Record-breaking evening at Oregon Harvest Dinner

Guests at Oregon Harvest Dinner browse the many items available at the silent auction.

Portland, October 24, 2014. The 2014 Oregon Harvest Dinner broke its fundraising record as nearly 500 people helped Oregon Food Bank raise more than $600,000 to support hunger relief. Funds raised at the October 18th event will support programs and services in Oregon and Clark County, Washington. “The power of food to bring us together was so evident during the evening,” said Susannah Morgan, CEO of Oregon Food Bank. “I was humbled by the overwhelming generosity and energized by our shared vision that no one should be hungry.”

Stanley Barnwell, Jill Beidler, Linda Eyerman, Bill Gaylord, Rae Piesner, Eric Piesner, Anita Beck, Alan Beck and Mis Carlson-Swanson enjoying Oregon Harvest Dinner.

OFB–Pacific Foods – Susannah Morgan, CEO of Oregon Food Bank and Josh Hinerfield, Vice Chair of Oregon Food Bank’s Board of Directors, chat with Roy Schmick and Kathy Murray of Pacific Foods. The company is a big supporter of Oregon Food Bank’s efforts to eliminate hunger.

Susannah-Ford Award – Oregon Food Bank CEO Susannah Morgan presents the Donor of the Year award to Ford Motor Company Fund. Larry Gregerson accepted on behalf of the company.

A warm welcome for everyone attending Oregon Harvest Dinner.

Oregon Food Bank board member Syd Hannigan chaired the event which was held in the Rachel M. Bristol Warehouse at Oregon Food Bank’s headquarters in northeast Portland. David Sarasohn of The Oregonian emceed the event. The presenting sponsor was Fred Meyer. Other sponsors included Waste Management, Regence BlueCross Blue Shield, Tillamook County Creamery Association and Whole Foods.

The event also honored the 2014 Hunger Hero Award winners. Awards were presented to individuals, business and groups that made a significant and lasting contribution to the fight against hunger. This year’s recipients:

Donor of the Year – Ford Motor Company Fund
Food Donor of the Year – Ron LeFore Family Farms
Jackie Fearing Volunteer Awards – Doug Philips and Jeri & Tricia Dobbs
Leadership Award – Fred Meyer
Jerry Tippins Advocacy Award – Commissioner Dan Saltzman, City of Portland

Oregon Harvest Dinner is Oregon Food Bank’s second-largest fundraiser after the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival.

About Oregon Food Bank
With sufficient public will and support of the entire community, we believe it is possible to eliminate hunger and its root causes. Oregon Food Bank collects and distributes food through a network of four Oregon Food Bank branches and 17 independent regional food banks serving Oregon and Clark County, Washington. The Oregon Food Bank Network helps nearly 1 in 5 households fend off hunger. Oregon Food Bank also leads statewide efforts to increase resources for hungry families and to eliminate the root causes of hunger through advocacy, nutrition education, garden education, and helping communities strengthen local food systems. For more information visit oregonfoodbank.org

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.