23rd Gala at The Riverhouse raises over $227,000

The 23 rd Gala at The Riverhouse, the fundraiser produced by Riverhouse on the Deschutes and the Central Oregon Visitors Association, raised just over $227,815 at Monday night’s Gala to benefit the High Desert Museum.

This year’s Gala was full of excitement as over 400 attendees enjoyed a gourmet dinner, bid on an exciting mix of silent auction items, entered raffles to win an exclusive dinner on the ranch at the High Desert Museum and pendant and earring set from ICE Fine Jewelry.

Guests were entertained by the featured guest speaker: Merritt Paulson, CEO of the Portland Timbers and Thorns.

Major sponsors included Riverhouse on the Deschutes, Central Oregon Visitors Association, Horizon Broadcasting Group, Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund, Greg & Jan Rasmussen/Land Rover Portland and Tom & Joan Triplett/Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt.

The Gala at The Riverhouse has been a solid fundraising event in the community for the past 24 years. The Central Oregon Visitors Association in partnership with Riverhouse on the Deschutes produces the entire event from preliminary beneficiary selection through donation procurement, ticket sales, and volunteer support for the evening of the event.

Riverhouse on the Deschutes also completely donates all the food and beverage, facility, and labor for the night of the event; thereby ensuring that 100% of ticket sales directly benefit the selected charity. The Gala remains one of the most successful charity events in Central Oregon, and it continues to help local non-profits in a meaningful way year after year. Since its inception, this annual event has raised over $2.5 million for local non-profit organizations.

Proceeds from The Gala will benefit the High Desert Museum to help ensure that the museum can continue to offer community-wide programs allowing schools, seniors, people with special needs, and active military personnel and their families to access to the museum’s enriching experiences.

Founded 24 years ago, the Gala has raised money in support of many local non-profit organizations including: Education Foundation for Bend La-Pine Schools, Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Oregon, Grandma’s House, Sparrow Clubs, KIDS Center, Family Resource Center, Ronald McDonald House, Every Kid Fund, Deschutes Children’s Foundation, Tower Theater, Cascade Youth and Family Center, Habitat for Humanity, Volunteers in Medicine and Heart of Oregon Corp.