Portland, October 6th. It felt a bit like Oscar night in Portland as Incight pulled out all the stops for a the star studded “Hooray for Hollywood” gala. At Pure Space in the Pearl District, long-time Incight supporters Charlie and Shawn Engelberg were dead ringers for Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard from Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The fundraiser supports the organization’s mission of empowering people with disabilities to become contributing members of society. More than 330 people attended the 6th annual benefit during which Incight raise more than $180,000, a 20% increase over last year.
Dan Heine, CEO of The Bank of Oswego, along with his wife Roberta are red-carpet ready.
At the center of it all, Vail Horton CEO of Keen Healthcare and Co-Founder of Incight visits with Charlie Hales and his wife, Nancy.
Keynote Speaker, John Register sharing his passionate message about “Hurdling Adversity”.
Dazzling guests with a show-stopping performance at the end of the evening was renowned Cher impersonator, Heidi Thompson, seen here with Incight Executive Director Dan Friess dressed as Rhett Butler from Gone with the Wind.
The words of Yoda, “Do or do not, there is no try” served as the auction theme. Costumes included: Cher, Olivia Newton John, John Travolta, Doc Holiday, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Clark Gable, and Christopher Reeve to name just a few. Sony Bono even made a cameo to cap a milestone evening for Incight.
Sponsored by Safeway and The Standard, the evening celebrated and shared Incight’s year of growth and program expansion successes with their sponsors and donors who make it all possible. All proceeds will support Incight’s education, employment, networking, and independence programs for people with disabilities. Incight believes that everyone can move beyond their boundaries.
Incight also welcomed John Register, a Desert Storm Veteran and Paralympic Athlete, to be the event’s keynote speaker and share his inspiring story of Hurdling Adversity. Incight Executive Director Dan Friess as Master of Ceremonies and Johnna Wells as Auctioneer maintained the energetic atmosphere for an incredible evening not soon to be forgotten.
“We were very humbled by the tremendous outpouring of generosity from those who attended the 2012 Hooray for Hollywood Gala,” said Incight Executive Director Dan Friess. “This event allows us to further address the critical need around improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.”
The Kresge Foundation matched donations up to $25,000 at the event. Kresge has been supporting Incight since 2010 with a grant to increase post-secondary education rates for people with disabilities.
About Incight: Incight was founded in 2004 by Vail Horton, CEO of Portland-based KEEN Healthcare Company, along with Scott Hatley, with the dream of changing two statistics: increase the 16% education attainment of Americans with disabilities and decrease the 76% unemployment rate. They collaborated on the creation of a program that would, ultimately, affect these statistics.
Incight’s mission is to cause the success of education, employment, networking, and independence for people with disabilities. Through all this, Incight’s main goal is achieved; empower people with disabilities to become contributing members of society. Since its inception, Incight has awarded 619 college scholarships, developed 25 scholarship match partnerships at area universities, created 132 jobs and internships, hosted 500 job seekers at employment events, distributed 6,000 college resource guidebooks, served 2,900 plus through Incight Events/trainings and in 2011 received the Spirit of Portland Award. For more information about Incight, visit www.incight .org.
Portland, October 6th. My Voice Music supporters celebrated four years of using music to help underserved youth cope, heal and thrive. (Photo Credit, Robert Delahanty) Held at Union Pine in Southeast Portland, the event raised $18,000 for My Voice Music’s vital services, including rock camps, songwriting workshops and artist mentorship programs. Over 200 supporters attended and enjoyed performances of original songs by My Voice Music’s students, along with food from Caffe Mingo and Industry Fare.
Ian Mouser, Founder and Executive Director of My Voice Music, inspires the crowd
The silent auction featured nearly 100 packages, including a weeks accommodations in San Francisco, passes to MusicFest NW and autographed merchandise from the Decemberists and the Portland Timbers
Megan Johnson and Colleen Sorensen
Trent Finlay and Brian Alfrey
Lindsay and Austen Pitchlynn
Tricia Snell and David Clingan
The event was generously sponsored by Cambia Health Solutions, Oregon Music News, KZME, Majestic Fine Wines, New Belgium Brewing, Rock Bottom Brewery, and Caffe Mingo.
My Voice Music engages underserved youth in music and performance to promote social and emotional development. Our programs empower students to use music to cope, heal and thrive. Through partnerships with local alternative schools and other nonprofit agencies, we provide free music programs in areas where needs are high but funding for services is low. All of our programs are provided for free, or at a “pay what you can afford” rate, to youth and their families.
Tigard, October 13th. Medical Teams International supporters celebrated in style at the Great Adventure Auction where 600 guests, and the hard work of 180 volunteers, helped raise $1.43 million dollars. Medical Teams International CEO Jeff Pinneo with wife Janey had the chance to welcome guests to the 7th annual event. Ororganizers say more than 470,000 people around the world will be helped, thanks to the generosity of donors. The funds will be put to use for programs that help save and improve lives in areas of the world most affected by disaster, poverty and conflict.
“The compassion and generosity demonstrated at the Great Adventure Auction was truly overwhelming,” said Jeff Pinneo, CEO of Medical Teams International. “We are grateful for this blessing of support that allows us to effectively serve suffering people affected by disaster, conflict and poverty.”
Emcee Matt Zaffino of KGW and Auction Chair Phil Lane of Lexus of Portland draw the winning raffle ticket for a Lexus sedan
Pat Reser and Dr. Tom Martin tell about their recent travel with MTI to Uganda
singer Julianne Johnson-Weiss dazzles the crowd with her soulful voice
From Medical Teams International:
Medical Teams International is a Christian global health organization, demonstrating the love of Christ to people affected by disaster,conflict and poverty. We deliver medical and dental care, humanitarian aid, and holistic development programs to all people in need, regardless of religion, nationality, sex, or race. We respond to disasters around the world—and here at home—by sending teams of volunteer medical professionals and medical supplies to care for the sick and injured. We also mobilize long-term health promotion initiatives, collaborating with established partners within each community to ensure that our programs have a sustainable impact.
Formerly Northwest Medical Teams, Medical Teams International was founded in 1979 by Oregon businessman Ron Post. Since 1979, we have sent more than 2,200 volunteer teams and shipped more than $1.5 billion in lifesaving medical supplies around the world.
Last year alone, we helped more than 2.1 million people in 72 countries.
Medical Teams International delivers personal hygiene and medical items to 70 social service agencies in the northwest. These agencies received $1,136,125 in humanitarian aid during the 2011 fiscal year. The list of agencies is on our Pacific Northwest Partners page.
Here’s a video of the work of the nonprofit: Two volunteers tell personal stories of how their faith inspired action that is making an impact in the lives of people suffering in Uganda. This video was shown at the Great Adventure Auction.
Portland, October 5th. Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (OCOM) supporters celebrated the grand opening of their new campus in Portland’s historic Old Town Chinatown with a public ribbon-cutting ceremony. On hand to celebrate were Scott Dunbar, Gretchen Horton, Dr. Hong Jin, and Glenn Fee.
OCOM’s relocation to downtown from outer Southeast Portland marks an historic moment in the life of the college. The new campus, a LEED Gold certified renovation of the 100-year-old former Globe Hotel/Import Plaza, nearly doubles the college’s square footage, allowing OCOM to educate more acupuncture and Oriental medicine master’s and doctoral students each year.
Anne Naito-Campbell
Charlies Hales, Dennis Mulvihill, Olivia Clark
Anne Naito-Campbell, Brad Malsin (Beam Development), Master He Liu (OCOM), Sam Chase (Metro/CCHC), Sandra McDonough (Portland Business Alliance), Nichole Maher (Northwest Health Foundation), Scott Andrews (PDC), Peter Martin (OCOM), Dr. William Keppler (OCOM), Dr. Min-hua Wu (Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Dr. Hong Jin (OCOM), Dr. Qin Liu (Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Alex Stark
Pam Welch (OCOM Trustee), Eileen Frack (OCOM Trustee), Stephen Voorhees
The new campus also supports the expansion of clinic services, research efforts, public programs and community wellness activities, and brings nearly 400 students, faculty, staff and patients into the revitalized Old Town Chinatown.
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Founded in 1983, Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (OCOM) is a single-purpose professional graduate school that offers two specialized degree programs — Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MAcOM) and Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM). OCOM’s mission and vision is the transformation of health care through the application of Acupuncture and Oriental medicine (AOM).
Portland, October 21st. The 53rd Annual ACF Chef of the Year Awards Dinner was a delicious event at the Portland Hilton. Timberline’s retired Executive Chef, Leif Eric Benson, won the Chefs de Cuisine’s top award. Chef Benson is the only member to received the honor twice, in 1986, and now in 2012. He encourages others to stay involved, “Your experience and knowledge is always needed and appreciated.”
MC Chef JD Thomas, CEC presenting the Chef of the Year Trophy to Chef Benson with Chapter President Executive Chef Anthony Danna, CEC, AAC
You can find Chef Benson occasionally on TV, special food events or overseas representing and demonstrating food products or styles of cooking when he isn’t consulting. Chef Benson is known as the Culinary Ambassador to Oregon and has the distinction of being the 2010 Chef of the Year for the State of Oregon and the 2012 Chef of the Year for the Oregon Beef Council.
MC Chef JD Thomas, CEC, Executive Chef Leif Benson, CEC, AAC, Retired Chef/Instructor Roy John Sharp, CEC and Chapter President Executive Chef Anthony Danna, CEC, AAC
Portland Hilton Hotel Executive Chef and Chapter Board Member Brian Siegel, CEC, CCA
Ray & Suzanne Gardner
Judith & Joseph Gonzales, FMP
Ms. Polly Summer and Chapter President Executive Chef Anthony Danna, CEC, AAC
Janet and Mike Speer, Patty and Barry Corno both gentlemen are past recipients of the Purveyor of the Year Award.
Jack “Dewey” and Debra Drorbaugh (past recipient of Purveyor of the Year Award)
Chef Ken Dubane and student assistant from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Portland – Sautéed Shrimp-Crab-Mussels-Calamari-Clams Bouillabaisse, Blue Cheese & Endive, Baby Iceberg Salad and Couscous.
Chef Silvia Mejia – Living Salad Bar: Featuring Baby Head Lettuces cut to order w/Assorted House Dressings and Toppings
Chef Lucas Morales – Brasied Calamari, Porchetta w/Rosemary Jus, Shaved Fennel and Red Onion Salad, Polenta w/Acorn Squash and Pecorino.
Chapter Appreciation Award winners
Special Chapter Presidential Award to Joe Graziano Sr. accepted by his daughter Mary Jo Graziano
President Anthony Danna presenting Chef JD Thomas his plaque to keep for being the 2011 Chef of the Year recipient.
The ACF Chefs de Cuisine Society of Oregon past chefs of the year, nominate candidates who meet the criteria and excel in the culinary profession and in volunteerism for the chapter. The winner of the local Chef of the Year will represent the chapter at the Regional Chef of they Year Competition. If he wins he will go to the National Convention and compete for the National title.
Three other awards given were:
Charles Altorfer Professionalism Award –Retired Chef/Instructor Roy John Sharp, CEC
Chef Sharp retired as a culinary instructor after 30+ years of service, has been a member of ACF Chefs de Cuisine Society of Oregon for over 47 years. Chef Sharp is a CIA (Culinary Institute of America) graduate class of 1956. Chef Sharp is married to Carol and is a snowbird between Oregon and Arizona.
Chef Emeritus – Retired Executive Chef Hans-Joachim Heyer
Chef Heyer has been a chapter member for over 40 years. Chef Heyer has owned and operated his own restaurant before retirement.. Chef Hans is currently in Europe with his family and regrets not being able to attend our Chef of the Year Awards Dinner.
Jack Cervetto Memorial Purveyor of the Year –Mr. Steven Edwards of the Portland French Bakery – Portland, Oregon
Since 1985 Portland French Bakery has been servicing the Portland Area with their concept of seven-day-a-week delivery of handcrafted breads, old fashioned fresh baked breads relying on a 120 year old sourdough starter. Portland French Bakery has always assisted our Chapter whenever and whatever our needs are.
From ACF Chefs de Cuisine Society of Oregon, Inc.
We are a non-profit chapter of the American Culinary Federation, established in 1950 celebrating 62+ years of service. Membership is made up of chefs, purveyors and students dedicated to the profession of food preparation, hospitality, fine dining, competition and certification. Goal and objectives are achieved through community projects, volunteerism and reaching out to all those connected with the food industry.
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