CCA’s Wonderball Birthday Bash Gala Raises $1.2 million

Colin MacLean, Shelia Hamilton (KINK FM), Dallas and Daria Eliuk (105.1 the Buzz), Patrick Lamb

Portland, September 26, 2015. This year marks The Children’s Cancer Association‘s 20th birthday, and to celebrate, CCA turned the Oregon Convention Center into the biggest birthday party ever. Colin MacLean, Shelia Hamilton (KINK FM), Dallas and Daria Eliuk (105.1 the Buzz), and Patrick Lamb joined in the celebration. For one night – and with the help of title sponsors Regence BlueCross BlueShield and The Sheffield Family – CCA invited 850+ of their most passionate friends and supporters to put on their party hats and re-experience, with sophistication and flare, some of the most treasured parts of birthday celebrations.

Title Sponsors Angela and CS Sheffield (Pfizer and Ambassador Board co-Chair)

Ted and Katrina Wheeler

Shelley Miller, Irene Doerner, Glen Miller, Lynn and Ron Penner-Ash (Penner-Ash Wine Cellars), Steven Doerner (Cristom Wine), Meg Byrtek (CCA President and COO) and George Byrtek

Selma and Bud Pierce (Hematology and Oncology Clinic of Salem)

Scott Burton (Title Sponsor Regence BlueCross BlueShield and CCA Board Member), Regina Ellis (Founder and Chief Joy Officer, CCA)

Toasting to CCA’s 20th Birthday

Michelle DeCourcy singing “Happy Birthday” after jumping out of the cake.

Megan and Aaron Cooper (Nike, Inc. and CCA Board Member), Chris and Stacie Rask

Matt Shelley (UnitedHealth Care and Clare Hamill (Nike, Inc. and CCA Founding Board Chair)

Lisa Hynes (HealthNet and CCA Ambassador Board Member) and Allison Clarke (Allison Clarke Consulting and CCA Ambassador Board co-Chair)

Title Sponsors Regence BlueCross BlueShield:
Todd Kessel, Marcie Kessel, Mattias Buck, David Dowling, Angela Dowling (President, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon), Kourt Bowes, Melissa Jolliffe Bowes, Kara Jolliffe Buck

From the moment they arrived, guests at the Wonderball Gala were immersed in a festive welcome from the Beaverton High School Marching Band, The Cardboard Songsters, Air Raid Derby Girls, and DJ Eric Isaacson of Mississippi Records. The evening’s highlights included premium silent and live auctions, an inspiring program, and world-class entertainment from the legendary PresHall Brass Band from New Orleans, along with Portland’s own: Liz Vice, Vursatyl, Patrick Lamb, Michelle DeCourcy, and The Jefferson Dancers. FOX12 anchors Wayne Garcia, Andy Carson, Shauna Parsons, and Chief Meteorologist Mark Nelsen led the live auction and special appeal. At evening’s end, guests sang Happy Birthday and together, blew out the candles on 85 individual birthday cakes, wishing CCA every success in the next 20 years. Late night revelers enjoyed an after-party with DJ Cooky Parker.

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.