Portland, OR. There’s a Darcelle-themed Turkish smoking room at the Pittock Mansion’s special Christmas display this year. The theme is “A Very Portland Christmas” and the display is on through December 31st. You can explore 20 decorated rooms, and see over 30 Christmas trees large and small. Iconic places, people, and events of Portland are featured like Powell’s Books, Packy the elephant, and Peacock Lane.
From the Pittock Mansion:
PTTOCK MANSION | With picture-perfect views of rivers, forests, bridges, and mountaintops — and 23 treasure-filled rooms — no other place in town offers a more breathtaking view and more revealing glimpse of Portland’s past. Portland pioneers Henry and Georgiana Pittock built Pittock Mansion in 1914 and it now stands as a living memorial of the family’s contributions to the blossoming city of Portland and its people. Situated on 46 acres of land almost 1,000 feet atop downtown Portland, the Pittock celebrated its centennial year in 2014.
Volunteers have always been key to Pittock Mansion’s holiday season. Over the years hundreds of people have donated their time and talents into transforming the Mansion into a festive wonderland.
Thank you to A Very Portland Christmas‘s volunteer decorators for all their creativity and hard work!
Room themes and decorators in tour order:
Library “Forest Park,” Anne Runde, Anne Runde Interiors, and Angie Morse, The Room Stylers.
Formal Entry “Bud Clark,” Nancy Kurkinen and Alison Chapman. Thanks for help from: Annie Bottinelli, Beard’s Framing Downtown, City of Portland Archives, John Helmer Haberdasher, Linda Jensen, and Mayor Bud Clark.
Music Room “Mount Hood,” Rosanne Sachson, The Sachson Group Architectural Interior Design.
Turkish Smoking Room “Darcelle,” Alison Chapman and Nancy Kurkinen. Thank you to Darcelle XV for loaning artifacts.
Dining Room “Celebrating 100 Years of Portland’s International Rose Test Garden,” Suzanne Barthelmess. Special thanks to Kim Foren, Kimberly Bown, Mary Suzanne Garvey, Marla Kazell, Harry Landers, and Rex Sustello.
Kitchen “Dragons of Portland,” Cate Anderson, Lee Brixius, Elaine Durst, Yoko Fukuta, Louise Jones, Judy Lyons, MaryAnne Nance, Jeannie Prindle, Burt Reif, Sue Reif, Caroleigh Robinson, Lewis Sprunger, Jean Weigant, Mary Ann Wish, and Sally Woolley. Special thanks: Larry Titensor, Portland Kaohsiung Sister City Association, DragonSports USA, Fire Breathing Blowfish, Tom & Cara Lee Crowder, and Marla Baker.
Breakfast Room “Rose Festival,” Barbara Masterson. Thanks to Jill Hrdlicka.
Writing Room “Adventure Bound: Find Your Favorite Book at Powell’s,” Cheryl Kennedy, Patt Lewis, & Jessie Smith. Special thanks to Powell’s Books, Leah Kohlenberg, Chris Quevedo, Christy Simon, and Jerry “Woody” Woodbury.
South Bedroom “Portland’s Iconic Transportation,” Portland Rose Society.
South Sleeping Porch “Meier & Frank,” Claudine Stock, Rita Devlin, Holly Fowler, Gayl Hauzenberger (26 years at Meier & Frank), and Tommie West (24 years at Meier & Frank).
Nieces’ Bedroom “Packy the Elephant,” Denise Chapman and Michelle Lamorie.
Henry’s Bathroom “Peacock Lane,” Eileen Giskaas.
Sewing Room “Two Portland Icons,” Gúy Holady, Holady and Holady Designs and Productions. Assisted by Kim Baggett, Jill Holady-Rauch, Kaye Holady, Patti Diebel, Barbara Zink, and Pamela Miller.
Georgiana’s Bedroom “Portland Art Museum,” Beth Clark of B. Clark Interior Design, LLC; Deb Zsori with Fabius Grange; and Framed By Design, Lake Oswego.
West Bedroom “Bridgetown: Portland, Oregon,” Jennifer Ballard, Jennifer Ballard Interiors.
Social Room Car Nooks “Postcards: Celebrating Portland Landmarks,” The American Sewing Guild – Columbia River Sewing, Sharon Sink, Lynn Towers, and Megan Garvey.
Social Room Display Cases “Mary Suzanne Garvey: Muse on the Loose,” Suzanne Barthelmess. Special thanks to Kim Foren, Kimberly Bown, Marla Kazell, Harry Landers, and Rex Sustello.
Grand Staircase & Landing Eileen Giskaas.
Grand Hallway Console Table Anne Dewing, DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen.
Portland, OR. The numbers are in and the 2017 Safeway/Providence Festival of Trees, public show and Gala dinner raised a record $1.4 million for Providence Children’s Health and family support services. Bob and Sharon Miller join friends and family at the November 31st gala which drew over 900 people. The public viewing of the trees took place December 1st and 2nd at Oregon Convention Center. Organizers say miles of twinkling lights, thousands of ornaments and even the fragrance of Christmas itself made the 35th anniversary of the festival a magical event.
13-year-old Bobbi MacKenzie opens the Gala dinner by singing “Oh Holy Night” a cappela.
Providence Oregon chief executive Dave Underriner and Providence Foundations of Oregon president and chief development officer Laurie Kelley welcome more than 900 guests to the Gala.
Nancy Lematta, center, leads a group of friends in celebrating the festival of trees.
Joey Harrington poses for a photograph with an Oregon Ducks fan in the midst of the Gala.
Organizers report that the holiday tradition dazzled people of all ages with its exquisite trees, mini-trees, wreaths, gingerbread houses, Lego displays and more. Over the last 34 years, the festival has raised more than $16 million. Those funds support Providence Children’s Health programs including Child Life Specialists, NICU Parent Liaisons, Swindells Resource Center and My Little Waiting Room.
Here are some photos of the those famous trees:
Letters to Santa – Sponsor: iHeart Media. Designers: Sandy Miller, Shelly Hamann, Mark Johnson, family and friends
Take Me Back in Time – Sponsor: Providence Hospice Designers: Jacquelyn Dunn, Kate Gober, Shawn Dunn and Judy Mimnaugh
A Coastal Christmas – Sponsor: Howard S. Wright, a Balfour Beatty Company Designers: Sarah Kennison, Danielle Smeraglio, Sue Jarmin and Kim Jarmin
Rose All the Way Sponsor: Providence Health Plan. Designers: Ronni Nichuals, Stacy Ryback, Velma Rodriguez, Tiah Kershaw, Erica Brill and Mary Nichols
Christmas in Rip City – Sponsor: Portland Trail Blazers Designers: Sandy Miller, Leslie Radke, Carol Nielson and Judy Han
Through a Child’s Eyes – Sponsor: Providence Portland Medical Center professional staff Designers: Leilani Wilson, Raji Chandrasekaran, Christine Riley, Karen Thiel, Nicholetta Vlandis and Elizabeth Wakeman
Have a Merry Elfin’ Christmas – Sponsor: Providence Medical Group Designers: Dominique Buhl, Damala Badon, Robin Birge, Amy Brittan and Min Stearns
This is a year-long, volunteer-driven project with nearly 75 professional and amateur designers volunteering thousands of hours to turn a corner of the Oregon Convention Center into a winter wonderland and holiday village. Nearly 20,000 people were expected to experience the 2017 festive gathering with 75 trees of all sizes decorated with nearly 100,000 twinkling lights. More than 600,000 people have attended the festival since it began in 1983. Safeway was the sponsor this year.
Here’s a time lapse video of the setup of the
The Festival of the Trees benefits these Family Support Services:
Providence cares for more than 100,000 Oregon children each year, and 1 in 5 children have a special health care need. These critical programs help keep the whole family healthy.
Our Family Support Services
Child Life Program
Imagine a hospital visit through the eyes of a child. Unfamiliar faces and equipment, examinations or tests for them or for a loved one, and scary conversations that they may not understand. Our certified child life specialists at Providence St. Vincent help children of all ages cope with their own or a family member’s illness, injury, treatment, or hospitalization through play, child-friendly explanations, and of course, a teddy bear.
My Little Waiting Room
Founded by mother and cancer survivor Amy Patterson, My Little Waiting Room provides free, fun, and safe drop-in child care for families on the campuses of Providence St. Vincent and Providence Portland Medical Center. Staffed by specially trained care providers and secure, parents can attend appointments or visit a loved one in the hospital knowing their children are in good hands.
NICU Parent Liaison
Spending time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with your baby is rarely a part of a family’s birth plan. Our NICU Parent Liaison provides peer-to-peer informational, emotional, and inspirational support to new parents of premature babies during their stay in the NICU at Providence St. Vincent.
Swindells Resource Center
Learning that your child has special needs, developmental delays or disabilities is life-changing, isolating and scary. Where do I go from here? What do I do next? Swindells Resource Center supports parents and caregivers of these children by providing free resources, information and education to communities throughout Oregon and southwest Washington – last year alone we helped tens of thousands of families throughout the region.
Portland, OR. Pacific University held its annual Celebration of Giving extravaganza on November 30th at the Portland Golf Club to recognize and thank the university’s most generous and loyal supporters.
Pacific University alumni Cathy Tran ’74 and Tim Tran ’74 were among those on hand. Earlier this fall, Pacific renamed the library on its Forest Grove Campus in honor of the Trans, who helped establish a scholarship fund for Pacific University Libraries. Tim Tran is also a member of Pacific’s Board of Trustees. (Photo credit, Robbie Bourland – Pacific University)
Pacific University trustee Kim Ledbetter (ret., The Standard) was among those honored at Pacific’s annual Celebration of Giving event. Earlier this year, a new playing surface at the university’s Hanson Stadium was installed and named Ledbetter Field in honor of Kim and his wife Barb, whose generosity helped finance the facility upgrade.
Pacific University alumni Lee Garboden ’77 and Sheri Garboden ’76 joined others at the university’s annual Celebration of Giving event.
Pacific University trustee Mark Frandsen (Grove Properties) was among the attendees at the university’s annual Celebration of Giving event at Portland Golf Club.
Earlier in the week, the university announced the public phase of Lead On, an $80 million comprehensive campaign to increase the university’s endowment and invest in educational facilities and resources and innovation.
The announcement of Lead On kicked off Pacific’s “Boxer Excellence Week,” which resulted in 720 donors giving or pledging more than $265,400. Lead On has already raised more than $44 million of the $80 million goal during the campaign’s silent phase, bolstered by a 112 percent increase in philanthropic giving to the university over the past five years.
Among those in attendance were current Pacific Board of Trustees members Mark Frandsen (Grove Properties), Sheri Garboden ’76 (ret., Flir Systems), Sen. Betsy Johnson (D-Scappoose), former OHSU president Dr. Peter Kohler, Kim Ledbetter (ret., The Standard), Martin Moll, JD (Aldrich Group), Cam Perry ’65 (ret., Cam’s Coffee Co.), Tim Schauermann ’66 (ret., Schauermann Insurance Associates), Tim Tran ’74 (ret., Johnstone Supply Co.) and Mike Wright (ret., Wellpartner, Inc.).
Portland, OR. Attendees at the Portland Jewish Academy auction dressed up in their totally tubular 80’s best. The academy raised $825,000 at its 56th Annual Auction on December 10th with 350 people in attendance. Organizers say this annual celebration and fundraiser ensures that PJA has the resources to provide an outstanding Jewish education to a diverse student body.
The Zidell Family pictured. PJA thanks the Zidell Family and Steve “Rosy” Rosenberg and Ellen Lippman for their generosity and commitment to Portland Jewish Academy.
PJA Auction Co-Chairs – Carol Richmond and Stacey Oller
From Portland Jewish Academy:
Portland Jewish Academy shares a building and campus with the Mittleman Jewish Community Center. As a result, PJA has access to spaces many schools may not have.
Portland Jewish Academy was established on the premise that the community needed a Jewish community day school with a truly superior academic education, built on years of Jewish tradition and values, but representative of the whole Jewish community. More than ever this holds true today. Academically, PJA is a power house. Our graduates are proof of this, from their performance in the areas best high schools to their acceptance at prestigious colleges and universities from across the country. Our students, parents and staff represent the diversity of Portland’s Jewish and non-Jewish community and are inclusive of all family types.
We are all proud to be part of the PJA community.
Please come tour the school and see for yourself why we are so excited about PJA. Call Inge Hoogerhuis, Admission Director, at 503.535.3599. She will happily assist you in setting up a personal tour.
Portland, OR. OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital had some holiday excitement when the Blazers came for a visit. A 15-year-old patient named Joshua got to meet Damian Lillard and Maurice “Moe” Harkless as team members visited the hospital on December 7th.
Faith and her brother Devin visit with members of the Portland Trail Blazers, including Jusuf Nurkic at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.
Jovante cheers as he wins a basketball game against Portland Trail Blazers player Caleb Swanigan, while Maurice “Moe” Harkless and assistant coach Dale Osbourne look on.
Cooper, 12, fist-bumps Portland Trail Blazers player Damian Lillard, while Maurice “Moe” Harkless and assistant coach Dale Osbourne look on.
Also at the hospital, this is the 6th year in a row that the Healing Hunter Foundation has “Decked the Halls” transforming the entire Oncology Unit into a magical Winter Wonderland. The Foundation was started on behalf of Hunter Zen Thawley, who was a, “Courageous and charismatic lil’ 3 yr. old who lost his battle to AML Leukemia in 2010.” Portland Fire & Rescue also graces the halls with the foundation on a yearly basis providing holiday cheer with an abundance of glitter, sparkle and shine. Here’s a look at their decorations:
Lieutenant Todd Thawley, (Hunter’s dad and Co-Founder of the Healing Hunter Foundation) helps decorate OHSU Doernbechers on his day off from fighting fires.
The decorated halls at OHSU Doernbecher Chidren’s Hospital.
The entire volunteer crew of the Healing Hunter Foundation that Decks the Halls for the holidays at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.
Bellagios Pizza, (Goose Hollow location) donated lunch to feed the entire volunteer crew. This is the 2nd year in a row that they’ve donated pizza and salad.
A Winter Wonderland has been created at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital by the Healing Hunter Foundation. This is the 6th year in a row that the foundation has transformed the entire Oncology Unit adding much needed sparkle and shine to lots of families staying at the hospital through the holidays.
Portland Firefighters, along with the Healing Hunter Foundation, help create the holiday magic at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital for the holidays.
Educating pediatric specialists throughout the region
• More than half of Oregon’s practicing pediatricians were trained at Doernbecher • Doernbecher offers the only pediatric residency program in Oregon – and each year more than 600 medical students from around the country vie for the program’s 16 spots • More than a quarter of all physicians in the U.S. pursuing pediatrics apply to Doernbecher each year as interns and residents • Doernbecher provides a wide range of professional development
Pediatric research
Finding cures and treatments, changing the face of pediatric medical science
• Part of OHSU, a nationally ranked research institution where more than 4,000 research studies are currently under way
• Testing the newest potential cancer therapies as one of only 21 National Cancer Institute-designated pediatric Phase 1 cancer centers in the nation; world’s first hospital to test the effectiveness of Gleevec, the revolutionary cancer pill* on kids
• Breakthrough research in the genetic and cellular causes of childhood diseases
Community outreach
Doernbecher experts collaborate to improve the health of children
• Doernbecher experts travel the region to provide specialty care at more than 150 outreach clinics in 13 locations so kids can receive care in their own communities
• Doernbecher’s telemedicine network includes sites in Eugene, Medford, Roseburg, Silverton, Astoria, Coos Bay and McMinnville – allowing Doernbecher specialists to partner with regional providers via state-of-the-art technology
Sponsored: Portland, OR. It was a standing ovation at the Old Church Concert Hall, for storytellers and hosts Lynne Duddy and Lawrence Howard. Their December 1st event was one of the many that Portland Story Theater hosts each year. (Photo credit, Kelly Nissl)
The founders of the organization explain what makes Portland Story Theater so meaningful to the community:
“Portland Story Theater is an investment in opening minds, challenging assumptions, and finding common ground. In these volatile times, learning to listen to one another is crucial so we can learn to trust each other. David Bowie once told his daughter, “Trust nothing but your own experience.” And that’s exactly what Portland Story Theater focuses on: trusting your own experience, trusting your story. Now, more than ever, we need to trust — ourselves, our stories, each other — to battle the fears that are manifesting in the world around us as expressions of hatred. Our call to action is to step up, provide safe space for each other and engage in meaningful ways; ways that matter. The challenges we face to make this kind of art are only going to intensify. We need your help now more than ever. We ask that you make a donation to support the kind of intimate theater that Portland Story Theater creates. Theater that takes the kind of risks needed to be vulnerable and to engage each other in eye-to-eye, heart-to-heart, face-to-face conversations. Souls keep us deeply human in profoundly inhumane times.”
Here’s a video about the nonprofit:
The Portland Story Theater event in December had a whole variety of storytellers.
Leah Carey told a story entitled, “Good Girl Breaking Free.”
Steve Eggerts told a story entitled, “989 Days.”
Sabina Haque told a story entitled, “Every Moment Counts.”
Kathy Gillis told a story entitled, “Slipped Right In.”
Luis Garcia told a story entitled,“Peace and Pizza.”
Gigi Rosenberg told a story entitled,“The Only Rule I Broke.”
Our vision is to advance, inspire and expand our community narrative, one story at a time – and in doing so, preserve and promote the ancient art of storytelling in a way that enriches modern life, allowing and encouraging people to be vulnerable and present in ways that are crucial to the full expression of our humanity.
Our Mission Portland Story Theater builds community, promotes understanding, and fosters radical empathy by giving voice to the real, true stories of ordinary people.
501(c)3 Nonprofit Arts Organization Portland Story Theater is a passionate advocate for diverse narrative and our loyal listeners. We are a 501(c)3 charitable organization. Contributions and sponsorships facilitate outreach and keep ticket prices affordable. As an advocate for the narrative art of storytelling, Portland Story Theater strives to broaden audiences, develop new approaches, and support existing and new storytelling programs.[EIN #27-0670834] Your kind Donations are appreciated.
What We Do
Portland Story Theater builds community through story. Our work gives voice to the true stories of ordinary people. We break down barriers and stereotypes by bringing people together to hear real, true stories. We teach people that telling their personal story is a process that ignites self-discovery and nourishes our capacity for empathy for ourselves and each other. Our work at Portland Story Theater fosters a deep awareness around the idea that the more personal a story, the more universal it becomes. This art form is the spontaneous unfolding of a story that is celebrated onstage; in the moment, in the shared space between the listener and the teller. We work with other like-minded people to co-create live storytelling shows. We are low-tech, no-frills theater. We tell our stories directly, never asking the audience to suspend disbelief. This is a return to the ancient roots of theater. This is theater at its most basic, essential, elemental core: performer, audience and words. Telling our stories face to face, eye to eye, and heart to heart. Portland Story Theater makes stories provocative, inspiring, and accessible to everyone, young and old, of all social backgrounds, and ethnicities.
What We Believe
Everyone has a story to tell. Be heard. Honor your emotional truth. Discover your self through story. Discover your history.Listening builds connection. Be open. People are transformed by being heard. Listen openheartedly. Story breaks down barriers. Be vulnerable. Tell your story. Authentically. Honestly. Sincerely. We are in a revolution. Be a part of the change. Story illuminates the universal through the personal. Story awakens our consciousness. Story helps us recognize that we are one race, the human race. Believe. Act. Transform.
We believe that personal story breaks down barriers and reveals the commonality of the human experience. We believe that story is the glue that holds us together and sustains us as a community, that story awakens our consciousness and helps us recognize that we are one race, the human race. We do not do “slams” because we believe that each personal narrative is sacred. We do not seek out celebrities to perform in our shows because we believe that everyone has a story to tell. No need to bring the focus on sensational, titillating or embarrassing stories. We encourage people to dig deep to discover the heartfelt humor and emotional truth of their stories.
Sponsored: Portland, OR. For more than 60 years, UCP of Oregon has been fiercely dedicated to serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities such as Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, Down Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, ADD, and others. United Cerebral Palsy of Oregon & SW Washington (UCP) started out in 1955, supporting adults who experienced cerebral palsy. But today it does much more. Nearly 200 trained United Cerebral Palsy of Oregon & SW Washington employees go out into the local community to provide direct care for people in their homes, respite care and support for their family members, community inclusion trips, employment opportunities, and navigation through complicated health systems. UCP of Oregon is in a vital year-end fund drive and you can donate by CLICKING HERE.
Here’s a short video from UCP:
Donations help make a difference in the lives of individuals with cerebral palsy and other disabilities in our community.
UCP is efficient – more than 92% of every dollar goes directly to fund their work. Services include:
Connections – Case management services, person-centered planning, and connecting customers with resources to live the life they choose.
Foundations – Assisting people with developmental disabilities to live in their own home or apartment.
Employment Solutions – Working with job seekers who experience disabilities to achieve employment in the community at a competitive wage.
Building Blocks – Attendant care, skills training, and relief care to children experiencing intellectual and developmental disabilities residing in their family home under the age of 18 years.
Family Support – Facilitating connection with other families for moral support, practical information, equipment exchanges, and offer respite care for caregivers.
So far in 2017, UCP Oregon has provided services to 1,216 individuals and recently highlighted a client named Wendy for its #GivingTuesday campaign. Wendy is discovering herself; what she finds meaningful and interesting – what truly brings her joy. Though Wendy doesn’t use her voice to communicate, she is very expressive, affectionate, and clearly demonstrates the inspiration she experiences as she engages with her community. One UCP service called Choices provides customized supports that open the door to the benefits of education, leisure, volunteering, or recreational activities like dancing! This campaign included a link to a sweet video of Wendy and others enjoying a class at Polaris Dance Theatre in November.
Portland, OR. 34 Nike designers and developers worked side-by-side with six young Doernbecher Freestyle designers to share their stories and bring their ideas to life. Doernbecher Freestyle XIV designers and models included: Tylan Hibbard, Brody Miller, Amyiah Robinson, Braylin Soon, Carissa Navarro, Andrew Merydith, Brayden Sparkman and Finn Mooney pictured with Doernbecher Physician-in-Chief, Dr. Dana Braner, OHSU President, Dr. Joe Robertson, and Doernbecher Foundation Board Trustee and Creative Director of Brand Presentation at Nike, Michael Doherty. Their designs were unveiled to the public at Doernbecher Freestyle XIV. The collection unveiling and auction raised over $1.4 million to help kids and their families at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. In addition, Nike, along with Shoe Palace, Villa and Elite Mr. Alan’s, presented Doernbecher with a gift totaling more than $1.4 million from the retail sales of the 2016 Freestyle Collection – bringing the total raised from this partnership to nearly $20 million. (Photo credit, Caitlin Carlson and Andie Petkus)
Doernbecher Foundation Board Trustee and Freestyle XIV sponsors, Christine and Gary Rood with OHSU Doernbecher Physician-in-Chief, Dr. Dana Braner at the October 27th benefit at the Portland Art Museum.
Nike Product Director, Lee Banks with Freestyle XIV designer, Brody Miller
OHSU Foundation Board Chair, Ann Edlen and Doernbecher Foundation Board Executive Vice Chair, Peggy Maguire
Doernbecher supporters George and Janet Boldt with Chloe Lam, Doernbecher patient, and Chloe’s parents Ron and Hisako Lam
The 2017 Doernbecher Freestyle collection is on sale now with 100 percent of the proceeds to benefit OHSU Doernbecher. Here’s a link to the collection to check out the designs:
Purpose: Doernbecher Freestyle is a remarkable fundraising partnership between OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital and Nike that gives young patients the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create limited edition shoes to be sold at Nike retail locations throughout the country and online at nike.com as well as other select retailers. These incredible young designers have each faced serious illness and now have the opportunity to share their stories, inspire others and help other kids at the same hospital that changed their lives. Nike donates one hundred percent of proceeds from Doernbecher Freestyle to support clinical care, purchase state-of-the art equipment, help cover the cost of care for families in need, and expand pioneering research that benefits children around the world.
Portland, OR. More than 800 people filled the Portland Hilton Grand Ballroom to demonstrate their support for future women leaders of St. Mary’s Academy.Nicole Foran, Karen Reyes ’18, Deborah Burton, Rachel Leiber ’00 were among those supporters at the 24th annual Food for Thought luncheon on November 2nd. It raised a record-breaking $510,000 to support tuition assistance, enabling girls across the Portland and SW Washington metro area to benefit from the all-girl, Catholic, college-prep experience that St. Mary’s can provide, no matter their financial circumstances.
Mike and Shawn Hagel
Missy Abraham Hartnell ’87 and Suzann Baricevic Murphy ’83
Julie Stott and Caroline Swindells
Janeen McAninch, Dana White and Bob Harold
From St. St. Mary’s Academy:
“We are so grateful for the incredible support, generosity and commitment shown by our donors in support of our tuition assistance program which led to the most successful fundraising result yet,” said Emily Niedermeyer Becker ‘86, Vice President for Development. This year, St. Mary’s Academy has committed close to $1.9 million in tuition assistance to 40% of student families.
Luncheon keynote speaker, human behavior researcher and bestselling author, Vanessa Van Edwards, inspired attendees with research proving that leaders can be made through intentional experiences and by developing a leadership mindset. As a graduate of an all-girl school, Vanessa says “We must equip our young women with the skills to have a positive impact in the world. The power is with us.”
Their deep passion for developing girls into leaders drove Food for Thought co-chairs, Deborah Burton, Senior Vice President | Chief Nursing Officer, Providence St. Joseph Health and Rachel Leiber ’00, Business Development Director, Xealth, to lead this effort. Deborah says, “Never has there been a more important time to empower young women to lead with confidence and grace.” As a St. Mary’s Academy alumna, Rachel feels strongly about the role alumnae play, sharing that “investing financially in St. Mary’s girls is the most important way we can open doors for future women leaders.”
A moving speech by St. Mary’s Academy senior Karen Reyes demonstrated the significant impact of financial aid. Karen is an active student leader in many campus organizations including Women of Color in Action, the Latino Student Union and the Spirit Walk student fundraising committee, and serves as a Student Ambassador. She credits St. Mary’s Academy for having “provided the space, support and encouragement to find and develop my voice and leadership skills.”
Bringing the audience to tears, she shared, “That nervous freshman who wondered if she could make it here, is now applying to college with dreams of becoming a neonatal nurse. I guarantee you that with an education from St. Mary’s, young women like me will not only succeed as students, but as women in this world.” Karen deeply appreciates the financial support that has allowed her the gift of this all-girl experience, saying, “I wouldn’t be here today, with all of these doors open to me, without the support of my mom, and every generous donor giving to tuition assistance.”
St. Mary’s Academy principal, Nicole Foran, has watched Karen and thousands of other young women graduate and become impactful and trusted leaders in their communities. “We witness how powerful and transformative a St. Mary’s education is. Our passionate community and pioneering culture foster an environment where girls collaborate, lead, mentor and learn from one another as adventurous, engaged learners. With the support of our generous donors, we will continue to develop strong leaders of tomorrow.”
Portland, OR. If you weren’t able to make it down to the 35th annual Providence Festival of Trees, to check out this homage to Frozen by Providence Milwaukie Hospital, we’ve got you covered. The donation totals and photos are still coming in from the gala auction on November 30th and the two public touring days, but over the last 34 years, the festival has raised more than $16 million. Those funds support Providence Children’s Health programs including Child Life Specialists, NICU Parent Liaisons, Swindells Resource Center and My Little Waiting Room.
Here are some photos of the those famous trees:
Letters to Santa Sponsor: iHeart Media Designers: Sandy Miller, Shelly Hamann, Mark Johnson, family and friends
TREE 5: Take Me Back in Time Sponsor: Providence Hospice Designers: Jacquelyn Dunn, Kate Gober, Shawn Dunn and Judy Mimnaugh
TREE 18: A Coastal Christmas Sponsor: Howard S. Wright, a Balfour Beatty Company Designers: Sarah Kennison, Danielle Smeraglio, Sue Jarmin and Kim Jarmin
TREE 15: Rose All the Way Sponsor: Providence Health Plan Designers: Ronni Nichuals, Stacy Ryback, Velma Rodriguez, Tiah Kershaw, Erica Brill and Mary Nichols
TREE 17: Christmas in Rip City Sponsor: Portland Trail Blazers Designers: Sandy Miller, Leslie Radke, Carol Nielson and Judy Han
TREE 6: Through a Child’s Eyes Sponsor: Providence Portland Medical Center professional staff Designers: Leilani Wilson, Raji Chandrasekaran, Christine Riley, Karen Thiel, Nicholetta Vlandis and Elizabeth Wakeman
TREE 14: Have a Merry Elfin’ Christmas Sponsor: Providence Medical Group Designers: Dominique Buhl, Damala Badon, Robin Birge, Amy Brittan and Min Stearns
This is a year-long, volunteer-driven project with nearly 75 professional and amateur designers volunteering thousands of hours to turn a corner of the Oregon Convention Center into a winter wonderland and holiday village. Nearly 20,000 people were expected to experience the 2017 festive gathering with 75 trees of all sizes decorated with nearly 100,000 twinkling lights. More than 600,000 people have attended the festival since it began in 1983. Safeway was the sponsor this year.
Here’s a time lapse video of the setup of the
The Festival of the Trees benefits these Family Support Services:
Providence cares for more than 100,000 Oregon children each year, and 1 in 5 children have a special health care need. These critical programs help keep the whole family healthy.
Our Family Support Services
Child Life Program
Imagine a hospital visit through the eyes of a child. Unfamiliar faces and equipment, examinations or tests for them or for a loved one, and scary conversations that they may not understand. Our certified child life specialists at Providence St. Vincent help children of all ages cope with their own or a family member’s illness, injury, treatment, or hospitalization through play, child-friendly explanations, and of course, a teddy bear.
My Little Waiting Room
Founded by mother and cancer survivor Amy Patterson, My Little Waiting Room provides free, fun, and safe drop-in child care for families on the campuses of Providence St. Vincent and Providence Portland Medical Center. Staffed by specially trained care providers and secure, parents can attend appointments or visit a loved one in the hospital knowing their children are in good hands.
NICU Parent Liaison
Spending time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with your baby is rarely a part of a family’s birth plan. Our NICU Parent Liaison provides peer-to-peer informational, emotional, and inspirational support to new parents of premature babies during their stay in the NICU at Providence St. Vincent.
Swindells Resource Center
Learning that your child has special needs, developmental delays or disabilities is life-changing, isolating and scary. Where do I go from here? What do I do next? Swindells Resource Center supports parents and caregivers of these children by providing free resources, information and education to communities throughout Oregon and southwest Washington – last year alone we helped tens of thousands of families throughout the region.
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