Celebrity + Youth Talent Show Raises over $128,000 for Camp Fire Columbia

Timber Joey reveals his piano skills during his Talent Show set. He’s a Renaissance Man!

Portland, April 24th, 2014. A spirited talent competition between local celebrities and over 50 Portland-area students raised $128,000 for Camp Fire Columbia, a nonprofit youth development organization. Camp Fire Columbia held its 4^th Annual Celebrity + Youth Talent Show at the Crystal Ballroom in downtown Portland in front of 400 attendees. Celebrities performed along with Camp Fire youth representing four different elementary schools in Portland Public, David Douglas, and West Linn-Wilsonville school districts. Student talent acts included dancing, singing, and comedy.

Camp Fire kids kick off the festivities with a flash mob dance to Pharrell’s mega-hit “Happy.” The Talent Show gave youth the opportunity to showcase skills they’ve developed through arts education they receive in Camp Fire’s after school programs, including dance, music, and comedic performance.

Pink Martini’s Thomas Lauderdale cheers on audience donations during his music set with The Von Trapps.

The Von Trapps harmonize…minutes before children jump on stage to dance with them!

Camp Fire kids sing and dance to Stevie Wonder during their set as “The Fedora-bles.”

Attendees “voted” between celebrities and youth with pledged donations after each performance. All proceeds from the event benefit Camp Fire’s programming, which is located in 21 schools in the Portland area and includes before and after-school programs, in-school curricula, and summer learning.

Celebrity acts included:

· Thomas Lauderdale (leader of Pink Martini) & the Von Trapps
· Timber Joey (Portland Timbers) and a group of local sports mascots from the University of Portland, and the Eugene Emeralds.
· Brad Fortier & The Knockouts (comedians)
· Shoehorn (local musician)
· Local actor Dale Johannes (event MC/host)

The evening culminated with a 30-minute performance by Lauderdale & the Von Trapps, which included music from their recently released album “Dream a Little Dream.” The performance earned a standing ovation. The Von Trapps are the great-grandchildren of Captain and Maria von Trapp, whose story was portrayed in the popular musical, The Sound of Music.

The event was sponsored by a number of local companies including: Fred Meyer Fund, Bank of America, Comcast, NW Natural, KeyBank, The Standard, Matisse, Cambia, Mattecheck & Associates, Capital Pacific Bank, Chase Bank, Northeast Family Dental, and Live 95.5.

About Camp Fire Columbia: Camp Fire Columbia is a co-ed youth development organization that directly serves over 3,500 youth in grades K-12 annually. Camp Fire partners with 21 schools to provide in-school and out-of-school time programs that: support academic achievement, build social and life skills, foster community engagement, and develop career and college readiness. Visit www.campfirecolumbia.org for more information.

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.