Diamond Derby raises more than $500K for expansion
Contact: Sarah Bello
CMH’s 2025 Diamond Derby raised more than half a million dollars for the BuildCMH Expansion Project in early May. The fourth annual Kentucky Derby watch party and fundraiser was held at the Clatsop County Fairgrounds, transforming the Exhibit Hall with the sights and sounds of the prestigious event (see photos on Facebook).
“With $527,000 in donations given at this year’s Derby, and after receiving a recent M.J. Murdock Grant of $400,000, the BuildCMH Capital Campaign has raised $7.3 million of its $10 million goal,” says Mark Kujala, executive director of the CMH Foundation. “The generosity of this community is incredible. We are so grateful for the support for the expansion.”
Premium sponsors for the day included Umpqua Bank, ZGF Architects, Betsy Johnson, Jody Stahancyk and John Crawford. The Bridgewater Bistro served plated southern cuisine consisting of smoked brisket, roasted chicken, sweet potato casserole and collard greens – topped off with bourbon balls and brownie bites. Bar Pilots Liquid Catering mixed up mint juleps and classic cocktails with donations from Pacifick Distillers, Clatsop Distributing, Van Dusen Beverages and Fort George.
Held each year during the fundraiser, the champagne glass raffle offered attendees the chance to win a signature jewelry piece handcrafted by Holly McHone Jewelers. For this year’s event, McHone created a striking diamond pendant including more than 100 diamonds in the shape of CMH’s new shield logo. McHone has generously donated the custom pieces each year, totaling over $34,000 in donations to the expansion campaign.
Emcee Adam Bjaranson from Portland’s KOIN-TV and auctioneer John Curley led a live auction featuring unique experiences, such as an Astoria yacht cruise, an immersive art experience with local ceramicist Richard Rowland and his anagama kiln, and private events at the Ilwaco Cider Company and Pacifick Distillery. Two one-of-a-kind Supple Rockers were auctioned to the delight of Duck and Beaver baseball fans. Additional donations were raised when winners Sarah Englund and Nate Pinkstaff challenged one another to sit in the opposing school’s chair — they begrudgingly obliged for the cause!
Several recently received lead gifts were announced before the paddle raise, including a $150,000 donation from the Nygaard family, a $60,000 donation from the Lum family, and a $50,000 donation from Sheriff Matt and Bree Phillips. Big River Construction and Steve Forrester and Brenda Penner both pledged $25,000 to the campaign.
“We’d like to give a special thank you to our event coordinator, Briana Smith from Events NW,” Kujala says. “She has assisted the CMH Foundation in all of our events over the past four years and has done an amazing job. We’d also like to thank all of the volunteers, and those who worked at and planned the event. We couldn’t do this without them.”
Next year, a new fundraiser event is on the schedule for the same weekend, with a different theme.
“In 2026, we will go back in time to the big band era – complete with live music, zoot suits and the USO Camp Shows of the 1940s,” Kujala says. “We can’t wait to see you there!”