Friday night April 30 saw another Portland event where fashion became a vehicle for good works, a good cause, and some genuinely heart-rending moments. The annual Power of the Purse benefit for Girls Inc of Northwest Oregon featured not only a pretty amazing set of purse/handbag collaborations, but some moments onstage that ranged from the unexpectedly hilarious but inspiring sportscaster Ann Schatz, and musical performances by our hometown, world-class gospel singers the Brown Sisters, the ever-classy Emcee Brenda Braxton of KGW, and of course, Miss Dionne Warwick. Last week around this same time, I wouldn't have guessed I'd ever hear Dionne Warwick sing live... probably wouldn't have thought much about it. Last night, I got shivers when she sang the first words of "That's What Friends are For." I had to check myself: "Did I just get spine-lightning from Dionne Warwick?" Yes. Yes I did.
Aside from the purses, each of which sold at auction for prices ranging from $1,000 - $2,300, the theme of the evening was of course how Girls Inc has been changing the lives of young girls for years, and continues to do so. Some of the principals of the evening included Dionne, Girls Inc NW Oregon Executive Director Elizabeth Nye, Emcee Brenda Braxton of KGW along with KGW President DJ Wilson, and Ann Schatz, a sports broadcaster with a national career spanning two decades, who I think it's fair to say blew everyone away with both her humor and her heartfelt way of putting Girls Inc's importance into perspective. Girls Inc has a slogan they employ to describe what they imbue in their girls, "Strong, smart, and bold." I found myself curious to know if there had been any organizations or individuals in the lives of these strong, smart, bold women who had contributed to their youth in ways that they see themselves and Girls Inc giving back today. The answers came in an interesting mix. Some had found their way to supporting Girls Inc because of people who had given the same to them, others were there for the very reason that they wanted to give the girls something they themselves never had.
Elizabeth Nye: Executive Director, Girls Inc NW Oregon. "I went to an all-girls High School [St. Mary's here in Portland], and it was the type of environment that was very supportive, and everyone was so different but it was accepted... it was okay. Later on when I went to college I really started to discover that it's not that way in a lot of places." Nye, Girls Inc NW's Executive Director since last September, formerly with Big Brothers-Big Sisters, has made a career out of giving back to children, and stood speaking to me with glassy eyes after Dionne Warwick had finished her encore, "If you had asked me a year ago if I thought I would be standing right here, right now, I'd have never believed you."
Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick: "Simply put, I think what my mantra is, and my grandfather gave me this, he said ... 'If you can think it, you can do it.' I want them to feel their dream is very, very important and follow it and be inspired to do so." *
Brenda Braxton, Anchor, KGW News: "This is not so much from when I was little, but I think my 'pay-it-forward' story comes from an experience I had right out of college. I had just graduated in Journalism from University of Portland and I wanted to be a news anchor, so I just wrote letters to all of them here in Portland, and one of them responded. Her name was Darlene McClintock and I'll never forget how she took her time to meet with me and share her experience and guidance. It's one of those things that happens to you and you just know 'I need to turn around and give back whenever I can.'"
Ann Schatz: Sportscaster: "You know back in the day there were just not many organizations geared for girls besides the Scouts, and I wasn't really a part of that. I was lucky that I came into athletics and it really suited me, but there wasn't much chance to do the kinds of things these girls get to do [with Girls Inc], so they don't have to rely on athletics. That's why I think it's so important to be here. I mean look at these girls! [At the moment, one of the Girls Inc kids is on stage modeling her team's purse, telling the packed ballroom she wants to be a fashion designer.. She does an impromptu swirl as she leaves the stage] They're having a great time! The guts it takes to get up there and do this... that what Girls Inc is about."
DJ Wilson: President, KGW TV "You know I grew up in a small town, and one year I won the Rotary Club Student of the Year Award, and just got indoctrinated into their spirit of 'service above self,' and started being a part of their events. As time went by, it really gave me a sense of empowerment and community."
Picture courtesy Jasmin Fullman
Jasmine Fullman, Naturally Knotty: I come from a long line of "whoop-A$$" strong American women... (can be traced to some of the early arrival boats that came to the "New World")... However I do distinctly remember YMCA Red Cross "Pat" who was 65 and is prob now at 85 STILL a better swimmer than I'll ever be - who's tough as nails, "sink or swim" & "take no prisoners" approach inspired me as a young teenage summer camp lifeguard and swim instructor to work hard - stay cool and smart under pressure - AND (based on some of her suit fashions) inspired me to start the most smokin' hot vintage Jantzen swimsuit collection ever! I'll never forget her, her work ethic or her passion to give back helping to educate & inspire others...
Sha Montana, handbag designer: "No, you know what, there really wasn't. It was rough. That's why I think this is so great. These girls never have to grow up without this kind of encouragement and inspiration in their lives. That's why I'm so glad to be a part of it."
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Comments
This year's Power of the Purse captivated the hearts of Portland more than ever thanks to the help of many incredible people and the kindhearted support of the Portland community. It was certainly a night to remember!
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