Portland, OR. Nearly 700 people attended the St. Mary’s Academy 26th Annual “Food for Thought” luncheon. Organizers surpassed their fundraising goal of $500,000 which will support tuition assistance. The event on November 7th was held at the downtown Portland Hilton and attendees included Kelley Morrison Ogle ’94, Margueritte Vu Kim ’94, Rita Serralta-Poox ’20, Barre3 co-founder Sadie Lincoln, Jessica Hickox Meyer ’94 and Karis Stoudamire-Phillips ’94. Vice President of Development, 1986 graduate Emily Niedermeyer Becker, thanked donors. “We are so proud to announce we exceeded our goal of $500,000. This event has remained of the utmost importance to SMA each year, as every dollar raised allows us to continue providing exceptional education to young girls who deserve it.” The Food for Thought luncheon is the school’s largest fundraiser in support of tuition assistance. For the 2019-2020 school year, 42% of St. Mary’s Academy families were awarded over $2 million in tuition assistance.
Sam Romanaggi, Kathleen Dooney Niedermeyer ’83, Dr. Don Romanaggi
Gene Kim and Margueritte Vu Kim ’94
The luncheon was organized by graduates of SMA’s 1994 class, including Karis-Stoudamire Phillips, Joan Chaney, Margueritte Vu Kim, Jessica Hickox Meyer, Kelley Morrison Ogle, and Dr. Nundhini Thukkani. Sadie Lincoln, the keynote speaker and co-founder of Barre3, shared her message about wellness and finding confidence. She weighed in on her own personal struggles with self-confidence at a young age. Lincoln credits Barre3 with allowing herself to spread the message of internal resiliency to members across her studios, located locally and worldwide. “We can have a practice of being empowered from within, being confident, and standing up for ourselves,” she explained.
Another guest speaker was St. Mary’s senior and financial award recipient, Rita Serralta-Poox. She thanked her parents for their sacrifices immigrating to the U.S. in hopes of a brighter future for their family. She also thanked St. Mary’s for an array of opportunities during her four years, and allowing her to become her true self through its community, “St. Mary’s has taught me how to use my voice and I will never forget that. After high school, I plan to study law to become an immigration lawyer,” she stated during her speech.
Mary Mathews Stevens ’80, Virginia Mathews, Marilyn Whitaker and Molly Mathews Bjorklund ’85
(Clockwise from back left) Kellie Chauncey-Lance ’87, Tifani Jones Parrilli ’82, Melissa Abraham Hartnell ’87, Holly Abraham Safranski ’92, Alyx Abraham, Sara Parker, Melinda Lee
For the second year in a row, St. Mary’s Academy produced and debuted a video at the event. It focused on St. Mary’s wellness programs including athletics. In the video, current students and alumnae shared personal experiences and stories of how St. Mary’s empowered them both on and off the field.
A video about St. Mary’s Academy:
From St. Mary’s Academy:
St. Mary’s Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary since 1859, is a Catholic high school for young women, providing a challenging college-preparatory education in a vibrant learning environment. Guided by the values and charism of the Sisters, St. Mary’s fosters a diverse community, educates the whole person by nurturing spirituality, encouraging creativity, promoting justice, and inspiring a sense of global interdependence to prepare students for service and leadership. For more information, here’s a link to the SMA website: St. Mary’s Academy.
Portland, OR. The Oregon Convention Center was filled with enthusiastic supporters at the 31st Annual Auction benefiting St. Mary’s Academy. Teri Bowles-Atherton ’93 and Karis Stoudamire-Phillips ’94 were among the guests at the April 13th benefit. (Photo credit, Greg Kozawa)
Chandra and Erik Wahrgren
Eric, Nellie and Anna ’22 Hester
Emily Niedermeyer Becker ’86, Virginia Mathews, Molly Mathews Bjorklund ’85, Marilyn Brown Whitaker and Mary Whitaker ’16
Mayanna Pogson, Erika George, Francesca Sims, Nellie Hester, Lucy Bosworth, Mary Lou Green
Toward the end of the evening, St. Mary’s Academy President, Christina Friedhoff, proudly announced the silent and live auction event met the goal of one million dollars. “There is no doubt that each girl who walks through the doors of St. Mary’s Academy is capable of contributing something unique and powerful to positively impact our world, and the continued support helps ensure each of these young leaders has the education and tools they need to thrive throughout this journey,” said Emily Niedermeyer Becker ’86, Vice President for Development at St. Mary’s Academy.
This year’s auction was titled “In Full Bloom”, and with the assistance of five-foot silk flowers and spring-colored LED lit trees near the stage, guests could soak in the feeling of spring’s arrival and the theme surrounding this year’s event.
The auction, again emceed by KGW News Anchor, Cathy Marshall, featured items to pique the interest of many people including a golf trip to Ireland, local getaways across Oregon, hosted private dinner parties and concerts featuring big names such as the Backstreet Boys and Ariana Grande, to name a few.
While the night consisted of paddle raising for a cause, highlights included the video premiere of “Our Moment to Shine”, a montage featuring St. Mary’s Academy alumnae who have succeeded as leaders in their field and built a name for themselves within their industry.
“From day one, you’re given the opportunity to speak up and be challenging and be challenged.,” Karis Stoudamire-Phillips ’94, SMA Board Member and Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Moda Health in Portland, Oregon states in the video. She goes on to recognize the unique experience the all-girl Catholic high school provides, “They understand the role you can have as a woman, the decisions you can make and the positions you can hold. SMA’s supportive environment really propelled me in my life”, Karis adds.
The video was followed by Bids for Kids speaker, Teri Bowles-Atherton ’93, President for the Rose Festival’s board of directors. Her speech was followed by the highly anticipated Bids for Kids paddle raise. Bids for Kids is an opportunity for auction guests to contribute to the school’s tuition assistance program.
“It was the empowerment and the ability to go in front of people, speak and share ideas and concepts, and just that confidence that St. Mary’s Academy instilled, that’s carried with me throughout life then and now while serving on the Rose Festival’s board as President,” said Teri.
The auction is St. Mary’s largest annual fundraising event with proceeds benefiting every student in meaningful ways.
Portland, OR. Best-selling author and parenting expert Julie Lythcott-Haims captivated the audience at the Portland Hilton as the keynote speaker of St. Mary’s Academy’s 23rd annual Food for Thought Luncheon benefiting financial aid. Guests at the November 15th benefit included Virginia Mathews, Molly Mathews Bjorklund ’85, Marilyn Fink, St. Mary’s Academy Board Member Tom Fink. Speaking to over 750 supporters of the school, Lythcott-Haims was one of the many highlights of the event, which raised over $500,000. (Photo credit, Andie Petkus)
Food for Thought Co-Chair Sara Salvi ’71, St. Mary’s Academy Principal Kelli Clark, St. Mary’s Academy President Christina Friedhoff, keynote speaker Julie Lythcott-Haims, student speaker Daae An ’17, and St. Mary’s Academy Board Chair Kent Roberts
St. Mary’s Academy Board Chair Kent Roberts with Sara Roberts, Sally Roberts ’08 and their friends.
Max Williams, Gina Williams, Monica McQueen, and St. Mary’s Academy Board Member Kimberly Cooper.
Table host Suzann Baricevic Murphy ’83 and friends.
Attendees also heard from St. Mary’s Academy President, Christina Friedhoff, who talked about the importance of the event in allowing the school to carry out its mission to provide an outstanding, all-female, Catholic, college-preparatory education to young women of many backgrounds. Food for Thought is the school’s largest fundraiser in support of tuition assistance. For the 2016-17 school year, over 40% of St. Mary’s Academy families will receive over $1.8 million in tuition assistance.
KATU News anchor Debora Knapp emceed the event, which included testimonials from SMA alumna and longtime teacher and coach at the school, Sara Salvi, who co-chaired this year’s event with fellow class of 1971 graduate, businesswoman Teri Nowak. St. Mary’s students shone brightly, with a dazzling performance by the nationally acclaimed St. Mary’s Marian Singers and a special message from St. Mary’s senior, Daae An, who talked about the vast opportunities open to her because of tuition assistance provided by the school.
“I think the real power of Food for Thought is hearing the stories of so many impressive women,” said St. Mary’s Academy Vice President of Development, Emily Niedermeyer Becker ’86, “These are stories that are both made possible by our incredible donors and compel our community to give so generously at Food for Thought.”
St. Mary’s Academy, founded in 1859 by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, is Oregon’s oldest continually operating high school and its only all-girls school.
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