Portland, OR. Christmas Ship owners are getting ready to set sail for their 64th year as residents make plans to watch the colorful flotillas during the parade’s 2018 holiday season. The Christmas Ship Parade will launch Friday, November 30th, in North Portland Harbor. The parade will run for 15 nights through Thursday, December 20th. The flotilla has six nights off, so check the Columbia and Willamette River schedules.
The boats, 14 to 65 feet long, are brightly decorated for the holiday season. Up to 60 holiday boats are expected to make up the two fleets. The schedule details for each night list some of the best viewing locations. Sometimes that may be from a shoreline park or it may be from the warmth of a restaurant overlooking the river. On the Willamette, you always have the opportunity to see the ships from a dinner cruise. If you have boat that can run at a speed of at least 6 knots, and you decorate your watercraft, you’re welcome to join the Christmas Ships parade for one night or all nights. To see some of the benefits of joining the parade, visit: Benefits. To sign up, visit: Sign Up.
2018 Columbia & Willamette River Downloadable Parade Schedules:
The privately owned vessels come from Portland, Vancouver, McMinnville, Salem and Hood River areas. Some of the ships owners have been part of Christmas tradition for more than 30 years with many being part of the Christmas Ship fleet for over 20 years. Each skipper is responsible for their own expenses, including fuel and insurance for their vessels over the two weeks. This can run into the hundreds of dollars, which in itself is a testament to the dedication and enthusiasm the Christmas Ship skippers bring to the organization, and the community. The organization accepts donations to help cover the cost of maintaining, managing and promoting the organization, but none of these donations go to the skippers, their crews, or their boats. Christmas Ships, Inc. is an all-volunteer organization, with no paid staff or officers, just a large group of friendly individual volunteers/skippers who give back to the community they love.
All of us from the Christmas Ship group urge your support to keep the Parade afloat. Your donation helps to sustain the parade that sails on the Columbiaand Willamette Rivers annually. Our lighted boats bring holiday spirit to thousands of viewers in the area and a showcase event for your customers and guests.
Our members pay all of their own expenses, from decorations to operating costs. It is a huge time commitment but we all enjoy the Parade season. Donated funds help to defray the cost of administering, maintaining and promoting our non-profit organization. Christmas Ships, Inc. is an all-volunteer organization, there are no paid staff, all donations are returned to the community through the continued existence of the Christmas Ship Parade.
This website is used extensively by our visitors to make reservations for restaurants to watch the Christmas Ship Parade and to plan home parties to view the fleet. Please consider sending your donation today.
We thank you in advance for your help in making this year’s Christmas Parade the best ever. We list our contributors on our Supporters page (unless you choose to remain anonymous).
Christmas Ships, Inc. is a tax exempt organization. EIN #93-1157902
Although we are a non-profit organization (with IRS 501(c)(4) status), we are not a charitable organization. Personal donations are most likely not tax deductible. Please check with your tax professional.
For those that don’t want to donate online (via Paypal), checks can be mailed to:
Christmas Ships, Inc PO Box 55331 Portland, OR 97238-55331
Portland, OR. Design Museum Portland celebrated its fifth birthday with a sea of orange at the Jupiter NEXT space. Over 200 attendees, decked out in their most creative orange, gathered to celebrate Portland’s vibrant design community on November 1st. Attendees included Cassie Williams, Miranda Shum, Paulina Monroy and Talisa Shevavesh. The event raised over $30,000 for future programs.
The Design Museum has no permanent address. Design Museum Foundation a national nomadic network of design museums, producing exhibitions and events in places where people already go. Whether in a gallery, retail environment, public space, or on the web, nonprofit’s programming gives audiences new insights into the design process and the greater social, economic, and environmental contexts.
Shannon Ferrigno, McKenna Barnum, Miranda McCrory, and Laura Knapp
Kathryn Jarrell, Nina Narelle, Katie Augsburger, Yee Won Chong, Ryan Brown, Stephanie Gioia
Attendees enjoyed numerous interactive experiences, including a giant Lite Brite, provided by ACME.
A sponsor called Second Story provided shadow puppets that could be controlled with remote movement.
The lounge spaces were designed by Knoll Studios and the Jupiter NEXT.
From Design Museum:
Design Museum Portland would like to thank all of their guests, sponsors, donors, and volunteers who made the night possible! Get ready for Gala 6 in 2019!
If you want to help support Design Museum Portland’s future programming, please donate to the Annual Fund.
Visit us online and in Boston, MA; Portland, OR; and San Francisco, CA. Interested in having Design Museum Foundation come to you in your city? Let us know!
Portland, OR. Kinship House hosted its third annual Light the Way auction at the Lagunitas Community Room in Northeast Portland. Entertainment was provided by local bluegrass band, The Coffers, and local auctioneer Justin Timm served as an emcee. Executive Director, Natalie Wood, and Development Director, Dennise Kowalczyk served as emcees of the event as well. Kinship House was started in 1996 with a focus on early intervention and long-term successful outcomes for foster children in search of their forever home. (Photo credit, Dennise M. Kowalczyk)
Lagunitas Community Room – 3rd Annual Light the Way Auction
The nonprofit celebrated two Kinship House Heroes: Multnomah County Commissioner Sharon Meieran for her work advocating for those struggling with mental health issues and Deacon Charitable Foundation for its ongoing generosity as a significant supporter. Kinship House raised over $26,000 at the October 6th benefit in support at the gathering.
The Coffers – Local Bluegrass band provided entertainment
From Kinship House:
We are an outpatient mental healthcare provider for foster and adopted children in the Portland metro area. We use a variety of expert, therapeutic approaches in care. Our mission is to champion the successful permanency of each child we care for as we strive to understand their unique stories and needs as they journey to a stable and healthy home.
The sponsors who made the event possible, included: Northwest Bank (presenting sponsor), Care Oregon, MODA, North Rim Commercial Properties, and Perkins & Co., Pamplin Media, FedEx Ground, OnPoint Community Credit Union, Brown & Brown Northwest Insurance, Lincoln Financial Group, OnMark Asset Management and US Bank.
Portland, OR. Fences For Fido sent a volunteer force of 10 people to Oroville, CA to build temporary shelter for dogs and other small animals displaced and rescued from the Camp Fire area. Volunteers shared their firsthand experiences: “Apocalypse is the only word that describes what we observed. There was evidence of immediate evacuation. The stories of water left running and clothes left in foyers because people couldn’t get out fast enough. Whole neighborhoods wiped out where neighbors and friends once shared life and children played.”
Working with North Valley Animal Disaster Group, volunteers left Portland November 19th. Fences For Fido constructed outdoor enclosures and exercise pens to safely confine dogs and other small animals until they are reunited with their families or moved to local area shelters. (In the past nine years, Fences For Fido has unchained over 1600 dogs in NW Oregon, central Oregon and SW Washington.)
“Our hearts are with the people and animals affected by the fires in California. We know first-hand that helping pets is helping people. When people have lost everything in life, their pets offer that sense of hope and comfort. Pets are a part of our family unit, and we are hopeful that our volunteer crew of experienced fence builders will help bring some relief to the immense suffering caused by the fire,” said Kelly Peterson, co-founder of Fences For Fido and board member emeritus.
Fences For Fido also delivered food and feeding supplies for pigs, chickens, and rabbits also displaced or injured from the fires.
About Fences For Fido:
Founded in 2009, Fences For Fido a 501c3 non-profit organization that improves the quality of life for chained dogs living outside in the elements day and night. We attend to all needs by building a fence, removing the chain, supplying a warm doghouse, providing critical vet care and spay/neuter services. In nine years, the organization has unchained nearly 2000 dogs in the Pacific Northwest.
Portland, OR. Philanthropic individuals and organizations were honored at the 2018 Philanthropy Awards Luncheon presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Oregon and Southwest Washington Chapter (AFP) on November 7th at the Hilton. AFP Outstanding Innovative Project: #Every28Days was honored. It’s a volunteer-led project in Clark County, Washington to collect feminine hygiene products for women and girls experiencing homelessness and poverty. Accepting were Amy Brown, AFP; Kim Hash, Share; Dianna Kretzchmar, volunteer; Kimberly Howard, PGE, event Master of Ceremonies
The awards lunch celebrates National Philanthropy Day, which recognizes the contributions of philanthropy and people active in the philanthropic community. The Presenting Sponsor was Oregon State University Foundation.
Susan & John Bates were honored as the “Outstanding Philanthropists.”
The 2018 Philanthropy Award recipients were:
• Connie & Lee Kearney, Vollum Award for Lifetime Philanthropic Achievement
• Susan & John Bates, Outstanding Philanthropists
• Kimberly Cooper, Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser
• Reser’s Fine Foods, Outstanding Philanthropic Corporation
• CARES Northwest, Outstanding Volunteer Group
• #Every28Days, Outstanding Innovative Project
Connie & Lee Kearney were honored with the Vollum Award for Lifetime Philanthropic Achievement.
From The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP):
The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) represents 30,000 members in more than 200 chapters throughout the world, working to advance philanthropy through education, training, mentoring, research, credentialing, and advocacy. The association fosters the development and growth of fundraising professionals and promotes high ethical standards in the fundraising profession. The AFP Oregon and Southwest Washington Chapter provides resources, education and networking opportunities for development professionals in our region. For more information, visit www.afporegon.afpnet.org or call (503) 715-3100.
Portland, OR. Nearly 1,100 guests celebrated the 19th Annual Simon Benson Awards Dinner and official kick-off of the Campaign for PSU, a $300 million fundraising initiative to support Portland State. The benefit at the Convention Center on October 25th featured the Grammy Award winning music and thought provoking conversation of jazz artist and PSU alum Esperanza Spalding. (Photo credit, Tom Cook and Ed Keene Photography)
Laurie Lomax joins husband Neil Lomax onstage as he receives the 2018 Simon Benson Award for Alumni Achievement.
Mary Boyle shares a hug with PSU student Melissa Lamproe as she and husband Tim Boyle are honored with the 2018 Simon Benson Award for Philanthropy.
Esperanza Spalding talks about the power of education with her PSU mentor Darrell Grant during the evening’s Q&A session.
Chemistry student Trine Parsons “blows” the crowd away with her inspirational PSU story.
Named for one of Oregon’s first philanthropists, the Simon Benson Awards Dinner is an annual celebration of the transformational power of philanthropy at Portland State University and beyond.
Proceeds from the Simon Benson Awards Dinner, Presented by Bank of America, support extraordinary PSU students, faculty and programs. Since 1999, the dinner has raised more than $11 million to transform teaching and learning for Oregon’s only urban research institution.
Portland, OR. Edison High School welcomed 350 guests to the Oregon Zoo for its annual Partner with Edison Breakfast. Guests heard from senior JP Mulligan and former student Danielle Gross about the importance of Edison High School. Board Member, Pat Becker, posed with friends Steven Klein and Kevin Kelly who supported the event. The benefit on November 2nd generated $150,000 to help support financial aid, technology, and professional development at the school. Edison, the only high school in Oregon and southwest Washington dedicated to students with learning differences. (Photo credit, Andie Petkus Photography)
Tricia Sipowicz and Kristin Collins, who shared her “Edison Story” about the positive impact the school has had on her entire family.
Edison parents Linda Pollack, Cathrine and Stefan Olander, and Eileen Day.
Edison students wake up extra early to help at the breakfast
Edison Board Member, Ann Brayfield, with Edison President, Sean Preston.
Friends Shiree Ferguson, Emily Shields, Kathi Austin, and Deedee Dolp enjoy their first Partner with Edison Breakfast.
Student speaker, JP Mulligan, jokes with his parents during his moving speech.
Rose Kilpatrick and Jesuit Counselor and Head Football Coach, Ken Potter.
From Edison High School:
“Some kids have learning differences. All kids have dreams.”
Welcome to Edison High School, 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 school, Edison High School 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, OR. Luxury home builder Gerald Rowlett, Westlake Development Group, wanted to do something more for Oregon Veterans at this year’s NW Natural Street of Dreams event, so he disrupted the showcase of super-sized homes and had a 204 square-foot tiny home built to benefit Oregon Veterans. Rowlett handed out checks from the sale of the Tiny House to three veteran organizations. Dennis Carter and John Steinbaugh represented the veterans nonprofit Forward Assist. (Photo credit, Brian Merritt, Media & Image Consulting, Inc.)
Dale Pack, Post Commander Hillsboro Martin J. Ryan VFW 2666; Gerald Rowlett, Westlake Development Group
Ken Buckles, Remembering America’s Heroes; Malinda Buckles, Remembering America’s Heroes; Gerald Rowlett, Westlake Development Group
Remembering America’s Heroes Evening of Honor; Clackamas County
Remembering America’s Heroes Evening of Honor; Clackamas County
Checks totaling $30,000 were presented and divided equally among the organizations and presented during the Evening of Honor November 7th. “We wanted to shake things up this year at the Street of Dreams and help families through the various non-profit veterans organizations,” says Gerald Rowlett. “While we take pride in all of our large homes, nothing compares to assisting those in need and we found that our tiny house, also known as a mini mansion accomplished our goal.”
More than 40 sponsors were involved in the construction, design and marketing of Tiny House with a Big Dream. “Seeing the fruits of our labor after 100+ people work on a project bringing product together to create a platform has made me really proud to help these charities in need.”
“The Benefit to Tiny Innovations as a Company and myself personally to be involved in this year’s Tiny Home with a Big Dream Project was the ability to give back to the bravest most selfless individuals I have ever met,” says Jeremy Killian, Owner/Builder Tiny Innovations. “I am more than thankful to be part of such an amazing project.”
Affectionately named “Amelia” by Empty Nest Tiny Homes M.J. Boyle says, “Veterans deserve the best we can give, and this tiny house project was indeed the best way I know how to give back to them for their service. All the hard work and time spent on this build, was indeed a tiny sacrifice when compared to the sacrifices they make, every day, for our country’s freedom.”
U.S. Navy Veteran Mike Premi, Intel A.I. manager, purchased the Tiny House to make a difference in the lives of veterans and families. Premi is skilled at reaching out to veterans of all ages and being of service to them.
Portland, OR. The local Red Cross has deployed 15 people from Oregon and SW Washington to assist with the California wildfires response. Disaster responders from Bend, Grants Pass, Gresham, Gold Beach, Junction City, Medford, Newberg, Portland, Salem, Summerville, and Wolf Creek, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, are either already on the ground or making their way to California.
Woolsey Fire shelter
The American Red Cross is on the ground throughout the State of California, providing shelter, food and comfort for thousands of people forced to leave their homes due to the deadly wildfires burning in both the northern and southern parts of the state.
Red Cross volunteers are providing help and support at evacuation centers to offer safe refuge for people impacted by these devastating fires. Overnight, more than 2,100 people sought refuge from the wildfires in 18 Red Cross and community evacuation centers across the state. People are welcome to come to shelters for help even if they don’t stay overnight.
The Red Cross has deployed enough supplies to shelter as many as 7,000 people, including special equipment to support people with access and functional needs. The Red Cross is also mobilizing relief supplies to serve as many as 15,000 households. Supplies include sifters, personal protective equipment, respiratory masks, rakes, shovels, work gloves, tarps, and other resources.
FINDING LOVED ONESPeople continue to search for missing loved ones and Red Cross reunification services are helping reconnect them as quickly as possible. These services include helping people communicate through the Red Cross Safe and Well website, as well as helping with urgent requests involving unaccompanied minors and separated children, reestablishing contact with family members who have been separated within the disaster area and working with partners to resolve reunification-related inquiries. As of Sunday, nearly 3,900 people have registered on Safe and Well, with more than 41,000 total searches and 539 actual matches.
If someone is looking for loved ones they can visit the Red Cross Safe and Well website at http://www.redcross.org/safeandwell. The site allows individuals and organizations to register and post messages to indicate that they are safe, or to search for loved ones. The site is always available, open to the public and available in Spanish. Registrations and searches can be done directly on the website.
People can also use the “I’m Safe” feature of the Red Cross Emergency App to let loved ones know their status. The Emergency App is available in app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.
HOW YOU CAN HELPEntire communities and families have been left reeling from these deadly wildfires. Help people affected by the California wildfires by visiting redcross.org, calling 1- 800-RED CROSS or texting the word CAWILDFIRES to 90999 to make a $10 donation.Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from these disasters.
Actress Sandra Bullock, a long-time supporter of the Red Cross, has donated $400,000 to help with the California wildfires relief effort. “The untold destruction from these fires is heartbreaking, especially following the tragedy at Borderline in Thousand Oaks,” Bullock said. “I’m glad to be able to help. We’re all family in this, whether it be human, furry or feathered.
CORPORATIONS HELP The generous donations from members of the Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP) and the Disaster Responder Program enable the American Red Cross to prepare communities for disasters big and small, respond whenever and wherever disasters occur and help families during the recovery process.
From American Red Cross:
ADGP $1 Million members are: Adelson Family Foundation; American Airlines; Anheuser-Busch Foundation; Anthem Foundation; Bank of America; Brown & Brown Insurance; Caterpillar Foundation; The Clorox Company; Costco Wholesale; Delta Air Lines; Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation; FedEx; Grainger; The Home Depot Foundation; LDS Charities; Lowe’s Companies, Inc.; Mazda North American Operations; Microsoft Corp.; Nationwide Foundation; PepsiCo Foundation; State Farm; Verizon; VSP Global; Walmart and the Walmart Foundation; and The Walt Disney Company.
ADGP $500,000 members are: 21st Century Fox; Altria Group; AmazonSmile; American Express; Aon; BMW of North America; Capital One; CBS Corporation; Cisco Foundation; Citi Foundation; Darden Restaurants, Inc. Foundation; Discover; Edison International; Energy Transfer/Sunoco Foundation; Ford Motor Company; General Motors; Humble Bundle; IBM Corporation; International Paper; John Deere Foundation; Johnson Controls; LabCorp; Medtronic Foundation; Meijer; Merck Foundation; Mondelēz International Foundation; New Balance Foundation; Nissan; Procter & Gamble Company; PwC Charitable Foundation; Southwest Airlines; Target; Tata Consultancy Services; TD Ameritrade; The TJX Companies, Inc.; United Airlines; UPS; The USAA Foundation; The Wawa Foundation; and Wells Fargo.
Disaster Responder Program members are: 7-Eleven Cares Foundation; Adobe; AdvoCare International L.P.; Alliance Data; Assurant; AT&T; AvalonBay Communities, Inc.; Avangrid Foundation; AXA Equitable Life; The Ball Foundation; Barclays; Boise Paper; CarMax; Choice Hotels International; Cox Automotive; DICK’S Sporting Goods; Duke Energy; Entergy Corporation; Farmers Insurance; Harbor Freight Tools Foundation, LLC; Hewlett Packard Enterprise Foundation; HP Foundation; HSBC Bank; Ingersoll Rand Foundation; The J.M. Smucker Company; Land O’Lakes, Inc.; Mastercard; Morgan Stanley; Neiman Marcus Group; Northrop Grumman Corporation; Northwestern Mutual and the Northwestern Mutual Foundation; Prudential Financial; Raytheon Company; Rodan + Fields Prescription for Change Foundation; Ryder; SC Johnson; Security Finance’s Lending Hand Foundation; Southeastern Grocers Home of BI-LO Harveys Winn Dixie; Standard Textile; The Starbucks Foundation; Stearns Bank; Toyota; U-Haul International; United Technologies Corporation; U.S. Bank; and Visa
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
Portland, OR. “Your Gift. Our Future” was the theme of the 16th annual Jesuit High School Financial Aid Luncheon. JHS President Tom Arndorfer and Principal Paul Hogan (far right) welcomed luncheon alumnae speakers including Chrisleine Temple ’15, The Honorable Kate O’Scannlain ’95 and Anarghya Vardhana ’06. The benefit on October 10th in Jesuit’s Knight Center raised over $470,000 for financial aid. This school year alone, $3.2 million in need-based tuition assistance was awarded to 26% of students.
Financial Aid Luncheon co-chairs Tammy Wilhoite and Andrea Arnot celebrate a successful day.
The Jesuit High School Chamber Choir performs before the luncheon.
Longtime Jesuit supporters Michelle Vranizan, Robert Koury, Denise Koury, and Hala Lewis enjoy the event.
Three alumna speakers representing the three decades of coeducation delivered compelling talks about their personal and professional experiences. These outstanding alumnae moved the luncheon guests with their words of inspiration and commitment to being women for others.
The Halton Family Foundation offered a challenge gift, which helped JHS reach its fundraising goal.
From Jesuit High School:
Our goal to provide a Jesuit education to families, regardless of financial circumstances, is supported each year by programs like this luncheon and voluntary gifts from the greater Jesuit community.
Jesuit High School is a Catholic, college-preparatory school in the Jesuit tradition of education serving students of all religious faiths and socio-economic backgrounds. Jesuit transforms students into leaders who are “men and women for others” and focuses on educating the whole student spiritually, religiously, intellectually, physically, emotionally, and aesthetically.
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