On Saturday, October 22, 2016, Thai Bloom will join other local businesses in supporting the fourth annual Oregon Gymnastics Academy (OGA) Silent Auction. With aspirations to raise $15,000, OGA’s fundraising team is working hard to support athletes through programs like:

• Community Outreach that provides free after-school, on-site gymnastics classes to at-risk children and youth in Title 1 schools, offering them a positive physical education experience
• Tuition Assistance that aids member families through temporary financial challenges and makes gymnastics classes accessible
• All-Star that serves children with special needs by offering individualized attention, aiding in motor skill development, confidence, coordination, and an overall sense of well-being

OGA’s mission is to promote and motivate character, health, and fitness in the lives of athletes, employees, and community through the sport of gymnastics. Every week, children learn new skills, conquer fears, and develop confidence, athleticism, and determination. The pride shown in their accomplishments motivates OGA to bring gymnastics and all of its benefits to less fortunate families in our community.

For more information, visit www.ogagym.org, or call 503-531-3409. Together, we can build champions one child at a time!

Thai Bloom is a proud sponsor of the Portland/SW Washington Pulmonary Hypertension Support Group’s “Thirsting for a Cure.” Held on September 30, 2016 from 6pm to 10pm at the Castaway in Portland, this event will raise awareness of Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) in children and adults.

Willamette and Columbia Valley wines, locally crafted beer, a juice company, and a distillery will offer beverages to delight the taste buds and quench thirst. Guests will also enjoy gourmet hor d’oeuvres and dinner as a part of the event. This special evening will feature a raffle, a vast array of silent auction items in addition to a live auction.

All proceeds from the event will be donated to Adult Research and the Robyn J. Barst Pediatric Research Fund in care of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA). Dr. Barst was a pioneer in the field of pediatric PH and a compassionate caregiver to patients and families. The Robyn J. Barst Pediatric Research Fund was created to honor her legacy and establish mentoring programs for promising pediatric researchers and practitioners.

Pulmonary Hypertension is a very rare, often misdiagnosed disease. The disease results in high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries, making it difficult for the blood to flow through the lungs to pick up oxygen. This condition causes potentially life-threatening consequences, such as right heart failure. Those affected by PH feel as though they are suffocating… because they ARE. With early diagnosis, treatment can improve quality of life while (hopefully) extending longevity. At this time, there is no cure short of a lung or heart-lung transplant; however, through research, we hope to find the cure.

This year, about 589,430 US residents are expected to die of cancer – that’s more than 1,600 people a day. Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the US, exceeded only by heart disease. Cancer accounts for nearly 1 out of every 4 deaths in the United States.

Cancer costs us billions of dollars. It also costs us the people we love. Reducing barriers to cancer care is critical in the fight to eliminate suffering and death due to cancer. According to Cancer Facts & Figures 2015, “uninsured patients and those from ethnic minorities are substantially more likely to be diagnosed with cancer at a later stage, when treatment can be more extensive, more costly, and less successful.”

With this sobering information in mind, Thai Bloom Restaurant is pleased to lend its support to the 2016 Portland Hope Ball. Sponsored by the Portland chapter of the American Cancer Society, this ninth annual, sold-out event will take place on Saturday, August 20, 2016 at the Hidden Creek Polo Club in beautiful West Linn, Oregon. Funds raised at the event will benefit hospitals and research facilities throughout the greater Portland Metropolitan Area.

The American Cancer Society is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the American Cancer Society has regional and local offices throughout the country that ensure the organization has a presence in every community. Together with its millions of supporters, the American Cancer Society saves lives by helping people stay well and get well, by finding cures, and by fighting back.

Thai Bloom was a proud contributor to the 2016 Friend Raiser benefitting Friends of the Children (FOTC). Funds raised at the event totalled $1.9 million.

Friends of the Children is an organization that breaks the cycle of generational poverty through salaried, professional mentoring. We select the children facing the highest risks and commit to working with those children from kindergarten through graduation. Mentors teach positive values while setting the expectation for each child to become a healthy, productive member of the community.

By giving youth the tools and confidence they need to meet long-term outcomes, the Friends program addresses root causes of generational poverty and marginalization. Achievement of these goals not only has a life-changing effect on graduates of the Friends program, but also has a substantial benefit to society as a whole. For every $1 invested in the organization, more than $7.60 is returned to the community as a result of higher wages earned and lower burdens on social safety nets and the justice system.

FOTC Portland Executive Director Megan Lewis writes:

“Thanks to your generosity, even more of our community’s most vulnerable children will be matched with a salaried, professional Friend. Thanks to you, those children will be able to create brighter futures for themselves by graduating high school and avoiding both the justice system and early parenting. We are deeply grateful for your contribution.”

We’re happy to help!

On Friday, June 17, 2016, Thai Bloom Restaurant was pleased to join the area’s finest food and beverage providers as a sponsor of A Taste of Washington County. This annual fundraiser benefits the Washington County Museum while bringing the community together in celebration of the local palate.

The event began with tastings of innovative wines, spirits and beers crafted locally. It continued with appetizers, entrees, sides, and desserts during which Thai Bloom showcased its famed Yellow Curry with Chicken.

Beaverton Mayor Denny Doyle received the Heart of Washington County Award at this year’s event. The award goes to “a friend of the museum who has made a positive and significant impact on Washington County, Oregon, and whose character and actions reflect positively on the county.” Mayor Doyle has served the city faithfully for over 20 years as a council member and mayor. He has also supported the museum’s mission to “ignite the imagination and bring to life the diverse cultures that so richly define this remarkable region.”

On Friday, May 13th, the Oregon chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association will feature Thai Bloom gift cards at their 2016 Memories in the Making Art Auction & Gala. Funds raised will support programming that explores the use of art as an alternative form of expression for people with dementia. While Alzheimer’s disease brings constant reminders of failures and losses, Memories in the Making® provides a nonjudgmental environment in which participants can express their feelings. With a focus on process rather than product, people with dementia to experience moments of joy and a renewed sense of accomplishment and self-respect.

The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Founded in 1980 by a group of family caregivers and individuals interested in research, the Association includes our headquarters in Chicago, a public policy office in Washington, D.C., and 80 chapters across the country. The Oregon Chapter is headquartered in Portland and has regional offices in Bend, Eugene, Medford, and Salem.

Currently, an estimated 47 million people worldwide are living with dementia. In the United States alone, more than 5 million have Alzheimer’s, and over 15 million are serving as their caregivers. The Alzheimer’s Association addresses this global epidemic by providing education and support to the millions who face dementia every day, while advancing critical research toward methods of treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure.

For the past 3 years, Thai Bloom has been proud sponsor of the ISing Choir annual fundraiser. This award-winning choral group has been a fixture in the Beaverton arts community for over 10 years. Its mission is to share innovative and exceptional choral music while supporting local nonprofit organizations.

Under the direction of Conductor and Artistic Director, Stephen Galván, ISing Choir offers two concert series annually free of charge to the public. The repertoire features material that is high quality, educational, and culturally diverse. Free will donations at these concerts combined with matching grants support local non-profits. To date, ISing Choir has raised and donated over $179,000 to charity.

The annual fundraiser secures resources to cover the organization’s operating expenses so that every penny of donations collected at benefit concerts can go to worthy causes. This year’s two-night event takes place on Friday, March 4th and Saturday, March 5th at the Bethel Congregational Church in Beaverton. Doors open at 6:30pm for a silent auction and 7:15pm for a concert.

This year’s program theme is ISing on TV. It features popular theme songs from the “small screen” as well as a medley of tunes from the hit series Glee. Performances feature the 80-voice choir as well as individual vocalists and small ensembles.