University of Portland Raises $1.3 Million at Special Gala Which Drew 700 Supporters

Portland, May 10th. University of Portland is making outstanding progress in its $175 million RISE Campaign. UP’s recent event, RISE for Scholarships, was planned to honor University President Rev. E. William Beauchamp, C.S.C. on the occasion of his 30th anniversary as a Holy Cross priest, and his 10th year on the Bluff. Guests included Jim Etzel ’85, president/founder of SportsOne, Inc., Marci Marlton, Greg Dube ’88, Category Sales Director at Nike, and Donna Dube. The festive and emotional event was held in the Earle A. and Virginia H. Chiles Center.

Fedele Bauccio, co-founder/owner of Bon Appétit Management Co. and a ’64 and MBA ’66 alumnus of UP, and Joe Allegretti. They are two of University of Portland’s most generous benefactors.

Tabitha Becker, Pat Becker, Jr. ’88, principal at Becker Capital Management, and his father Pat Becker, Sr. ’63, founder/chairman of Becker Capital Management. The Beckers are long-time supporters of the University – Pat Jr. is co-chair of the current $175 million RISE Campaign, and Pat Sr. was chair of 2001-3’s Defining Moment Campaign, which raised more than $116 million for the University.

Jon Down, director of the University’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Rich Baek, founder and chairman of VTM Group and a ’93 MSEE and ’02 MBA alumnus of UP, both play a major role in the University’s $100K Challenge student business plan competition.

Katherine '88 and Brad Durham. Katherine is CMO/Vice President of Marketing and Communication at The Standard and Brad is General Manager of Usher Precision Manufacturing.

 

Sue and Al Corrado ’55 are ardent supporters of the University, especially the Pilots athletics teams. Al, founder of Columbia Management Company, is a life regent of the University and former chairman of the University’s board.

One purpose of the event was to raise money for scholarships – all money raised will go toward student scholarships, according to Jim Lyons, vice president for university relations, who co-hosted the event with Laurie Kelley, associate vice president for university relations. Leadership gifts of $250,000 from Joseph and Helen Allegretti and Ralph and Sandi Miller help UP raise $1.3 million at the event. 

Darlene Marcos Shiley. Shiley’s late husband Donald was a 1951 graduate of the University of Portland. Together, the Shiley’s have donated more than $20 million to support several University programs, including the Shiley School of Engineering.

Summer ’01 and DJ ’02 Widmer. DJ is vice president of sales at YOLO Colorhouse and co-founder of KEEN Mobility and Seven Planet, while Summer is a former member of the University’s Board of Regents and is brand/marketing manager at Root WholeBody and co-founder of KEEN Mobility and LFI.

University of Portland regent Joe Allegretti, chairman of Allegretti & Company, with several of the 39 students he has provided a full four-year scholarship (including tuition, room, and board). Allegretti announced a gift of $250,000 for more scholarships at the RISE for Scholarships event.

Rev. E. William Beauchamp, C.S.C., president of the University. The RISE for Scholarships event was planned in part to honor Fr. Bill on the occasion of his 30th anniversary as a Holy Cross priest, and his 10th year on the Bluff.

Near the end of the evening, Julianne Johnson ‘83, a popular singer in Portland, sang “You Raise Me Up” as more than 200 students and young alumni holding candles slowly walked through a darkened Chiles Center and onto the stage.

Nancy Bryant, co-chair of the RISE Campaign, asks those in attendance to support scholarships at UP. Bryant announced that University regent Mary Boyle and her husband Tim Boyle were providing a $100,000 matching gift.

Other major sponsors of the event were Fedele Bauccio ’64, ’66 MBA and his company Bon Appetit Management Company, Allen and Kathleen Lund, Steve ’58 and Donna Shepard, Darlene Marcos Shiley, and Bill Tagmyer & Lucy Martin (in honor of Fred and Sue Fields).

From Univeristy of Portland:

The University of Portland, an independently governed Catholic university guided by the Congregation of Holy Cross, addresses significant questions of human concern through disciplinary and interdisciplinary studies of the arts, sciences, and humanities and through studies in majors and professional programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. As a diverse community of scholars dedicated to excellence and innovation, we pursue teaching and learning, faith and formation, service and leadership in the classroom, residence halls, and the world. Because we value the development of the whole person, the University honors faith and reason as ways of knowing, promotes ethical reflection, and prepares people who respond to the needs of the world and its human family.

 

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Elisa Klein

I’ve been a professional journalist and writer since 1987, (and long-time reporter for KOIN-TV.) As a nationally published reporter, with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I love to report positive news and information. Journalism has also connected me with another non-profit where I served as a leader; the Northwest’s biggest writer’s organization: The Willamette Writers.

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