“Hope Reigns” is Theme for 2021 Portland Rose Festival

“Hope Reigns” is Theme for 2021 Portland Rose Festival

Portland, OR. Portland Rose Festival Foundation has elected Dave Todd (pictured with his grandson, Henry) as the new president for a two-year term. Todd is a retired Navy Captain (Reserve) and recently retired from a 33-year career as a university-level teacher. Todd plans on leading a group of board members into the new year of 2021 with the theme “Hope Reigns” for the Portland Rose Festival.

Todd shared his thoughts on the transition into the new year, “All of us feel a sense of loss as we look back on the year that spun out of control and changed our Festival so dramatically. Even so, those of us who work and volunteer for the Festival remain grateful that we are privileged to be a part of the world’s best Festival. The pay-forward for that privilege is we must do everything we can to make sure that the Festival does what it needs to do whenever people are able to return to it. We want the Festival always to be an escape, a celebration, and not a reminder of what was lost.”

“Hope Reigns” 2021 Portland Rose Festival Theme

Todd also served as a Rose Festival Director for 31 years where he worked on a wide variety of committees, held all but one of the Foundation’s elective offices, and chaired multiple committees including seven terms as Chair of the Fleet Committee.

The new year’s elected officers serving with Todd include:

  • President-Elect John O’Hanlon – Bank of America
  • Vice-President Contesa Diaz-Nicolaidis – Alaska Airlines
  • Secretary Dr. Thompson Faller – University of Portland (Retired)
  • Treasurer Bill Poppino – Corporate Airline Pilot
  • Assistant Treasurer Dayna Kirk – The Standard

The Festival board has also elected three new directors for 2021 including Steve Welch, a Senior Mortgage Banker with Guild Mortgage Company and member of the Rose Festival Clowns. Tragically on Jan. 3, 2021, Welch passed away due to a non- COVID illness.

Welch was well respected by the Rose Festival staff and volunteers not only for his wonderful antics as a member of the Festival’s clown family but as an incredibly warm and compassionate person.

The elected 2021 Directors include:

  • Tamara (Tam) Allison – Associate Financial Analyst at Portland General Electric
  • Steven Welch – Senior Mortgage Banker with Guild Mortgage Company (deceased)
  • Mary Abbott Young – Realtor with Coldwell Banker

Looking forward, Todd speaks on health and continuing the tradition of the Portland Rose Festival, “The health of our community and our friends around the world remains the most important thing. The Portland Rose Festival is here to stay. We continue to plan for a Rose Festival celebration when conditions allow.”

From Portland Rose Festival website: The Portland Rose Festival Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that serves families and individuals with programs and events that promote the arts, education, and volunteerism. We value environmental responsibility, diversity, patriotism, and our historic & floral heritage.

Portland Rose Festival Foundation Benefit Draws 289 Guests

Portland Rose Festival Foundation Benefit Draws 289 Guests

Portland, OR. The theme for the Portland Rose Festival’s annual fall fundraising event was “Cocktails & Roses.” The October 11th benefit raised $189,000 and was held at Montgomery Park’s center court before it closes for renovation under new ownership. Capital One Café’s Jhus Custodio, Sierra Harris, Antonio Montoya, Rick Blossom and Alex Hall enjoyed specialty cocktails during the Silent Auction. (Photo credit to Rich Jarvis and Mari Bunnage.)

2019 princesses Daria Stalions of Jefferson, Gabby Ferroggiaro of Madison and Toria Lopez of Tigard bring their royal charm to help raise funds for the festival foundation.

2018 Royal Rosarian Prime Minister Adam Baker, 2019 Rose Festival Board nominee Sgt.Paul Meyer and wife Mary Meyer.

Ben Sickenger and Marcia Randall enjoy time at the silent auction.

Rose Festival CEO Jeff Curtis shares a laugh with Ron and Beverly Burback of Funtastic Traveling Shows

Jermaine Atherton and wife Rose Festival President Teri Bowles-Atherton greet quests at the annual auction and dinner

Rose Festival Public Relations Manager Rich Jarvis and City Commissioner Amanda Fritz pose for a selfie during the silent auction.

From Portland Rose Festival Foundation:

The Portland Rose Festival Foundation organizes all of the events that are anticipated every year come springtime in Portland. The Rose Festival has many events that portray the diverse interests and communities in Portland. Some of The Rose Festival Foundation’s values include community leadership, volunteerism, patriotism, and environmentalism. Every year, girls from all different high schools in Portland can apply to be apart of the Rose Festival Court. The judges elect a lucky girl to be queen, and she is then crowned at the Queen’s Coronation in the spring. Events and programs like these encourage young girls to expand their leadership skills, reach their goals, and excel in both their school and community. Famous events such as the Grand Floral Parade, Starlight Parade, and the Junior Parade are just some of the events that bring the people of Portland together each year.

Here’s a video about the Rose Festival Court:

 

Part of Portland’s popular culture for more than a century, the Rose Festival has its roots in tradition while its programming is both contemporary and nostalgic. Foresighted city leaders started the festival during the first decade of the 20th Century in order to put Portland on the map and brand it the ‘summer capital of the world.’ Little did they know that more than a hundred summers later the Rose Festival would be world-famous for its amazing, award-winning events, as well as serving as a community leader for celebrating values like volunteerism, patriotism and environmentalism. In 2010, the Rose Festival was finally acknowledged as Portland’s Official Festival by proclamation of the Council. With dozens of events spotlighting the diverse interests and culture of the community, the Rose Festival makes a positive impact on hundreds of thousands of lives annually, bringing smiles to the faces of both locals and guests. Peruse this website to learn more about the festival’s three popular parades, its three-weekend urban fair packed with great entertainment, good food and fantastic features, and about the iconic Court made up of local high school women making goodwill visits all around the state. The Rose Festival makes Portland a better place to live and visit.

Portland Rose Festival Foundation Announces 2014 Leaders

Portland Rose Festival Foundation Announces 2014 Leaders

PORTLAND Ore.- At its annual fall meeting the Portland Rose Festival Foundation inducted four new board members, introduced the 2014 officers and handed out service awards at the World Trade Center Thursday evening in downtown Portland. The officers officially take their chairs November first at the beginning of the Festival’s calendar year. 

Board officers:

President – Todd Johnston, CEO, Selectron Technologies, Inc.

President Elect – Frank Chinn, retired

Vice President – Brett Baker, US Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management

Secretary- Arthur De Bow, Director of Exhibitions and Alumni Affairs Oregon College of Art and Craft

Treasurer – Peter Mack, President/CEO, Occuscreen

Assistant Treasurer – Sarah Friend, Employee Benefits Consultant, The Partners Group 

By unanimous vote the board welcomed four new members: 

Jimmy Drakos is President of Avalon Properties/Willamette Capital Group, a real estate development firm. A former tennis touring professional, Jimmy chose the Portland area for his home; he is still active in the tennis community, serving as Tennis Director at the Waverley Country Club. 

Richard Horswell is the Principal Creative Executive for Regency Media LLC. He has served on numerous boards and committees, including UO Foundation, SOLVE, the Old Church Society, the Portland Opera Guild, the Member Events Committee at the MAC Club and the University Club Board of Directors; he currently serves as President of the University Club Foundation. 

Karen Bonelli Sanquist is a seamstress in the Portland area. She has served on the Court Committee for several years, including using her seamstress skills to help with the Court wardrobe. 

Cheryl Zander is co-owner of Vaya Creative LLC, an artistic services company. She is a member of the Portland Business Alliance and a board member of CASA for Children, as well as a Cycle Oregon volunteer. 

The Rose Festival proudly recognizes those who have given so much to the Festival through their volunteerism and dedication: 

Volunteers of the Year:

Shari MacDonald – financial consultant

Rod Weick – Band Hosting program

 

Directors of the Year:

Liza McQuade

Contesa Diaz-Nicolaidis

 

Rookie of the Year:

Carla Stenberg

 

Lifetime Achievement Award:

Tony Hufford – 25 years of board service 

The Portland Rose Festival Foundation is a non-profit that serves families and individuals with programs and events that promote the arts, education and volunteerism. We value environmental responsibility, diversity, patriotism and our historic & floral heritage. For the latest Rose Festival news and events go to www.RoseFestival.org. 

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Rock ‘n’ Roses Dinner and Auction a Hit for Portland Rose Festival Foundation

Rock ‘n’ Roses Dinner and Auction a Hit for Portland Rose Festival Foundation

Portland, October 12th. The music was upbeat at Montgomery Park when 200 Portland Rose Festival Foundation supporters kicked up their heels and raised $70,000. Past Rose Festival Court Members helped out including: 2006 Queen Grace Neal, 2007 Queen Elizabeth Larson, 2004 Princess Breanna Probasco-Canda, 2008 Queen Marshawna Williams, 2010 Queen Victoria Dinu, 2001 Princess Sharitha McKenzie and 2010 Princess Lindsay Patino. (Photo credit, Brian Ross) Leslie Goodlow-Baldwin chaired the event.

K103's John Erickson and Bruce Murdock escort 2010 Rose Festival Queen Victoria Dinu to the stage to start off the 2012 Rock 'n' Roses Dinner and Auction.

K103’s John Erickson and Bruce Murdock escort 2010 Rose Festival Queen Victoria Dinu to the stage to start off the 2012 Rock ‘n’ Roses Dinner and Auction.

Auctioneer Randy Wells charges the crowd up for a special pink card appeal during the Rose Festival's Rock 'n' Roses Dinner and Auction.

Auctioneer Randy Wells charges the crowd up for a special pink card appeal during the Rose Festival’s Rock ‘n’ Roses Dinner and Auction.

From The Portland Rose Festival Foundation:

The Portland Rose Festival Foundation is a non-profit that serves the community by providing families with events and programs that promote the arts, education and volunteerism. We value environmental responsibility, cultural diversity, patriotism and our floral heritage.