‘Table of Friends’ raises $22,000 for New Parent Services

“I was truly amazed at the outpouring of generosity this year,” said Karen Enns, New Parent Services program director. “As we share with the community our important work of mentoring struggling parents, their support for our vision of healthy, happy, thriving children and families grows stronger and stronger. We are so grateful for this support, as are the families we work with.”

Guests dined on Boda’s Kitchen cuisine, danced to Lolo Motion tunes and donated the night away at Springhouse Cellar. Premier sponsor Cloud Cap Technology, supporting sponsors Kidz Dental Zone, Gorge Dental and Gorge Networks made the event possible.

Donations and discounts from Adornments of Hood River, Full Sail Brewing, Ray Perkins Photography, Simply Events, and Your Rental & Party Center allowed more event profits to go directly toward preventing child abuse.

The highlight of the night was the live dessert auction, according to Enns. More than 20 desserts donated by local restaurants were auctioned off by Morgan Auctioneers. A total of $9,000 was raised during this event.

Celilo Restaurant’s chocolate hazelnut torte fetched $700, and delectables from Apple Valley, Blissful Brownies, Charburger, Hood River Hotel, Hood River Inn, Knead, Petit Provence, Sweet Melissa’s and 3 Rivers Grill — all went for $450 or more! Huge thanks also to Cupcake Parade, Divots, Jennifer Gray, Red House Bakery and Sixth Street Bistro for their highly prized dessert donations.

Sixteen table hosts enthusiastically filled the venue with “outrageously orange”-clad guests. Thanks go to Hood River Dental and Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital medical staff for sponsoring full tables, as well as to hosts Barb Blair, Anne Burton, Anne Carloss, Rebecca Chown, Lynda Dallman, Sue Farro, Janet Hamada, Dee Holzman, Penny Hunting, Leslie Kerr, Kathryn McElwee, Nancy Johanson Paul, Susie Samuels and Kim Stolte.