Listen to this article
By Rowanne L. Haley –
The second annual “All about Kids” fundraising luncheon in Portland, Ore., recently stirred and inspired a crowd of nearly 500 people at the Hilton Hotel grand ballroom. Speakers representing several programs serving youth and families told of how their lives have been changed with the help of The Salvation Army.
Whitfield “Mannie” Taylor told how his mother’s drinking problem caused him to move to Portland to live with his father. A new acquaintance invited him to the Moore Street Corps and Community Center, where God “got ahold of my life.”
Others spoke of losing custody of children due to raging drug addiction and then overcoming it with the help of the West Women’s and Children’s Shelter; how a series of Life Skills classes offered through Family Services has taught a low income couple how to begin saving and keep off public assistance; and how homeless teens receive both short and long term help through the Greenhouse program.
Television news anchor Paul Linnman emceed the luncheon, which is becoming a popular event in Portland. This year, between corporate underwriting and guest donations, nearly $70,000 was raised.
