CAP Art Auction Remarks

April 11, 2026

Good evening! I’m excited to be here at the Portland Art Museum surrounded by such incredible art and community.

Thank you to the Cascade AIDS Project for hosting this evening and for the essential work you do every single day across Oregon and Southwest Washington - providing HIV services, LGBTQ+ healthcare, and housing support when people need it most. 

At the recent opening of the Rothko Pavillion, right here on this block, I was moved by the words of Marrie Watt, local Oregonian artist and Native woman. She said “Art is a living, breathing part of our community. Art belongs to everyone, and it has the power to transform the way we see each other and ourselves.”

That’s exactly what tonight is about. When art and purpose align, the results are powerful. The 100+ works you saw tonight - generously donated by local and national artists are acts of solidarity. They’re investments in care. They’re reminders that creativity and compassion go hand in hand.

The Cascade AIDS Project has been on the front lines for decades, ensuring that LGBTQ+ communities have access to the care they need and deserve. And this work only keeps getting more important. When healthcare becomes a battleground, and our basic rights and dignity is under attack, organizations like CAP are standing firm. You show up, you provide care without judgement, and you create safety and support when our communities need it most. And you remind us that healthcare is a right - not a privilege.

Tonight, I am proud to introduce a new honor that will carry that spirit forward for years to come: the Bill Dickey Philanthropy Award. I knew Bill personally, and his loss is felt deeply. Bill’s legacy of compassion and service helped shape this community. 

He believed that generosity was not reserved for a few, but was a shared responsibility for us all. This award will recognize individuals who embody that belief. Individuals who understand that philanthropy is action. That it must be sustained. And that it has the power to create healthier, more equitable communities. 

It is my honor to announce this award tonight - may Bill’s legacy continue to call each of us to be generous people who make the world a more equitable place.

Thank you for being here and supporting this work. And thank you for believing, as Bill did, that when we show up for each other, we can create the community we all long for and deserve.