Manzanita, OR. An estimated 5,000 people kicked off Earth Month on April 1st by volunteering with SOLVE to clean up Oregon’s beaches from Astoria to Brookings. The 32nd annual SOLVE Spring Oregon Beach Cleanup focused on 45 beaches. One big find at the Beverly Beach Cleanup was 50 lbs. of rope. This year’s event also marks the 50th Anniversary of the Oregon Beach Bill, which granted public recreational access to beaches along all 362 miles of coastline. Organizers are still gathering information, but last year volunteers removed 93,400 pounds of litter and marine debris and recycled over 2,000 pounds of debris to be turned into educational art sculptures.
Volunteers were out in force in Manzanita. Over the past 30 years, more than 130,000 Spring Oregon Beach Cleanup volunteers have removed an estimated 1.9 million pounds of litter from Oregon’s beaches.
Organizers told volunteers like this Manzanita family that even the smallest bits of trash can be harmful. For example, cigarette butts flow into storm drains, then directly to our streams, rivers, and ocean. The chemicals they retain are released as they flow downstream to the ocean. Just as troubling, cigarette butts, tiny bits of plastic, and other trash are readily eaten by marine life. If we eat seafood, we may also ingest these contaminants.
These volunteers were helping to clean up the beach in Seaside.
Volunteers filled up a dumpster with trash in Seaside.
Here is one of the crews working in Cannon Beach.
From SOLVE:
SOLVE is a state-wide non-profit organization that takes action every day to keep Oregon clean and green. We mobilize over 35,000 volunteers and organize over 1,000 cleanup and restoration projects throughout the state. Our mission: Bring Oregonians together to improve our environment and build a legacy of stewardship.
The next big event for SOLVE will be Earth Day on April 22nd.
As the number of people visiting and moving to our beautiful state continues to grow, it has become more important than ever to keep it clean and healthy! Let’s come together to make this Earth Day the largest ever, picking up litter, removing invasive plants, and planting native trees and shrubs across Oregon. Together we can make sure Oregon can remain the amazing place we all love.
The idea of people coming together on Earth Day to take care of and celebrate our planet began more than 45 years ago and was a perfect fit for SOLVE and our volunteers. In 1990, SOLVE IT for Earth Day took root in the Greater Portland-Metro area, fusing our hands-on approach with this worldwide day of service. Since then, SOLVE IT for Earth Day has grown into Oregon’s largest Earth Day service event.
Over the past 27 years more than 112,000 volunteers have removed 15 million pounds of litter and invasive plants from illegal dumpsites, neighborhoods, and natural areas as part of this global event.
Portland, OR. Supporters donated $530,000 at the “Like, Totally Aardy: The OES ’80s Auction.” 377 guests gathered at Montgomery Park to support Oregon Episcopal School at its ’80s-themed auction. Auction Chairs were Hilary O’Hollaren and Diane Engelhard Jones. Decked out in their best ’80s costumes, from leg warmers to punk rock leather jackets, supporters raised funds for key school programming, including professional development and a community-based tutoring program. (Photo credit, Andie Petkus and Jenny Bowlden)
OES fans raise their paddles to support student success.
OES theater arts teacher Peter Buonincontro served as the evening’s emcee at the March 11th benefit, while auctioneer Kelly Russell of Artisan Auctions kept the evening moving.
Viju and Aishwarya Deenadayalu
Carey Killian celebrates an auction win.
From OES:
OES is an independent Pre-K–12 school in southwest Portland with over 850 students. Its mission is to prepare students for higher education and lifelong learning by inspiring intellectual, physical, social, emotional, artistic, and spiritual growth so that they may realize their power for good as citizens of local and world communities.
Oregon Episcopal School serves 860 students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12, including 60 boarding students from around the world in Grades 9-12.
Portland, OR. Over 300 supporters enjoyed a festive, globally-themed gala benefiting the Riverdale School Parent Teacher Club at The Hilton Portland. Auction co-chair Shelly Pascoe lifted a glass with Parent Wendy Tollsand at the gala. Grandparent Ken Wightman also co-chaired the “Passport to Our Future” benefit. The March 11th event featured a live auction, a paddle raise, party sign-ups, international foods and dancing to Hit Machine. The paddle raises alone raised over $80,000 for PTC programs and Principals’ wish lists. (Photo credit, Tim Tollsand)
Parent Nif LIndsay was selling bracelets for the “Heads or Tails” raffle. Participants select either “heads” or “tails” and the auctioneer continues flipping a coin until just one winner is left standing.
Auctioneer Ken Ackerman & Alumni Parent Eric Jacobsen getting ready for Heads or Tails Game
Parents Ajnya & Rakesh Pai
Parents Donna Avedisian & Craig Chanti
Riverdale High School Parents
Over 84 grade school and high school families raised their paddles at the auction and online, contributing $40,000 to RGS for outdoor learning and technology integration, and $40,000 to RHS for field studies.
From the Riverdale PTC:
A heartfelt Gracias, Danke and Grazie go out not only to the many attendees but also the donors, sponsors, volunteers, vendors, entertainers and everyone else involved in this annual fundraising event. The PTC is so pleased that we were able to surpass our attendance and fundraising goals, and are thrilled with generosity, enthusiasm and support of the Riverdale Community.
About the Riverdale School District:
The Riverdale School District is an independent public school district. It was founded in 1888 and has always enjoyed widespread community interest, involvement and support. Today, Riverdale Grade School (PreK-8) and Riverdale High School (9-12) serve more than 600 families living in a residential, wooded area called Dunthorpe, located seven miles south of downtown Portland, Oregon, and adjacent to the city of Lake Oswego. View our district boundaries.
Riverdale School District is committed to providing an exceptional college-preparatory education for all students that is personalized, learner-centered and academically rigorous. Our simple but powerful goal is to produce students who know how to use their minds well. The curriculum in each grade level marries core academic disciplines with art, music and experiential learning. Students are required to demonstrate their deep understanding of fundamental subject matter through classroom work, including individual and group projects.
Plus, learning at Riverdale isn’t confined to the classroom. Students are encouraged to spread their wings and expand their minds through field studies. Starting with day trips in lower grades, overnight trips beginning in 4th grade, and week-long field studies in middle school and high school, these excursions provide the opportunity to use classroom knowledge in real-world, experiential settings.
Portland, OR. Residents and visitors can’t resist snapping photos of Ornamental Cherry Trees in Waterfront Park. The Japanese American Historical Plaza was dedicated on August 3, 1990, in memory of Japanese immigrants and native-born U.S. citizens of Japanese descent who were deported to inland internment camps during World War II. The memorial includes artwork and sculpture that tells the story of Japanese people in the Pacific Northwest. There are one hundred ornamental cherry trees to the north of the plaza. Colorful snapshots abound.
Here’s some history about the Japanese American Historical Plaza:
Using thirteen engraved stones of basalt and granite, the Japanese American Historical Plaza in Portland tells an important story of the Japanese in Oregon. Landscape architect Robert Murase created the theme and design of the plaza to tell the story of the hardships suffered by Japanese immigrants and the indignities imposed by the incarceration of persons of Japanese ancestry during World War II. The plaza shows how the rights of Japanese Americans on the West Coast were denied, and honors the bravery of those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces while their families were in the camps.
The story continues with poems inscribed on stones. The stone at the center of the plaza lists the ten internment camps. The base of this stone is surrounded by flagstones with jagged sides laid out in irregular patterns reflecting the broken dreams of the internees.
Poets Lawson Inada (Ashland), Shizue Iwatsuki (Hood River, deceased), Masaki Kinoshita (Portland, deceased), and Hisako Saito (Portland, deceased) composed the inscribed poems.
Murase was inspired to design the plaza while attending a Day of Remembrance memorial, which Japanese American communities hold throughout the country to remember February 19, 1942, the day President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066. The order was the first step that led to the imprisonment of 120,000 persons of Japanese ancestry on the West Coast. In March, 1942, the U.S. Army posted exclusion orders in towns and cities on the West Coast, advising all persons of Japanese ancestry to prepare to be evacuated from their homes and businesses.
In the spring of 1988, the City of Portland decided to complete the north end of the Tom McCall Waterfront Park, which borders the Willamette River and Nihomachi, the area known as Japantown, where many Japanese lived and worked before the war. Murase had discussed his concept with Portland businessman and visionary Bill Naito (1926-1996), who encouraged him to complete a design. Under the sponsorship of the Japanese American Citizens League, Murase submitted his proposal and it was accepted in 1988.
The Historical Plaza, which presents poems of Japanese experiences, is a permanent reminder of the importance of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The last stone has a bronze plaque with excerpts from the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which includes an apology for the unlawful imprisonment of people of Japanese ancestry during World War II.
Since its dedication in August 3, 1990, the Japanese American Historical Plaza has received the Waterfront Center’s Top International Award, two national awards, one state award, and four Metropolitan awards. Oregon Nikkei Endowment, Inc. (O.N.E.), a nonprofit organization, administers the plaza and the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center.
Portland, OR. This year’s “must have bags” were up for bid at the 12th annual Power of the Purse (POP) Gala on March 17th. At the benefit notable Portlanders and designers joined forces to create one-of-a-kind purses which are auctioned off to benefit Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest. (Photo credit, Jennifer Rogers)
Kennedy, helped entertain supporters, she’s a Girls Council member.
Local designers, including Ellington Handbags, Looptworks and new to the event, designer Denise Tjarks, created purses together with this year’s “Purse-o-nalities.” 14 local celebs, including KGW reporter Cassidy Quinn and BurnCycle founder Jessi Duley showed their passion for empowering young girls. Unique creations were showcased by school-aged Girls Inc. in a live runway auction.
Organizers say, over the past decade, the Power of the Purse Gala has been recognized as one of Portland’s most fashionable fundraising gala and has raised more than $2.5 million to support Girls Inc. programming in the Portland metro area, and the greater Pacific Northwest. The nonprofit works to inspire and empower girls, ages 6 to 18, to be strong, smart, and bold through after-school groups, mentorship and educational opportunities. Together, with support from partners, funders, and the Pacific Northwest communities they serve, Girls Inc. gives every girl the opportunity to realize the “Power of Her.”
The nonprofit works to inspire and empower girls, ages 6 to 18, to be strong, smart, and bold through after-school groups, mentorship and educational opportunities. Together, with support from partners, funders, and the Pacific Northwest communities they serve, Girls Inc. gives every girl the opportunity to realize the “Power of Her.”
Rapper Wynne performed at the event.
This year’s Power of the Purse Gala kicked off with an exclusive POP Up Shop and reception prior to the runway event. The POP Up Shop featured hand-picked, local vendors, with 25 percent of all proceeds raised going to support Girls Inc. programming. Vendors included Amira Jewelry, Fetch Eyewear and many others. In addition, this year the POP Up Shop featured a “Girls Experience” opportunity, allowing for party-goers to give towards educational and empowering opportunities for the girls.
This year’s 2017 Purse-o-nalities were:
• Tiffany Boyd, co-founder, What the Festival;
• Eden Dawn, style editor, Portland Monthly;
• Stacey Dodson, market president, U.S. Bank;
• Jessi Duley, owner, BurnCycle;
• Susan Fairchild, owner; S Fairchild Designs;
• Paula Hayes, CEO and founder, Hue Noir;
• Kathleen Lewis, philanthropist;
• Peggy Maguire, senior vice president, corporate accountability and performance, Cambia Health Solutions;
• Hon. Adrienne Nelson, judge, Multnomah County Circuit Court;
• Kate Norris, founder, winemaker, and general manager, SE Wine Collective;
• Cassidy Quinn, reporter, KGW News;
• Angela Sheehan, principal, CFO, Glumac;
• Kelsey Troy, senior vice president, human resources, KinderCare Education; and
• Susan Wilkerson, vice president and general manager of strategic global accounts, Lam Research
Featured purse designers were:
• Leather Girl Kelley;
• Mari Lassa;
• Ellington Handbags;
• Scott Hamlin of Looptworks;
• Susan Fairchild of S Fairchild Designs;
• Christina Castillo of Christina Castillo Handbags;
• LOURDES é EVA;
• COLTY;
• Janny Downey of Minou-Minou;
• Denise Tjarks;
• SOREL;
• Jeff Amrhein of Hand and Hide; and
• Mia Scofield of Mo&Co.
The event is presented by KinderCare Education, along with supporting sponsors Harold & Arlene Schnitzer Care Foundation, Bank of America, Buchanan Angeli Altschul & Sullivan LLP, Ernst & Young, KeyBank, Portland Trail Blazers, The Standard, U.S. Bank, Nike, Wells Fargo Bank, Hannah Andersson, Delta Airlines, Kaiser Permanente, Markowitz Herbold PC., Burncycle, Sally Morrow Creative, Premiere Press, Cambia, Kassab Jewelers, Randall Children’s Hospital, Cindy Thompson Events, Lam Research and Walsh Construction.
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About Girls Inc.
Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest inspires girls, ages six to 18, to be strong, smart, and bold. Our gender-specific programs and research-based curricula provide girls with the confidence and self-esteem to access a bright and economically-independent future. For more information, please visit www.girlsincpnw.org.
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