Mostly clear skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 56F. W winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph..
Mostly clear skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 56F. W winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph.
Updated: September 7, 2025 @ 4:38 pm
Mary Gailey, director of Helping Hands Home Care, a sponsor of the event, is also a The Dalles district board member for United Way of the Columbia Gorge. She was selling raffle tickets during Friday’s benefit concert downtown The Dalles featuring Hit Machine.
Mary Gailey, director of Helping Hands Home Care, a sponsor of the event, is also a The Dalles district board member for United Way of the Columbia Gorge. She was selling raffle tickets during Friday’s benefit concert downtown The Dalles featuring Hit Machine.
Jeff Heater serves as emcee for the United Way funraising concert Friday, the biggest fundraiser for the organization held in The Dalles.
Tyler Sullivan, right, finds a groove with bassist Michael Conner during Friday’s United Way fundraiser at Clock Tower Ales.
The fourth annual United Way benefit concert and 21-and-older block party drew the biggest crowd ever to Clocktower Ales Friday night, supported by a host of The Dalles’ businesses.
“This was our best ever,” Mary Gailey said of the lively crowd of approximately 350 who attended the event. “We sold out of tickets, and we sold tickets at the door as well.”
The concert has featured Hit Machine for four years, and is the biggest fundraiser of the year for The Dalles district of United Way of the Columbia Gorge, said Gailey, who is a member of the local board and sold raffle tickets during the event. “We have found the businesses in The Dalles to be very supportive of United Way.”
Ticket proceeds and a percentage of food and beverage sales during the event support local community programs, including Meals on Wheels, HAVEN, Community Meal, CASA and many others.
Not only do several area business owners serve on the board, a host served as event sponsors. Premier sponsors included Hage Electric, Discover Rentals, Copper West Properties and Crestline Construction Co.
Additional sponsors, with Clock Tower Ales, included: Columbia Bank, Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites, Helping Hands Home Care, NW Natural, CT Wilson Transport, Meadow Outdoor Advertising and Don and Bonnie Benton.
A number of businesses also provided in-kind donations, like items for the raffle from area breweries and wineries, as well as music and snowboarding equipment.
The United Way originally approached Clock Tower Ales as a venue because it had the facilities to put on the event, and had always been a big United Way sponsor, said Gailey.
Stacey Heath, manager of Clock Tower Ales, said the concert was a lot of work, but a lot of fun as well. The owner, Mark Powell, has always been a big supporter of the community, Heath said, and she was happy to do it as well. “Everything (United Way) sponsors is a good program.
“I like a big party,” she added. “It was a blast! It’s a lot of work, but it’s fun, too.”
Pam Peacock, attending the concert with partner Michael Sullivan and Tyler Sullivan, has attended the concert benefit every year. Residents of Arizona, they spend the summer in The Dalles so Michael Sullivan can fish at the mouth of the Deschutes River. “He fishes on that island there every day,” Peacock said.
“We really like the cause,” she said, and attending has become a family tradition.
“I love that band, they play every song that you know, they get the audience involved and dancing, they make you feel like you are in high school again,” she said.
It’s a great party, she said, and great community as well.
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