Portland, OR. The Portland Rose Festival Foundation’s fundraising efforts went “over the rainbow” with $118,000 raised at the Yellow Brick Rose Dinner & Auction on Friday, October 13th at Montgomery Park. 2017 Queen Michaela Canete, 2017 Princess Korah Vonderahe and 2014 Princess Marlo Eckert smile for the camera while volunteering at the Portland Rose Festival Foundation’s “Yellow Brick Rose” Dinner & Auction. Fundraising efforts led by Auction Chairman Todd Johnston and Auctioneer Patrick Siver will support the mission-based events and programs produced by the Portland Rose Festival, Portland’s Official Festival. (Photo credit, Brian Ross)
Portland Rose Festival Foundation CEO Jeff Curtis with Portland City Commissioner Amanda Fritz at the “Yellow Brick Rose” Dinner & Auction on Friday, which drew 270 attendees.
Adrienne Roark, General Manager of KPTV FOX 12 Oregon, poses with Portland Rose Festival Foundation President Brett Baker, CEO Jeff Curtis, and Auction Chairman Todd Johnston.
Bishop Steven Holt (left) and Dante James (right) receive bidding “help” from 2007 Rose Festival President Leslie Goodlow-Baldwin (center).
From The Portland Rose Festival Foundation:
The Portland Rose Festival Foundation is a non-profit that serves the community by providing families with events and programs that promote the arts, education and volunteerism. We value environmental responsibility, cultural diversity, patriotism and our historic & floral heritage.
Portland, OR. It was high-fives all around as Children’s Cancer Association (CCA) raised $1.4 million at its 17th annual Wonderball gala on October 7th. Leaders Rosemary Colliver, founder Regina Ellis and Andy Lytle celebrated the donations which will fuel CCA’s mission of prescribing joy to seriously ill children and their families. Organizers welcomed nearly 850 supporters to the Oregon Convention Center for an “Age of Aquarius” themed night they say was inspired by the abundant love and optimism of the Woodstock era.
Singer-songwriter, Kyle Craft, sings Bob Dylan’s The Times They Are A-Changin’ and is joined onstage by CCA-served kids and teens.
Regina Ellis, CCA Founder & Chief Joy Officer, stops to thank raffle ticket sellers, Moxie and Aven.
Albert Menashe, CCA Board Member, Attorney & Shareholder at Gevurtz Menashe; Julie Menashe; Grant Feltz, Wieden+Kennedy; John Christianson, Estate Planning Attorney at Gevurtz Menashe
Andrea Corradini, CCA Board Member, Senior Director, Women’s NSW Footwear at Nike; Regina Ellis, CCA Founder & Chief Joy Officer
Party guests included Sandy Bodecker, VP Special Projects, Nike Inc.; Tanya Cerda; Cholee Thompson, Ryan Artists; David Brown, longtime CCA Chemo Pal; and their friends.
Andy Lytle, CCA Board Chair, Division VP – Western US at Jackson Family Wines; Jim Haven, Creative Director; Jessi Duley, CCA Board Member, Founder & Instructor at Burn Cycle; Mary Lytle
Keynote speakers, Andy and Ruth Soria Zuniga, share their family’s story with Wonderball guests.
Chris Funk, CCA Board Member and multi-instrumentalist with The Decemberists, starts the show with a guitar solo guests call, thrilling.
Party guests included Clare Hamill, CCA Founding Board Chair, Vice President, Nike Growth Initiatives at Nike; Heidi O’Neill, President, Direct to Consumer, Nike Inc.; Patrick O’Neill; Marcus Harvey, Owner, Portland Gear; Sarah Marshall, MyMusicRx ATX Champion; and their friends.
Paul Gulick, CCA Board Chair Emeritus, 2008-10, and his table guests
Lead Sponsor PDX Property Group filled the table with guests that included John Powers, CCA Ambassador Board Co-Chair, Broker of PDX Property Group at Keller Williams Realty and Chris Suarez, Principal Broker, CEO of PDX Property Group of Keller Williams.
Presenting Sponsor, Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield’s table, which included Scott Burton, Director, Revenue Management & Portfolio Positioning, Cambia Solutions; Angela Dowling, President, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, and Chief Sales Officer; and their guests.
Jeff Nyburg, Regional Director at Carter’s | OshKosh B’gosh; CS Sheffield, CCA Ambassador Board Co-Chair, Senior Therapeutic Specialty Consultant, Pfizer Oncology; Jennifer Nyburg; Angela Sheffield.
CCA staff members welcome guests at registration amid tapestries and Wonderball branded prayer flags.
Macie House, CCA Board Member, Managing Director, Baird, Regina Ellis, CCA Founder & Chief Joy Officer; Suzann Baricevic Murphy, CCA Board Member, Owner/President at (W)here Inc.
Steve Blake, CCA Board Member and former NBA Player; Regina Ellis, CCA Founder & Chief Joy Officer; Kristen Blake, Health & Wellness Coach
Serene Perkins,(center) CCA Board Member, Director of Surgical and Clinical Research, Legacy Research Institute Legacy Health, Regina Ellis, CCA Founder & Chief Joy Officer
Served by CCA as a teen and now a pre-med student at PSU, Sarah Florig shared her emotional story with Wonderball guests.
Guests enjoyed silent and live auctions, a seated dinner, inspiring family speakers and live, Woodstock era music throughout the night. Portland jam band frontman Lewi Longmire’s LT Red and the Hazy Visions kicked off the live performances, which included a rendition of Jimi Hendrix’s “Star-Spangled Banner” performed by Chris Funk of The Decemberists. Other performers included Brandon Nicolai and New York-based cabaret singer Amber Martin.
Décor included Indian tapestries, marigold garlands, and buttons and prayer flags with the reimagined protest slogan “Cancer is not Healthy for Children and Other Living Things”. A Moroccan menu and Summer of Love themed drinks were served to complete the aesthetic. Late night revelers also enjoyed an after-party with DJ Anjali at Spirit of 77.
A record-breaking paddle raise was led by auctioneer Kelly Russell of Artisan Auctions following Regina Ellis’ keynote speech and PSU pre-med student, Sarah Florig’s, inspiring story. CCA-served family, Ruth and Andy Soria Zuniga, also shared the many ways CCA has supported their family during their 2-year-old daughter’s treatment.
“At CCA, we are JOY seekers. For the last 22 years, we have asked ourselves repeatedly: what can JOY do?” said Regina Ellis, Founder and Chief Joy Officer of Children’s Cancer Association in her address. “We are the only organization working to position JOY as best practice in pediatric hospitals across the nation by delivering innovative programs that transform a moment with music, friendship and nature. Because of the generosity in this room, last year we served 31 percent more children and teens, how, when and where they preferred, and delivered over 92,000 service interactions across the United States.”
This event was made possible by the presenting sponsor, Regence BlueCross Blue Shield of Oregon. Additional sponsors included PDX Property Group and Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel.
About Children’s Cancer Association (CCA)
The Children’s Cancer Association knows that for seriously ill children and their families every moment is precious. That’s why our programs leverage music, friendship, play, and resources to create transformative moments of joy for 20,000 children, teens, and their family members each year. We believe kids deserve long, wonderful lives. Or at the very least, short wonderful lives. Unlike many organizations dedicated to the worthy goal of someday finding a cure for cancer, CCA is all about creating joy today. See our programs in action at JoyRx.org.
Portland, Or. For over a decade, the Portland Nursery has hosted Impact NW’s Garden Party at its nursery on SE Division. Guest enjoyed a lovely summer evening in the garden including CJ Cox, Kevin & Lyne Modica, Brendan Finn, Portland City Commissioner Dan Saltzman who hosted a table, and Liz Burns. Celebrated Garden experts: Marcia Peck, Mike Darcy and Anne Jaeger and master gardener Leslie Rey judged the garden container contest. Each container was then sold at the auction. Dan Tilkin of KOIN served as the emcee for the evening of sharing Impact NW’s achievements over the past year with business and community leaders and caring individuals who came together to support Impact NW. (Photo credit, Jim Garrison)
Michael Martin, from SuMc Landscape Design, and his Blue Ribbon garden container stole the show at the September 9th event.
Impact NW Board Member Valerie Thompson hosted a table of friends. (L-R) Alyssa Thompson, Valerie Thompson, Corinne Kugel, Camden McClintock Schobert, Laura Back, Trisha Dimaculangan Mumm.
Celebrated Garden experts: Marcia Peck, Mike Darcy and Anne Jaeger (not pictured) and master gardener Leslie Rey judged the garden container contest.
Organizers said, “The beautiful tent in the gardens of the Portland Nursery was a beautiful metaphor for Impact NW. Founded in 1966 by neighbors, helping less fortunate neighbors in SE Portland, Impact NW takes on our community’s biggest social challenges. It organizes effective solutions under one big tent to help over 30,000 people a year avoid and recover from financial hardship.”
From Impact NW:
Our Mission
To help people prosper through a community of support.
Our Impact
36,000 Individuals receive nurturing, effective and quality services each year.
12,000 Meals are served weekly to hungry children.
3,321 Volunteers serve 32,382 total hours each year, a value of $688,117 in additional services.
Portland, OR. Nearly 800 community members came together in downtown Portland to honor outgoing Central City Concern President & CEO Ed Blackburn. It was a heartfelt sendoff that featured like-minded leadership ranging from past clients to current elected officials. Blackburn was honored by Rachel Solotaroff, MD, President & CEO and Richard Harris, past Executive Director. The event also raised $300,000 to support critical programs that help accelerate the move to self-sufficiency for people who access Central City Concern’s housing, health care, and employment programs. “Compassion in Action” was the theme for the fundraiser on October 10th at the Portland Hilton. (Photo credit, Andie Petkus)
Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley sharing a connection between Ed Blackburn and the story of The Good Samaritan.
Mayor Ted Wheeler acknowledging Ed Blackburn’s dedication, compassion, and commitment to serving others for his entire career.
Israel Bayer, Executive Director, Street Roots, Ed Blackburn, President & CEO Emeritus, Central City Concern, Sandra McDonough, President & CEO, Portland Business Alliance
From Central City Concern:
Proceeds from the Compassion in Action Campaign will be used to support critical programs that help accelerate the move to self-sufficiency for people who access Central City Concern’s housing, health care, and employment programs. At Central City Concern, we don’t just put a roof over someone’s head. We give individuals the life and work skills they need to remain housed, healthy, and self-sufficient for the long term.
Portland, OR. The Portland Art Museum was filled with the sounds of science on as 71 Oregon graduate students were awarded $426,000 in research grants by the ARCS Oregon Foundation. University Presidents including Joe Robertson, president of OHSU and Ed Ray, president of Oregon State University joined Joan Foley and Aletha Anderson, co-president of ARCS Foundation Oregon along with Michael Schill, president of University of Oregon. (Photo credit, Andie Petkus)
The Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (or ARCS) is an all women volunteer organization which dedicates itself to providing support to outstanding scholars in PhD programs in science, engineering and medical research at the Oregon Health and Science University, Oregon State University and University of Oregon. The October 11th event drew 430 members, donors and guests who enjoyed learning about research of the third year scholars.
Aletha Anderson, co-president ARCS Foundation Oregon; Danielle Nelson, PhD candidate at Oregon State University; Joan Foley, co-president ARCS Foundation Oregon; Keynote speaker Geraldine Richmond, PhD University of Oregon Professor of Chemistry.
Keynote speaker Geraldine Richmond, PhD shared her research work on the molecular characteristics of water surfaces at University of Oregon as well as her efforts on behalf of women scientists. Danielle Nelson, a PhD candidate at Oregon State University spoke of her continuing research on communication networks of chorusing frogs. Through the generosity of many donors, ARCS raised over $136,000 which will continue to fund its mission to provide scholar awards in support of science for Oregon, our nation and the world.
Gretchen Engbring, PhD candidate from Oregon State University explains her research to guests at the Celebrating Genius poster session.
Current 2017-2018 ARCS Foundation Oregon scholar award recipients and PhD candidates from OSU, UO and OHSU
From ARCS Oregon:
We Stand Side by Side with Emerging Scientists
“Welcome to ARCS Oregon! This fall our chapter will welcome 24 first year scholars who are working toward their PhDs at our three top-rated universities – Oregon Health & Science University, Oregon State University and the University of Oregon. We spend three years getting to know each scholar personally and are thrilled we have the opportunity to witness these stellar students make his or her mark in science. Our members and donors provide monetary support, but more importantly we hear from the scholars that we provide a support network during this challenging time in their careers.”
“Our first year scholars join the current second and third year scholars with ARCS funding, for an overall field of 71 emerging scientists this year. What will they discover? The broad scope of their science topics reflects the many stellar, highly ranked colleges and departments at our three universities. We are fortunate to have a collaborative relationship with the universities as we work together to advance science in America.”
There will be a time when renewable energy is abundant and affordable, when cures for common diseases like cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and HIV/AIDS will be found, when clean water will be accessible by all and clean living will be ubiquitous, when mankind will be safe in the face of cataclysmic forces of nature. And the people who will make that happen are researching now to understand the root causes of problems and to apply their intelligence and ingenuity to answer the great questions in science, engineering and medicine.
ARCS Foundation Oregon supports and nurtures young American women and men in doctoral programs at Oregon Health & Science University, Oregon State University and the University of Oregon to take on the science challenges of today and tomorrow. Oregonians are, by nature, pioneering and tenacious, looking for new ideas and ways of improving our lives. More than 100 women in ARCS Foundation Oregon are drawn to the bright light generated by the brilliant students we are helping to attract to Oregon.
ARCS Foundation Oregon is one of 16 ARCS Foundation Chapters nationwide, operating independently under the umbrella of ARCS Foundation National. The Oregon Chapter incorporated in 2004 and since then has awarded more than 201 scholar awards totaling $3.2 million.
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