Focus on Youth

Join us for the Focus on Youth Auction on May 1, 2010

The Focus on Youth auction will be held at The Pacific Northwest College of Art in the Pearl District on May 1, 2010 from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM . This exciting event will celebrate the talent of our most exceptional Focus on Youth students and world-renowned photographers who have kindly donated their work for our cause. Hors d’oeuvres and no-host bar will be provided by Portland’s own Wildwood Restaurant. Live music will accompany the event.

WHEN: May 1, 2010, 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM
TIME: 5:30pm refreshments by Wildwood Restaurant; 6pm VIP reception – meet the artists; 7:30pm live auction begins.  Get your tickets today!
WHERE: Pacific Northwest College of Art , 1241 NW Johnson St., Portland, OR

Up for auction: Limited edition, signed, numbered and framed work by world-renowned photographers and Focus on Youth students.

Artists include:

In addition to the photographs, honorary auction Chair and Renowned American composer, Tomas Svoboda will be offering a private piano recital of his original music and a wine tasting at Burdigala for up to ten people.

AUCTION SUPPORTERS: The Standard, Frame Central, Fred Meyer, ProPhoto Supply, Wildwood Restaurant, The Pacific Northwest College of Art, Sonic Mirror, Safeway, Pearl Framing, The Artery, Express Copy, Digicraft, Katayama Framing, Burdigala Wines, Orchid Exchange

Volunteer to Help With the Auction

We need volunteers to assist in all aspects of producing and presenting this exciting event – from selling tickets to setting up the day before the event. To learn more about volunteering or sign up as a volunteer, please email volunteer.focusonyouth@gmail.com.

Donate Your Fine Art

We are inviting artists and photographers to donate a work of art to help at-risk youth. Proceeds from the auction will go directly to our youth program. You will receive two complimentary tickets to the auction and promotion on our website. To donate, contact Donna Lee Holmes 503 341-6878

Purchase Auction Tickets

Purchase your Focus on Youth auction tickets now!

Become a Corporate Sponsor

To become a corporate sponsor of this event or to sponsor a Focus on Youth student, please contact  Donna Lee Holmes at 503 341-6878 or foy@focusonyouth.org

Download the Focus on Youth brochure

We hope that you will take this opportunity to make a real difference for our most vulnerable young people by making a donation for this year’s art auction. Together we will be able to offer youth who face significant life challenges the opportunity to know the exciting sense of accomplishment that comes from succeeding at a effort that requires creativity and discipline.

Letter from Focus on Youth Director, Donna Lee Holmes

Dear Friends:

On May 1, 2010 Focus on Youth will be presenting the first Annual Art Auction to be held in partnership with The Pacific Northwest College of Art.

We are inviting artists and photographers to donate a work of art so that the proceeds from the sale of the art will go directly to our youth program.

The mission of Focus on Youth is to keep at-risk inner city teens on the path to graduation using photography and mentoring to empower them to achieve academic success.  Ninety percent of our students are youth of color or recent immigrants, and all are living at or below the poverty line.  Many of our students are struggling to keep up with their peers while facing poverty, language and social barriers. Some of our students do not speak English, or they have limited language skills, yet they are all able to communicate through photography.

Professional photographers from The American Society of Media Photographers and The Portland Metropolitan Photographers Association are serving as volunteer mentors.  We are succeeding with high-risk students because they are being nurtured by caring adults who have skills, knowledge and resources to share with them. The mentor relationship guides students toward person asset building that in turn builds their confidence and self-esteem.

Over the six years of its existence, Focus on Youth has gone from teaching students the importance of creativity, self-discipline, and patience, using black and white film photography and now with the exacting processes of digital photography. It has also gone from a small 600 square foot space to a donated 1800 square foot studio in Southeast Portland.  And it remains the only photography program in the city providing educationally challenged youth with the three required arts credits needed for their graduation.

To meet the need for arts and to earn the credits students’ needs towards graduation we are planning to expand our resources and opportunities over the next year.

We hope that you will take this opportunity to make a real difference for our most vulnerable young people by making a donation for this year’s art auction. Together we will be able to offer youth who face significant life challenges the opportunity to know the exciting sense of accomplishment that comes from succeeding at a effort that requires creativity and discipline.

Your donation will ensure that at-risk students receive the help they need to stay focused on their future. You will receive two complimentary tickets to the auction, a tax-deductible receipt and publicity on our website with a link to your website. Thank you very much for your consideration.

Most Gratefully,

Donna Lee Holmes

Director and Founder

P.S.    Please contact Donna Lee Holmes to donate or learn more: 503- 341-6878