Portland, OR. The American Heart Association is getting help from broadcasters like KGW’s Ashley Korslien and Brenda Braxton, who remind people to focus on their hearts. Women across the U.S. helped raise awareness as they marked “Wear Red Day” on February 3rd. The annual event is held on the first Friday in February to raise awareness about heart disease being the No. 1 killer of women.
A young heart attack survivor, Julie O’Leary, told her story to Stephanie Kralevich on FOX 12 Oregon for #PDXGoesRed.
The local chapter of the American Heart Association is also gearing up for a big fundraiser: the 2017 Portland Heart Ball on Saturday, February 25th. The Heart Ball brings together leaders from the corporate, philanthropic and medical communities to raise funds and promote the lifesaving work of the American Heart Association.
The Heart Ball is one of many events that benefit the American Heart Association. The Red Dress Collection fashion show in New York is another. The show kicked off New York Fashion Week and was hosted by actress Katie Holmes.
Actresses, musicians, talent show hosts, reality stars and survivors of cardiovascular disease walked in red dresses — and one pantsuit — created by designers specifically for the American Heart Association Red Dress Collection.
Katie Holmes, wearing Marchesa, addressed the crowd at the Red Dress Collection fashion show in New York.
Maureen McCormick hit the runway.
Jessie James Decker was another volunteer for the cause.
Katie Holmes spoke of the importance of awareness in preventing cardiovascular disease and told the audience that it kills a woman every 80 seconds. She reminded the guests of why they attended the show. “Memories are why,” she said. “Fun is why. And a great red dress is why.” The celebrity models were a diverse group mirroring the randomness of how cardiovascular disease strikes.
Portland, January 10th, 2016. Kids at Randall Children’s Hospital Legacy Emanuel and hundreds from other nonprofits are singing the praises of generous donors who raised of $300,000 at the B.U.L.L. Session Invitational Charity Event. Checks were presented to these charity organizations: Albertina Kerr’s Children’s Developmental Health Services, Randall Children’s Hospital Legacy Emanuel, Gales Creek Camp Foundation, March of Dimes, Swindells Resource Center of Providence Child Center, Shriners Hospitals for Children® – Portland, and Wheel to Walk Foundation. (Photo credit, Ivan Vejar)
Charity recipients pose with checks received from BULL Session: Ray Baluyut, Randall Children’s Hospital; Kay Ekeya, Shriners Hospital for Children®-Portland; Anjie Vannoy, March of Dimes; Cheryl Sheppard, Gales Creek Camp Foundation; Jodi Lippert, Albertina Kerr’s Children’s Developmental Health Services; Stephanie Montgomery, Swindells Resource Center of Providence Child Center; and Sandy Getman, Wheel to Walk.
The B.U.L.L. Session is one of the Northwest’s premier charity events. Every year the B.U.L.L Session event brings together hundreds of the regional Business, Union and Labor Leaders to benefit what they call the community’s most valuable assets: the children.
The two-day fundraiser began Monday, September 14, 2015, with a dinner and auction gala at the Oregon Convention Center. Day two, Tuesday, September 15, 2015, was a golf tournament at the prestigious Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club.
Since its inception in 1991, the B.U.L.L. has raised over $5.5 million for children. The B.U.L.L. Session is now one of Oregon’s largest charity events.
Alyson Evans, Kathy Hostetler, Ray Baluyut and Lynn Hallbacka from Randall Children’s Hospital
Frank Wall, BULL Session Director; and Anjie Vannoy and Beth Joscelyn from March of Dimes
Will Simons, Providence Child Center; Mary Holstein, Providence Child Center; and Stephanie Montgomery, Swindells Resource Center of Providence Child Center
Nanda Sturm, Mallory Anderson and Jodi Lippert from Albertina Kerr’s Children’s Developmental Health Services
From the B.U.L.L. Session:
The B.U.L.L. Session Charity Event is made up of Business, Union and Labor Leaders working hard to help bring smiles to needy children across our region. Today, the B.U.L.L. Session is one of Oregon’s largest charity events, contributing more than $5.5 million in just 25 years.
The organization was conceived by local business leaders in 1991 as a way of gathering representatives from various industries together for a day of golf and one common goal: to raise money for various charities within the community where we all live and work. The rallying cause was local children’s charities.
The first B.U.L.L. Session Golf Tournament was held at The Resort at the Mountain in 1991 and involved 87 golfers that each contributed a dollar or two to benefit one local children’s organization. The organizers begged and pleaded for participation and contributions, ultimately raising $5,000.00, which was donated to Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children. While the donation was small that first year, the spark was there and the fire had been ignited. The next year the B.U.L.L. Session raised four times as much to make a $20,000 donation. This year, our 25th event generated $300,000 for the B.U.L.L. Kids.
The B.U.L.L. Session works hard to improve the lives of some very special local children through charities such as Albertina Kerr Children’s Developmental Health Services, Gales Creek Camp Foundation, March of Dimes, Randall Children’s Hospital Legacy Emanuel, Shriners Hospitals for Children – Portland, Swindells Resource Center of Providence Child Center, and Wheel to Walk Foundation.
The B.U.L.L. Session Charity Golf Events is qualified as exempt under IRS Section 501(c)(3); tax ID 93-1078155.
Portland, October 8th, 2015. Hundreds of supporters gathered at the De La Salle North Catholic High School’s annual scholarship dinner. Community enthusiasm for the school is high; instead of only tuition, the innovative high school’s programs are augmented with a Corporate Work Study Program where students work at paid internships one day every week.
One of De La Salle’s sponsors, Guardian Property Management, hired a student who works at their organization and learns about the field of property management.
In addition to revenue earned by working students, donations help keep the North Portland high school affordable for students. De La Salle North Catholic High School’s annual scholarship dinner raised $470,000.
Jan Jacobsen poses with David and Gay Jacobsen. Gay was honored for her outstanding volunteer work at De Lasalle North Catholic.
Barb Heffernen catches up with friends at the cocktail hour.
Nani Warren & Penny Guest look over auction items.
Barb Silver and Ashleigh de Villiers enjoy the evening.
De La Salle North provides a rigorous faith-based education emphasizing math, science, and language arts.
This video helps tell the story.
From De La Salle North Catholic High School:
De La Salle North Catholic High School provides a faith-based, college preparatory high school education to underserved students from the Portland area. Our goal is to develop tomorrow’s community leaders by making high-quality education accessible to motivated young people in a learning environment that values cultural, spiritual, and ethnic diversity. Our educational approach provides each student with the opportunity to succeed through small classes, high expectations, and active participation in our Corporate Work Study Program. We don’t turn away any capable, motivated or interested student because they cannot afford our tuition.
The De La Salle North Catholic Code
De La Salle North Catholic students are expected to follow a code of ethics: As a student of De La Salle, I am focused on my future; therefore, I am responsible for what I say and what I do; I respect my teachers, my peers, and my school; I am on time; I am prepared; and I demand the most of my ability.
Founded in 2001, De La Salle North Catholic was the first school in the nation modeled after Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago. The Cristo Rey Network of schools was established for students in communities that have limited access to private education. Thirty Cristo Rey schools in 19 states and the District of Columbia provide a quality, Catholic, college preparatory education to 6,500 young people who live in urban communities with limited educational options. Member schools utilize a rigorous academic model, supported with effective instruction, to prepare students with a broad range of academic abilities for college success. Cristo Rey Network schools employ an innovative Corporate Work Study Program that provides students with real world work experiences. Every student works five full days a month to fund the majority of his or her education, gain job experience, grow in self-confidence, and realize the relevance of his or her education.
We are part of the International Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, commonly known as the De La Salle Christian Brothers; and since 1868 we have been dedicated to creating communities of learning in the western United States. Today the Brothers and Lasallian partners of our district serve more than 10,000 students in four western states: Arizona, California, Oregon, and Washington. Administrative offices are at the De La Salle Institute, located at Mont La Salle in Napa, California. The district also collaborates with the other districts of the USA/Toronto Region and the worldwide Institute.
Lake Oswego, September 14th, 2014. On a picture-perfect evening in Lake Oswego, at the private island estate of Rick and Erika Miller, members of legendary rock band KISS played an all-acoustic set. KISS band member Gene Simmons posed with the development director of Historical Outreach Foundation David Warden, band member Eric Singer, Alisha Hamel the executive director for the Historical Outreach Foundation, and band members Paul Stanley and Tommy Thayer. Guests raised over $1.15 million dollars for the Brigadier General James B. Thayer Oregon Military Museum. The museum is under construction at Camp Withycombe in Clackamas, Oregon. (photo credit, David A. Barss)
Gene Simmons and Dan Dutton, Chairman and CEO, Stimson Lumber
Erika Miller, Lt. Col (ret) Tom Milligan, Rick Miller
Band members Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer arrived at the intimate gathering following a national tour where they played to over 600,000 over 42 shows. Sunday’s audience was just under 200.
Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley
Paul Stanley and Tommy Thayer
Tommy Thayer, lead guitarist for KISS, has been involved with the Oregon Military Museum for several years, and is committed to honoring those who have served in the military. With all four KISS members in attendance, the event was unique in its size, setting, and the goal-exceeding $1.15 million it raised for the cause. News anchor Steve Dunn of KATU emceed the program and introduced guest performers including The Patrick Lamb Trio, Julianne Johnson and Jean Pierre-Garau.
For Tommy, the museum named for his father holds a very personal connection. He is quick to express his gratitude and respect for members of the military who have served, and the heroes who have risked their lives for others. “I’ve been blessed to live in this country and have the opportunity to do what I love and follow my passion for music,” said Thayer. “None of it would be possible without people like my dad, and so many other veterans, who have bravely fought to protect our liberties and freedoms.”
Alisha Hamel, as the executive director for the Historical Outreach Foundation, is charged with supporting the fundraising efforts for the Oregon Military Museum, and other educational initiatives including the Oregon WWII Memorial and the Veterans’ Legacies Project. She has been involved in each phase of the museum project, and is an integral part in the development of the educational aspects of the museum. An educator, historian, and veteran of Desert Storm, Hamel brings a valuable perspective on Oregon’s, and the country’s, rich military history. “The funds raised at this year’s All-Star Salute will jump start the process of creating truly interactive, hands-on exhibits at the museum,” said Hamel. “ We know that the best way to teach history is to engage people in the learning experience.”
The Oregon Military Museum, now under construction at Camp Withycombe, in Clackamas, is the largest initiative underway at the Historical Outreach Foundation, and Sunday’s All–Star Salute was the largest single fundraiser in the history of the museum; the proceeds put the museum over the halfway mark on a $14.6 million project.
“We are incredibly grateful to KISS and to the Millers for creating this once-in-a–lifetime event.” said Hamel. “This was beyond anything we could have imagined, and is an evening we will not soon forget.”
To learn more about the Brigadier General James B Thayer Oregon Military Museum, or to support the programs at the Historical Outreach Foundation, visit www.historicaloutreach.com, or call (503) 705-5965.
Portland, March 7, 2014. The Bank of America Charitable Foundation has selected the Urban League of Portland as its latest Neighborhood Builder® winner. The Builder award entails a $200,000 unrestricted grant as well as advanced leadership training, all of which is awarded to one Portland-area nonprofit each year in a competitive selection process. The Builder program is specifically in support of high-performing nonprofits that have made a significant impact addressing needs related to community development, critical needs or workforce development and education. This is the tenth year of the Builder program in Portland.
Bank of America’s Roger Hinshaw and Urban League CEO Mike Alexander with $200,000 check
“We have a long history of supporting the Urban League of Portland’s mission over the past decade, but it was really last year that our partnership ramped up. Bank of America provided a $25,000 grant to help revive their workforce program and after seeing the results of that investment, combined with the leadership Michael Alexander has brought to the League, we were really inspired to consider other ways we could help this valuable organization,” said Monique Barton, senior vice president of corporate social responsibility at Bank of America in Oregon and southwest Washington. “It’s our hope that this latest $200,000 investment will not only deepen the Urban League’s impact today, but sustain their mission and services well into the future.”
Barton noted that last year’s grant from Bank of America helped the Urban League of Portland serve 129 new clients with job coaching, employment preparation training, job search and placement services and resume preparation for both youth and adults. “We’re excited at what the future holds in terms of the Urban League’s important efforts at breaking down barriers for achieving employment and financial independence,” Barton said.
The Urban League of Portland is one of Oregon’s oldest civil rights organizations. Its mission is to help empower African Americans and other Oregonians to achieve equality in education, employment and economic security.
With this new funding from Bank of America, the Urban League of Portland aims to partner with new corporations and organizations to develop additional employment opportunities for clients seeking jobs. This grant will enable the Urban League of Portland to research and connect with corporations, small businesses, local skilled trade unions and other organizations to forge partnerships that will benefit the community by linking companies with eligible and diverse job candidates.
“We are honored to have been selected on this tenth anniversary of the Neighborhood Builders program. Bank of America’s investment in our community will enable our workforce programs to offer comprehensive employment services to African Americans and others in the region who are seeking sustainable, family-wage employment,” said Michael Alexander, president & CEO of the Urban League of Portland. “This contribution will allow us to create straightforward pathways to employment for all levels of job seekers — from working with clients to build fundamental employment skills to specialized trainings for emerging technologies. This Builder award will allow us to address the critically high level of unemployment in our community, to build strong partnerships with the business sector, and to improve the quality of life in our community by working to build a skilled, qualified and diverse workforce.”
According to findings released by the Bridgespan Group, the Neighborhood Builders program is the largest investment in nonprofit leadership development that exists today, as well as one of the largest philanthropic programs in its spending, and it’s the third largest in number of leaders served. Through the program — now in its 10th year — Bank of America has invested more than $160 million in 800 nonprofit organizations and provided training to 1,600 nonprofit leaders. Neighborhood Builders furthers Bank of America’s broader philanthropic commitment to addressing core issues that are critical to the economic vitality of local economies, with a particular focus on low-income communities.
“The Urban League of Portland makes critical contributions to our local community and this latest partnership with them will help break down employment barriers, which is really about building a stronger, more skilled workforce,” said Roger Hinshaw, Bank of America’s President in Oregon and Southwest Washington. “Bank of America is pleased to provide this latest funding since it will help fuel local economic vitality by putting people back to work. That’s something our local employees are proud to be a part of.”
About Urban League of Portland
Established in 1945, the Urban League of Portland is one of the oldest African American service, civil rights and advocacy organizations in the area. The Urban League of Portland is a part of a network of over 90 National Urban League Affiliates across the country and is recognized as one of the leading voices for African Americans and other people of color in the region. We are a key coalition-builder amongst other African American organizations, and work extensively with both traditional and emerging African American groups, the faith-based community, minority businesses, and other organizations of color, including immigrants and refugees. The Urban League of Portland helps empower African Americans and others to achieve equality in education, employment, health, economic security and quality of life. The Urban League movement carries out its mission at the local, state and national levels through direct services, advocacy, research, policy analysis, community education and mobilization, coalitions and collaborations, and communications. Learn more about our work or sign up for our newsletter at ulpdx.org
About Bank of America Corporate Social Responsibility Bank of America’s commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a strategic part of doing business globally. Our CSR efforts guide how we operate in a socially, economically, financially and environmentally responsible way around the world, to deliver for shareholders, customers, clients and employees. Our goal is to help create economically vibrant regions and communities through lending, investing and giving. By partnering with our stakeholders, we create value that empowers individuals and communities to thrive and contributes to the long-term success of our business. We have several core areas of focus for our CSR, including responsible business practices; environmental sustainability; strengthening local communities with a focus on housing, hunger and jobs; investing in global leadership development; and engaging through arts and culture. As part of these efforts, employee volunteers across the company contribute their time, passion and expertise to address issues in communities where they live and work. Learn more at www.bankofamerica.com/about and follow us on Twitter at @BofA_Community.
Portland, February 22nd, 2014. The Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center is kicking off its 25th Anniversary with the new exhibit “Capturing a Generation through the Eye of a Lens: The Photographs of Frank C. Hirahara, 1948 – 1954.” On display are vintage photos taken by Hirahara.
Frank C. Hirahara’s photo of the Portland Rose Festival Portland Realty Board float from the 1950’s .
This collection of post‐war photographs feature the Japanese and Chinese American communities in Portland, activities of the Oregon Camera Club and the Portland Photographic Society, the Portland Rose Festival, the Epworth Methodist Church, and the Oregon Buddhist Temple.
Portland Rose Festival Float in the 1950’s Oregon Nikkei Endowment
One of Frank C. Hirahara’s award winning portraits was of Oregon’s own Patti Throop, who was a Portland Rose Festival Princess, Miss Portland, Miss Oregon, and a semi‐finalist in Miss America in 1954, which is prominently shown in the exhibit.
The photographic exhibit is at the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center, located at 121 NW 2nd Avenue. The Center was created to preserve, educate, and honor the history and culture of Japanese Americans in the Pacific Northwest and to advocate for the protection and civil rights for all. This collection of over 1,000 images was donated to the Oregon Nikkei Endowment, by Frank’s daughter Patti Hirahara of Anaheim, California, and these newly discovered images have helped to provide a pictorial record of this time in history.
After Frank C. Hirahara’s graduation from Washington State University in 1948, Frank was hired by the Department of Interior’s Bonneville Power Administration as an Electrical Engineer in Portland and he worked there till 1954 before moving to California to enter into the new aerospace boom in Southern California. This serious amateur photographer’s work has surprised visitors during advance previews with his attention to composition and detail.
The Frank C. Hirahara photo collection will become a part of DENSHO’s online digital collection which received funding from the National Park Service’s Japanese American Confinement Sites Grants Program. Frank Hirahara honed his skills as a photographer while as a high school student at Heart Mountain High School, where he was a photo editor and photographer of the school’s “Tempo” annual. He and his father George took and processed over 2,000 photos of the Heart Mountain Japanese Relocation Camp in Wyoming from 1943‐1945 and this collection is considered to be the largest private collection of photos taken there. This Heart Mountain collection was donated to Frank’s alma mater of Washington State University and WSU’s Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections has collaborated with the Oregon Nikkei Endowment for this exhibit in showing photo panels and artifacts from their George and Frank C. Hirahara Collection.
George Hirahara and his family, including Frank ’48, had their lives in Yakima disrupted in 1942 when they were forced to relocate with about 10,000 other Japanese Americans to Heart Mountain, Wyoming.
16 Time Emmy award winner David Ono, co‐anchor for ABC7’s Eyewitness News in Los Angeles, utilized the Hirahara Heart Mountain photos in his documentary “WITNESS – The Legacy of Heart Mountain” and a preview of the documentary is being shown with the Heart Mountain section of this exhibit. Frank Hirahara’s daughter Patti Hirahara, will be coming to Portland to show this new hour long version of the Heart Mountain documentary at the Hollywood Theatre on March 5th.
The exhibit also incorporates photos and historic documents of the “Hirahara Story – 100 Years and Four Generations” from the Hirahara Family Collections at the City of Anaheim Libraries Heritage Center, the Oregon Historical Society, and the Yakima Valley Museum in Yakima, Washington and is a sanctioned event of the Portland Rose Festival. The exhibit is open through– June 15, 2014. The Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center is located at 121 NW 2nd Avenue, Portland, Oregon and the exhibit will be open from Tue‐Sat 11AM‐3 PM and Sun 12‐3 PM. Admission is $5, $3 seniors (62+) /students, children under 12 free, and free to members of the Oregon Nikkei Endowment. Updates on affiliated exhibit events can be found on the organization’s website at www.oregonnikkei.org. For information about the exhibit and Heart Mountain screening, call (503) 224‐1458.
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About the Oregon Nikkei Endowment
The mission of the Oregon Nikkei Endowment is to preserve and honor the history and culture of Japanese Americans in the Pacific Northwest, to educate the public about the Japanese American experience during World War II, and to advocate for the protection of civil rights for all Americans. Our two projects include the Japanese American Historical Plaza in Waterfront Park, designed by landscape architect Robert Murase, and the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center, a place to explore the culture and history of Japanese Americans, located in Portland’s historic Old Town neighborhood.
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