Children’s Cancer Association’s Annual Wonderball Raises $1.4 Million

Children’s Cancer Association’s Annual Wonderball Raises $1.4 Million

by | Oct 21, 2017 | Events, Features, News

Portland, OR. It was high-fives all around as Children’s Cancer Association (CCA) raised $1.4 million at its 17th annual Wonderball gala on October 7th. Leaders Rosemary Colliver, founder Regina Ellis and Andy Lytle celebrated the donations which will fuel CCA’s mission of prescribing joy to seriously ill children and their families. Organizers welcomed nearly 850 supporters to the Oregon Convention Center for an “Age of Aquarius” themed night they say was inspired by the abundant love and optimism of the Woodstock era.

Singer-songwriter, Kyle Craft, sings Bob Dylan’s The Times They Are A-Changin’ and is joined onstage by CCA-served kids and teens.

Regina Ellis, CCA Founder & Chief Joy Officer, stops to thank raffle ticket sellers, Moxie and Aven.

Albert Menashe, CCA Board Member, Attorney & Shareholder at Gevurtz Menashe; Julie Menashe; Grant Feltz, Wieden+Kennedy; John Christianson, Estate Planning Attorney at Gevurtz Menashe

Andrea Corradini, CCA Board Member, Senior Director, Women’s NSW Footwear at Nike; Regina Ellis, CCA Founder & Chief Joy Officer

Party guests included Sandy Bodecker, VP Special Projects, Nike Inc.; Tanya Cerda; Cholee Thompson, Ryan Artists; David Brown, longtime CCA Chemo Pal; and their friends.

Andy Lytle, CCA Board Chair, Division VP – Western US at Jackson Family Wines; Jim Haven, Creative Director; Jessi Duley, CCA Board Member, Founder & Instructor at Burn Cycle; Mary Lytle

Keynote speakers, Andy and Ruth Soria Zuniga, share their family’s story with Wonderball guests.

Chris Funk, CCA Board Member and multi-instrumentalist with The Decemberists, starts the show with a guitar solo guests call, thrilling.

Party guests included Clare Hamill, CCA Founding Board Chair, Vice President, Nike Growth Initiatives at Nike; Heidi O’Neill, President, Direct to Consumer, Nike Inc.; Patrick O’Neill; Marcus Harvey, Owner, Portland Gear; Sarah Marshall, MyMusicRx ATX Champion; and their friends.

Paul Gulick, CCA Board Chair Emeritus, 2008-10, and his table guests

Lead Sponsor PDX Property Group filled the table with guests that included John Powers, CCA Ambassador Board Co-Chair, Broker of PDX Property Group at Keller Williams Realty and Chris Suarez, Principal Broker, CEO of PDX Property Group of Keller Williams.

Presenting Sponsor, Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield’s table, which included Scott Burton, Director, Revenue Management & Portfolio Positioning, Cambia Solutions; Angela Dowling, President, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, and Chief Sales Officer; and their guests.

Jeff Nyburg, Regional Director at Carter’s | OshKosh B’gosh; CS Sheffield, CCA Ambassador Board Co-Chair, Senior Therapeutic Specialty Consultant, Pfizer Oncology; Jennifer Nyburg; Angela Sheffield.

CCA staff members welcome guests at registration amid tapestries and Wonderball branded prayer flags.

Macie House, CCA Board Member, Managing Director, Baird, Regina Ellis, CCA Founder & Chief Joy Officer; Suzann Baricevic Murphy, CCA Board Member, Owner/President at (W)here Inc.

Steve Blake, CCA Board Member and former NBA Player; Regina Ellis, CCA Founder & Chief Joy Officer; Kristen Blake, Health & Wellness Coach

Serene Perkins,(center) CCA Board Member, Director of Surgical and Clinical Research, Legacy Research Institute Legacy Health, Regina Ellis, CCA Founder & Chief Joy Officer

Served by CCA as a teen and now a pre-med student at PSU, Sarah Florig shared her emotional story with Wonderball guests.

Guests enjoyed silent and live auctions, a seated dinner, inspiring family speakers and live, Woodstock era music throughout the night. Portland jam band frontman Lewi Longmire’s LT Red and the Hazy Visions kicked off the live performances, which included a rendition of Jimi Hendrix’s “Star-Spangled Banner” performed by Chris Funk of The Decemberists. Other performers included Brandon Nicolai and New York-based cabaret singer Amber Martin.

Décor included Indian tapestries, marigold garlands, and buttons and prayer flags with the reimagined protest slogan “Cancer is not Healthy for Children and Other Living Things”. A Moroccan menu and Summer of Love themed drinks were served to complete the aesthetic. Late night revelers also enjoyed an after-party with DJ Anjali at Spirit of 77.

A record-breaking paddle raise was led by auctioneer Kelly Russell of Artisan Auctions following Regina Ellis’ keynote speech and PSU pre-med student, Sarah Florig’s, inspiring story. CCA-served family, Ruth and Andy Soria Zuniga, also shared the many ways CCA has supported their family during their 2-year-old daughter’s treatment.

“At CCA, we are JOY seekers. For the last 22 years, we have asked ourselves repeatedly: what can JOY do?” said Regina Ellis, Founder and Chief Joy Officer of Children’s Cancer Association in her address. “We are the only organization working to position JOY as best practice in pediatric hospitals across the nation by delivering innovative programs that transform a moment with music, friendship and nature. Because of the generosity in this room, last year we served 31 percent more children and teens, how, when and where they preferred, and delivered over 92,000 service interactions across the United States.”

This event was made possible by the presenting sponsor, Regence BlueCross Blue Shield of Oregon. Additional sponsors included PDX Property Group and Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel.

About Children’s Cancer Association (CCA)

The Children’s Cancer Association knows that for seriously ill children and their families every moment is precious. That’s why our programs leverage music, friendship, play, and resources to create transformative moments of joy for 20,000 children, teens, and their family members each year. We believe kids deserve long, wonderful lives. Or at the very least, short wonderful lives. Unlike many organizations dedicated to the worthy goal of someday finding a cure for cancer, CCA is all about creating joy today. See our programs in action at JoyRx.org.

Girl’s Inc. Power of the Purse Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Girl’s Inc. Power of the Purse Celebrates 10th Anniversary

by | Mar 19, 2015 | Events, Features, Uncategorized

Portland, March 6th, 2015. Power of the Purse 2015 featured 15 local celebrities (“Purse-o-nalities”) who were matched with 15 hand-picked local designers to create one-of-a-kind purses that were auctioned off during the event. The unique designs helped to tell the stories of each strong, smart and bold Purse-o-nality and how their purse-everance lead them to where they are today. Presented by LifeMap, the Power of the Purse benefit for Girl’s Inc. took place on at the Portland Hilton. Girls Council member, Salma, walked the runway with Nike Bags Team purse for Vanessa Garcia-Brito, Senior Director, Partnerships & Strategic Communications for the Nike Foundation and 2015 Purse-o-nality. (Photo credit: Jennifer Alyse Photography)

Each year, Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest invites local women and men to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Power of the Purse, a fundraiser to benefit Girls Inc. programs created from research-based curricula that equip girls with the confidence and self-esteem to drive toward a bright and economically-independent future.

The gala included both a live auction and silent auction, boutique shopping, a fashion show featuring Girls Inc. girls modeling specially-designed purses, and dinner and drinks.

Some of the Purse-o-nalities included: the von Trapps, musical group; Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, Oregon’s 1st Congressional District; Chris McGowan, President and CEO of Portland Trail Blazers; Mike Golub and his wife Sam Shelhorse, President of Portland Timbers and Thorns; Tracy Curtis, Regional Vice President of Wells Fargo; and Heather Killough, philanthropist and owner of Lucky Limousine, along with 9 other inspiring women and men.

Girls Inc. girl, Alexis, shows off the purse designed by Christina Castillo Designs for Purse-o-nality Aneshka Dickson.

Girls Inc. girl, Alexis, shows off the purse designed by Christina Castillo Designs for Purse-o-nality Aneshka Dickson.

Tracy Curtis, Regional VP for Wells Fargo and one of the 2015 Purse-o-nalities, poses with Timber Joey

Tracy Curtis, Regional VP for Wells Fargo and one of the 2015 Purse-o-nalities, poses with Timber Joey.

Rukaiyah Adams, Chief Investment Officer at Meyer Memorial Trust and 2015 Purse-o-nality, with her guests

Rukaiyah Adams, Chief Investment Officer at Meyer Memorial Trust and 2015 Purse-o-nality, poses with her guests.

The 2015 Power of the Purse designers tasked with representing the remarkable Purse-o-nalities included the Ellington Handbags, Spooltown, the Nike Bags team, Christina Castillo Designs, E. Jerome Piece, Minou-Minou, and others.

Ellington Handbags design for Helen Raptis, co-host of AM Northwest on KATU and 2015 Purse-o-nality

Ellington Handbags designed for Helen Raptis, co-host of AM Northwest on KATU and 2015 Purse-o-nality.

Girls Council members take the runway

Girls Council members take the runway to the delight of the crowd.

Beth Andersen, President & CEO of LifeMap, with designer Ahmed Abidine of Elkarti and Girls Inc. girl Litea

Beth Andersen, President & CEO of LifeMap, stops for applause with designer Ahmed Abidine of Elkarti and Girls Inc. girl Litea.

Girls Council member, Salma, with Nike Bags Team purse for Vanessa Garcia-Brito, Senior Director, Partnerships & Strategic Communications for the Nike Foundation and 2015 Purse-o-nality.

Girls Council member, Salma,  walks the runway with Nike Bags Team purse for Vanessa Garcia-Brito, Senior Director, Partnerships & Strategic Communications for the Nike Foundation and 2015 Purse-o-nality.

Girls Inc. girl, Rowan, sings with the von Trapps (2015 Purse-o-nalities) on the runway.

Girls Inc. girl, Rowan, sings with the von Trapps (2015 Purse-o-nalities). 

The Purse-o-nalities were each matched with one Girls Council girl, providing a unique opportunity to expand her world, learn about various careers, and develop relationships with successful women and men in the community. This mentor relationship allows the Girls Council girl to further develop her leadership skills and build confidence in her bright future.

More information is available on the Power of the Purse website.

Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest would like to thank its 2015 Power of the Purse sponsors: LifeMap, Wells Fargo, The Standard, Heather Killough, Knowledge Universe, Comcast, Ernst & Young, Hanna Andersson, Kaiser, Walsh Construction, Trail Blazers, Harold and Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation, TBIB Creative, Cindy Thompson Event Productions and Portland Monthly.

Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest offers programs for girls 6-18 around the greater Portland area. Girls Inc. programs focus on developing healthy behaviors, adopting new life skills, and encouraging girls to reach higher. Our proven curriculum provides age-appropriate, research-based, and culturally relevant content for girls to explore. Girls have the opportunity to develop the following skills:

  • Create meaningful, supportive peer groups that encourage female solidarity
  • Grow self-esteem that carries over to home, school, and the community
  • Develop sound decision-making and communication skills
  • Assert themselves as confident individuals throughout their lives
  • Build key leadership skills and strong work ethics