Newberg, July 14th and 15th. The 2012 Summer State Games showcased the best of athleticism, sportsmanship and fun. Special Olympics athletes in Oregon competed in: track & field, bocce, golf, and softball. All participants trained in their hometowns for eight weeks prior to the Summer Games and have qualified to compete at the Summer Games at a regional level competition.
Here in Oregon, while Special Olympics Oregon serves more than 10,000 participants throughout the state, nearly 70,000 people with intellectual disabilities could benefit from participating in Special Olympics. Still growing, Special Olympics Oregon is efficiently expanding programs to get closer and closer to serving every individual with intellectual disabilities that qualifies to participate in Special Olympics.
Special Olympics Oregon offers training and competition opportunities in 14 different Olympic-style sports. There are three sports seasons throughout the year, with statewide competitions and training in winter, summer and fall.
Special Olympics Oregon holds events in every region of the state, every month of the year, providing athletes the opportunity to be competing and training as often as they choose.
Special Olympics athletes train intensely for eight weeks prior to each State Games event. Volunteer coaches are responsible for training the athletes. Volunteers must complete a certification program prior to becoming Special Olympics coaches and must attend training schools before each season.
Special Olympics Oregon (SOOR) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization incorporated in the state of Oregon to provide sports training and athletic competition for persons with intellectual disabilities. SOOR is accredited by Special Olympics, Inc. (SOI) and responsible for following the policies and rules established by SOI in the delivery of services in Oregon. It is known as a Program of SOI. A volunteer Board of Directors provides policy decisions and long-range planning for SOOR. The Board employs a staff of people to implement the day-to-day operations.
Thanks to the generous support of A-dec and the amazing city of Newberg, these games will be held annually in Newberg, Oregon. Thanks to the generous support of Ken and Joan Austin of A-dec and the amazing city and community of Newberg, for making these games happen .
Sunriver, Oregon visitors are enjoying a new water-park this summer. The new $18-million dollar Sunriver Homeowners Aquatic & Recreation Center (SHARC) opened on Memorial Day Weekend. The year-round facility is 33,000 square feet.
Tot splash & play areas entertain the kids.
The SHARC offer a multitude of activities including: outdoor and indoor pools, lazy river, water slides, social hot tub, tot splash & play areas, event space/amphitheater, fitness center (SROA owners only), cafe, park, picnic areas, playground, bocce ball, basketball, year-round tubing hill.
Two big water-slides are part of the new facility
SHARC is located on a 22-acre site between Beaver Drive and Overlook Road, bordered on the south by Theater Drive.
SHARC was under construction for several years.
The grounds have a rock climbing wall.
SHARC Admission: Memorial Day-Labor Day
Adults (18 & older): Free with 2012 SROA Owner ID or guest pass / $25 general public
Children (4-17) & seniors (60+): Free with 2012 SROA Owner ID
or guest pass / $20 general public
Tubing only: Free with 2012 SROA Owner ID or guest pass / $15 general public
This summer, visitors are finding other improvements in Sunriver including a new building for the Village Bar & Grill.
The Sunriver Village Mall has had a face-lift.
The ice rink (which during summer becomes a put-put golf course) and a mini-train add ambiance.
Favorite activities, like horse riding, engage visitors.
The Deschutes River still offers recreational opportunities including fishing and boating.
Golf and biking are summer family traditions for many.
If you go, check out the free Concerts at Sunriver’s SHARC Amphitheater on Sundays from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
The nonprofit Sunriver Music Festival is also coming up in August and features concerts and a dinner/auction on August 5th.
Sunriver is a planned residential and resort community southwest of Bend in Central Oregon. Located near the base of the Cascade Mountain range, Sunriver’s 3,300+ acres (approximately 5.12 square miles) are part of Deschutes County.
Beaverton, June 23rd. The stars were out at The Tiger Woods Center on the Nike World Campus for “A Night to Chip In”, the Caddies 4 Cure’s annual benefit in support of Northwest children and families. The event, which took place before an annual golf tournament, was hosted by Jerome Kersey and drew hundreds of people. (Photo Credit, Andie Petkus)
Javier Colon performance
“Javier has been a long time supporter of our charity and we are thrilled he is returning to perform this year,” said Ryan DuChene, co-founder and president of Caddies 4 Cure. “It is through the generosity of our celebrity guests, supporters and sponsors that we’ve been able to make such a positive impact in our community, and this year’s event is shaping up to be one of our best.”
Jerry Rice, who won three Super Bowl rings playing for the San Francisco 49ers was a popular guest. Many asked for photos with the sports star.
Six-time Major League All-Star, Kenny Lofton and baseball legend, Ozzie Smith
Mike Hill and Jay Harris from ESPN welcomed the crowd.
Flex Alexander made the rounds.
Grant Fuhr smiled with the other guests.
Pro Football Hall of Famer, Sterling Sharpe enjoyed a round of blackjack.
Tennessee Titans’ Jordan Babineaux and basketball great, George “The Iceman” Gervin supported the cause.
A Night to Chip In is part of Caddies 4 Cure’s annual charity event benefiting Randall Children’s Hospital and the Oregon and SW Washington chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Caddies 4 Cure was established in 2002 by Ryan DuChene and Justin Marquart. Friends for more than 20 years, Ryan and Justin founded Caddies 4 Cure as a way to raise money for two charities close to their hearts, Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel and the Oregon and SW Washington Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. In 2000, Justin and Lisa Marquart’s daughter, Ella Marie, passed away at three weeks old from a congenital heart defect after several weeks in Emanuel’s Pediatric Care Unit. And in 2001, Ryan’s wife, Marci, was diagnosed with MS. Ryan and Marci have become very involved with the National MS Society and hope that their charitable efforts will one day lead to a cure. More information is available at www.caddies4cure.com.
Caddies 4 Cure is also proud to partner with Wears My Shirt to create a t-shirt fundraising campaign at WearsMyShirt.com in support of the events. The T’s will help fundraiser for Caddies 4 Cure and they will also be the purchaser’s entry ticket into a “Photo Contest” where the top 9 “Liked” photo’s will win autographed memorabilia from some of sports all-time greats including Jerry Rice, Ken Griffey Jr. and Moses Malone. Details of the contest can be found at http://www.wearsmyshirt.com/charities/Caddies-4-Cure.html#/charities/Caddies-4-Cure/contests.html
Cannon Beach, July 7th. SOLVE organized an extra beach clean-up this summer to pick up garbage and any debris washing up on Oregon beaches from the 2011 Japanese Tsunami. 109 volunteers collected 850 pounds of debris including a very large Styrofoam cylinder. No hazardous waste was reported. SOLVE is helping clear any tsunami debris found by working with the Oregon Tsunami Debris Task Force. Oregon Parks and Recreation has established 32 drop-offs locations for debris collected on the beach. Debris dropped off at the collection locations must be in official SOLVE bags, which can be picked up at any state park or transfer station in an Oregon coastal county.
Bob Mushen and Carla Moya are SOLVE and City of Cannon Beach volunteers, Jenee Pearce-Mushen is the SOLVE Captain of Cannon Beach volunteers and Director at Pacific Alarm Systems. Charilyn Vantassel is with OBRC
SOLVE volunteers Gary Loveless, Nadine Nordquist and Lisa Habecker
Visitors flock to the tide-pools near Haystack Rock during low tide.
Volunteers Allison and Tess Kehoe, from the National Charity League, Inc., were two of the more than 100 SOLVE volunteers.
Fish, birds, and other aquatic life can mistake small bits of trash for food. This trash travels through the digestive system often resulting in malnutrition, entanglement, and strangulation.
Due to the increased use of plastic and other synthetic materials, marine debris is causing increasing damage to ocean ecosystems and wildlife. Scientists estimate that more than 5 million square miles of the Pacific Ocean is covered with trash, and most of it is believed to be made up of plastic remnants from the world’s shorelines.
SOLVE helps keep Oregon Beaches beautiful.
SOLVE is working with the Oregon Tsunami Debris Task Force which includes representatives of State Police, Parks, Environmental Quality, Fish and Wildlife, Public Health, Transportation and the Marine Board, as well as local and tribal governments, state legislators, community organizations, and federal agencies.
For more information on how to handle beach debris, here’s a website:
SOLVE is a non-profit organization that brings together proud Oregonians (native and newly-transplanted) to improve the environment and to build a legacy of stewardship. By making connections between individuals, business groups, and service and conservation groups through volunteering and education, we are building a stronger tomorrow for this place we all love. This place that, let’s face it, is pretty much the biggest reason why we came (or stayed) here in the first place. We’ll take care of it, together.
The organization originally called S.O.L.V. (Stop Oregon Litter and Vandalism) was created by Governor Tom McCall and other community leaders in 1969 to address the need for community action in the ever-growing state. Today SOLVE is building on their vision with a strategic plan that will guide us as we work to improve the environment of Oregon and build a legacy of stewardship.
In response to what is becoming an unprecedented amount of marine debris in Oregon, SOLVE has taken a leading role with partners Surfrider Foundation, Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition, Oregon Sea Grant and Washed Ashore, in forming a plan for a coordinated response. Our group, collectively operating as the Oregon Marine Debris Team, is working in an effort to engage volunteers in cooperation with local, state and federal agencies in marine debris removal projects. A network of 32 drop-off sites on the Oregon coast are now ready to receive beach debris washing ashore from the tsunami that struck Japan in March 2011. The drop-off sites are free and are a combination of state parks and independent recycling and transfer stations located in every county. Visitors and residents can call 211 (or 1-800-SAFENET) to report tsunami debris they see on the beach. The drop-off sites will accept debris in official beach cleanup bags produced by SOLVE. Beach cleanup bags are available at state park campgrounds.There will also be an increased number of beach cleanups scheduled on the Oregon Coast. Join the Marine Debris Team volunteer list if you are interested in helping with this effort.
Pickup trash along the beach the next time you visit the beach. Bags are available at every state park and transfer station along the Oregon coast. Full bags can be left at beach debris drop-off points.
Organize a beach cleanup with SOLVE through the Project Oregon program.
Sign up to volunteer for ongoing beach cleanup efforts.
The Portland Advertising Federation, an ad club of leaders in Portland’s creative business community, proudly presents the 1st Annual PAF pARTy. This event was formed to connect young professionals in the creative community and benefit non-profits that support the arts. The 1st Annual PAF pARTy will take place on Thursday, August 9, 2012 at On Deck Sports Grill in Portland’s premiere Pearl DIstrict. This evening includes networking, cocktails, a silent auction, music and dancing. All event proceeds will go directly to the Children’s Healing Art Project (CHAP) to fund art programs for children with a life-threatening disease.
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