slides: Grimm Gala Raises Big Money for Doernbecher Hospital

Monday, February 09, 2015

Byron Beck, GoLocalPDX Features Editor

Grimm Gala

Bree Turner, Slias Weir Mitchell, Bitsie Tulloch, David Guintoli, Sasha Roiz and Claire Coffee at Grimm Gala. Photo credit: Andie Petkus Photography.

NBC’s “Grimm” cast and crew hosted a very special “Grimm Gala” on Feb. 7, benefitting OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. The gala, held within the movie-set-ready Eastside Exchange, was presented by Comcast and NBCUniversal.

Comcast’s Theressa Dulaney shared the origins of the highly entertaining event. “It was the brainchild of Sasha Roiz, who plays Captain Sean Renard on the show, after meeting a family at Doernbecher who was financially ruined by the travel, loss of job and other expenses when their daughter needed care at Doernbecher,” said Dulaney. “He came to Comcast and NBC and asked for support to make something happen to raise funds, then rallied his fellow cast members, crew and producers to create the GRIMM Gala.”

According to Dulaney, Grimm producer Steve Oster wrapped filming early on Friday so the crew could come in early and set up for the event. “They did an amazing job. With "Aunt Marie’s" trailer out front, guests were greeted with a "police station" as the check in. Large castle doors were the entry into the ballroom and Rosalee’s spice shop was set up as the bar. Grimm photographs were on the walls, Wesen, and actors dressed as Portland Police officers, posed for photos with guests.”

See Grimm Gala slideshow below

All the expenses of the night were covered by Comcast and NBC Universal, along with in kind donors such as Vinum Importing, Old Town Brewing, B&B Print and others. All the money raised in sponsorships, fan donations, individual ticket sales, special appeal, auction, online auction, etc. went directly to the charity called the Grimmster Endowment.

At press time the event raised more than $310,000 for the Grimmster Endowment.

The endowment will help families at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital with costs associated with care. No child is ever turned away from care at Doernbecher, but families often experience crippling costs associated with travel and lodging—this fund will help those families.

The line of the night came from Jake Dering, 10 year old Doernbecher patient, who, when encouraging donors to bid, he said: “Imagine you’re on the one yard line, and you have a choice: do you want to pass or run the ball into the end zone.” It got a roaring laugh from the crowd. He then finished with “ Let’s sell some money!”

Roiz emceed the event, and brought all his fellow Grimm actors onstage at the top of the event. Highlights included the five pair of Nike shoes created for the event by Tinker Hatfield: a roche boot with a depiction of each of the Wesen characters on the back and one with the human form and one Volked.

Banner photo credit: Andie Petkus Photography.

Related Slideshow: Grimm Gala Raises Big Money for Doernbecher Hospital

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Grimm Cast at Grimm Gala

Claire Coffee, Reggie Lee, Bree Turner and Silas Weir Mitchell on the red carpet at the Eastside Exhchange. NBC’s “Grimm” cast and crew hosted a very special “Grimm Gala” on Feb. 7, benefitting OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. The gala, held within the movie-set-ready Eastside Exchange, was presented by Comcast and NBCUniversal. At press time the event raised more than $310,000 for the Grimmster Endowment.