Portland-based engineering firm Harper Houf Peterson Righellis (HHPR) was recognized by Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) as a Parnter of Distinction at the 2010 Hearts & Hands Auction. HHPR has raised more than $78,000 for RMHC over the past ten years at their client appreciation golf tournament, and have also adopted a room at the East House, which they renovated and redecorated. Click here to find out more about their involvement.

Congratulations to Doug Wacker and Phil and Angie Fogg, who were inducted into the RMHC Hall of Fame at the 2010 Hearts & Hands Auction. The Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding, long-term commitment by individuals whose contributions have made a lasting impact for children and families at the Ronald McDonald House.

Read more about Doug’s involvement with RMHC.

Read more about Phil & Angie’s involvement with RMHC.

Thank you to everyone who took part in the 2010 Hearts & Hands Auction last Friday at the Portland Art Museum.

To view a photo gallery from the night, click below:

Photos by Naim Hasan.

Stephanie Abston is headed to college this month for her freshman year at Western Washington. The Evergreen High School graduate from Vancouver may be young, but she has already raised over $10,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). Stephanie’s incredible dedication to RMHC helped her earn several scholarships that will help pay for college. Stephanie not only raises money, but has also volunteered at both Houses, hosting craft projects for families and other fun activities. Stephanie recently took the time to tell us about her involvement with the Houses as she gets ready to start her first semester in college.

Q How long have you been supporting the Ronald McDonald House?
I have been involved with the House the past 10 years and have been raising money the past 8 years. I first got involved with the House when I was doing a Jump for Heart with my school. I liked the idea of raising money for a good cause. A few friends and I decided we wanted to start our own project raising money. I suggested the House because I had volunteered there before with my grandparents and loved that atmosphere. The next year, I started fundraising on my own, and continued for the last seven years.

Q What are some of the fundraising projects you’ve organized?
I began raising funds by making crafts from supplies my parents paid for and selling them for 100% to benefit RMHC. I sold my crafts: to family and friends, hosted open houses, and at the Vancouver’s Farmers Market. One project I co-organized were two Spa-Salon-A-Thons. Zena, owner of Aveda Salon, heard about what I had done for the House and wanted to help. For one day each year all the services were performed and 100% was donated to the Ronald McDonald House, which wasn’t included in my personal fundraising for RMHC.

Q Tells us about the scholarships you received for college?
My community service and dedication to the House allowed me to receive a few different scholarships. I have volunteered more than 650 hours at the House and more than 1,000 total hours of service in the past 8 years. I was nominated for the Kohl’s Kids Who Care Scholarship, and was picked as one of the regional winners. Along with the Kohl’s Scholarship I also received two Rotary Scholarships whose motto is “service above self,” which I demonstrated through my volunteering.

Q Tell us about your family’s connection to the first Ronald McDonald House?
A year after I started raising money for the House I found out that my grandma’s cousin, Fred Hill, was one of the founders of the first RMH in Philadelphia. My cousin Kimmy (Fred’s daughter) was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of three and at the time Fred played for the Philadelphia Eagles. When he wanted to help out, he had a big support group and the Eagles helped him raise money for new equipment for the Hospital. One of his daughter’s doctors mentioned that a house for families to stay at while their children were in the hospital would be beneficial. McDonald’s contacted Fred because they wanted to help, and together they founded the very first Ronald McDonald House.

We look forward to seeing everyone at the 2010 Hearts & Hands Auction on Friday night. It should be a very special evening! Here is a photo of the venue – the Mark Building on the campus of the Portland Art Museum. The entrance is on SW Park AVE on the South Park Blocks, which the equivalent of SW 9th AVE.

The address is:

1219 SW Park AVE
Portland, OR 97205

Use Mapquest to find directions.

The 2010 Hearts & Hands Auction is coming up this Friday at the Portland Art Museum. Here are more auction package previews to get you excited for the event! Find out more details online by clicking here.

1) Emerald City Experience
Celebrate the New Year with two Club Level tickets to the Seahawks game against the St. Louis Rams on January 2. This package includes a pregame sideline tour and a Matt Hasselbeck autographed football! Fly up to Seattle on SeaPort Airlines, and enjoy a two night stay at the Alexis Hotel. While you are there, celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Experience Music Project, the interactive museum where music meets science. A gift card to Stanford’s Restaurant is included. (live auction)

2) Romance at the Beach
Let Grandma spoil the kids while you escape to Cannon Beach for a romantic date-night. This package includes a one night stay at The Inn at Cannon Beach, a Japanese Foot Soak and Deep Foot Massage at the Cannon Beach Spa, a $50 gift certificate to The Wayfarer Restaurant in Cannon Beach, a “Kid in the Candy Store” gift basket from Bruce’s Candy Kitchen, a signed bottle of Pinot Noir from Laurel Hood, and the Stephanie Inn Cookbook. (silent auction)

3) Boys & Girls Bikes
Two packages will get the young bike rider in your life ready to take a spin in the neighborhood with a new bike, tire pump, helmet, and a $10 gift certificate to Bikeasaurus. (silent auction)

4) Don’t forget the raffle!
A live auction item can be yours for $50! 200 raffle tickets will be sold at $50 each. The winning raffle ticket will be pulled the night of the auction, and the winning ticket holder can “steal” one of four live auction packages – the “Party Like Paul Bunyan” Portland Timbers package, the “Let ‘er Buck” Pendleton Roundup package, the “Climb Every Mountain” Park City, Utah package, or the “Stone Soup for a Day” comic strip package.

It’s time to get excited for the 2010 Hearts & Hands Auction, coming up on Friday, September 24 at the Portland Art Museum! Here is a preview of just some of the amazing packages attendees will be able to bid on. There is something for everyone, with 11 live auction and over 75 silent auction packages!

1) Did Caesar Live Here?
Indulge in all that Las Vegas has to offer! You and your partner in crime will fly on Southwest Airlines to the City of Sin and travel in style via limo from the airport to Caesars Palace, where you will spend two nights in the luxurious Forum Tower Royal Suite. Take a sunset helicopter tour for two over the Grand Canyon and the Las Vegas Strip, with champagne, beverages, and hors d’oeuvres. To help you prepare for your trip you can enjoy The Hangover on DVD and read the original script signed by screenwriter Scott Moore. (live package)

2) Jonesing!
Take a private behind-the-scenes tour for six at Cupcake Jones with owners Lisa Watson and Peter Shanky, and learn about the kitchen where they dream up so many delicious treats. Once inspired, create your own cupcake masterpiece, and finish your visit with a special tasting washed down by beer and wine. (silent package)

3) Party Like Paul Bunyan
Experience this rare chance to have a private training session with Portland’s new MLS team, the Portland Timbers. This incredible package includes the opportunity for ten to participate in a one-hour training session with Portland Timbers players. In addition, the winning bidder will receive a 2010 team autographed ball and jersey! After a great work out, satiate your hunger at Kell’s with a dinner for ten. (live package)

4) Swiss Family Robinson Hawaiian Style
You will feel like you have been stranded on the desert island of your dreams. Four round-trip tickets on Alaska Airlines take you to the Hawaiian Island of Kaua’i to spend 7 days and 7 nights in a four-bedroom, four-bath lavish oceanfront vacation home. Get excited for your trip with the Best of Travel 6 DVD set and the Lonely Planet’s Guide to Kaua’i. An always popular package, the house won’t be available at next year’s auction, so don’t miss out this year! (live package)

Register online for the auction by clicking here.

East House volunteer Mary Vander Yacht had the honor of reopening the East House kitchen by cutting the ceremonial ribbon at the special celebration to mark the end of the remodel project yesterday. An Intel employee, Mary makes cookies and other tasty treats at the house every Wednesday, but had been unable to bake at the house while the kitchen was undergoing renovation. To celebrate the reopening yesterday, Mary made a special visit to the house to bake up some delicious peanut-butter and chocolate chip cookies for everyone at the event.

The East House kitchen remodel project wrapped up last week, with the kitchen reopening to families at the house. Yesterday, though, the kitchen hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony, to celebrate the completion of the project with staff, board members, volunteers, and the contractors who worked on the project.

Special thanks to the following for their generous donations of time and funding:

Autzen Foundation
BASCO
Corian
Frigidaire and Hamilton’s Appliance – BrandSource
Juan Young Trust
Keith Rogers
Mr. Appliance
Mr. Electric
NSCi
Oregon Jewish Community Youth Foundation
Parr Lumber
Rose’s Equipment and Supply
Thanks also to Watson plumbing, Wood Finishing Services, Spectra Contract Flooring, American Heating, Simplex Grinnell and Pyramid Drywall.

View a slide show of before, during, and after images:

The Caldwell family from Texas returned to the East House to cook up a delicious dinner for house guests last Friday. The family spent 226 nights at the house in 2002 and 2003, while their son Princeton underwent treatment. Princeton’s parents Chunda and Michael return to the house every year, along with grandmother Barbara, and spend all day cooking as a way to honor Princeton’s memory, and support current families staying at the house.