Portland, March 7th, 2015. The 31st Annual Classic Wines Auction (CWA) raised almost $3.2 million for charities in Portland and southwest Washington. Former New England Patriots Quarterback and Proprietor of Doubleback Winery, Drew Bledsoe, was bidding during the live auction. More than 875 people attended the event at the Oregon Convention Center. Fundraising from this year’s auction, and related events, benefit five charity partners dedicated to helping youth and families in the metro area: Metropolitan Family Service, New Avenues for Youth, Friends of the Children-Portland, YWCA Clark County and Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel.
Roger Hinshaw with Classic Wines Auction Main Sponsor, Bank of America, enjoys the evening with his wife Margaret and fellow Auction guest, Starla Goff
Speakers representing Classic Wines Auction charity partners, Metropolitan Family Service (MFS), New Avenues for Youth, Friends of the Children, YWCA Clark County and Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel pose in front of the BMW i8 before taking the stage
Chris Hermann, Classic Wines Auction Board Chair, is congratulated after placing the top bid for the highly coveted 2015 BMW i8 hybrid sports car
Auction guest Joe Aholt celebrates after an exhilarating live auction battle to win the second BMW i8. Thanks to presenting sponsor Kuni Automotive, two BMW i8 cars were auctioned off
Classic Wines Auction Executive Director Heather Martin (far left), poses with the 2015 Auction Co-Chairs (left to right) DJ Wilson, Peggy Maguire and Greg Goodwin
Auction guests toasted to another successful year and helped raise nearly $3.2 million to benefit children and families
The 2015 Classic Wines Auction Honorary Wine Ambassadors (left to right), Tony LeBlanc from Silver Oak (Calif.), Chris Mazepink from Archery Summit (Ore.), Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta from Sassicaia (Italy), and Drew Bledsoe from Doubleback Winery (Wash.)
Auction guests enjoyed wine tastings from more than 50 producers during the tasting reception, as well as chef presentations from six guest chefs representing some of Portland’s top restaurants
“With support from our incredible sponsors, donors, charity partners, winemakers and volunteers, we are able to significantly impact the lives of over 82,000 children and families in our community who are in need,” said CWA Executive Director Heather Martin.
Auction fundraising totals were announced on the heels of Wine Spectator releasing its annual list of the Top 10 Charity Wine Auctions in the country. The prestigious list is made up of major auctions from around the country, including events in Napa Valley and Sonoma.
“We are delighted to be recognized by Wine Spectator as one of the top ten charity wine auctions in the country. It’s a tribute to the generosity of our supporters and the importance of our fundraising efforts,” Martin added.
A wide range of packages, vintage wines and international excursions were auctioned off during the course of the evening. Following in the footsteps of the previous year, Kuni Automotive and Kuni BMW again donated two BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports cars. Two bidders in Portland each paid $160,000 for the cars, raising $320,000.
Other auction items included a luxury trip to Tuscany; wine tasting tours in France and Germany; trips to Pebble Beach, Calif., Whitefish, Mo., and the U.S. Open; and a heli-skiing vacation in the Canadian Rockies, among other packages.
Next year’s auction is scheduled for Saturday, March 5, 2016.
About Classic Wines Auction:
Consistently recognized as one of the top ten charity wine auctions in the country by Wine Spectator, the Classic Wines Auction has raised more than $36 million for Portland-area charities since its inception in 1982. Based in Portland, Ore., First Growth Children and Family Charities is a nonprofit organization dedicated to producing the Classic Wines Auction and related food and wine events to raise funds for local charities benefiting children and families, including: Metropolitan Family Service (MFS), New Avenues for Youth, Friends of the Children-Portland, YWCA Clark County and Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel. For more information about the Classic Wines Auction and each of its annual fundraising events, visit www.classicwinesauction.com.
Portland, March 14, 2015. A Night On The Town raises more than $115,000 for Young Audiences of Oregon & SW Washington. Auctioneer John Glines kicked off the live auction with a dessert package of 3 bottles of Veuve Cliquot and a chocolate cake prepared by Carrie Merrill, the pastry chef at Toro Bravo. The
Portland-based nonprofit provides arts in education to more than 80,000 K-12 students each year.
Emcee Adam Bjaranson, the TV studio host of the Portland Trail Blazers, followed a welcome by Isabella Trinchero, a 12-year-old who has participated in Young Audiences programming for years. Bjaranson talked about how becoming a father was a turning point for his understanding of the importance of art in the lives of young people.
Keith Daly celebrates upon winning the Golden Ticket — which raised $10,000 and secured Keith a venue for his upcoming wedding reception.
The Patrick Lamb Band provided the soundtrack to a festive, successful evening.
City Commissioner Nick Fish also took to the stage with Executive Director Cary Clarke, reprising a reading of a proclamation by Mayor Charlie Hales the preceding Wednesday declaring March 15 to 21 to be Young Audiences Arts for Learning Week.
Commissioner Nick Fish thanked Cary Clarke for championing the arts first at City Hall, and now as Young Audiences’ Executive Director.
Throughout the evening, guests gave generously through live and silent auctions, and during a rousing paddle raise. Cheers rang out when Isabella drew the winning Golden Ticket (which helped raise $10,000 for youth arts!) Golden Ticket winners Keith Daly and new fiancé Jake Goage, selected a private party at Holocene as their auction prize – for just $200, and just three weeks after their engagement, they’ve secured a venue and party planner for their upcoming wedding reception!
The reception featured music by the Patrick Lamb Band, who kicked up their energy levels to close the program and extend the evening with dancing.
Young Audiences of Oregon & SW Washington inspires young people and expands their learning through the arts.
Portland, February 27th, 2015. Ride Connection held its annual fundraiser and auction, Going Places, at the Oregon Zoo, raising $52,000 for accessible transportation in the area. Sabine Wild and Leslie Foren celebrated a win during the ‘Heads and Tails’ competition.
Elaine Wells (Ride Connection Executive Director), Eileen Concannon, Kevin Concannon (USDA Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services), Claire Potter, (TriMet Senior Operations Analyst)
Ride Connection is a non-profit working with community partners to provide transportation for older adults and people with disabilities. It was at the event that the organziation honored Executive Director, Elaine Wells, for 25 years of service to Ride Connection. The event drew 200 people and sponsors included Fred Meyer, Providence Health & Services, Creative Bus Sales, Dragonfly Greetings & Gifts, Holst Architecture, Housing Development Center, Pacific Continental Bank, Polar Systems, Roeder & Company, and Terwilliger Plaza.
Elaine Wells receives an award from Allison Stoll, honoring her 25 years of dedicated, passionate service to Ride Connection.
Ride Connection and its network of partners serve individuals in Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties with customer-focused, safe, reliable transportation options.
Woodburn, April 4th, 2015. Hundreds gathered to celebrate spring at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm and kids of all ages jumped at the chance to hunt for Easter Eggs.
Labradors from Guide Dogs for the Blind delighted crowds with their bunny ears.
The farm also hosts a nondenominational Sunrise Easter Service which draws hundreds, including hot air balloonists.
Balloons lift off as morning breaks each Easter.
The service is a local tradition.
From the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm:
Our family farm began in 1950 with the marriage of Ross and Dorothy and their purchase of the main farm. They worked hard expanding the farm and getting their six children through college.
The Iverson family began growing tulips in 1974. The first tulips belonged to Dr. Holman who would ship part of the bulbs to Indiana every year for forcing. When he retired in the late 1970’s we bought a few acres of bulbs from him.
By the early 1980’s we had over 15 acres and needed to broaden the market base. Seeing this as an opportunity, in 1983 we started the Wooden Shoe Bulb Company which had a name change to Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm in 2001.
In the first few years we printed up black and white order sheets and sales were slow. Then, in 1985, we opened our fields for Easter weekend. The rest you may say is history.
Now we open our fields for an entire month, end of March the first week of May. We have greatly expanded our operation to include taking bulb orders, cut flowers, potted tulips, a gift shop, and all sorts of food and activities on weekends for all members of the family.
The farm is located about 30 miles south of Portland in Woodburn at 33814 S Meridian Rd, Woodburn, OR 97071
Portland, March 14th, 2015. Edison High School hosted 280 guests at the Sentinel Hotel for the 2015 Brilliance Benefit including Brenda Samola and Frank Foti. The evening generated over $240,000 in revenue which will help support financial aid, technology, and professional development at the school. Edison is the only high school in Oregon and southwest Washington dedicated to students with complex learning differences. The benefit was co-chaired by Jessica and Robert Daughetee.
Heads and Tails winner Florence DiBenedetto (Photo courtesy of Moments By Anne Photography)
Edison board members Verna Bailey and David Carter (Photo courtesy of Moments By Anne Photography)
Edison board member Sharon Robbins, Edison supports Jan Mitchell and Patty Farrell and Edison board member Sandi McDonough (Photo courtesy of Moments By Anne Photography)
Edison board members Jim Kilpatrick and Patrick Becker, wife Tabitha Becker and Edison Director Patrick Maguire (Photo courtesy of Moments By Anne Photography)
2015 Brilliance Benefit co-chairs Robert and Jessica Daughetee with son Holden Daughetee (Photo courtesy of Moments By Anne Photography)
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