Portland, OR. The Children’s Cancer Association (CCA) welcomed nearly 800 of their most passionate supporters on September 24th to the 16th annual Wonderball. Analia Earhart, CCA Board Member; Regina Ellis, CCA Founder and Chief Joy Officer; and Jani Iverson, VP, Stand for Children enjoyed the star-studded Havana-themed nightclub experience that raised more than $1.3 million to further CCA’s mission of delivering joy to seriously ill children and their families. Billed as ¡El Baile! (The Dance!), and presented by Regence BlueCross BlueShield, the evening celebrated the vibrant colors, sounds, flavors, and styles of 1950s Havana. (Photo credit, Megan Henson)
Mary and Andy Lytle, CCA Board Chair & Division VP of Western US, Jackson Family Wines
Jeff and Susie Perkins, Andrea Corradini, (CCA Board Member & Women’s Global Senior Footwear Product Director, Nike Sportwear) and David Brown
Regina Ellis, CCA Founder and Chief Joy Officer; Ron and Lynn Penner-Ash, Penner-Ash Wine Cellars; Pieter De Temmerman, CEO, Pacific Data Partners
Tony Starlight, The Starella Sisters and Melao de Cuba get the Havana nightclub-themed party started
Tanya Cerda and Sandy Boedecker, VP Special Projects, Nike
Party guests included Scott Burton, CCA Board Member and Director of Community & Business Relations for Presenting Sponsor – Regence BlueCross BlueShield; Mark Mantei, CEO, Vancouver Clinic; Angela Dowling, President, Regence BlueCross BlueShield; and Sam Burton.
Foundation; David Lucas, Executive Director, Maurice Lucas Foundation; and Kaylyn Jones, Nike
Michelle DeCourcy, CCA Ambassador Board Member and Fashion Designer; and Seann McKeel, MyMusicRx Champion & Creative Director, You Who Rock Show for Kids
Wonderball Lead Partner, Thrivent Mutual Funds fills a table.
Keynote speaker, John Grothe, is the head PGA professional at Willamette Valley Golf Club. His family was served by CCA in 2014.
Chris Funk, The Decemberists; Abby Guyer, CCA VP of Brand; Andy Lytle, CCA Board Chair and Division VP – Western US Jackson Family Wines
Paul Schneider, owner, TWIST; Clare Hamill, CCA Founding Board Chair and VP Global Growth Initiatives, Nike; Doug Fish, President, Fish Marketing; and Morgan Dance
Wonderball Celebration Partner, Alaska Airlines was in the house. Pictured are Sana Gebarin (Horizon Air), Susie Desmond, Liz Skayhan (Alaska Airlines), Lou Ames (Horizon Airlines), Brad Lambert (Horizon Air), Gabby Lambert, Kaylyn Jones (Nike), and David Lucas (Maurice Lucas Foundation)
Katherine Durham, CCA Board Member and Chief Marketing Officer and VP, Individual Disability Insurance, The Standard; and Brad Durham
Latin American singer and songwriter, Edna Vasquez, along with Melao de Cuba, close out the evening
Albert Menashe, CCA Board Member, Co-Founder and Senior Shareholder, Gevurtz and Menashe; Regina Ellis, CCA Founder and Chief Joy Officer; and Michael Preisz, President & Founder, Preisz Financial
Sarah and Cedric Berry; Allison Clarke, CCA Ambassador Board Co-Chair, President, Allison Clarke Consulting; and Todd Dickens
Guests were treated to live music from Son de Cuba, classic cars on display from the Portland Roadster Show, and Cuban-themed food and drink. Tony Starlight, ¡El Baile! nightclub host, channeled Desi Arnaz for a festive conga solo and, along with dancers The Starella Sisters, introduced high energy performances from Melao de Cuba Orquesta, tap dancer Tony Palomino, salsa dancers Jennie Fremont & Rob Hilario, and a special guest appearance by Latin American singer-songwriter, Edna Vazquez, to close out the night.
From CCA:
“For 21 years CCA’s programs have been provided at no cost and today, we serve over 20,000 kids and their families annually,” said Regina Ellis, Founder and Chief Joy Officer of the Children’s Cancer Association in her address. “Make no mistake. With the power of JOY, we are out to change the world.”
Portland, October 4th, 2013. Over 300 people gathered at The Nines Hotel for Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East’s Hard Hat & Black Tie Dinner and auction. This was the third year of this fun event, where movers and shakers around the Portland area get to dress up in their finest construction attire to raise money for homebuilding. Scott Holden from First Republic Bank and Dawn Holden from Sterling Bank Home Loans were King and Queen of the night. Habitat creates successful homeownership by partnering hardworking, local families in need with the community to build healthy, affordable homes. This event, emceed by KGW’s Reggie Aqui, raised over $176,000. (photo credit, Sarah Galbraith)
Paul George, Attorney at Lane Powell and Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East Board Chair toasts at VIP reception
Susie Vischer, Former Habitat for Humanity board memeber and long time volunteer, and Sandra Casillas Future Habitat Homeowner show off their outfits made from construction material
Tom Kelly, Owner of Neil Kelly; Mark Waller, Owner of Bridgeworks Capital; Steve Messinetti, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East
Many of those who attend are the also involved in the hands on building of homes for low income families.
From Habitat for Humanity:
Every day in Multnomah County and northern Clackamas County, low-income, hardworking families struggle to find affordable places to live. Rapidly rising rents force these families to live in unsafe, unhealthy, and crowded conditions. These families often have to move once or twice a year in search of rents that stay within their reach. Because of this, children transfer from school to school, affecting their learning and their self-esteem.
The American dream of homeownership is seen as simply unattainable, due to the skyrocketing cost of home prices and little change in incomes of hardworking families.
Our mission of working with the community to build simple, healthy, affordable homes with and for these families has resulted in over 200 families permanently escaping poverty housing. We believe in this mission, because we have seen first-hand how affordable homeownership impacts families, children, and communities.
Families have a chance to experience stability, build equity wealth, and have something tangible to pass on to their children.
Children are healthier and safer. They do better in school, have higher self-esteem, and feel more hopeful toward their future.
Communities are improved, as homeowners tend to be more active in their communities than renters, and pay into the local tax base.
Coming up….
Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build is gearing up for their third annual Pie Bake-Off on Sunday, October 27, from 3:30 – 6:00 p.m. at the Alberta Street Pub. Forks are provided and there are several ways you can get involved!
You can submit a pie, or several, to the contest to be judged by professional Portland area bakers and have a chance to win some sweet prizes! If you are more akin to pie consumption than production, you can just show up and sample from a bounty of delicious pies for a small donation! All proceeds from the event will go directly to building an affordable home in partnership with a local family. In addition, this year there will be a costume contest for kids and a Pie-walk for those that are feeling lucky!
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