With its inaugural Gala, Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare set an exceptional fundraising record in support of the new Garlington Health & Wellness Center due to open spring 2018

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

April 17, 2017 

 

PORTLAND, OR – April 17, 2017
On Thursday, April 6, 2017, Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare celebrated and shared its plans for the new Garlington Health & Wellness Center, opening in 2018, with 360 guests at its inaugural Gala Bridging a Culture of Caring. The Gala raised nearly $300,000 with a $50,000 surprise lead gift from Providence Health & Services. The wholehearted support of Gala attendees also helped Cascadia secure a $35,000 matching challenge grant from Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund and a $150,000 challenge pledged by FamilyCare. Cascadia’s Gala secured $450,000 towards the Garlington Health & Wellness Center’s philanthropic capital campaign goal of $3.5 million.

“Collaborating with Cascadia to improve health services for community members who are experiencing severe mental health challenges and poverty is at the heart of Providence’s Mission,” said Keith Hyde, Providence Milwaukie Hospital Chief Executive and Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare Board Chair. “Cascadia demonstrates compassionate care every day in serving our community’s most vulnerable members.”

Dave Underriner, Chief Executive for Providence in Oregon stated, “We believe affordable housing is critical to the overall health of the people we serve. As with our many community partners who focus on the social determinants of health – food, clothing, education, and housing – we are honored to work with Cascadia to make this fundraising event a success in helping to reach the goal for the new Garlington Center.”

The new Garlington Center will deliver integrated healthcare — bringing together mental health, substance use support, primary care, and wellness services with a retail pharmacy all offered in one location to better support a person’s whole healthcare needs. In recognition of the importance of providing more affordable housing, adjacent to the Center, Cascadia is building a 52-unit affordable housing apartment building available to Cascadia clients, veterans, and displaced N/NE Portland residents.

“Our Gala was a wonderful opportunity for Cascadia to bring the community together to deepen our shared goal of improving the quality of healthcare for all Oregonians. The announcement of Providence’s support in our plans to open the Garlington Center at our Gala was a wonderful anchor for our evening and with 360 friends and supporters – the evening was also a chance to celebrate our progress towards the 2018 opening of the Garlington Center,” said Derald Walker, Cascadia CEO.

The evening was filled with great music, food, and art and hosted at the Peter Corvallis Productions warehouse in North Portland. Gala guests included Mayor Ted Wheeler, Multnomah County Commission Chair Deborah Kafoury, and Multnomah County Commissioner Sharon Meiren.

In addition, the Gala honored five Portlanders with the Bridging a Culture of Caring Awards for their contributions and vital roles in strengthening our community’s social, physical, cultural and emotional wellbeing. Drs. Joseph and Ruth Matarazzo were honored for their achievements in advancing the field of psychology and promoting greater awareness and importance of mental health. Artist Arvie Smith was honored for using the power of art to carry forward social justice issues, building community through art, and for debunking negative racial and ethnic stereotypes through his engaging and incisive paintings.

Cascadia also posthumously recognized the late Rev. Dr. John W. Garlington, Jr. and his wife Yvonne Garlington, for whom the Garlington Center is named. The Garlingtons campaigned for social justice in nearly every arena of Portland life, including education, employment, police-community relations, hunger, and justice. Their passionate yet peaceful activism has inspired generations of Portlanders since their untimely death in an automobile accident in 1986. Their daughter Tina Garlington Washington accepted the award.

The Gala’s entertainment included internationally renowned jazz pianist and composer, Portland’s 2017 Jazz Hero Darrell Grant. Grant describes himself as “a creative artist who harnesses the power of music to create change” through performing, composing, teaching, and organizing musical initiatives around community, sustainability, and social justice. Live art installation and featured artworks from local artists Meghan Caughey, Alex Epps, Layna Lewis, Kelly Williams and the late Bob Volke were a significant part of the design and storytelling on mental health challenges, wellness and hope.

Also performing were violinists representing Me2/ of Portland, an affiliate of Me2/ Orchestra, the world’s only classical music organization created for individuals with mental illnesses and the people who support them. Award-winning Metropolitan Youth Symphony 6-piece playing youth jazz ensemble and a surprise performance from Polaris youth dancers were the capstone performers for a celebratory evening.

To learn more, watch our video.

ABOUT CASCADIA BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE: Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare is a private, not-for-profit whose mission is to provide healing, homes and hope for people living with mental health and addiction challenges. For information on Cascadia’s comprehensive range of innovative clinical and housing support programs, visit: cascadiabhc.org.
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