Marty (Shannon) McFly gets ready to gun it to 88 MPH at the 2023 Looking Glass auction gala fundraiser event, “Looking Forward, Giving Back…to the future!”
Attendees dressed in a variety of outfits for this year’s Looking Glass auction gala fundraiser, held Saturday, April 15th at Venue 252 in Eugene. This year’s theme was an 80’s dance party with lots of Back to the Future elements including a DeLorean, the infamous clock tower (complete with lightening striking the car), Marty McFly and Doc lookalikes and lots of crucial funds being raised for at-risk youth.
The event was a smash success by all standards. Portland-based Dance Hall Days played a variety of 80’s hits plus all the quintessential Back to the Future cuts, of course. Auctioneer, Eric Johnson, helped encourage supporters to dig deep in the live auction and paddle raise portion of the event.
Jennifer Revoal, owner of Revolution Design Group in Eugene, was this year’s auction chair and her design team came up with and crafted the on-theme centerpieces consisting of vinyl records and VHS and cassette tapes. Instead of a red carpet, guests were greeted with two flaming tire tracks in the entry way.
Two heartfelt success story videos of Looking Glass youth clients were shared at the event, highlighting Looking Glass’ Rural Program as well as Riverfront School & Career Center.
Looking Glass CEO Craig Opperman presents the 2023 Community Leadership award to George Russell.
And, as has become the custom at these events in recent years, a Community Leadership award was given to a very surprised and honored George Russell. Russell has been on the Looking Glass board of directors for many years and is a valued advocate for the agency.
Looking Glass is thankful to the many, many corporate sponsors who helped make this year’s event - the first full in-person gala in two years - not only possible but quite profitable. This year’s corporate sponsors included: Arbor South Architecture, B\VAL CPA's. Chambers Construction, Dari-mart, Emerald Laboratories, George Russell & Associates, Goldworks Jewelers, Hamilton Construction, Heritage Bank NW, Hyland Construction, KPD Insurance, McKenzie River Broadcasting, Oakway Center, Olsson Electric, OnPoint Credit Union, PacificSource, PeaceHealth, Revolution Design Group, Staton Companies, Summit Bank, The Commerce Company, Timber Products Company, Trillium, Twin Rivers Plumbing, U.S. Bank, Umpqua Bank, WAFD Bank, and Wildish.
Special thanks also goes out to our Emcees for the evening, Mary Reilly and Liz Kelly!
And last but not least, special thanks to our amazing photographer/videographer who made our success story videos and has done great freelance work for our agency for years - Kelly Lyon Photography!