HARVEST OF HOPE
 Sponsors  | 

Lucky Number Seven ~ By David Saltzman, Vice President of Development

This year marks the seventh year for Harvest of Hope. Past president of the board of Candlelighters, Dick Hartung, came up with the idea to honor Ride For A Child children and riders. This is an idea that has truly blossomed With the idea of one and the implementation of many, we had another spectacular year. More than 250 people attended our event at Montgomery Park in downtown Portland. With more than 200 auction items, celebrity glass art pieces, and wonderful oral auction items, including a wishing well that our Family Camp Children made, all helped to make Harvest of Hope a huge success. I am happy to report more than $60,000 was raised for Candlelighters, with all proceeds going directly into the programs we offer. This night could not have been possible if it were not for the generosity of so many people in both monetary and time commitments. I would first like to give a very special thank you to Shel Bailey (Charley Girl, 97.1fm) who was our spectacular emcee for the event. Our wonderful auctioneer for the night, Chris Gilbert, did a great job in stirring the crowd for the oral auction items.

Our sincere thanks goes out to the following individuals and corporations:  Presenting Sponsor First Tech Credit Union, Silver Sponsor ~ Flir Systems, Bronze Sponsors ~ Equity Group Foundation ~ Kuzman Forest Products ~ MetroMetals ~ West Coast Bank

In Kind Donations:
Cooper Mountain Vineyards ~ LaDolce Vita Vineyard ~ Oak Knoll Winery ~ Owen Roe Winery ~ Cam Thompson

Thank you to our terrific group of Celebrity Artists, along with this year’s Ride For A Child honored children, who shared their time and created one-of-a-kind, fused glass art pieces that were available for your generous bids during the silent auction. We had fun with this group and appreciate their contribution to the Harvest of Hope. Thank you!
Ken Ackerman • Kennedy Amundson • Shel Bailey • Michael Bruhn • Julie Emry • Michael Allen Harrison • Ron Hurst • Roy Jay • Kavita Jhaveri • Julianne Johnson • Storm Large • Paul Linnman • Sharon Maroney and Dan Murphy • Jon Olson • Nikolai Ostrander • Helen Raptis • Jensen Smith • Josiah Spidal • Rod Toombs (aka Rowdy Roddy Piper) • JaReda Webb

A special thank you goes to our friends at Aquila Glass School!
The wonderful Celebrity Artist fused glass pieces were carefully and expertly fused by Aquila Glass School. We so appreciate the time that Scott Curn, one of the Aquila Glass School owners, spent teaching and assisting the Celebrity Artists as they worked on their unique pieces. Thank you Scott!

Thank you to Michael Allen Harrison, a dedicated supporter of Candlelighters, who wrote a song especially for Harvest of Hope. This was not an ordinary sheet music, but a unique, one-of-a-kind type fused in glass. Not only did Michael write the song, but he also designed the fused glass work of art that encapsulated the notes.

Live, love, laugh, family, hope ~ these are just a few of the “wishes” written on shingles by Candlelighters children and their families at Candlelighters Family Camp. Inspired by their words, Ben Hudlicky built, not one, but two working water feature wishing wells. Thank you Ben for your continuing talent, support and dedication to Candlelighters.

Thank you to the families who attended the Candlelighters Bereavement Camp in July and took part in creating the one-of-a-kind handmade fused glass tiles that were incorporated into a wonderful reflection frame for a mirror. This project brought together young and old with a common thread of grief, yet we know that in the reflection there is always hope.

Thank you to Gene and Barbara Bradshaw who generously gave four valuable bottles of wine for our oral auction. We truly appreciated your support at this year’s Harvest of Hope.

A special thank you to Janet Sams, Links-Event & Tournament Connections, Inc., for her expertise and event management.

Thank you to the Harvest of Hope Committee Members who work year round on the Harvest of Hope:  Dick Brooks • Kirsten Carnese • Kathy Boone Flye • Macil Flye • Denise Hartung • Jenny Lambert • Karen LaVoie • Melissa Quandt-Holden • David Saltzman • Cam Thompson • Shelli Volpigno

The Harvest of Hope would not be a success without the countless hours dedicated by our mighty group of volunteers:
Denise & Dick Hartung • Ann Laskey • Bev Zimel • Melissa Quandt-Holden • Max Holden • Mitchell Franck • Eileen Moody • Macil Flye • Rob Koch • Robyn, Burk, Seth, Levi & Cole Childers • Cam Thompson • Pilar & Adriana Alvarado • Laura & Connor Wiles • Alexi & Deb Child • Kitty & Dani Jones • Tierra Johannsen • Edie Howard • Rich, Vicki & Jordan Herrle • Sandra & Michael Rollinson • Kimberly Leon • Christina Parson • Michelle Duarte • Bill & Pat Brewer • Tim Ley • April Brenneman • Chris Monty • Joy Dietrich • Marjorie Larson • Kayla Volpigno

We would also like to thank all of those that donated a wide array of unique items for our silent auction.

Thank you Dave and Kim Morales of Right Angle - Digital Print & Supply Inc. for your continuing support with printing the photos of our honored children and RFAC riders.

Thank you Kris Kremers at Food In Bloom and your wonderful staff for providing the delectable harvest meal and all the extras.

To anyone left off this long list of dedicated supporters, we apologize in advance. You all are gifts to Candlelighters.  Candlelighters For Children With Cancer appreciates everyone who attended the event, purchased items, and supports our mission: To provide support, education, advocacy and hope to families impacted by childhood cancer. On behalf of our board of directors, volunteers, and most especially, our children and families, thank you for supporting the
2009 Harvest of Hope.