Portland, January 1st. Legacy Hopewell House Hospice on S.W. Capitol Highway held a celebration of life in support of families. Elizabeth Moulton, her granddaughter Elke Neuenschwander and Elke’s mother Patty Neuenschwander display their luminaries. (Photos by Andie Petkus) Elizabeth is a Hopewell House volunteer, retired Legacy Health nurse, and daughter of former patient Virginia Van Winkle.
University of Portland Nursing Student and Hopewell House volunteer Christie Schleich lighting a luminary.
The goal of Hopewell House is to provide compassionate, competent care for hospice patients and their families and friends. It serves those who are experiencing severe pain, intractable nausea, seizures, depression, respiratory distress, or other conditions that the patient’s family is unable to cope with. Round-the-clock medical care emphasizes symptom management and support for the whole person.
The Hopewell house following the lighting of the luminaries
Each luminary has special signifance
Luminaries light up the stairway in front of the house. A former patient once described the image as a picture of what Hopewell House does. She said, “We are all on a path to the Light. The way may be dark at times, but the luminaries represent the ‘angels’ who serve us and help us on our way.”
The Portland Jewish Academy’s 50th Anniversary auction raised about $400,000 for the school. Auction Co-Chairs were Barb Anderman, Sandy Nemer, and Amara Norman. The event also offered an opportunity to honor the Zidell family for its enduring support of the school. The aution took place on December 11th.
Min Zidell for whom the main PJA building is named.
Jay Zidell, Diane Zidell, and Stan Rosenfeld
Marc Blattner, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland of which Portland Jewish Academy is a constituent agency.
Walt and Pam Pellett, owners of City Liquidators and friends of PJA.
From the Portland Jewish Academy:
Our auction is PJA’s most important fundraiser, because it benefits our scholarship fund and provides essential operating support. Over half of PJA students receive some scholarship support, which reflects our diverse student body. Demand for financial assistance continues to increase, in response to today’s economic climate. Your support will ensure the continued growth and success of PJA and the education of our children in the Middot (fundamental values) we hold dear – study, appreciation, respect, responsibility, community and Jewish identity.
Through your continued support, PJA has educated hundreds of capable and confident students who have strong values. Our alumni are leaders, deep thinkers, active community members and achievers.
Founded in 1961 as Hillel Academy, the first class had 26 students in grades 3-6. Now, 50 years later, we have over 325 children enrolled in our infant toddler program, preschool, lower school and middle school. As we educate more of our community’s children, the auction’s impact becomes even greater.
January 12th. Coordinators from the American Lung Association are recruiting Mountain Climbers. They hosted a meeting at the Clackamas REI to answer questions about their big event: Climb for Clean Air/Reach the Summit. It’s a mountaineering training and fundraising program benefiting the American Lung Association.
Funds raised by participants will support the American Lung Association of the Mountain Pacific’s mission of saving lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease.
Participating climbers are given the training needed to successfully summit some of the region’s mountains ( Mt. Hood, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams or the Grand Teton) while working with the American Lung Association to raise awareness and funds for the nonprofit’s programs and research.
Andrea Fidel climbed Mt. Hood last year for the program. More than 100 people will summit some of the most breathtaking mountains in America as members of the 2012 Summit team. Most participants will be novice climbers who want to achieve this dream in a team setting with no prior experience raising money for a nonprofit.
Katie Williams
A participant’s story: After her stepfather’s death in August 2004, Katie Williams heard about the this event and climbed Mt. Hood in 2008. In her words: My family has a long history of lung disease and cancer. Both my maternal grandparents died of lung cancer and I myself had lung problems as the result of a smoking habit that began at the very young age of 14. I repeatedly got chronic bronchitis every year, which made it very difficult to breathe. It wasn’t until after both my mother’s parents died of lung cancer and my own progressive problems that I decided to quit at age 24, and never went back. In addition to this both my husband Jim and I have lost our moms to cancer and a very close friend of my stepdaughter suffers from asthma. It’s all around us and I am committed to doing something to make a difference. My motivation to make this climb is the memory of all our loved ones who are suffering or have lost their battle with these debilitating diseases, and raising funds and awareness for the American Lung Association. My climb was truly a “mountain top” experience and one I will never forget.
Team
Statistics:
Raised over $4 million for the American Lung Association
The average fundraising amount is $3,928 per participant
53% female to 47% male team ratio
Barb Jenkins who scaled Mt. Hood with the program several years ago explaines,” Reach The Summit was a life-changing experience for me. I have made great friends and been on many adventures that I never thought possible before I climbed with the American Lung Association.”
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, the Broadway musical, is coming to Portland’s Keller Auditorium February 14-19th. Based on the Academy Award-winning animated film, this production has won over 35 million people worldwide, especially children. It’s a musical love story filled with lavish sets, costumes and grand production numbers including “Be Our Guest” and the popular title song. (Photos by Joan Marcus)
Dane Agostinis as Beast and Emily Behny as Belle.
Broadway Across America’s Beauty and the Beast, is the next production in the Portland Opera’s Broadway Series. Other upcoming shows include: Wicked – March 14th – 8th, Million Dollar Quartet – May 22nd – 27th, and Jersey Boys July 18th – August 12th.
Emily Behny as Belle and the Cast of Beauty and the beast
Portland, January 15th. The Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church was packed for the 6th Annual “Living the Dream” Ecumenical Scholarship Service and Award Ceremony. The historic church honored the memory of the great civil rights leader and the popular angel choir delighted the congregation.
Pastor J.W. Matt Hennessee organized the event
Carole Smith, Portland Public Schools Superintendent, was the featured keynote speaker. Other speakers include Rabbi Michael Cahana, Imam Mohammed Najiev, Multnomah County Commissioner, Loretta Smith, and Pastor David Wheeler.
Community recognition, called “Drum Major Awards” were also presented. The Drum Major Awards are a tribute to the lives and contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King, Yolanda Denise King and Rosa Parks.
A free will offering was collected for scholarship money to help graduating high school students seeking higher education or skill training. Over 40 young people have received a hand up from this scholarship fund in the past.
Bernie Foster of The Scanner News Group received an award
The topic of education was a draw for the event in North Portland
Marking the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday is a tradition in the community church
Esther Carter, Harrison Bletson and Estelle Franklin
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. visited Portland and the leaders of the Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church in 1961
Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church is located at 3138 N. Vancouver Avenue, Portland, OR 97227.
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