment with the Franciscan Order, and served until 1979 when Jenny Steward became Director.
In 1977 SnowCap had opened a Gresham office located at Trinity Lutheran which provided only food and informational/referral services.
By 1980 there were 39 actively participating churches. SnowCap gave away $86,400 worth of food and fed 12,350 people. Doug Rogers became Director in 1981.
By 1983 SnowCap was serving 36,000 people. Requests for help increased 155% over 1981, the last “normal” year on record.
In 1987 SnowCap celebrated its 20th anniversary, had 145 volunteers, one-full-time worker and 7 part-time workers.
In 1991 Judy Alley became Director. SnowCap’s budget of approximately $200,000 included two full-time staff members and three workers on token stipends. 200 volunteers worked for SnowCap. Over 58,000 people were fed and half of those were children.
On SnowCap’s 25th anniversary in 1992, more than one-half million people had been served by SnowCap.
By the 40th Anniversary 1.4 million people had been served. SnowCap had a staff of 7 and a budget of $500,000. New programs included English language instruction, community gardens, and home delivered food boxes for seniors.
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