There was no single factor that made the OSU Alumni Association’s first "Holiday Party with Benny and Friends" at its downtown Portland suite so successful. Rather, it was the presence of nearly 100 alumni and their young children; representatives from OSU’s Austin Entrepreneurship Program and the OSU men’s golf team; a charitable cause; Santa Claus; and, of course, Benny Beaver that made the party a hit.
"I see a real need for family events in Portland," says Cathy Marshall, the Alumni Association’s director for regional programs in Portland and Seattle. "We’ll continually be putting on events like this because it will help our alums with young children stay involved with OSU."
The event, says Marshall, was a great way to bring Benny and Santa together. Kids at the party lined up to have their photos taken with both, although Marshall says Benny was even more popular than Santa Claus.
Several students from OSU’s Austin Entrepreneurship Program served cookies and hot chocolate and helped kids with multicultural holiday activities, including a dreidel contest where winners received Hanukkah gelt (Yiddish for money).
The OSU golf team, accompanied by coach Brian Watts, set up a putting green inside the Portland suite and coordinated a competition for kids as well as adults.
"I was overwhelmed with the quality of the Oregon State students," says Marshall. "The fact that students took the time to come to Portland and help at an event like this helps an alumni feel even more of a connection to OSU."
Alumni families had the opportunity to donate gifts to the Portland Fire Bureau’s Toys N Joy program. They filled an entire box with presents that will go to needy metro families throughout the holiday season.
Marshall is planning more family-oriented events in the future, including a "Bowling with the Beavers" day on Feb. 8. On April 13, the Alumni Association will host a "Night with Craig Robinson and the Portland Trailblazers," with a pre-game clinic for kids followed by a reception and a Blazers game.
“It’s our goal to continually connect what’s happening on the OSU campus with the alumni in the Portland community," says Marshall.
