The night of the Governer’s Gold Awards, Portland’s beautiful Convention center was aglow with the smiling faces of the participants of Oregon’s Special Olympics. Participants, citizens, and Governors, of past and present, from the great State of Oregon were there on hand to honor the recipients of the 2011 Governors Gold Awards.
This wonderful program helps raise money for Oregon’s Special Olympics, whose mission is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports. For children and adults with intellectual disabilities, this program provides continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community. Margaret Hunt, CEO of SOOR (Special Olympics of Oregon) brought me to tears and smiles with heartfelt stories of courage and perseverance from the athletes and their families. With close to 7,000 participants throughout the state, nearly 70,000 people with intellectual disabilities could benefit from participating in Special Olympics. Willamette Valley Vineyards filled glasses with exquisite 2008 South Block Pinot Noir,2008 Elton Vineyards Pinot Noir, 2008 Estate Pinot Noir, and 2009 Pinot Gris while the event opened up their Live Auction to raise funds for Oregon Special Olympics. Among the packages was a day with Governor Barbara Roberts touring Oregon’s Wine Country, with Willamette Valley Vineyards Winery being one of the destinations.
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| Winery Ambassador Wende Bennette |
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| Governor Kitzhaber |
Our Founder, Jim Bernau, received the Governors Gold Award last year and had this to say about the event... ”How lucky are we that we make a product that we can share to help raise money for programs like this. For these kids, just to participate in a sport or race builds confidence which in turn lifts the individual spirit with dignity and self-respect. ”We hope to continue supporting such an incredible cause and are looking forward to the 2011 Winter Games!!! For more information on Oregon Special Olympics and/or the Governors Gold awards please follow link to websites: http://www.governorsgoldawards.com/
Wende Bennette
Winery Ambassador
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