Your Commitment Honors Us

ʔu gʷlapu, haʔɫ syaʔyaʔ! (Hello, good friend!)

On behalf of the NAYA Family Center Board of Directors, staff and community, I’d like to thank our community partners, sponsors and supporters whose generosity made the 11th Annual NAYA Gala a success. NAYA brought 600 guests together to celebrate Native American Heritage month by Honoring Indigenous Leadership with Gala partner Ecotrust. Thanks to our community partners we were able to raise more than $300,000 to sustain NAYA’s services. A sold out audience enjoyed a first foods-inspired meal, traditional dancing and drumming, poetry, and special performances by our program participants and community members.

NAYA Early College Academy graduate Elizabeth McConnell, Umatilla, shared the adversities she faced as a foster youth in the child welfare system. She also talked about how NAYA’s Generations project will address a complex problem using community driven solutions. If you were unable to attend, watch the Generations video that debuted at the Gala, and see pictures of Elizabeth, our guests, and beautiful works of art from our live and silent auctions in the NAYA Gala Facebook album.

Thank you to all our partners, sponsors, donors, and table hosts for supporting the 2014 NAYA Gala. The dedication and commitment of the greater Portland community helps deliver programs and services that impact more than 9,000 individuals each year. We look forward to seeing you next year.

With sincere gratitude,