News
(Portland, Ore.) October 7, 2010 – Portland State University (PSU) held its 11th Annual Simon Benson Awards on Tuesday night to honor local philanthropists Ann and Mark Edlen, and Shirley and Jim Rippey. Charles Gibson, former host on ABC’s Good Morning America, was the keynote speaker.
This year’s event had the largest attendance in its history and raised the largest amount of money. “At a time when state support is dwindling and enrollment continues to rise, universities are becoming more dependent upon the generosity of the private sector,” said PSU President Wim Wiewel. “Everyone here realizes that education is an important investment.”
The Edlen’s are known for leadership and innovation in building a sustainable Portland, and they were being honored for their generous, philanthropic investments such as supporting projects that improve the environment, mentoring young people and changing the lives of those struggling with illness and addiction.
The Rippey’s philanthropy efforts have changed lives for the better in communities throughout Oregon. Through the JFR Foundation and their active volunteer leadership, they have advanced health care, children’s services, and education statewide.
Gibson, retired newsman and longtime anchor for Good Morning America, delivered the keynote speech. Gibson, who is a visiting fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, detailed how "broken" Congress has become, gridlocked by hyper-partisanship and vicious campaigns compared to the more civil debate that occurred during the 1980s when he covered Congress and the White House for ABC News.
PSU was able to raise over half-a-million dollars thanks to the generosity of the 1,150 guests, our presenting sponsor Rick Miller (MBA ’ 91), and 16 other sponsors donating $10,000 or more including the following:
Miller Family Holdings, Peter and Julie Stott, Columbia Sportswear Company, Jeannine B. Cowles, GBD ARCHITECTS Incorporated, Gerding Edlen Development Company, Harsch Investment Properties, Hoffman Construction Company, Howard S. Wright Constructors, Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund, Oregon Business Magazine, Portland Art Museum, Skanska USA Building Inc, University of Oregon, Wells Fargo, ZGF Architects LLP
About Portland State University
Portland State University (PSU) serves as a center of opportunity for over 29,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Located in Portland, Oregon, one of the nation’s most livable cities, the University’s innovative approach to education combines academic rigor in the classroom with field-based experiences through internships and classroom projects with community partners. The University’s 49-acre downtown campus exhibits Portland State’s commitment to sustainability with green buildings, while many of the 125 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees incorporate sustainability into the curriculum. PSU’s motto, “Let Knowledge Serve the City,” inspires the teaching and research of an accomplished faculty whose work and students span the globe.
