News
Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan will be the featured speaker at Portland State University's annual Simon Benson Awards Dinner on March 1, 2006, honoring philanthropists Gary and Barbara Ames and Ken and Marta Thrasher.
In its seventh year, the Simon Benson Awards dinner is Portland's premiere philanthropic event, celebrating Pacific Northwest residents who are advocates for philanthropy. Named after one of Oregon's philanthropic pioneers, the award recognizes individuals who are visionaries and have generously given time and/or money to support the lives of generations of Oregonians.
The gala event will be held at the Oregon Convention Center (777 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.) and includes a reception, dinner and entertainment. The reception starts at 6 p.m. and dinner begins at 7 p.m. Sponsorships, tables and individual tickets at the event are now available to the public; call Judy Anderson, event director, at 503-725-8212 for more information. Presenting sponsors are Wells Fargo and the Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund.
Background on Speaker and Award Recipients
Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan
Queen Noor received a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture and Urban Planning from Princeton University in 1974 and worked on international urban planning and design projects in Australia, Iran, the United States and the Arab world prior to her marriage to King Hussein of Jordan in 1978.
Since that time, Queen Noor has initiated, directed and sponsored projects and activities in Jordan to address specific national development needs in the areas of education, culture, women and children's welfare, human rights, conflict resolution, community development, environmental and architectural conservation, public architecture and urban planning. She is also actively involved with international and United Nations organizations that address global challenges in these fields. Queen Noor has played a major role in promoting international exchange and understanding of Middle Eastern politics, Arab-Western relations, humanitarian and conflict prevention, and recovery issues throughout the world, such as youth drug abuse, refugees and disarmament.
The numerous projects she has initiated in Jordan are administered by the Noor Al Hussein Foundation (NHF) and many have been recognized and supported by the United Nations and other international organizations as development models for the Middle East and the developing world. Queen Noor is an active patron or president of several national institutions working in the areas of women's welfare, child development, health, humanitarian relief work, environmental and archaeological conservation and protection, the arts, aviation and sports.
In recognition of her efforts to advance development, democracy and peace, Queen Noor has received numerous international awards and honorary doctorates in international relations, law and humane letters.
Gary and Barbara Ames
Together since junior high school, Gary and Barbara Ames are both graduates of Portland State University. Gary graduated with a degree in finance in 1967 and Barbara with a degree in elementary education in 1968. The Ames' now reside in Bainbridge Island, Wash. Gary is the former president and CEO of MediaOne International, US West Communications and Mountain Bell, and serves on the boards of Albertsons, Tektronix, iPass and F-5 Networks. Barbara, a former teacher, serves as a trustee of the Museum of New Mexico Foundation and is a member of the Women's Philanthropy Council of United Way of Santa Fe. Both are founders and trustees of The Ames Family Foundation.
Supporting education and business are personal goals of the Ames. Their gifts to regional organizations, including Seattle Pacific University, champion their belief that access to higher education creates a more diverse workforce and a stronger community. They have given generously to Portland State over the years to fund many endeavors including establishing two professorships in Management of Innovation and Technology in the School of Business and funding 8-10 student scholarships each year in both the Graduate School of Education and the School of Business Administration.
Ken and Marta Thrasher
Education, children and mentoring, and the arts receive charitable support and countless volunteer hours from Marta, a 1990 alumna of PSU's Graduate School of Education, and Ken, CEO of Compli and former Fred Meyer CEO. They work tirelessly to raise funds for PSU, Oregon Mentors, Oregon Coast Aquarium, Friends of the Children, Albertina Kerr Centers, and other organizations that help young people achieve their full potential. They also recently helped fund the Portland Art Museum's North Building project.
Marta serves on the PSU Advisory Boards for the Graduate School of Education, Graduate School of Social Work and Food Industry Leadership Center. Ken serves on numerous boards including the Oregon Mentors, Portland Art Museum, Oregon Coast Aquarium, Children's Institute, Friends of the Children, Northwest Natural, Oregon Business Council, and Leaders Roundtable. Ken also serves as the co-chair of PSU's successful $100 million "Building Our Future" comprehensive campaign, and serves on the boards of the PSU Foundation and the Business Advisory Board, and is past chair of the State's Quality Education Committee.
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For Immediate Release (#05-170)
Source:
Judy Anderson (503-725-8212)
PSU University Development
