Portland, OR. Girls Inc. held a virtual celebration of girls’ empowerment on Friday, June 5th which raised over $395,000. The funds are earmarked for the organization’s STEM, health, and life skills programs which benefit girls ages 6-18. There were 900 attendees at the virtual benefit. Because of COVID-19, this was the first year the event was online. Power of the Purse has raised over $5 million dollars over the last 15 years.
In previous years Girls Inc. had a live runway show, like the event in 2016. (Girls Inc. girl, Lana, are pictured with Carol Risley, Designer, and Daria Eliuk, Purse-o-nality)
Every year notable Portland leaders, artists, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists work with local purse designers to create one-of-a-kind handbags to raise money for Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest. Each piece is a unique work of art that is auctioned off during a live fashion show featuring Girls Inc. youth.
The organization provides many opportunities for girls like the, “Rappel for Her,” event, during which participants rappel down a downtown skyscraper. (This photo of “Rappel for Her” in August of 2019, Provided by Girls Inc.)
About Girls Inc.:
In partnership with schools and at Girls Inc. centers, we focus on the development of the whole girl. She learns to value herself, take risks, and discover and develop her inherent strengths. The combination of long-lasting mentoring relationships, a pro-girl environment, and research-based programming equips girls to navigate gender, economic, and social barriers, and grow up healthy, educated, and independent. Informed by girls and their families, we also advocate for legislation and policies to increase opportunities and rights for all girls.
Portland, OR. The Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp (MHKC) auction went virtual in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. MHKC raised over $215,000 to further its mission of empowering children and adults with developmental disabilities through equitable access to the outdoors and recreation.
Originally, the event was scheduled for the same night and was planned to include live entertainment, dinner, silent and live auctions at The Nines hotel. To ensure the health and safety of their guests during the COVID-19 crisis, MHKC switched gears with just a few weeks of planning to put on their first-ever virtual event. The week-long event started on April 15th with the silent and live auction.
On April 18th, MHKC had its virtual event with auctioneer, Kelly Russell and Executive Director, Dave McDonald live-streaming on Youtube allowing their guests to watch from the safety of their home and interact via chatroom.
Here’s a video about the camp:
From Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp:
Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp has been in operation for over 85 years and has served over 17,500 children and adults with disabilities. On any given summer day, you will find campers catching fish, conquering their fear on the Adventure Course, splashing in the pool, riding a horse for the first time, whitewater rafting, and dancing the night away at campfire with new friends. Wheelchair accessible trails and innovations such as adaptive saddles, harnesses and bicycles make the traditional camp experience available to all. Camp fosters a sense of accomplishment and allows people with disabilities to experience independence and freedoms they are often denied. MHKC’s focus on equity and inclusion brings together campers and student counselors, creating lasting friendships, breaking down misperceptions, encouraging personal growth, and positively changing lives forever. To see a recap of the virtual event, visit https://vimeo.com/412482275 .
If you would like to support MHKC, please visit www.mhkc.org to make a donation or to learn more. The mailing address is 10725 SW Barbur Blvd Suite 50, Portland OR 97219.
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