ChristieCare Wraps Up 14 Days of Chocolate
ChristieCare’s annual celebration of community and chocolate – which kicked off February 2nd with the 2008 Chocolate Ball and wrapped up February 15th at a benefit dinner hosted by Wildwood – was an unqualified success. Overall, ChristieCare’s 14 Days of Chocolate raised $560,000 for critical mental health programs serving children and families in Oregon.
Events on ChristieCare’s “Chocolate Intinerary” included:
FEBRUARY 2nd: The Fourth Annual Chocolate Ball, presented by Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon and held at The Governor Hotel, raised a record-breaking $519,091. Over 450 guests enjoyed pastries, confections, chilled desserts, and fine chocolates from Portland’s best chocolatiers and pastry chefs, and danced to local band 5 Guys Named Moe until midnight.
FEBRUARY 3rd: On the morning of Super Bowl Sunday, Tiffany & Co. hosted Chocolate Sunday, an exclusive shopping experience for guests of ChristieCare as well as Tiffany’s most valuable customers. Ten percent of all profits from 10:00am – noon were donated to ChristieCare and, along with proceeds from the Tiffany’s raffle at The Chocolate Ball, raised $8,520 for ChristieCare.
FEBRUARY 7th: Just when you thought you couldn’t get enough chocolate, the Bridgeport and Downtown locations of Whole Foods Market presented Chocolate Fest 2008 to support ChristieCare. Over 140 customers purchased $10 tickets to sample an array of chocolate infused offerings from swordfish to salads. All ticket sales directly benefited ChristieCare families.
FEBRUARY 9th: The Fourth Annual Oil Can Henry’s Children’s Chocolate Brunch was held at the Oregon Zoo this year. A sweet, yet pleasantly messy chocolate jungle experience enticed children with inflatable jungle obstacle courses, shining zoo lights, wild animals and photo opportunities with the M&M and Hershey Kiss themselves. The Chocolate Brunch raised $24,575 and directly supported ChristieCare’s Children’s Receiving Center in Multnomah County.
FEBRUARY 15th: The chocolate festivities concluded with a benefit dinner hosted by Wildwood Restaurant and Bar. Wildwood satisfied over 50 guests in its private dining area with a four-course meal including cocoa, cinnamon, chile lamb shanks and wine pairings. The dinner raised $3,779.
ChristieCare would like to thank all its generous and dedicated supporters and community partners.
Pictured above: Three-year-old Natalie Gemma gets serious with the chocolate fountain at the Children’s Chocolate Brunch February 9th (Photo: LeeAnn Gauthier)