Portland, May 1st. There’s a nice new trend emerging in the real estate community. Renaissance Homes partnered with the Boys and Girls Club of Portland for a book drive during their Ultimate Open House Tour. Krista Boyd, Amanda Andruss, Randy Sebastian and his daughter, Rachel enjoyed visiting at the food and wine event. Renaissance Homes hosted the special evening event with a chef from Zeppos Restaurant. Guests were asked to bring a book to donate and be entered to win an iPad, courtesy of Directors Mortgage.
Visitors bring books for kids
“We want to be part in giving back to the community in which we serve and inspire others to do the same,” says Renaissance Homes President, Randy Sebastian. “The Boys and Girls Club is a natural fit because we are passionate about meeting the needs of local families.”
One of the new homes featured was at 2446 N Humboldt, in the Overlook neighborhood of Portland.
Mission Statement To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens.
History Since 1946, Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland has been providing thousands of young people throughout the Portland metro area with affordable, high-quality after-school and summer programs designed to help them develop the qualities needed to become responsible citizens and leaders. Our Clubs offer kids what they want most: safe, clean, fun places to go when they’re not in school; caring adults who respect and guide them; and challenging programs that teach them life skills and keep them engaged in productive activities.
Beaverton, April 27th. Fun-loving athletes took to the lanes for “Nike Bowl For Kids’ Sake”. It was a fundraising event to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest. The $158,000 raised is enough to support 132 children matched with a Big Brother or Sister! More than 200 people participated in the bowling event at Sunset Lanes. Chabre Vickers, Big Brothers Big Sisters; and Walter Fuller, Nike, participated in Bowl For Kids’ Sake. Walter, a Big Brother, is also the 2012 National Big Brothers Big Sister champion for the most money raised — hence the “golden pin”. Walter and his team Lanesanity raised over $41,000.
Nike team: The Super Bowlers!!!
Tim Hershey, Nike and Big Brothers Big Sisters board member, stands with his Little Brother Felix in front of a banner displaying their image.
Nike team: The Bearded Wonders
From Big Brothers Big Sisters:
Our mission is to provide children experiencing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.
The Big Brothers Big Sisters vision: all children can achieve success in life. Here’s the proof. National research has shown that positive relationships between children and their Big Brothers and Sisters have a direct and measurable impact on children’s lives. By participating in our programs, Little Brothers and Sisters are:
Portland, April 10th. A Gala Concert spotlighted the ten winners of the 18th annual Young Artists Debut contest. MetroArts Inc. organized the competition. The 10 soloists were selected from an initial pool of 51 entrants. Winners performed with Neil DePonte and an orchestra drawn from the ranks of the Oregon Symphony and Oregon Ballet Theatre orchestras at the Newmark Theatre. (Photo Credit, John Rudoff, M.D.)
Sherry Liang of Happy Valley, Oregon is a 16 year-old pianist and studies with Barbara Parker. Sherry is a junior at Clackamas High School and performed the first movement of the Prokofiev Concerto in C Major, No.3.
Rachel Graves of Vancouver, Washington is a 14 year-old violinist and studies with Clarisse Atcherson. Rachel is a freshman at Mountain View High School and performed Saint-Saens’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso.
Kayla Wilkens of Salem, Oregon is a 21 year-old soprano and studies with Gwen Leonard. Kayla is a senior at Linfield College pursuing a BA in Vocal Performance and is now a two-time winner of the Young Artists Debut! Competition having also performed in the 2008 concert.
Young artists applaud Niel DePonte, the artistic director and conductor.
The event was at the Newmark Theater
Nikolaas Top of Salem, Oregon is a 17 year-old pianist and studies with Harold Gray. Nikolas is a junior at the Veritas School and performed the first movement of Saint-Saens’ Concerto No. 2.
The concert was sponsored by Mr. John VanBuren in support of the children of the Portland, Vancouver communities in pursuing their musical goals.
After this year’s competition, Niel DePonte, who is also music director and conductor for Oregon Ballet Theatre and who has been nominated for a Grammy Award as a concerto soloist himself said, “This is an exciting class of young artists and, on average, one of the youngest we’ve ever had. I look forward to working with them for the next few months and having them make appearances in schools and other venues along the way. They are terrific role models for other children, showing what hard work and determination can achieve.”
MetroArts Inc’s mission is to teach creative and critical thinking processes through innovative arts education programs and curricula.
MetroArts mission consists of three fundamental objectives to support the ideal:
To inspire every participant in the programs to contribute to the culture of their times by doing their life’s work in a creative, artistic, joyful and disciplined manner.
To educate about the arts of all cultures, provide insight into the process of creative thought and experiences with creativity itself. To promote access to the arts through participation, creation and reflection for all.
To create partnerships that enable arts education to thrive in the public schools.
Portland, April 20th. Over 160 guests attended Human Solutions’ 4th Annual “Tonight’s the Night” Auction, presented by R&H Colas Construction. “Tonight’s the Night” raised money to support Human Solutions employment programs for low-income families, as well the agency’s emergency shelter and housing programs. The event was held at the Arista Ballroom on Hawthorne Boulevard. (Photo Credit, Andie Petkus)
Jean DeMaster, Executive Director of Human Solutions and Carole Morse, Community Investment Manager at Portland General Electric
Silent Auction items were popular with guests.
Entertainer, Tony Starlight., brought out the smiles.
Carla Piluso, Board Chair at Human Solutions and Andrew Colas, Principal at R&H/Colas Construction
Human Solutions’ programs offer families a comprehensive continuum of programs designed to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty and help them become self sufficient.
We believe that children are our hope for the future. When we are able to give them a sense of excitement about learning and ensure that their parents have stable employment and housing, we strengthen the community in which we all live.
The programs and services we offer are designed to help families build pathways out of poverty through 4 interconnected approaches.
Homelessness Prevention Services -Emergency shelters and other housing options Safety Net Services -Rent assistance, energy assistance Employment and Economic Development -Job training and placement Housing Development -Affordable housing portfolio and resident services
Need help?
If you are in need of affordable housing, job training, computer classes, eviction prevention, move-in assistance, energy assistance, or other resources to address poverty and/or homelessness, please call 503-548-0200, or 503-405-7875 Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.
Portland, April 25th. Leanne Marshall, (far right) former Portlander and 2008 winner of Project Runway Season 5, showcased her bridal line at a runway show at the Portland Art Museum. Marshall also presented Karina Reed, student designer from the Art Institute of Portland and winner of AniA’s gown design contest, with a $1,000 scholarship from the bridal boutique. Sharice Shepherd, Karina Reed, Morgan Lindberg, and Project Runway Winner Leanne Marshall enjoyed the event. Reed’s winning gown, The Ross Island Bridge, was a highlight of the show. AniA helped Reed by providing the fabrics and pairing her with local designer Jennifer Phillips, owner of “Nicole Couture.”
Selena Borne, Austie Eckley, Julia Platt-Hepworth and Cully Wright
Rosemary Stafford, Sharice Shepherd, Pamela Tan, Noel Mina and Lauren Hill
The runway show drew design students and brides
The high fashion bridal show featured popular local models
There were five themed runway shows and the event featured styling and decorating by Portland wedding designers and vendors.
AniA Collection Bridal Boutique is a couture bridal salon located in downtown Portland.
Portland, April 20th. Supporters of the Children’s Relief Nursery raised over $216,500 at their annual gala. The event featured an Iron Chef competition. Adam Sappington won the top honor for the fourth time by besting Adam Higgs. Higgs was the 2011 Peoples Choice Winner and is the Owner of Acadia Bistro. Schnitzer Steel was represented by: Jamie Wilson, Andy Rohling, Brenda Hein, Isla Wilson, Hasina Squires, Jennifer Hudson, and Pat Christopher
Guests has the chance to sample the offerings of some of the area's best chefs
Winner of the 2012 People’s Choice Award was Rick Widmayer from the restaurant, The Screen Door.
Junior League members volunteered, including: Fran Andrews, Elizabeth Mela, Jennifer Rogers, Meaghan Burns and Lisa Bohman
The event was at the Portland Art Museum
Jerry Erstgaard, Pat Erstgaard, Tracy Schweitzer and Dave Schweitzer
Brian and Alexandra Thomas
Stefani Bloch, Carrie Minns and Julie Laverde
Guests enjoyed the entertainment
Gracielle Kroenke, Dana Gantz and Kate Rohn
Children's Relief Nursery Board Members included: Wayne Pipes from Knowledge Universe, Kelly Schweiger from KGW, Jeff Matthews, The Executive Director, Karen Ward and Board Member, Seth Walker
We provide a range of services that “wrap-around” the family to reduce parental stress and social isolation. We’re teaching parenting skills, strengthening bonds between parents and their babies, providing targeted services, reducing child behavioral problems and improving social-emotional development in very young children.
We believe that by focusing on the social and emotional well-being of the youngest, most vulnerable children, we can strengthen families. We do this at a time when we can have the greatest impact on their lives, when their children are infants through age 4. Our families get the help they need, when they need it, to overcome their difficulties and emerge stronger — as a family. A failed family becomes a burden on the community. A successful one contributes to it. Together, we are making families stronger.
Portland, April 19th. Oregon Ballet Theatre supporters and dancers waltzed into the RingSide Fish House to celebrate the launch of the company’s newest production: Chromatic Quartet. (Photo Credit, Lars C. Larsen) Portland Playhouse actor Damian Thompson, OBT Trustee Neville Wellman and Principal Dancer Xuan Cheng enjoyed the party. Chromatic Quartet is at the Newmark Theatre through April 28th.
Apprentices Thomas Baker, Jordan Kindell, Company Artists Olga Krochik, Michael Breeden, Martina Chavez, Brent Slack-Wolfe and Ashley Dawn
Soloist Lucas Threefoot and Joann Van Ness Menashe
Principal Dancer Alison Roper, Music Director and Conductor Niel DePonte and The Lost Dance composer Owen Belton
Company Artist Grace Shibley with Susie and Dennis OttGuests mingle at the opening night after party for OBT’s Chromatic Quartet program
Soloist Lucas Threefoot, Susie Ott, Dennis Ott, Principal Dancer Brett Bauer, OBT Trustees Cheri Cooley-Hick and Ken Hick
Composer for The Lost Dance, Owen Belton, and NW Dance Project Artistic Director Sarah Slipper at the opening night
OBT Music Director and Conductor Niel DePonte, Executive Director Diane Syrcle and Artistic Director Christopher Stowell
Principal Dancer Haiyan Wu and Company Artist Martina Chavez
Justin Englund, Heidi Koenigsmann, The Lost Dance costume designer Adam Arnold and Jared Best
Retired Principal Dancer and current Artistic Coordinator Anne Mueller, Robert Trotman, Dan Bergsvik, Audience Development Manager Paul Stavish and Company Artist Martina Chavez
Retired Principal Dancer and current Artistic Coordinator Anne Mueller, Ruth Poindexter, Principal Dancer Brett Bauer, Gretchen Alley and Charles Poindexter
Sandy Holmes, The Lost Dance choreographer Matjash Mrozewski and Retired Principal Dancer and current Artistic Coordinator Anne Mueller (Left photo) and Retired Principal Dancer and current Artistic Coordinator Anne Mueller and The Lost Dance costume designer Adam Arnold (on Right)
Principal Dancer Kathi Martuza (right) with OBT Trustee Virginia Sewell and Ivan Gold (center) and guests at the opening night after party for OBT’s Chromatic Quartet program
The next big performance for OBT is Dance United on June 9th.
The 2012/2013 OBT season has also been anounced and includes:
Portland, April 14th. Over 640 guests came to the Oregon Convention Center for St. Mary’s Academy’s 24th Annual Tahitian Blue Auction. The event raised nearly $800,000, the largest amount in the auction’s history. St. Mary’s Academy students Megan Simms, Megan Magsarili, Annamarie White and Kate Brouns volunteered at the auction.
Steve and Annie Diess, Marcy Forman and Keli and Bob Thompson
The event’s success is the culmination of countless hours of planning by volunteers, including the event co-chairs: St. Mary’s Academy alumna Marcy Forman and St. Mary’s parents Keli and Bob Thompson and Annie and Steve Diess. School administrators said, “These five individuals truly modeled the spirit of service and leadership.”
“There was a spirit in the room that was one of hope, optimism and enthusiasm, and all of it came together and resulted in the most successful auction in the 24-year history of this event,” said St. Mary’s Academy President Christina Friedhoff. Proceeds from the auction are critical to the financial strength and ongoing stability of St. Mary’s Academy and benefit the school’s 640 students.
Wes Forman, Marcy Forman and Terry Moore bid for kids.
Another bright moment was Bids for Kids, an opportunity for event goers to donate to the school’s tuition assistance program. Maggie Gardner, a 1998 St. Mary’s Academy graduate who herself received financial aid before going on to attend Harvard University and Harvard Law School, led the appeal. Bids for Kids raised more than $216,000 in support of the 40 percent of St. Mary’s Academy students who receive assistance.
About St. Mary’s Academy:
St. Mary’s Academy is a Catholic high school for young women located in the heart of downtown Portland that provides a challenging college-preparatory education with a focus on developing the whole person. Founded in 1859 by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, St. Mary’s Academy is Oregon’s oldest continuously operating secondary school and offers a supportive learning environment to a diverse student body from more than 30 urban, suburban and rural communities in Oregon and Southwest Washington. It is the only school in the state to have received three Blue Ribbon awards from the U.S. Department of Education. For more information about St. Mary’s Academy, please visit http://www.stmaryspdx.org/
Vancouver, April 12th. More than 400 Clark County community leaders and volunteers gathered at the Vancouver Hilton for a fundraising luncheon benefiting the local Loaves & Fishes Centers. Jan Oliva and Jody Campbell co-chaired the 4th annual spring event which raised more than $186,000. The money will provide hot meals to seniors throughout Clark County. Matching funds from the John Cartales Foundation, the Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund and from the Byrd Family made the total amount possible.
Bruce Murdock, K103 Radio, was the emcee and Susannah Mars, actress and singer and Meals-On-Wheels volunteer, delivered the keynote address.
David Kelly, executive director of Southwest Washington Area Agency on Aging and Disabilities, and Susannah Mars, local singer and actress, shared their experiences with Meals-On-Wheels. Bruce Murdock, K103 morning radio personality, served as master of ceremonies.
New Seasons Market hosted the event. Columbia Credit Union, Regence BlueCross Blue Shield and The Vancouver Fire Fighters Union were presenting sponsors. Additional sponsors included: Alliance Steel Distributors, Beaches Charity Fund, Chevron, Killian Pacific Development, Steve and Jan Oliva, Robertson and Olson Construction, Thompson Metal Fab, Wells Fargo, Gramor Development, and O’Donnell, Clark and Crew. The Columbian was the media sponsor.
About Loaves & Fishes Centers:
Since 1970 Loaves & Fishes Centers has provided a nutritional and social lifeline for seniors through 36 meal sites in Multnomah, Washington and Clark counties and Meals-On-Wheels delivery to homebound seniors. With the help of more than 9,500 volunteers, the nonprofit, secular organization now serves 5,000 meals daily and 1.2 million meals each year. Visit: http://www.FeedSeniors.org
Portland, April 14th. Over two-thousand devil-may-care Portlanders raised the roof on a Pearl District warehouse converted for one of the biggest charity benefits of the spring: The Red Dress Party. The massive event, organized by Red Dress PDX , had revelers on their feet dancing till the wee hours of the morning. Guy Bennette, Scott Ruben, Jan Bennette and Cameron Crook were all smiles at the party. Beneficiaries of the event include: Our House,The Cascades AIDS Project Kids’ Connection, The Quest Center for Integrative Health.
The party was held in a converted Pearl District warehouse at 1415 NW 12th Avenue on NW Quimby
Mitch Brown and Louis Navevrete
Entertainers Betti Crotcher, Misty Meanor and Bambi Dextrous
Natalie Jacobs and Erin Nortrup
Marina, James Dixon and West Duncan
Dan Barker and Rick Lepak
The VIP bar served up festive cocktails
Laurel Lyon, Brenda Kehoe, Mike Troyer, Jim Kehoe and Spanky Hering
Supporters pulled out all the stops with their attire, snapping up almost all of the area's red dresses!
Talitha Wilson, Mamfred Stelz, Patty Stelz and Kassie Snodgrass
Jesse Mason and Red Dress PDX Board President, Brian Wilson
Entertaining bartenders were a hit with the crowd, pictured are: Kiah Lawson, Jeremy Cruz, Daniel Lowe and Luke Kennedy
Entertainment included performance artists and the talented Storm Large.
A history of the event from Red Dress PDX:
75 friends attended our first Red Dress Party in 2001 — although we fully admit that the idea of the Red Dress Party isn’t new and was not ours. Red Dress Runs and Red Dress House parties happen in communities across the country. But something about the party was special, and it left us all wanting more. So we did it again on Super Bowl Eve 2002, and 150 guests join us for more fun and revelry despite the Winter Blast {minor snowstorm} that year.
Having established both interest and demand, organizers began to plan a bigger and better event in 2003 that would help raise money for our friends and neighbors who were living with HIV and AIDS, and for children who were affected by AIDS. Organizers of the popular Alley Productions summer parties offered their vacant grain silo loft warehouse, situated in industrial North Portland, and the Red Dress party was reborn as a community fund-raiser. 325 guests attended that year and organizers donated $3,200 to the Kid’s Connection Program at Cascade AIDS Project.
The 2004 party was dubbed Red Square and 575 patrons created a run on red dresses throughout the city in anticipation of the 4th annual event. Guests traveled from Seattle, Los Angeles, Vancouver B.C. and New York, and net proceeds totaled $10,000. $5,000 was donated to the Kid’s Connection Program at CAP, and $5,000 was donated to the Sexual Minority Resource Center (SMYRC).
For 2005, the party organizers formed a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and secured a larger venue, the Meow Meow Club (now known as the Loveland), a two-story live music venue in Industrial SE Portland. 1,118 guests attended the Red Light District with all the fun and decadence of Amsterdam, and raised $20,000 in proceeds for Our House of Portland and SMYRC.
Organizers chose the theme Red Planet for the 6th annual Red Dress, and 1,598 revelers participated in a party of intergalactic proportions held at the Kalberer industrial warehouse in NE Portland, and $23,000 was donated to three local charities — Our House of Portland, Camp Starlight and the Q Center.
In 2007 the theme was Velvet Rope a tribute to Hollywood glamour. Staged at a smaller venue in Industrial SE (AudioCinema), the sold-out event was attended by 1,025 guests and raised $26,000 for Q Center, Swan House, and Friends of People with AIDS Foundation.
Returning to the Kalberer Warehouse in 2008, organizers staged the biggest event in the party’s history — 1,950 party-goers took a Poseidon adventure on the Red Sea. For the first time, Red Dress featured a live concert courtesy of Storm and The Balls, and former First Daughter Chelsea Clinton was among the guests in attendance. $35,000 was raised for Esther’s Pantry, SHARE, and Outside In.
The 9th Annual Red Dress Party was dubbed Red Eye taking partygoers on a late-night flight to exotic places. 2,002 guests came to the BodyVox Dance Center in NW Portland and raised $30,000 for Esther’s Pantry, Senior Housing and Retirement Enterprises (SHARE), and Outside In.
Organizers chose the theme REDRUM for the 10th annual Red Dress Party, taking place April 17th 2010.
Last year’s theme was RED HOT and now we’re to the 12th Annual Red Dress Party REDemption… End of Days! The event continues to be presented by Red Dress PDX, a charitable not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, which is managed by a 6-member board of directors and supported by an army of volunteers and donors.
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