DonorNewsletter
MessagetoYoufromourPresident&CEO,
AtEastersealsOregon,webelieveeverypersondeservestheopportunitytothrive.Butrightnow,that beliefisbeingtestedlikeneverbefore Werecentlylostagovernmentcontractthatwe’veheldfor21 years.Itfundedcriticaljobplacementservicesforpeoplewithdisabilities.Becauseofthiscut,wewere forcedtoclosethreeregionalofficesandlayoffdedicatedemployees Theconsequencesare devastatingforthehundredsofpeoplewhosepathtoemploymentjustdisappeared.
Acrossthecountry,nonprofitsarefacingmassivefederalfundingreductionsthatjeopardizethe servicesvulnerablecommunitiesrelyonmost—servicesforchildrenandadultswithdisabilities, Veterans,andseniors.Thesecutsareforcingustomakeimpossiblechoice
Buthere’swhatgivesmehope:you.Youhaveshownupwithcompassio generosity,andgrit.Becauseofyoursupport,we’renotgivingup.
Thismomentcallsforboldaction.Weneedtobelouder,moreunited,and committedthaneverbefore.Nowmorethanever,yoursteadfastsuppo makingthedifferencebetweenhopeandhardship.Thankyouforstanding withus—andwiththoseweserve—througheveryseason.
Kristen Rantz President & CEO
Hello and Welcome!
Alan Crouch Board Chair
You are reading our new Donor Newsletter. Thank you for taking the time to read through this piece!
Because of you, something truly beautiful is happening in communities across Oregon. Children with disabilities are heading to camp this summer building friendships and discovering their independence. Veterans and their families who once faced homelessness now have a place to call home. And adults with disabilities and seniors experiencing profound isolation and economic insecurity are finding new connections and purpose.
This newsletter is for you our partner in hope It’s where we’ll share stories of impact, gratitude, and the impact we make together. Thank you for being such a vital part of Easterseals Oregon and helping make life better for so many across Oregon.
Dear People Who Gave So Kids Like Me Could Attend Easterseals Oregon’s Camp Last Summer
I have been bullied for a long time by kids who don’t know how to be nice to someone who has a disability.
I have felt alone for a long time.
Being able to go to the Easterseals Oregon summer camp last year was the best week of my life. I made friends.
I was so happy I finally felt welcome and understood
The picture here is of me being hugged by one of my new friends on the last day of camp. You can see how happy I am. Thank you so much.
Halleya
Donor Spotlight: Marion & Jim Godfrey
In 1969, Marion Godfrey took a summer job as Waterfront Director at an Easterseals camp in Kentucky. Fresh from earning her Master’s in Special Education, she found that nothing prepared her like that summer did
“Easterseals was the best education I ever received for working with children with disabilities,” Marion says. “It helped me truly understand what families go through—and what these children need.”
Over decades as a special education teacher, and while living abroad with her husband Jim, Easterseals remained close to her heart. Now living in Beaverton, Oregon, Marion continues to give generously to help others thrive. She and Jim are major annual donors who give to provide scholarships for childen with disablities to attend Easterseals Oregon’s Summer Camp.
Her commitment deepened even further when a dear friend received support from Easterseals Oregon’s Senior Employment Program.
“Easterseals has been part of me my whole life,” she says. “And through our giving, I want to make sure it will be part of others’ lives, too.”
Thank you, Marion and Jim Godfrey, for your extraordinary generosity and commitment to the children and families we serve.
To give a child with disabilities the opportunity to attend Camp this year, please contact Ellen Catania at 503-686-9354 or ecatania@or.easterseals.com.
Marion loves this photo from 1969, when she first started working at Camp Easterseals
Marion proudly sharing her photos of the children she served at Camp Easterseals
Marion has many good memories of campers loving their time at Easterseals camp
To
everyone who made the
2025 BLOOMFEST BALL a
night to remember—thank you.
Bonnie & Bob Acker
Regan Aguilar
Barbara Armstrong
Anonymous
Ivan Barrera & Mercedes Hernandez
Becker Capital Management
Terri Boughton
Meaghan Bradley-Bussell*
AJ Brauer & Jiwon Lee
Matt Brill & Theresa Carey-Brill
Erin McKeirnan Brown
Brown & Brown
Sara Burton
Melita Callahan
Jackie Callahan
Carole & Jim* Cameron
Marlana & Tim Campbell
Lynda Carter
Donna Cassidy
Deborah Catania-Stockhauser & Michael Stockhauser
Ellen, Jeff & Dylan Catania
Isabella Catania & Chris Bossman
CENTURY 21 North Homes Realty
Greg Cervetto
Brian Chow & Boram Chung
Lori & Michael Conley
Tyler Conroy
Kathy Crannell
Marissa & Alan* Crouch
Jessica Curry
Daimler Truck
Kendra & Aaron Davenport
Jayme Crawford & Tom Davenport
Rebecca Freeman & Justin Davis
Amber Delaney
Robert Delavan
Rachel DeRosia*
Kristen Courtway & Gordon Dexter
Chris & Tom Dole
Kelly Eggerss & Aaron Sailors
Liz Eselius
Brandon Ferree
Mark Foster
Kristi & Rich Franklin
Craig & Kathryn Gabbert
Meagan Foster & Ken Gavette
Allie Gavette & Matt Melito
Elissa Gavette
Kathryn Gerhards & Ronnie James
Danielle Gibson*
Carolyn Gilbert
Heidi Goertzen
Sarah & Shawn Golden
Daniel & Macy Gonzalez
Linda Gratteri
Kim & Tony Gusman
Jim Gustin & Terri Bigness
Nancy & Ryan Gutierrez
Ryan Gutierrez
Jeff & Sarah Halstead
Lora & Jim Helman
HL Stearns
Kentin Hosley
Elizabeth* & Sam Hutchison
Intel Foundation
Christine Johnson
Emma Kemp
KeyBank
Michelle & Michael Killmer
Steve & Susan Klepinger
Josh Kliever
Kvetka Flowers
Elaine Lees & Carlos Ocejo
Patti Lewis & Brian Tanz
Hoover Li
Chris Loewe
Kim & Ryan Lunden
Evie Manzon & Kevin Cadman
Lisa Marti
Alaina & Nick Mayfield
Mary & Sasha McArthur
Ginger McKeirnan
Doneta McMuldren
Karoll & Levon* McMullen
CJ McNulty
Casey Milne
Ardyce Moore*
April Morilon
Tracy Norton
Tracy Oliver
Jessica Oliver
PGE
Ken & Tina Pitta
Valerie Hurst & William Preisz
Preisz Financial
Qorvo
Chelsea & Oliver Quinn
Kristen,* Brian & Alexis Rantz
Joe Rayburn & Kathryn Stiles
Josh & Sarah Reynolds
Erin Greenawald & Sean Riddell
Diane Rivera*
Gail Rogers
Kelly and Beau Rogers
Jeff* & Tracy Ruby
Jennifer* and Steve Sandberg
Erynn Sanders
Debbie Sanguras
Robyn Shuey
Bob & Venniessa Simmerman
Sean Simmerman
Ashley Single
Patrick Smith*
Matt Sorenson & Dani Stevens
Leianne* & Carter Stinton
Mathew Stockstill & Jenny West
Debbi Stone
Thayer Family Foundation
The Standard
Amanda Tissue
Sharon Toncray* & Dave Hasson
Vista Capital Partners
Amanda & Cody Walterman
Jan West
Jan & Bruce* Whitaker
Brittany Gonzalez & Jeremiah White
Blake Whitson*
John & Linda Wolf
Shari Young
Michael & Stephanie Zahler
*Easterseals Oregon Board Member
With your generosity and heart, we raised more than $180,000 to help Veterans in crisis across Oregon find stability, dignity, and a path forward. Your gifts remind every Veteran we serve that they are not alone— and that their sacrifices are seen and honored.
We are also especially grateful to all who joined us in celebrating two extraordinary honorees: Jennifer Sandberg, recipient of the 2025 Ardyce Moore Philanthropic Achievement Award, for being a pillar of service, leadership, and generosity; and The Standard, recipient of the 2025 Miracle Partner Award, for their outstanding partnership and profound impact on those we serve.
Thank you for your outstanding role in BLOOMFEST 2025 Sales Week, and in bringing life-changing resources to children and adults with disabilities, and to Veterans and seniors in urgent need.
Sponsors
Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm
Alpenrose/Smith Bros.
The Standard Qorvo
Epsilon Sigma Alpha (ESA)
Becker Capital Management
Daimler Truck
HL Stearns
Preisz Financial
Pacific Office Automation
Century 21 North Homes Realty
KeyBank
Brown & Brown
Benchmade Knives
Vista Capital
Pre-Sale Partners & Sales Sites
Bridgeport Village
Fred Meyer Corporate Headquarters
PGE World Trade Center
PGE Avery Op Center
PGE Beaverton Op Center
PGE Integrated Op Center
PGE Tualatin Op Center
PGE Portland Op Center
Old Navy Clackamas Center
Old Navy Tualatin
Old Navy Keizer Station
Unitus Community Credit Union
Camper Michael & Mom Lori
Mary’s Woods
Umpqua Plaza
Brown & Brown
Epsilon Sigma Alpha (ESA)
One Centerpointe
Three Centertpointe
Park Avenue West
Lake Grove Presbyterian Church
Shorenstein Kruse Woods
Shorenstein Lincoln Center
Lake Oswego Rotary Club
The Watermark at the Pearl
The Oregon Clinic
200 Market Building
First & Main
Block 300
Fox Tower
Columbia Machine
International Paper
West Coast Strength Clackamas
And to all of the volunteers, donors, and staff who went out of their way to help make life better for so many children and adults, Veterans and seniors across Oregon.
Save the Dates for Next Year’s BLOOMFEST BALL Friday, March 4, 2026
BLOOMFEST SALES WEEK March 30 - April 4, 2026
Amanda’s Story
daughter’s first steps, her first birthday all the moments a mother dreams of
When I came home, I wasn’t the same. PTSD took hold of me. My husband left. Suddenly, I was a single mom of two one with a disability. I felt like I was drowning.
I walked into the VA, completely lost. And then they said something that changed everything: ‘We’re sending you to Easterseals Oregon. They’re going to help.’
From the moment I walked in, they saw me — not as a case file, not as a statistic, but as a mother, a veteran, a person who just needed a chance. They told me, ‘Let’s get you and your kids home.’
On Christmas Eve last year, I turned the key to our new home. My kids ran inside, laughing. For the first time in years, I could breathe. We were safe. We were home.
Easterseals Oregon changes lives mine, my kids’, and so many others Thank you to those who give to help Veterans and so many others find hope, just like I did.”