Cedar Sinai Park’s May 4-6 “Homecoming, a Three-Day-Long Celebration,” drew hundreds of people to the campus for two events to see all the new and renovated spaces for seniors. The Saturday evening gala drew another 200 guests to the Hilton for a record-breaking fundraiser.
The entire weekend was chaired by Bev Eastern and Michelle Eastern Gradow, with the mother-daughter duo concentrated on the Saturday night gala to raise funds to benefit the residents of the 98-year-old nonprofit senior care provider in southwest Portland. Eddy Shuldman and Jemi Mansfield coordinated the Friday night dedication of the renovated Sara Glasgow Cogan Chapel in the Robison building. Rosanne Levi took the reins of the Sunday family carnival, bringing hundreds of families to mingle with residents, have fun and explore the campus.
“I’m overwhelmed with the generosity of our community,” says Michelle. “It was a warm and wonderful weekend to honor Cedar Sinai Park. I’m so happy to chair the weekend with my mother – it was a memory maker.”
Bev adds, “The gala this year was warm, entertaining and exceeded our fundraising goal. It was supported by many of our past sponsors, new sponsors and friends of CSP. All who attended can have the self-satisfaction in knowing that their generosity will continue the deserved care of our residents.”
In an emotion-filled tribute to his father May 5, businessman and philanthropist Jordan Schnitzer provided a surprise matching gift to all contributions made during the Mitzvah Moment at the CSP Gala. Arlene and Jordan Schnitzer donated a total of $119,000 to the successful event through the Harold and Arlene Schnitzer Fund of Oregon Jewish Community Foundation.
That offer, combined with large matching gifts made by Irwin and Renee Holzman, Marcy Tonkin, Douglas and Lila Goodman, and Sol and Rosalyn Menashe, enabled the organization to raise more than $500,000 – the most ever for the fundraiser and far surpassing its fundraising goal.
“Cedar Sinai Park will always have a very special place in the hearts of the Schnitzer family,” Jordan told the crowd of more than 200 supporters Saturday night. “It was there for us, providing amazing care and support as my grandmother aged. Our community’s support was a source of tremendous pride for my father – Harold Schnitzer – who strongly believed in the organization’s mission to provide not only housing, but social, spiritual and emotional support to our elders.”
The Schnitzer family, including Jordan and his mother, philanthropist Arlene Schnitzer, who was also in attendance, has been a long-time supporter of Cedar Sinai Park.
“It’s clear that the community values the love, honor and respect that drive the staff, board and volunteers, and it’s clear now the donors do, as well,” said CSP Board President Liz Lippoff.
Founded as the Jewish Old People’s Home, CSP continues to focus on the core Jewish values of respect for elders and responsibility for the welfare of others. Today, CSP offers an array of services to people of all faiths. The main campus in Southwest Portland offers the state’s largest assisted-living community and the only Greenhouse model of small group long-term care. It also provides housing for people with disabilities and a new state-of-the-art, post-acute rehab center.
