Last Saturday night, 920 people gathered at the Oregon Convention Center for the Classic Wines Auction.  Folks from Oregon, Washington, California and beyond.  From the outside, it may have looked like a well-dressed crowd out to enjoy an evening of great wine and food, and friendship.  But inside the room.  Inside the hearts of the guests.  Something far more significant was on the agenda.  This crowd … comprised of friends, colleagues, wine enthusiasts, community leaders and philanthropists … was on a mission.  If we all stepped up.  If we challenged each other.  If we combined our resources.  How many lives could we touch.  How great could our collective impact be.  It was an unspoken moment.  An agreement that everyone in this audience made with each other to not let this moment slip by.

What transpired over the course of the evening can best be described as extraordinary generosity.  When the auctioneer shouted “SOLD” for the last auction item, $2.9 million had been raised.

$2.9 million!

There were great auction packages.  Amazing wine.  Fabulous trips and dinner parties.  But greater than the auction packages was the strong thread that wove its way from table to table.  It connected us all through a shared belief in the missions and good work of the CWA partner charities.

Five charities that reach over 82,000 children and families in our community:  breaking down cultural and economic barriers, helping youth exit street life and find a more productive path, connecting at-risk children with a long-term mentor, helping victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault, and addressing the health needs of the youngest members of our community.  Metropolitan Family Service, New Avenues for Youth, Friends of the Children – Portland, the YWCA Clark County, and Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel all provide unique services to children and families.  But they believe in collective impact.  They look our their windows and know that when we strengthen our greater community, we are better served.

Last Saturday night, 920 people looked beyond their windows and yards.  They recognized the needs in our community.  They walked into that ballroom with their eyes, ears and hearts fully open.  And they gave.  And gave.  Without hesitation.

The auction is over.  The ballroom has been cleared and reused over and over since March 2nd.  But the collective impact of the Classic Wines Auction will ripple through our community as thousands of children and families experience what hope looks like.

It looks like family.  A family 920 strong.

http://www.classicwinesauction.com

www.metfamily.org

http://www.newavenues.org

www.friendspdx.org

http://www.ywcaclarkcounty.org

www.legacyhealth.org/kidsonly

Photo Credit:  www.johnvalls.com