First Joint Event Nets $210,000
Portland, OR, October 30, 2009 – Incight and DePaul Industries announces their first joint fundraising event, the Country Harvest Celebration, held Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at 6:00 pm at the Oregon Convention Center, netted a record-breaking $210,000. The benefit dinner and celebration, featuring keynote speaker Gary Guller, and Erin Riehle, founder of Project Search, is an important source of funding for providing educational and employment opportunities for people with disabilities to become active members of the community.
Greg Mitchell, Kathy Mitchell, Sarah Hatley and Jordan Messinger
Guller, the only person with one arm to scale the world’s highest peak Mt. Everest, also led the largest cross-disability group to Mountains’s Base Camp at 17,500 feet. His keynote speech, heard by more than 600 guests helped inspire attendees to donate more generously than ever before. Erin Riehle, in 1996, co-founded Project SEARCH, a nationally recognized program dedicated to workforce development focused on individuals with significant barriers to employment. Project SEARCH – which generates partnerships with businesses that work to benefit the individual, community and the workplace – now operates in 32 states and five countries. DePaul Industries is spearheading the effort to bring Project SEARCH to the Portland metro area and the state of Oregon.
Scott Johnson, Paula Johnson, Erin Riehle
“It was a very magical evening filled with a message of hope, inspiration and success of what is possible for people with disabilities,” said Vail Horton, Incight Board Chair. “The event was a great step forward for the community and those with disabilities.”
Nick Montgomery, Aubrey Turley and Emily Montgomery
The Standard and Safeway Foundation were co-presenting sponsors of the event at $20,000. These two organizations — along with 29 additional sponsoring companies—were excited about Incight and DePaul’s innovative approach in working together. By teaming up, DePaul Industries and Incight believe they can—individually and collectively—dramatically enhance the lives of people with disabilities.
Donna King, Scott Cassidy, Sue Cassidy, Neal King (The Standard) and Bob Speltz (The Standard)
“We were very humbled by the tremendous outpouring of generosity from those who attended the Country Harvest Celebration,” said DePaul Industries CEO Dave Shaffer. “Through this event and by partnering together, we believe we can more significantly address the critical need around improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.”
Sarah, Jean and Dave Shaffer
DePaul Industries and Incight are driven by compatible missions that will empower people with disabilities in the areas of education, employment and independence.
For additional information on either organization, contact Scott Hatley or visit www.incight.org and www.depaulindustries.com.
ABOUT INCIGHT: Founded in 2004 by Scott Hatley and Vail Horton, CEO of Portland-based KEEN Mobility, the dream for Incight is to change two statistics: increase the 16% educational attainment of disabled Americans and the 76% unemployment rate. Incight’s mission is to cause the success of education, employment, networking, and independence for people with disabilities. Through all this, Incight’s main goal is achieved; empower people with disabilities to become contributing members of society. Over the past five years Incight has awarded 353 college scholarships, created 63 jobs, secured 20 scholarship match partnerships at area universities, and served over 900 people with disabilities through Incight Events.
Dr. Sean Scorvo and Kelly Kerbs
About DePaul Industries: Since 1971, DePaul’s mission has been to help people with disabilities have the opportunity to work. DePaul Industries devotes its focus to three core areas: Food & Consumer Goods Packaging, Staffing Services, and Security Services. Over the past five years DePaul has employed over 5000 individuals and paid over $43 million in wages.
Kathy Mitchell, Greg Mitchell, Brandon Barnes, and Staci Stevens
