Past Events

November 14 – December 3, 2020

Tips for a Cause morphed into a virtual Marketplace of fantastic experiences and products from local creators and makers in 2020. Thanks to DTL’s volunteer TFAC20 team, two part-time staffers, friends and artists who donated special items and services, and all of our supporters who shopped and generously contributed, we raised over $10,000. These funds will help support DTL’s educational programs and services for immigrants. We are immensely grateful to each and everyone of you.

Thank you to our students and staff who provided the Just For Fun photos. And special thanks to board members Brice Mercer for creating a beautiful website and Marilyn Kelly for her Buzz Cut Challenge. (It happened! Watch the video.)

A very special thank you to the makers, creators, and musicians who all donated their time and talent: Meghan Barr, Eric Braman, Marty Chilla, Ronnell Curry, Joan Gold Cypress, Amy Delaney. Simply Elena, Carl Falsgraf, David Funk, Diane Jeffcott, Marilyn Kelly, Storm Kennedy, Rogene Mañas, John Park, Alyssa Powell, Linda Reymers, Julia Siporin, Craig Spencer, Madison Stewart, Thrill the World Eugene (Margo Jennings, Sandy Caughron), Rob Tobias, and Emily Westlund.

October 14, 2019

It was wonderful to see so many familiar and new faces at Tips for a Cause, DTL’s annual fundraiser and 15th anniversary celebration, at The Davis Restaurant. Thanks to everyone who helped make it a fun and successful evening – The Davis staff who were awesome, our event sponsors, new and old friends, volunteers, and our fabulous and funny celebrity servers: Playwright Marty Cohen, TV and Facebook personality Rick Dancer, Actress/ Wellness Coach Storm Kennedy, Springfield City Councilor Sheri Moore, Slug Queen Scarlett O’Slimera (Joan Cypress), State Senator James Manning and his wife Lawanda, and Superintendent Gustavo Balderas! We are so grateful that they came out to have a good time and earn your TIPS on behalf of Downtown Languages.

Funds raised help DTL continue to offer the high-quality and low-cost services that our immigrant community counts on to advance their education and economic security.

Tips for a Cause was a large shift from the auction and dinner format of the past and by all accounts, everyone enjoyed this fresh new twist. HOT TIP – Don’t miss out next year!

October 20, 2017

5th Annual ¡Celebrating Community! FUNdraiser at the LCC Center for Meeting and Learning was another outstanding success and raised a record $32,000 (net)! The evening featured a scrumptious plated dinner, live and silent auctions, dessert dash, and lotería. Honorary Chair Dr. Gustavo Balderas, guest speaker Guadalupe Quinn, our wonderful volunteer Gaby Nava-Cohen, and students Ericka and Olga inspired us with their personal stories and recognition of the unique role DTL plays in responding to the needs of our immigrant community and the challenges they face. Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate our diverse community and the important work DTL does. Special thanks to our sponsors, table hosts, donors, volunteers, Sid and Hank Voorhees, and the board and event committee for your contributions and hard work.  It was a joyful gathering of old and new friends!

September 23, 2016

Dinner and Game Night, DTL’s fourth annual ¡Celebrating Community! FUNdraiser, at the Vets Club saw record attendance with upwards of 150 people! Zac and Valter’s music and Mayor-Elect Lucy Vinis’s opening remarks set the tone for the evening, and the sinuous dancing by Salseros Dance Group left everyone clamoring for more. The food was delicious, the games spirited, and the energy and good will of everyone in the room gratifying. Students Alejandro and Roberto and guest speaker Peter Chavannes of Petersen Barn Community Center inspired us with their stories, testifying to the importance of DTL’s programs for them personally and, on a broader scale, in creating opportunity for everyone in our community.

Net proceeds from the event came to just under $18,000, which will help sustain DTL’s programs so that others like Alejandro and Roberto can learn English, complete their education, expand their opportunities for employment, develop leadership skills, and more fully participate in our civic and economic life. Sincere thanks to everyone who came and to our supporters who couldn’t come but generously gave, to our valued sponsors, staff, board, volunteers, and to our extraordinary students for making the evening a success.

Check out Raúl and Alondra’s photos of the event.

June 18, 2016

Community Service Day, “Landscape and Language.” Hard-working volunteers from DTL, Rotary, Marist High School, and the Nobel Peace Laureate Project joined up with Eugene Outdoors for some serious weeding of the landscape beds in the Nobel Peace Park at Alton Baker Park. It was a fine Saturday morning until the thunderstorm arrived, but we kept at it and made some real progress. It was fun to meet new people and hear about their interests. Many thanks to Katie Blair-Terrazo of Eugene Outdoors for her leadership. We’re ready to do it again next year!

September 17, 2015

Dinner and Game Night, our third annual ¡Celebrating Community! FUNdraiser, at Sprout! Regional Food Hub was a lot of fun and a great success. We netted just over $10,000, and were pleased to see a lot of new faces in the crowd. Game masters Dave and Jimbo of Star Productions did a fine job of MCing and running the games, and our speakers Coco and Julian brought the house down! Thanks to everyone for coming, for supporting Downtown Languages, and for spreading the word.

Our friend and photographer Raùl has posted photos of the event on his FaceBook page Latino Lane County. Check them out.

August 22, 2013

¡Celebrating Community! Auction Extravaganza, Thursday, August 22, 2013, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. A gala dinner, program, and fundraising event at Lewis and Clark Catering Company, 2210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Eugene 97401.

What a fun summer evening it was! The evening grossed just over $19,000 and netted just under $13,000! Thank you all so very much for coming, for supporting our organization, for celebrating community, and for your generosity! The proceeds are making a huge difference in the programs we are offering this fall in both Springfield and Bethel. There are now about 50 families participating in Pilas! Family Literacy.

Visit our Facebook page for updates on current sessions and events: https://www.facebook.com/DowntownLanguages