Legends 2013 Raises Historic Amount for Pacific University
Legends 2013 Raises Historic Amount for Pacific University
Pacific University Legends Hosted by Tommy Thayer Grosses $500k
FOREST GROVE (September 18, 2013) –With nearly 350 people attending, Pacific University Legends, hosted by Tommy Thayer, set a new record last month grossing almost half a million dollars during the annual fundraising event that supports the university’s student-athletes and the 24-sport NCAA Division III athletics program.
Seven years ago, Tommy Thayer, the lead guitarist for the legendary rock band KISS and a trustee of Pacific University, came up with the idea of hosting an event that would bring in sports celebrities and musicians to mingle with guests, participate in silent and live auctions, and play in unique all-star concerts. Fine dining is always a tradition at a Legends event, which took place this year at Waverley Country Club in Portland on Aug. 25.
“A truly historic and fun night for the university,” said Tommy Thayer. “From the support of our generous donors and trustees, to all my celebrity friends, to the organizing staff and volunteers, I appreciate how hard everyone worked to make this a success.”
“We are extremely grateful to our guests and generous donors for their remarkable support of our intercolle- giate athletics program,” said Lesley M. Hallick, PhD, president of Pacific University. “Legends grossed nearly $500,000 and is expected to net more than $250,000 to benefit our student athletes and programs.”
Dr. Hallick said Legends 2013 is the most successful Legends fundraising event to date.
Among the great items auctioned off during the evening; autographed Limited Edition Tommy Thayer “Space- man” guitars signed by all the members of KISS, golf lessons from one of the top PGA instructor Tommy Masters, an invite to an exclusive event at Stoller Vineyards, and concert tickets and passes to meet all-star performers Darius Rucker and Clint Black.
There were a number of great trips that found favor with bidders, such as: an African Safari for two, a seven- night stay on the island of Bali, a weekend escape to Washington wine country, a romantic get-away at Playa Ventanas in Costa Rica, and a family get away to Martha’s Vineyard off Cape Cod, Mass.During the auction, a special appeal was held for Lincoln Park Stadium, home of the Boxers.
“We asked for, and received, generous support for a new roof over the spectator seating areas, that will make our stadium a showcase in the Northwest Conference,” Ken Schumann, Pacific’s Director of Athletics. The stadium, home to Pacific’s football, soccer, lacrosse, and track and field teams, boasts a synthetic playing surface, evening lighting, and one of just two nine-lane tracks in the Pacific Northwest.
After a successful night of fundraising, guests attending the Legends event were treated to a special musical con- cert, sponsored by Lease Crutcher Lewis.
The evening featured the music of Thayer, and two-time Grammy award winning singer-songwriter and key- boardist, Bill Champlin, formerly of Chicago; Danny Seraphine, the original drummer and founding member of Chicago and California Transit Authority (CTA); Bobby Kimball, former lead singer of the six-Grammy award winning band Toto; CTA arranger, producer and keyboardist Ed Roth; and Oregon’s Grammy nominated saxo- phone jazz musician, Patrick Lamb.
In addition to PGA golf instructor Tommy Masters, the celebrity list included infamous rock manager Doc Mc- Ghee and professional golfers Amber Prange, Perry Swenson, and the legendary David Graham, winner of two ‘majors’ championships.
Pacific University acknowledges the support of its generous sponsors, Lease Crutcher Lewis, Pac/West, Stim- son Lumber Company, Dan and Sallie Dutton, Aramark, Walsh Construction Company, Pamplin Media Group, Emmert International, Mahlum, Lasko Printing, Duck Pond Cellars/Desert Wind Winery, Crowne Plaza Lake Oswego, Lucky Limousine, Mark & Katherine Frandsen, Rich & Joy Hanson, Legacy Health, Bill Stoller, Realty Trust (Patrick Clark), inici Group, Char Hamilton Yoshida & Shimomoto (Jerry & Bonnie Yoshida), U.S. Bank, CompView Medical, Pacific Landscape Management, Arnerich Massena, Taylor Guitars, and Key Event Services.
Founded in Oregon in 1849, Pacific University is one of the oldest schools in the west and is consistently named one of America’s Best or Top Colleges. Pacific University serves nearly 3,500 students on its campuses in Forest Grove, Hillsboro, Woodburn, and Eugene.
With nearly 350 people attending, Pacific University Legends hosted by Tommy Thayer set a new record last month grossing almost half a million dollars during the annual fundraising event that supports the university’s student-athletes and the 24-sport NCAA Division III athletics program.
Seven years ago, Tommy Thayer, the lead guitarist for the legendary rock band KISS and a trustee of Pacific University, came up with the idea of hosting an event that would bring in sports celebrities and musicians to mingle with guests, participate in silent and live auctions, and play in unique all-star concerts. Fine dining is always a tradition at a Legends event, which took place this year at Waverley Country Club in Portland on Aug. 25.
“A truly historic and fun night for the university,” said Tommy Thayer. “From the support of our generous donors and trustees, to all my celebrity friends, to the organizing staff and volunteers, I appreciate how hard everyone worked to make this a success.”
“We are extremely grateful to our guests and generous donors for their remarkable support of our intercolle- giate athletics program,” said Lesley M. Hallick, PhD, president of Pacific University. “Legends grossed nearly $500,000 and is expected to net more than $250,000 to benefit our student athletes and programs.”
Dr. Hallick said Legends 2013 is the most successful Legends fundraising event to date.
Among the great items auctioned off during the evening; autographed Limited Edition Tommy Thayer “Spaceman” guitars signed by all the members of KISS, golf lessons from one of the top PGA instructor Tommy Masters, an invite to an exclusive event at Stoller Vineyards, and concert tickets and passes to meet all-star performers Darius Rucker and Clint Black.
There were a number of great trips that found favor with bidders, such as: an African Safari for two, a seven-night stay on the island of Bali, a weekend escape to Washington wine country, a romantic get-away at Playa Ventanas in Costa Rica, and a family get away to Martha’s Vineyard off Cape Cod, Mass.During the auction, a special appeal was held for Lincoln Park Stadium, home of the Boxers.
“We asked for, and received, generous support for a new roof over the spectator seating areas, that will make our stadium a showcase in the Northwest Conference,” Ken Schumann, Pacific’s Director of Athletics. The stadium, home to Pacific’s football, soccer, lacrosse, and track and field teams, boasts a synthetic playing surface, evening lighting, and one of just two nine-lane tracks in the Pacific Northwest.
After a successful night of fundraising, guests attending the Legends event were treated to a special musical concert, sponsored by Lease Crutcher Lewis.
KPTV- Fox 12 news anchor Shauna Parsons emceed the evening which featured the music of Thayer, and two-time Grammy award winning singer-songwriter and keyboardist, Bill Champlin, formerly of Chicago; Danny Seraphine, the original drummer and founding member of Chicago and California Transit Authority (CTA); Bobby Kimball, former lead singer of the six-Grammy award winning band Toto; CTA arranger, producer and keyboardist Ed Roth; and Oregon’s Grammy nominated saxophone jazz musician, Patrick Lamb.
In addition to PGA golf instructor Tommy Masters, the celebrity list included infamous rock manager Doc McGhee and professional golfers Amber Prange, Perry Swenson, and the legendary David Graham, winner of two ‘majors’ championships.
Pacific University acknowledges the support of its generous sponsors, Lease Crutcher Lewis, Pac/West, Stimson Lumber Company, Dan and Sallie Dutton, Aramark, Walsh Construction Company, Pamplin Media Group, Emmert International, Mahlum, Lasko Printing, Duck Pond Cellars/Desert Wind Winery, Crowne Plaza Lake Oswego, Lucky Limousine, Mark & Katherine Frandsen, Rich & Joy Hanson, Legacy Health, Bill Stoller, Realty Trust (Patrick Clark), inici Group, Char Hamilton Yoshida & Shimomoto (Jerry & Bonnie Yoshida), U.S. Bank, CompView Medical, Pacific Landscape Management, Arnerich Massena, Taylor Guitars, and Key Event Services.
Founded in Oregon in 1849, Pacific University is one of the oldest schools in the west and is consistently named one of America’s best or top colleges. Pacific University serves nearly 3,500 students on its campuses in Forest Grove, Hillsboro, Woodburn, and Eugene.