PHAME

Mark your calendars – PHAME announced today the venue and date for its Wednesday, March 14, 2012 kick-off performance and party for “PHAME: the H is for Honored Tour,” the nonprofit arts academy’s regional tour starring its inspiring adult artists and performers with developmental disabilities.

“We are delighted to kick off our ‘H is for Honored Tour’ with a performance and party March 14th in North Portland’s historic St. Johns neighborhood,” says PHAME Executive Director Stephen Marc Beaudoin. “St. Johns Community Center is the heart of the St. Johns neighborhood, and a perfect place for us to showcase the inspiring student artists and performers of PHAME with a performance and party to kick off our regional tour. We look forward to seeing so many familiar and new friends on March 14th at St. Johns Community Center!”

The March 14th Tour kick-off performance and party will feature selected performances, readings and art showings from “PHAME: the H is for Honored Tour,” as well as a special party with treats and snacks from Official Tour Grocery, New Seasons Market. The event, like all other “H is for Honored Tour” showcases (excepting the Aladdin Theater show), is free and open to the public.

PHAME: the H is for Honored Tour - Kick-off Performance and Party
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
7 pm to 9 pm
St. Johns Community Center, 8427 N Central Street

“PHAME: the H is for Honored Tour” is sponsored by Portland 100 Fund of Equity Foundation; Regional Arts and Culture Council; Work for Art; New Seasons Market (the Official Grocery of the Tour); Multnomah County Cultural Coalition and Oregon Cultural Trust.

PHAME is truly excited to announce a very special event coming up Thursday, February 9, 2012: a PHAME Choir Sing-Along Tea Party at the gorgeous Wieden + Kennedy Atrium, in collaboration with Portland’s own musical luminary – Pink Martini bandleader Thomas Lauderdale!

“Since collaborating with the PHAME Choir on their acclaimed 2011 TEDxPortland appearance, Pink Martini bandleader and pianist Thomas Lauderdale has become a great friend to PHAME, and we are delighted to welcome PHAME students, families and supporters to this marvelous event,” says PHAME Executive Director Stephen Marc Beaudoin.

“With the inspiring talents of the PHAME Choir under Music Director Matthew Gailey, Thomas’ infectious energy and spirit as a pianist and song-leader, and great treats from our friends at Cupcake Jones, this is certain to be an unforgettable sing-along party! We can’t wait to see you February 9th at the Wieden + Kennedy Atrium for a fabulous night.”

Some tickets ($100 each) are still available to this event – you can click here to purchase yours today.

More details on the event…

PHAME Choir + Thomas Lauderdale Sing-Along Tea Party
Thursday, February 9, 2012 – 7 pm
Wieden + Kennedy Atrium, 224 NW 13th Avenue, Portland
Special thanks to our official cupcake sponsor, Cupcake Jones

Tickets – $100 each, available online here

PHAME announced today the schedule and community partners for a major initiative this March – “PHAME: the H is for Honored Tour” 2012, a Portland metro regional tour showcasing the incredible talent of PHAME’s inspiring artists and performers with developmental disabilities.

From March 14 to 22, 2012, PHAME’s inspiring performers and artists will fan out across the tri-county Portland region as well as Southwest Washington, offering eight days of free arts programs in over a dozen communities – including Beaverton, Estacada, Gresham, Hillsboro, Vancouver WA and several neighborhoods across Portland – and culminating in a major PHAME and Friends showcase on Thursday, March 22, 2012, at Portland’s Aladdin Theater, featuring PHAME students alongside other of Portland’s most notable artists and performers. Tickets for the Aladdin Theater show ($15 each) go on sale February 1, 2012.

“The H is for Honored Tour will fundamentally change hearts and minds about the incredible talent, humanity and possibility of adults with developmental disabilities,” says PHAME Executive Director Stephen Marc Beaudoin. “We are thrilled to be partnering with wonderful community organizations across the Portland metro region on this Tour, and look forward to showcasing the musicians, actors, dancers, writers and artists of PHAME in free showcase performances to thousands of community members on The H is for Honored Tour!”

“PHAME: the H is for Honored Tour” kicks off with a PHAME showcase and media event at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012, at the St. Johns Community Center, 8427 N Central Street. This event is free and open to the public. The current full Tour itinerary is available online here, at PHAME’s “H is for Honored Tour” blog.

“PHAME: the H is for Honored Tour” is supported by several generous Foundations, corporate partners and individual donors, and Portland 100 Fund of Equity Foundation was the first foundation to step forward in support of the Tour. Peter Cunningham, Equity Foundation Executive Director, said, “Equity Foundation is excited to support PHAME Academy in this endeavor with our Portland 100 Fund.  Equity Foundation is Oregon’s LGBT community foundation and our mission includes creating communities that promote the dignity and worth of all people and this tour exemplifies that mission!”

“PHAME: the H is for Honored Tour” is sponsored by Portland 100 Fund of Equity Foundation, Multnomah County Cultural Coalition, Oregon Cultural Trust, numerous community and business partners and the support of generous individual donors. The “H is for Honored Tour” blog is online here. More information on the Tour – including updated Tour itinerary, community and business partners, new special events and more – will be updated in the weeks ahead.

With just 18 days to go, PHAME’s 2011 Give! Guide campaign has entered the home stretch, and seeks support from across the community to achieve its goal of raising $15,000 for PHAME’s essential arts education and programs for adults with developmental disabilities by the Give! Guide deadline of 11:59 pm on Saturday, December 31, 2011.

“At 34% of our goal with 18 days to go, we are optimistic about finishing our 2011 PHAME Give! Guide campaign strongly, and need one big final push from everyone in the community to meet our goal,” says PHAME Executive Director, Stephen Marc Beaudoin. “We have an ambitious winter and spring 2012 ahead at PHAME, including our upcoming ‘PHAME: the H is for Honored Tour,’ and raising much-needed funds for PHAME during our 2011 Give! Guide campaign will allow us to serve our inspiring student artists and performers – and the community at large – with great confidence as we start 2012.”

To donate to PHAME through the Willamette Week Give! Guide, click here and select PHAME Academy in the Arts section. The Give! Guide runs through 11:59 pm on Saturday, December 31, 2011.

Today, PHAME Academy announced acclaimed musician and music educator Matthew Gailey as its Music Director.

PHAME's new Music Director: Matthew Gailey

“When looking for the right combination of knowledge, skills, abilities and cultural fit for PHAME, Matthew was the clear standout candidate,” says PHAME Executive Director Stephen Marc Beaudoin. “While there were many talented candidates, Matthew is exceptional – he brings over a decade of demonstrated success as a music educator and musician, knowledge of and passion for PHAME, and compelling vision for the future of PHAME’s music program. He gave a dynamite audition with the PHAME Choir, and many of the students are still talking about him. We warmly welcome Matthew Gailey to PHAME as our Music Director!”

Gailey has more than a decade of experience as a music educator, conductor, musical theatre actor, singer and all-around performing artist. He holds a BA in Music Education from Florida Southern College, and did graduate study in Vocal Performance at Indiana University. Gailey has built award-winning choral programs at schools in Florida, performed in professional musical theatre across the United States, and studied jazz, choral music and opera with master teachers. Locally, he performs with the Bureau of Standards Big Band, the Matthew Gailey Band and other groups.

“When I was first introduced to PHAME Academy and its mission, I knew I had to be a part of this amazing organization,” Gailey says, on the occasion of his appointment as PHAME Music Director. “This is such a unique opportunity and I’m honored to be able to work with Stephen, Jessica and the rest of the staff in revealing the talent and gifts of PHAME’s students.”

Matthew begins his role this week at PHAME, and will meet and connect with PHAME students, families, friends and supporters in the weeks and months ahead. Welcome, Matthew!

Matthew Gailey Biography:
Matthew Gailey is a performing artist, songwriter and music educator with a dynamic musical background. Originally from Florida, Matthew received his BA in Music Education and student jazz improvisation with Nat Adderly at Florida Southern College. He then taught award-winning choirs in Florida’s public schools before studying music at the graduate level at Indiana University. While at Indiana, Matthew studied and performed with jazz notables such as David Baker and Pat Harbison, and performed multiple roles with the school’s renowned opera theater. After working in musical theater in New York and Texas, he moved to Portland with his wife in 2006. Currently, Matthew can be seen performing with local artists, his own group, and as the featured male vocalist with the Bureau of Standards Big Band. He looks forward to collaborating with the amazing students, staff and community of PHAME.

PHAME announced today that the organization’s 14th annual gala event – “Sparkle! A Night to Shine with PHAME” this past Sunday, Nov. 20 at The Tiffany Center – has raised more than $125,000 for PHAME Academy, and broken all previous gala fundraising records at PHAME.

“All of us at PHAME are just delighted with the great energy, great spirit and great fundraising that happened at ‘Sparkle!’” said Executive Director Stephen Marc Beaudoin. “Our student artists and performers shined so bright at PHAME’s ‘Sparkle!’ gala, and our community of supporters responded with incredible generosity and heart. I want to thank our incredible ‘Sparkle!’ gala committee, our ‘Sparkle!’ event sponsors and table sponsors, PHAME’s board of directors and staff and our corps of volunteers for bringing together a fantastic and successful gala event!”

PHAME’s “Sparkle!” gala – the organization’s signature annual event, celebrating the incredible talent of PHAME’s student artists and performers – raises much-needed funds for this rapidly growing fine and performing arts academy for adults with developmental disabilities. Serving just over 100 students annually, PHAME programs include arts education (classes and workshops) in the full range of performing and fine arts; outreach and performance across the Portland metro community, including the upcoming “PHAME: the H is for Honored Tour” (March 14-22, 2012); and student life opportunities.

PHAME’s November 20, 2011 “Sparkle! A Night to Shine with PHAME” gala was attended by over 300 PHAME supporters, who enjoyed a silent and live auction, sparkling wine, a three-course dinner and first-rate entertainment from the PHAME Choir in collaboration with the Shanghai Woolies. PHAME will announce the venue and date for our 2012 gala event early in the new year.

PHAME’s continued “Sparkle moment!” series this week showcases the lives of three unique PHAME students, exploring their dreams, passions, and their illuminating experiences with PHAME.

Kim Forrer, baker and artist, has been a bright and bubbly addition to PHAME for over 12 years, and continues to shine on stage. “I like the standing ovations that we get at every show we do,” she says.

Katie Dunn has enjoyed PHAME for the last 15 years, appreciating all the recognition and respect she recives from her community and loved ones. “PHAME does a lot for me, as well as my family, my parents. The more classes I take, the more they are proud of me.”

Andy Reisbick, another long time PHAME student, reflects on all the friends he’s made at PHAME over the years and the sparkling nature of PHAME Academy.

Enjoy this “Sparkle moment!” with Andy Reisbick – and check out all of our “Sparkle moment!” videos online here.

November 7, 2011

Greetings!

As PHAME board chair, I can with certainty say that this last year with PHAME has, in many ways, been our best ever.

As we move into the new school year at PHAME, I want to personally thank each and every one of you for working to reveal the talent of our amazing students. Your perseverance, hard work, passion, and compassion for PHAME and its students are truly inspiring.

And while we are revving up the engine this fall for a wonderful year ahead, driven by the inspiring talents of our PHAME students, all of us on the PHAME board of directors wanted to take a moment to provide some information and context to you on PHAME’s growth and development: where we’ve come from these past few years, where we’re at today, and a bit about what the future ahead looks like, together.

Thank you for all you do for PHAME.

Ethan Dunham, Board Chair

PHAME's "Grease" broke all previous musical production box office records, welcoming nearly 1,000 audience members! Photo by Jenni Baker

FINANCIAL STABILITY

In our nearly 27 year history, PHAME’s financial stability has never been better.

Because the economy took a turn for the worse combined with major transitions within the organization, PHAME experienced rapidly declining revenues. PHAME ran a deficit in 2007, 2008, and 2009. Things had to change or PHAME would not survive. The board developed a strategy to broaden the base of PHAME supporters.

Most of PHAME’s support has traditionally come from parents and caregivers. We decided as a board that we could no longer run PHAME on the backs of our PHAME families, and that we needed to diversify and broaden our revenue streams.

The fantastic news is that as of the end of the 2010-2011 fiscal year (ending June 30, 2011) our revenues exceeded $190,000, with a small surplus. To give you some perspective, in 2008 PHAME’s revenues were $98,000 and ran a deficit. Now, to meet the demands of a growing student body and programs, PHAME’s 2011-2012 budget is $259,000 – our largest annual budget ever.

Also of note is the significant increase in the number of donors to PHAME. In 2008 we had approximately 100 annual donors, and today – thanks to the rallying of support by the community at large we have over 400 annual donors to PHAME.

PROFESSIONAL STAFF

For the first time in our history, PHAME has full time staff! Both our Artistic Director, Jessica Dart and Executive Director, Stephen Marc Beaudoin are full time employees. This has greatly increased the amount of effort and energy our staff can bring to PHAME. This directly benefits our students’ access to the arts, and gives the staff more time to continue evangelizing for PHAME in the broader community.

The education level of our staff has also increased. Today each of our staff have college degrees, and many on the teaching staff have advanced degrees in music, theatre, visual arts and creative writing – often with focuses in education. Jessica continues to build our PHAME teacher-in-service training programs.

PERFORMANCES

“Grease”
Historically PHAME welcomed between 300 and 400 audience members for the annual summer musical production. In 2011, we set a new high: ticket sales for Grease were nearly 1,000!  We expect PHAME’s “Willy Wonka” will be just as big of a hit – so be sure and buy your tickets early! “Willy Wonka” runs June 23-24, 2012, at the Mt. Hood Community College main stage theatre.

“PHAME: the H is for Honored Tour”
In 2012 PHAME will for the first time tour the very communities where our students live. On this regional tour, from March 14 to 22, 2012, PHAME’s incredible student artists and performers will be showcased in over 12 performances in theater, music, dance, visual arts, and creative writing. This tour is supported by grants from the Portland 100 Fund of the Equity Foundation, Multnomah County Cultural Coalition and other generous businesses and individuals.

Other performances
Today, PHAME’s students are in great demand. In the year ahead, our PHAME student artists and performers will be featured in more than two dozen showcases and performances across the Portland metro region, reaching a total projected audience of more than 5,000 people.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS GROWTH AND TRANSITION

In 2011 the PHAME board of directors made major time and personal commitments to grow the governance of PHAME. In order to transition from a founder based organization and build a sustainable PHAME which will last for another 25 years, the board has undertaken a multi-year process of professional board and policy development. We can happily report we have several new policies already approved and in place, with more on the way. Any policy changes or additions that affect students or families will be shared both via email and on our website.

The current board is made up of 11 committed PHAME supporters. 7 are parents of PHAME students, and all represent a broad background and expertise in developmental disabilities, education, finance, business management, human resources, insurance, and non-profit management. Many have decades of experience already on nonprofit boards.

PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT

The board and staff take our responsibilities for legal and financial obligations seriously. We are building the foundation for long-term sustainability at PHAME.

To that end In 2009 PHAME entered into an agreement with Jim Dunn of Martin, Bishoff, Templeton, Langslet, and Hoffman, attorneys to represent its legal affairs. In 2008 we hired Parry Ankersen, CPA, a nationally known expert in non-profit accounting; and after Parry became ill and passed on, in 2010 we hired McDonald, Jacobs, Marks, and Johnson, CPA’s, a larger CPA firm that specializes in non-profits. This is preparation for the requirements to have more rigorous financial oversight. Our financial statements, budgets, and tax returns are all public and available to you and anyone interested in our work.

PROGRAM OFFERINGS

The number of students is up at PHAME, as is the number of classes those students take – in this fall 2011 term, we have welcomed 75 unique students to PHAME; 10 of them being first-time, brand new students to our organization. PHAME also has increased its class offerings. Small music groups, directing, songwriting, and our expanded guest artist workshops are all exciting and well attended.

STUDENT LIFE

PHAME has the unique responsibility as the primary social outlet for many of our students. If you have been around PHAME lately, you can sense a renewed spirit of community and friendship here. To ensure this important part of PHAME continues to grow and prosper the board approved the formation of the new PHAME Family and Friends organization. The “PFF” was introduced at our first “Town Hall” and met with an enthusiastic response.
The launch of PFF: PHAME, Families and Friends, is a natural outgrowth of our program expansion and development, and your involvement with PFF will help support this growth and engagement for both returning and new PHAME students and families. To become involved in PFF, please email Jessica at jdart@phameacademy.org to learn more about the next meeting.

Although this letter does not attempt to capture the entire range of activity at PHAME, I hope it gives you a sense of the positive growth and maturation of our organization – and also points to the incredible possibilities ahead for us.

I welcome your feedback, and look forward to seeing you at a PHAME event very soon.

Sincerely,

Ethan Dunham, Chair
Carol Rance, Vice Chair
Rebecca Youngstrom, Secretary
Marc Aubertin, Treasurer

Leslie Davis
Jeanne Goodling
John Hutzler
Jeri Inger
Shari Kragrud
Kathy Plass
Ryan Wayman

PHAME Academy is thrilled and honored to be returning for a second year as a featured nonprofit in the Willamette Week Give! Guide – an innovative community philanthropy initiative designed to introduce new donors and volunteers to outstanding Portland nonprofit organizations. The Give! Guide goes live on  Wednesday, November 9, 2011 – and runs from November 9 through 11:59 pm on December 31, 2011.

“In our 2010 Give! Guide debut, PHAME earned the support of over 240 friends from the Portland metro area and others across the country,” said Executive Director Stephen Marc Beaudoin. “We were thrilled by our inaugural participation in the Give! Guide, and are delighted to be back for a big second year in the Guide. We have a team of 15 amazing PHAME fans – PHAME friends, families and students – who will help drive us to success in the 2011 Give! Guide. We hope as you plan your end-of-year giving that you’ll think of PHAME and consider a thoughtful donation to support our work.”

When the 2011 Give! Guide debuts on November 9, PHAME will not only be featured inside the Guide but also in another major way – in a feature story on PHAME Executive Director Stephen Marc Beaudoin, one of four 2011 Skidmore Prize award winners. Beaudoin and the other Skidmore Prize winners will be honored November 8th in a special party at Davis Street Tavern, and with a story about his life and work in the November 9 issue of Willamette Week.

PHAME is especially grateful to our 2011 Give! Guide business partners – Ross and Leah Seligman of PropertiesofPortland.com and Windermere Real Estate. To learn more about the 2011 Willamette Week Give! Guide, click here.  Be sure to check out PHAME’s special Give! Guide commercial, above or online here.

PHAME Academy announced today that tickets and tables are on sale now for PHAME’s 14th annual gala event, scheduled for 5 pm on Sunday, November 20, 2011, at downtown Portland’s gorgeous Tiffany Center.

Completely re-imagined and re-branded as “Sparkle! A Night to Shine with PHAME,” this year’s PHAME gala has expanded to welcome more PHAME friends and fans than ever before. Taking place over two floors at The Tiffany Center in Portland, “Sparkle!” will inspire our audience with a sparkling showcase of PHAME student artists and performers, a scrumptious seated dinner with wine, and a lively silent and live auction – all to benefit PHAME, the Portland region’s acclaimed fine and performing arts academy for adults with developmental disabilities.

“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome friends new and old to ‘Sparkle!’ – our newly imagined PHAME gala event,” says PHAME Executive Director, and 2011 Skidmore Prize winner, Stephen Marc Beaudoin. “With the incredible growth and recognition of our inspiring student artists and our organization in the past year, ‘Sparkle!’ is the culminating celebration of our students’ marvelous talents, and is undoubtedly this fall’s can’t-miss gala event in Portland. We look forward to welcoming so many PHAME fans and friends to join us and sparkle with PHAME!”

PHAME – which celebrates its 27th birthday in December of 2011 – was recently named by the City of Portland Office of Neighborhood Involvement as a “Making A Difference Award” winner for 2011. The one-of-a-kind PHAME Choir – who will be featured at “Sparkle!” under the direction of choir director Crystal Akins – has been featured across the region in the past year at major events include “From Oregon, With Love” at the Aladdin Theater, “TEDxPortland” conference at the Gerding Theater at the Armory, and at The Standard’s Volunteer Expo in Pioneer Courthouse Square.

This year’s “Sparkle!” gala features a seated dinner with wine, a silent and live auction, art specially created by PHAME student artists, and entertainment from the acclaimed PHAME Choir in collaboration with special guest hot jazz band, The Shanghai Woolies. Jason Demicheli of Kelly Russell Auctions is our event auctioneer for the night.

Tickets to “Sparkle!” are $100 for individual tickets, and $1,250 for table sponsors, and are available online by clicking here. PHAME sends special thanks to the 2011 PHAME Gala Committee:  Paul Finlay, chair, with Stephen Marc Beaudoin, Keith Daly, Leslie Davis, Matt Edlen, Trent Finlay, Adam Pearce, Coryn Pearce, Kathy Plass, Carol Rance, Alexis Young and Kris Young.

Additional thanks to the 2011 “Sparkle!” gala sponsors (as of October 6, 2011): Premier Sponsors The Edlen Family, Red Pine and Tychon Development ; Event Sponsors Bethesda Lutheran Communities, Stephen Marc Beaudoin and Robert Goman, Pride Financial Partners, Morel Ink and The Standard and Event Friends Robin Castro and John Halseth, Grace Memorial Episcopal Church, State Rep. Jefferson Smith and Katy Lesowski Smith, Ronald Atwood, PC and Solid Design Studio / Eric Sellers.

“Sparkle! A Night to Shine with PHAME” takes place Sunday, November 20, 5 pm at The Tiffany Center, 1410 SW Morrison Street, Portland. Tickets are $100 each, and tables of ten are $1,250. Be sure to check out PHAME’s “Sparkle! moment” YouTube series featuring PHAME’s inspiring student artists and performers, online here.