From the Fundraising & Event Coordinator’s Desk
This month, we’ve asked our Fundraising & Event Coordinator, Monica Rush, to provide a recap of our 2026 Race Against Child Abuse held on April 25th.
Before we get to her highlights, we want to acknowledge the amazing work that Monica did to make this year’s race an unforgettable event. Monica worked tirelessly behind the scenes to secure new sponsors, volunteers, and community partners, in addition to nurturing engagement with our existing race supporters. Thanks to her ingenuity, we saw the largest number of teams to date participate in our “biggest team” competition! We are truly grateful to have Monica on the Amani Center team, putting her creativity and heart into everything she does. And now, Monica’s message:
Thank you, Columbia County! Last Saturday, our community showed up in a major way for the 18th Annual Race Against Child Abuse (RACA). It was an incredible morning in downtown St. Helens, filled with energy, advocacy, and a shared commitment to protecting our children. Our move to the new start/finish location in the heart of downtown was a huge success and a beautiful setting for our runners and walkers to enjoy.
A massive thank you is owed to our Elite Sponsor, Wauna Credit Union for their incredible support. It was great to have them on-site with their booth, and their mascot, Reggie the eagle – he was a huge hit, helping us cheer on the participants. A special shout-out goes to Crooked Creek Brewery for hosting our packet pick-up, registration check-in, and serving as our Official Timing Sponsor. Also, the Community Partners Tent created a fantastic atmosphere, made even better by DJ MR. 503, who did an incredible job getting the crowd pumped up and keeping the energy high all morning. It was also wonderful to see finishers proudly displaying their medals, which were generously sponsored by the Grabhorn family in memory of Albert Grabhorn.
The competition for the largest team reached legendary proportions this year! In an inspiring display of unity, CC Run Club, Fit and Phat Fitness, Oregon Child Welfare Fox Trotters, and Mustangs of Mayhem joined forces with Moon Racers to form a massive super-team. Racing under the banner “Moon Racing and Fox Trotting for Oregon Child Welfare,” they brought a staggering 102 teammates to the pavement.
Our friends at the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office also showed wonderful support, coming in a strong second with 82 teammates. While they passed the trophy along this year, they still hold the record of 113 teammates from their 2025 victory. Congratulations, and thank you to all our team captains for your dedication!
With the race in our rear-view mirror, we’d love for you to join us at our next big event. Dust off your favorite sweatpants for the .3K Slacker Run! It’s a fun, 21+ event where you can support the Amani Center without breaking a sweat. We hope to see you there on Saturday, May 16th, at Ol’ Pastime Tavern in Rainier. The pre-event party starts at 2:00 p.m., and the grueling 328-yard race kicks off at 3:00 p.m. Your $25 registration includes a race bib, a participation medal, entry into all the raffles, and—most importantly—a donut.
With appreciation,
Monica Rush, Fundraising & Event Coordinator
Race Against Child Abuse Sponsor Spotlight
We’re sending a heartfelt thank you to the Grabhorn family, our 2026 Race Against Child Abuse Medal Sponsors. Bart and Janet Grabhorn sponsored our race medals in honor of the memory of their son, Albert Grabhorn.
The Grabhorns had this to share about Albert:
“Albert was a lifelong Columbia County resident and came from a large, loving family. He graduated Scappoose High School and was involved in many activities locally. He obtained Life rank in the Boy Scouts of America, was in local 4-H clubs, and went to Grace Lutheran Church.
Albert climbed several mountains in the Cascade Range and was an avid rock climber. He had recently found a rewarding job working for Columbia Pacific Food Bank in St. Helens. Al was managing their Gleaning program, bringing much needed local produce into the food bank. He was kind and thoughtful of all animals, wild or domestic.”
What’s New?
Last month, we hosted a very special Capital Campaign fundraising event: the Johnny Cash & June Carter Tribute Show with Hayley Lynn and Blake Johnston!
This event was generously sponsored by Sass at Home and Northwest Plumbing Services and held at Plymouth Pub in St. Helens. These local businesses went above and beyond to support the Amani Center; Sass at Home offered special shopping discounts for ticket holders, and Northwest Plumbing Services matched ticket sales at their shop with a $25.00 donation for each ticket sold, donating $750.00!
We are deeply grateful for their generous support and shared vision to make a new permanent home for the Amani Center made a reality. We especially wish to thank Mindy Sass for all her hard work volunteering to help make the evening so memorable and fun. We welcomed nearly 100 guests to a night of lively music, delicious food, and community support for a new Amani Center home.
If you would like to host a Capital Campaign event like this or would like more information on how to be involved, visit the Capital Campaign page on our website.
May Spotlight:
Our Multidisciplinary Team recently reviewed a new nationwide warning from the FBI, alerting the public to the rise of online criminal networks that target young victims. We’re highlighting this important issue this month as it affects youth living right here in Columbia County.
The FBI has issued a warning to the public about a steep rise in activity by violent online networks, including a group known as “764”. This group targets minors and other vulnerable people across the country and globally. Networks like these operate across popular social media platforms, gaming platforms, and apps frequently used by young people.
Most victims are ages 10 to 17, but some are as young as 9. Victims are groomed through deceptive relationships built on romance or trusted friendship. Once contact is established, offenders use threats, blackmail, and manipulation to coerce victims into escalating harmful behavior. This can include self‑harm or other exploitative acts, which are recorded and used to maintain control and continue extortion of their victims.
Parents, caregivers, and communities are urged to stay alert for warning signs such as sudden behavior changes in children and teens including: withdrawal, irritability, loss of interest in activities, secrecy about online activity, changes in appearance (especially neglect of appearance), unexplained gifts, visible injuries, and infatuation or fear tied to a new online “friend.” Monitoring online interactions (including direct messages), limiting the sharing of personal information or photos, and having regular open conversations about online safety are crucial prevention steps to help keep kids safe.
Anyone who believes they or their child may be a victim is encouraged to preserve evidence and make a report to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center or to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline. Immediate threats should be reported to 911.
Staying informed can help protect children and prevent further victimization. Additional resources for parents and caregivers on online safety are available from the NetSmartz Resource Center.
Upcoming Events:
Saturday, May 16th, 11:00 a.m. – NAMIWalks Event
May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness’ annual “NAMIWalks” event is coming up on Saturday, May 16th to help raise awareness in our community. Walkers of all abilities are welcome to meet at the Jordan Center in downtown St. Helens to participate in the walk. Registration opens at 11:00 a.m., with the walk starting at noon. If you would like to preregister online, sign up with the Columbia Walkers team here: https://www.namiwalks.org/teams/81454
Saturday, May 16th, 2:00 p.m. – .3K Slacker Run
Our .3K Slacker Run is back on Saturday, May 16th! The pre-event party starts at the Ol’ Pastime Tavern in Rainier at 2:00 p.m., before the race begins at 3:00 p.m. with a challenging 328-yard course. Registration is $25.00 per person and includes a chance to win raffle prizes, a participation medal, a donut, and 1 $1.00 drink token. The only thing you shouldn’t slack on is online registration; sign up here today! This event welcomes participants ages 21 and older.