Summer Events
- Austin Phelps
- Jun 26
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 27
We've been getting up to some fun stuff this summer and we have even more exciting activities lined up. We wanted to take a moment and recap some of what has already happened and establish a space to keep all future events nicely organized.
Below you'll find a little recap of some past events and a rundown of upcoming events. Make sure to bookmark this page and check back regularly as we’ll be updating this list as more events are scheduled.
Past Events
Ukandu Wine & Dine for Hope & Joy
Ukandu is an amazing organization that is focused on providing joy, hope, and connection to families and communities impacted by childhood and adolescent cancer. They offer a number of incredible programs ranging from Camp Ukandu, to Ukandu Teen Retreats, to Virtual Programs aimed at connecting individuals during the isolation created through cancer treatment. All programs provided by Ukandu are 100% free of charge to the families they serve.
This year they held their Wine & Dine event at The Redd on Salmon in the heart of SE Portland. Our team donated their time to provide food for the event. Our very own Kasey Mills donated his time as part of the charity auction where the winner would be able to have Kasey visit their home and prepare a meal for them! All in all the event raised a staggering $330,000 and we were thrilled to be apart of such a great cause.
Friends of the Children Friend Raiser
Friends of the Children is another incredible organization working to improve the lives of children in the Portland area. Their work is mostly focused on breaking the cycles of generational poverty through long-term professional mentoring. Each youth they work with receives high-quality, individualized mentoring from a full time, salaried, professional mentor. A study conducted by the Harvard Business School Association of Oregon found that for every $1 invested into Friends of the Children, the community benefits over $7 saved in social costs.
This year they hosted their annual Friend Raiser event and we were lucky enough to attend and provide food. Our team had a great time and we were super stoked to get involved.
ACLU Fundraiser
This year has brought about some complex political and social situations. Folks have been coming together to stand up for what they believe in. On June 14th there were a number of protests around Portland and we decided that the best way we could meaningfully support the broader message of the day was to donate 3% of sales generated to the ACLU. We were able to raise a total of $2,000 for the ACLU!
We believe strongly in the power of our judicial system to uphold the rights and values we cherish, and in the ACLU’s ongoing efforts to defend civil liberties. Our dining rooms remain spaces for refuge, comfort, hospitality, and belonging. By standing up, caring for one another, and creating genuine moments of connection with each other, we can continue to make the world a better place — not just on a Saturday in June, but every day.
Upcoming Events
July 4th - Inaugural 4th of July Company Picnic
To show our appreciation for the our teams' hard work, Sesame Collective is organizing our inaugural Annual 4th of July Company Picnic! All Sesame Collective restaurants will be closed on the 4th of July so that all of our team members have the chance to attend.
August 16th - Multnomah Days
Yalla is participating in Multnomah Days again this year. We have some exciting plans, so visit our booth and consider having dinner in The Village while you're there! Here's a little info about Multnomah Days from the Multnomah Village Business Association...
One of the oldest street fairs in Portland! Brought to you by the Multnomah Village Business Association, this beloved annual event incorporates a one-day open-air family-friendly street festival with 120+ vendor booths, a community parade, live music, street entertainers, art, food & beverage carts - plus outdoor street dining.
