It's why we race...

Have you picked out your funniest pink hat,combed out your pink wig, or bought your new track shoes yet for the "Race for the Cure"?

No? Okay, that's alright, you have time. It's not until Sunday, September 21st.
I just wanted you to start thinking ahead. Mark that day on your calendar.

I always love to see the crazy outfits people wear to celebrate the Portland- Vancouver "Race for the Cure".

I started thinking about the race today, because I emceed a luncheon where "Susan G. Komen For the Cure" recognized organizations that receive funding from Komen and the race to help fight breast cancer in our community.

I thought you'd like to know where some of the money goes that you help raise.

75% of the money raised stays in Oregon and Southwest Washington to fund vital programs and services.

The other 25% is combined with other Komen affiliates nationwide to fuel national research.

Just today, "Komen for the Cure" announced the awarding of 100-million dollars in scientific research grants to help find a cure for breast cancer.

That is the largest amount in Komen's 26 year history... and a 30 percent increase over last year.

Hip Hip Hooray for all of us!

Nearly 48-thousand of us who raced did our part by raising more than two-million dollars.

Here in Portland, we awarded nearly One and a half MILLION dollars to 28 organizations to help in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.

Organizations cover the entire state and SW Washington: from Portland and Vancouver to Medford, Burns,Celilo,Salem and Grants Pass.

Komen's goal is to try to reach as many people as possible in the state regardless of race,nationality,sexual orientation or special needs.

Grantees include the African American Health Coalition; the Asian Health and Service Center;The Celilo Cancer Center serving Native Americans; the Russian Oregon Social Services; Providence Medical Center's Vietnamese-American Health Promoter Training Program; and Hacienda CDC, serving Latina women.

Together, we can meet Komen For the Cure's promise of a world without breast cancer.
We are getting closer to that goal everyday.

So, start thinking about warmer weather and summer time, and getting your team together for this year's "Race for the Cure".

Because we are all on the same team. Thank you for racing for the cure.

Laural

Posted by at 7:27 PM | Permalink

Those of us who work on-air here at KGW often have the chance to help out charities around the area. Sometimes it's an auction or a fundraising luncheon. Once in awhile though someone comes up with a creative twist for their annual event.

This year the Children's Trust Fund of Oregon asked several local "celebrities" to paint a picture for their upcoming event. We were supposed to come up with an interpretation on the theme "Happy, Healthy Families."

Since my artistic abilities peaked at age 5 with some fine finger-painting masterpieces I knew I needed some assistance. So I enlisted the help of my 9-year-old daughter Ali who is fearless and bold with her expressions on canvas. We decided to offer a whimsical nod to our "Good Fortune" at becoming a family. As many of you know we are a Chinese-American family brought together through adoption. We believe a family is defined not by blood but by the heart.
And we believe we are meant to be together. This is why we decided to include our favorite Chinese legend. It says "An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to be together, regardless of time place or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but never break." So here is our paintings and a couple of the others that will be on display.

This is a neat one by Margie Boule at the Oregonian.

And my personal favorite from Rama the Elephant at the Oregon Zoo!

It's all for a critical cause. The Children's Trust Fund of Oregon was formed in the mid 1980's with a mandate to find ways to prevent child abuse. Over the past 22 years it has distributed over 6.1 million donated dollars to local programs serving Oregon families.

This Blue Ribbon Celebration is set for Thursday, April 24th from 5 p.m.-7:30 p.m. You'll be able to mingle shop and socialize in the Governor Hotel's Grand Ballroom. And of course admire some art that at the very least comes from the heart. You can find out more at
http://www.ctfo.org

Ali and I send ours with prayers for all the children still waiting for their red thread connection.

And as always thanks for watching.

Tracy Barry

Posted by at 3:17 PM | Permalink

How about some photos for the road?

I took the one below to show you what we see from the anchor chair: 3 cameras with teleprompters and tv monitors. When I started at KGW in 1985, people ran the studio cameras. Robots do the job now.

One of my favorite producers, Scott Collins

Director Chris Pausz and I both started working at KGW in 1985. We were children:)

Meteorologist Ron Pedersen, who fills in regularly at KGW, worked with me at a TV station in Bend many years ago. That was my first job in television

with KGW Up-and-Comer Katherine Cook

NOW FOR SOME GOODBYE PARTY SHOTS...

with KGW News Photographer Brian Robertson, the one who suggested I interview the "I like Turtles" boy (Jonathon Ware- a great kid, by the way) Little did we know that random interview would become an internet sensation.

A GOODBYE PARTY WITH THE WEEKEND CREW (We are a fun and subversive group.)

Joe Becker makes the most delicious chili-cheese dip. Seriously!

My dear friend and long-time producer Nancy Vardanega lovingly grills the hot dogs for our weekend potlucks, which we affectionately call "Hot Diggedy Dog Days."

Editor Emily Albrechtsen dug out embarrassing old video clips from the KGW archives and put together a couple of goodbye montages for my last newscasts.

Click here to watch the Goodby Video Montage she edited.

Here my husband and 3 daughters watch one of the pieces Emily produced. They are startled by my startling outfits from eras past. Such as....

What WAS I thinking?

I took this shot to give you a better view of our robotic cameras. On occasion, they will crash into each other. It's hard not to laugh when this happens.

My daughters on the set on my last night at KGW. Sort of a final "take-your-daughter-to-work" day

My friend and now former co-anchor, Amy Troy

Many thanks to all. I will not forget you.

All the Best,
Nancy Francis

Posted by at 3:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)