Find out how a first‑ever ‘paddle raise’ helped carry JCWC’s mission forward – both on water and on land …
At the front table, JCWC Fundraising Committee member Haley Stupasky and Crew Leader Karen Kincher greet arriving guests.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
The Johnson Creek Watershed Council’s 31st Annual “Riffle Awards” filled Reed College’s Kaul Auditorium on the evening of Thursday, May 28, as supporters gathered to celebrate local conservation work – and to remember one of the organization’s founders.
Honoring a founder; sustaining a creek
This year’s event, themed “The Current That Carries Us”, honored the legacy of longtime council supporter and co‑founder Walt Mintkeski – while raising money to keep restoration, education, and community programs flowing throughout the Johnson Creek watershed.
JCWC Community Science & Engagement Manager Sara Volk holds a poster featuring co‑founder Walt Mintkeski, inviting guests to add written remembrances in his honor.
Longtime outer East Portland JCWC volunteers Tamra and Richard Dickinson greet friends during the reception.
Early arrivals browsed a large silent auction while balancing plates of hors d’oeuvres, and pausing to greet colleagues and old friends from across East Portland and beyond. The atmosphere felt more like a neighborhood reunion than a formal fundraiser, with conversations about projects, plantings, and shared work along the creek.
‘A phenomenal supporter’ remembered
Before the dinner buffet opened, Johnson Creek Watershed Council (JCWC) Executive Director Jennifer Hamilton told East Portland News why the evening carried extra meaning.
At the Riffle Awards, past JCWC Executive Directors Matthew Clark and Daniel Newberry chat with current Executive Director Jennifer Hamilton.
Hamilton called Mintkeski “one of the key founders establishing the council,” and recalled how he consistently underwrote the council’s on‑the‑ground work. She said, “Walt supported all of our stewardship programming” – and that the night’s fundraising efforts were conceived “as a way to just give tribute” to someone she described as “a phenomenal supporter”, who helped get “the local community engaged and aware of Johnson Creek watershed.”
Even as JCWC continues to work with Mintkeski’s family on how best to recognize him over the long term, Hamilton emphasized that the evening itself already offered an opportunity for those who knew him “to just stay connected, and kind of share their memories, their thoughts, their appreciation.”
Before the silent auction closes, bidders make last‑minute checks on their favored items.
Community is the “current” that carries JCWC’s work
Hamilton, now a year into her role as Executive Director, characterized the gathering as much more than a fundraiser. For her, the event’s theme – “The Current That Carries Us” – pointed directly to the people in the room.
Asked what mattered most about staging an event like this, she pointed to the relationships gathered around the tables. “It’s a time to gather, to celebrate, to remember that although we may only see each other at a couple events a year, together we can gather and celebrate the magnitude of what we do together – which is a lot in one year,” Hamilton remarked.
Just as guests are called into the main room for supper, JCWC volunteers pause to share experiences from their work along Johnson Creek with Executive Director Jennifer Hamilton.
She observed that the Council’s impact never rests on any single personality – even a founder. “It really isn’t up to one person – or it just doesn’t lean on one person. It really is spread throughout every individual in our community.”
Looking back on her first year with the JCWC, Hamilton reflected that she has been “really deeply touched by how thoughtful, meaningful, and engaged this community is, and how kind towards each other, which is really, really nice.”
Awards, a shared supper, and a new paddle raise
The “Riffle Awards” portion of the evening recognized the breadth of partnerships that keep Johnson Creek work moving. Honors went to a Business Partner, School Partner, Community Partner, and Public Agency, culminating in the Ernie Francisco Award for individual volunteerism – presented this year to Paul Ciri, a volunteer of 19 years.
Guests help themselves at the buffet before sitting down for the program.
Between presentations, guests lined up at the buffet for a Mediterranean‑style menu that included Lemon Couscous, Pita Bread, Shawarma Chicken, Falafel, and a Greek orange cake – Portokalopita. The meal, like the program, emphasized sharing – of stories, of food, and of responsibility for the watershed.
New this year was a special “paddle raise” held during the dinner program, with guests lifting numbered paddles to pledge support at various financial levels. The format gave the room a visible sense of momentum as one contribution prompted another.
Community generosity carries the total
In a follow‑up message after the event, Hamilton reported that the community’s response exceeded expectations.
Bid cards – “paddles” for the night – rise across the room as guests pledge much‑needed funds to support work along Johnson Creek.
“We were amazed and deeply grateful for the generosity of our community. Together, you all raised an incredible $13,605 in our first‑ever Paddle Raise, bringing the evening’s total fundraising efforts to $32,490,” Hamilton announced. “Every contribution directly supports the restoration, education, and community engagement programs that make our work possible – and helps ensure a healthier, more resilient watershed for years to come.”
For JCWC, that means more “creek crew” leaders, more volunteers, and more hands‑on projects, from the annual Watershed Wide volunteer day to the Johnson Creek Cleanup and other efforts Hamilton referenced as part of “all of our community engagement”, during our interview.
Riffle Award honoree Paul Ciri pauses for a photo during the celebration.
The theme of the night was “The Current That Carries Us”, and it was clear that those currents run in both directions: From founders like Mintkeski, who helped launch the organization, and also from today’s volunteers, partners, and donors, who are carrying on the work.
© 2026 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
