Portland, March 17th. Over 300 guests gathered at the Governor Hotel for Thomas A. Edison High School’s Brilliance Benefit. Supporters Jeff and Sandy Jones and Anne and Mario Bisio enjoyed the silent auction. All proceeds from the gala dinner and auction benefited Thomas A. Edison, the only high school in Oregon and southwest Washington dedicated to students with complex learning differences. (Photo Credit, Andie Petkus) The evening generated over $200,000 to support financial aid, technology, and professional development at the school.
Thomas A. Edison High School students Sophie Bottom and Michael Kilpatrick show their St. Patrick’s Day spirit while volunteering at the Brilliance Benefit.
A talented young bagpiper lead supporters into the ballroom for dinner
Thomas A. Edison High School parents William and Toni Kiefel chaired the Brilliance Benefit.
The silent auction featured lovely artwork
The Governor Hotel
Koleen Hall, Business Manager for Thomas A. Edison, and her husband, Jeff Hall, the Theatre Director at Jesuit High School and The Young People's Theatre Project
From Thomas Edison High School:
Thomas A. Edison is the only high school in Oregon and Southwest Washington dedicated to serving students with complex learning differences. Our work here is powerful and profound: helping every student reach his or her full potential.
As a small, private high school, Thomas A. Edison offers an individualized curriculum that meets each student’s special needs, and maximizes the ability to learn. We also provide the emotional support that builds confidence and maturity. By empowering students with learning differences to experience academic success and personal growth, Edison does more than prepare teens for the future. We change lives.
Portland, March 10th. The Neil Diamond tribute band, Super Diamond, provided the toe-tapping sound for Robison Jewish Health Center at Cedar Sinai Park benefit. At The Nines Hotel, Taylor Goodman poses with event co-chairs Christi Goodman and Michelle Gradow.
Lisa and Linda Tillman celebrate as does Marty Zell
Supporters raised nearly $130,000 at the event, from both sponsorships and individual donations during the Mitzvah Moment paddle raise.
Staff and friends with Robison resident Trudy Madsen at Super Diamond
Milt Carl and Gerel Blauer at Super Diamond
Michelle Gradow with parents Stan and Bev Eastern at Super Diamond
Super Diamond takes the stage
From the Robison Jewish Health Center at Cedar Sinai park:
Mission
Cedar Sinai Park provides residential and community-based care to our elders and adults with special needs, allowing them to live with comfort, independence and dignity in a manner and in an environment based on Jewish values.
Cedar Sinai Park, a nonprofit organization, is committed to delivering a broad-based continuum of care that can be tailored to individuals’ unique needs. Active consumer choice and a person-centered approach to care are at the heart of our mission. Our service delivery and development is about recognizing that people, including our eldest and most frail citizens, have the right to control decisions made about their lives. Our strategic goal is to seek and implement new ways to support those decisions.
Portland, March 25th. An original play created by Miracle Theatre Group,” Jardín de Sueños” (Garden of Dreams) is on stage at the Milagro Theatre at 525 SE Stark Street. The nonprofit is dedicated to the Hispanic arts and community and has introduced a host of new performers, opportunities, and diverse artists to the local arts scene. (Photo Credit, Russell Young)
Pablo Saldana and Gabriela Dipascuale in Miracle Theatre Group’s production of “Jardín de Sueños” (Garden of Dreams),
Miracle’s outreach initiatives serve the underprivileged, at-risk youth, and under-served communities and individuals throughout the Northwest. Miracle has also utilized its artistic capacity and resources to collaborate with local and regional human and social service agencies to assist them in addressing important issues impacting health, education and cultural sensitivity.
Siumara Samayoa, Gabriela Dipascuale, Rosa Cristobal and Juan Antonio Martínez in Miracle Theatre Group’s production of “Jardín de Sueños” (Garden of Dreams),
Here’s more about the production:
Imagine the impossible, the magnificent, the terrifying … Like a garden of dreams, folktales are filled with legendary creatures who lead us down the paths of discovery. For some, it’s about love; for others, it’s about knowledge. For young Cristina, it’s about listening to her heart and finding her voice. Cristina is about to finish high school and go to college, and she needs all the support she can get. But her family is distracted by the technology of modern life, from cell phones and text messages to bills and budgets. They are all too busy to listen. But when Cristina enters a dream world, she encounters several familiar characters from Latino folklore — the jaguar, the armadillo, and the daughter of the Sun God, among others — who not only help her speak her mind, but give her the confidence to face her future.
Siumara Samayoa and Pablo Saldana in Miracle Theatre Group’s production of “Jardín de Sueños” (Garden of Dreams),
JARDÍN DE SUEÑOS
Written by Sofia May-Cuxim, based on text by Pablo Jiménez and Teatro Español, Directed by Nelda Reyes,
Sponsored by Sterling Savings Bank, Oregon Cultural Trust, National Endowment for the Arts, The Oregonian and the Consulate of Mexico in Portland
Presented in Spanish with easy-to-follow supertitles in English
WHEN: MARCH 22-APRIL 14, 2012 Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. Sundays at 2 p.m.
WHERE: MILAGRO THEATRE, 525 SE Stark Street, Portland, Oregon 97214
ADMISSION: $10 – $29; discounts for students, seniors, groups of 15+ and advance purchases
Tickets can be purchased from on line or by calling 503-236-7253
From The Miracle Theatre Group: We offers you an experience unlike anything else around. See one show, and you’ll have crossed the border to another culture; see a whole season, and you’ll have traveled the globe. Where else can you see live performances of a play by Federico García Lorca in Spanish with English supertitles? Or observe Portland’s longest-running (and bilingual) Day of the Dead celebration? From Afro-Cuban dance theatre to Argentine novelas, from Golden Age classics to world premieres of new work, you’ll find that performances at El Centro Milagro are always vivacious and visually stunning. We believe in experimentation informed by tradition; thinking creatively and acting collaboratively; being irreverent but never irrelevant. We entertain; we give you pause to think, feel and imagine; and, through the cultural lens of latinidad, we embrace the full spectrum of humanity.
Portland, March 22nd. Friends and nonprofit leaders raised a glass in at Paragon Restaurant to toast the announcement of a special award to be given by PortlandSocietyPage.com. The “Bright Spot Award” is the heartfelt recognition of an event which captures the imagination of our PortlandSocietyPage.com readers. On hand for the announcement were Elizabeth English, Henry Hillman, Nancy Frisch, KINK’s Sheila Hamilton, Jill Schnitzer Edelson, and PortlandSocietyPage.com Editor, Elisa Klein.
Jeri Beck (Royal Rosarians, Make-A-Wish, and Hollywood Theater) Gary Rawson and Chabre Vickers from Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest
The Bright Spot Award is an on-line contest where our readers will select their favorite story by giving a “Thumbs Up” for articles. Each story we post has as a “like” button at the bottom. Just press that button and you’ve voted. There’s an ongoing tally which can be seen on the right-hand side of the page. All stories will be considered, even if you dig one up in our extensive archives.
Amber Hinsvark, Cara Chance, Denise Gooding
The evening included a drawing for two outstanding cultural events. Special thanks to the Oregon Symphony and the Portland Opera for their generous donation.
Drawing winners included Stacy Blumberg from DePaul Treatment Center and Austin Buchhholtz the Web Designer for PortlandSocietyPage.com
Lee Doss and Sheri Anderson
Austin Buchholtz, Elisa Klein, Sheila Hamilton and Mike Paulsen from the MS Society, Oregon
Dana Robinson and Kathy Yoder
Matt Kayser and Lori DeYoung
Jim Morse, Dave Heide and Elisa Klen
Paragon Restaurant's Private Event space in the Pearl District was warm and welcoming with exceptional artwork and delicious food!
KINK's Sheila Hamilton and her husband Colin Maclean
Nancy Frisch, Elizabeth English and Amber Hinsvark
Jennifer Field and Elisa Klein
Prizes for the winner of the “Bright Spot Award” will include:
A non-event feature story on PortlandSocietyPage.com. The winning charity will have the opportunity to highlight any aspect of its operation: special projects, an outstanding volunteer or board member. The choice is theirs.
The winner will also receive a free banner ad for an upcoming special event.
Additionally, there is a cash prize! Each vote cast for the winning article on PortlandSocietyPage.com will be equal to 50-cents cash, up to a total of a $1,000 donation to the winning nonprofit.
The winner will be announced at the PortlandSocietyPage.com anniversary party.
Many thanks to Paragon for the wonderful hospitality. Contact Andre’a Delyria, Paragon’s Private Dining Manager for more information on how to use use the restaurant’s lovely private dining space for your next function! andrea@paragonrestaurant.com
About PortlandSocietyPage.com: PortlandSocietyPage.com
Launched six month ago on September 30th, 2011, as a free public platform for nonprofit news, PortlandSocietyPage.com is thriving. We’ve posted 147 articles and featured over 130 different local charities. The site has had nearly 40,000 page views! We have the most comprehensive nonprofit event calendar in our area. Going forward we plan to continue our outreach to the nonprofit community asking for event information and photos. We’re also looking for advertisers! Please let us know if you’d like to reach our terrific readers with your marketing message! The PortlandSocietyPage.com website has additional information about this opportunity. Here’s a link: http://www.portlandsocietypage.com/advertise/
Portland, March 17th. Catholic Charities Annual Celebration drew 1,ooo people who were moved to help local children and families in need. Supporters donated nearly $770,000, making the event was the most successful to date for the Oregon nonprofit. Honorary Chairs were Leslie and Mark Ganz, with Chairpersons Chris and Kimra Corrado
Catholic Charities Executive Director Pietro Ferrari addresses the large crowd
The evening was hosted by Archbishop of Portland Reverend John G. Vlazny and Catholic Charities Executive Director Pietro Ferrari.
The St. Patrick’s Day event was held at the Oregon Convention Center, raising more than one-third of the operating dollars needed to support Catholic Charities programs which include women; at-risk infants and children; pregnant teens; low-income people in need of affordable housing, counseling; victims of domestic violence, and low-income immigrants and refugees.
Catholic Charities Executive Director Pietro Ferrari opened the evening’s program, remarking he felt honored to attend the 15th Annual Celebration for the first time as leader of the organization. “What I love about our work at Catholic Charities is that it provides us with a daily chance to cultivate our solidarity in justice, mercy and compassion for the poor that naturally emanates from our hearts,” said Ferrari.
The Annual Celebration was presented by Providence Health and Services. “Tonight is all about blessings. The blessings our services bring to the poor and vulnerable, the blessings our clients bring to those who are privileged to touch their lives, and the blessings you bring by making the work of Catholic Charities possible,” Kimra Corrado said, addressing the audience before introducing a dramatic presentation by a group of Catholic Charities staff members who shared experiences of their clients: a refugee family resettled from Nepal, a mother who chose adoption for her baby on Christmas Eve, a woman who found refuge after fleeing domestic abuse, a student in need of academic support, and a woman that was given an apartment after living on Portland streets for several months.
Chris Corrado remarked that the clients the audience had just learned about represent their neighbors who might otherwise be unknown, forgotten or marginalized people who have shown courage emerging from despair and humiliation into the hope and light of Catholic Charities. “These clients are not just a case number; they are someone, a mother, a brother, a daughter, a sister, and the unborn. They are not in some far away land; they are right around the corner, down the street, maybe next door. Remember what Jesus teaches: ‘Whatever you do for the least of your neighbor, you do for me.’ And lest you ask: ‘who is my neighbor?’ Now you know,” he said.
The audience was challenged to support its neighbors with matching gifts challenges from Mark and Leslie Ganz, Regence, Natt and Karen McDougall, the Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund and Brian and Maureen Smoluch.
The evening’s entertainment was bookended with the sounds of Kells Irish Pipe and Drum and the Celtic music of St. James’ Gate.
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