For an encore presentation, watch The Essentials of the Girls Inc. Experience, a video produced by 24Notion

Each interview is a unique experience in which the girl and purse-o-nality shared their brave authentic story about leadership and what it means to be STRONG, SMART and BOLD.

Exclusively, you can now listen to each interview in their entirety here: 

Allie and Laura Mansfield, CEO of Pagatim

Amaya and Debbie Rosas, co-creator of Nia 

Annie and Kate Brown, Oregon Secretary of State

Ashlei and Erin Hubert, VP of Entercom

Ava and Irene Firmat, founder of Full Sail Brewery

Cadie and Michael Curry, Production and Puppet Artist

Hannah and Lori and Edie Singer, mother, daughter community volunteers

Hazel and Jack Jewsbury, Midfielder and Captain for the Portland Timbers

Janni and Naomi Pomeroy, Head Chef at Beast

Kayla and Lisa Sedlar, CEO of New Seasons

Kiera and Dr. Lori Morgan, Chief Hospital Administrator at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center

Olivia and Katie O’Grady, actress and producer

KEEL’s co-founder and Marketing Director, Elaine Volpe, was also the co-chair for the Power of the Purse Steering Committee, assisting in the planning phases of the event. With the event now over, we finally got a moment to catch up with her to get her thoughts and maybe Power of the Purse 2013?

Why did you get involved with Power of the Purse? I’ve been volunteering at Power of the Purse for the past 2 years as my friend, Megan Bigelow, has been an advocate for Girls Inc and was the Power of the Purse Committee Chair last year. I love the event concept as I am drawn to anything or anyone creative. The idea of bringing two people together from different backgrounds or specialities to work together for one project is something I really love and admire. There are so many interesting details around this event between each awesome Silent Auction package, the fabulous local Boutique Night vendors, and all the influences and details around each purse and purse-o-nality… I wanted to get involved to be the first to learn about all of those intricate details as well as be the one to help shine a light on each one.

Why did you want to support Girls Inc.? How can you not get behind a cause that empowers girls to be strong, smart and bold?! Being a girl is great! I really believe in the missions and programs of Girls Inc. I wish I could have enrolled in their programs when I was a kid!  I’m sure its backwards, but I am always inspired and motivated by the girls of Girls Inc. They inspire me to be strong, smart and bold! I’m blow me away by them and I just wanted to do what I could to help.

What has been the most rewarding part of being involved with this event? Being able to meet so many of the other people involved has been so rewarding and inspiring! There are so many amazing women and entrepreneurs, between the purse-o-nalties, designers, boutique vendors, board members, volunteers, donors, and sponsors, that I got to know just a little bit better. They all have such brilliant energy, big hearts and courage that it has been an absolute privilege getting to meet them. Also knowing that I helped a great cause and helped to inspire other girls – it is an amazing feeling!

What was the best part of this year’s event? It is so hard to pick one part as there are so many great moments, but I’m a total sucker for the excitement of the live auction!

Overall its been an amazing experience! An absolute privilege getting the opportunity to work with Girls Inc. and to showcase the work of everyone involved!
Thanks again to KEEL for all of their great work and for making Power of the Purse 2012 a great success!

Boutique Night at the Portland Art Museum. Photography by Judy Tan of tanQ

We want to extend our gratitude to all of the fantastic boutiques and vendors that made it happen! Thank you to all of our fabulous guests that shopped for a great cause!

Here are some instagram highlights from our very own Girls Inc. of Northwest Oregon Community Relations Manager, Darby Burn Strong!

big smiles from Betsy Cross from betsy + iya

The ladies of Nia show off their stuff! Co-founder Debbie Rosas was one of the nights purse-o-nalities

The ladies of Nia show off their stuff! Co-founder Debbie Rosas was one of the nights purse-o-nalities

Bottoms up from our friends at Mi Mo Handbags. Mia from Mi Mo designed a bag for purse-o-nality Erin Hubert

a beautiful table display from Nomad Unlimited. Jeff designed the purse for purse-o-nality Irene Firmat

Photography by Dodge & Burns Studio

Fashion Boutique Participants
Absolutely Flawless, Allium, BD503, Betsy & Iya, Change the Definition, Carol Risely Handbags,  Clark and Mayfield, Design by Jayne, Ellington, I Walk the Vine, Ke-We, Lauren Harkness, Leather Girl Kelley, Luminata Millinery, Mabel & Zora, Maya Moon, MIDGE by CL, Mi Mo Handbags, Naturally Knotty, Nomad-Unlimited, Queen Bee Creations, Sha Montana, Tati & Me, Tan Q, Truce Designs, XO Bruno

Special Thanks to
adidas, Alima Pure, Alyssa White, Amy Sacks Eyewear, Arnold Pander, Bibi Kale Chips, Black Wagon, Bryce Black, Chachi Hair, Courtyard by Marriott Portland City Center, Dance Vision Studio, Darby Burn-Strong, Double Tree by Hilton – Portland, Formit Print, Fada Salon, Fred Meyer, Glow Gifts, Jacqui Leek, Jessica Abel, Katherine Sealy:  Event Cosmetics, Kelly Kerbs/Drink Think, Leah Harrison, Nia Technique, Stages Northwest, The Original, Vibrant Table Catering and Events, West Coast Event Productions, Zupan’s Market

Live Auction Donors
New Seasons Markets, Full Sail Brewing Co., Bibi McGill, Beast, Secretary of State Kate Brown, Linda Williams, Katie O’Grady, Portland Timbers, Nia Technique, Legacy Emanuel Medical Center

Raffle Donors
Alaska Airlines, Laurie Ringlein

Silent Auction Donors
Al-Amir, Amy Sacks Eyewear, Amy Vining Photography, Ankeny Vineyard, Barbara Ross, Best Western Plus Hood River Inn, Breedom Public Sewing House, Charles Fine Portraits, Courtyard by Marriott Portland City Center, David and Lorraine Creek, Departure Restaurant, Educational Recreational Adventures, El Gaucho, Elephants Delicatessen, Elizabeth Leach, Full Sail Brewing Co., Hotel Max, Julie Kujawa, Langdon Farms, Mary Bune, Mia Scofield, Mother’s Bistro & Bar, Oba! Restaurante, The Original, Pam & Jerry Cooper, Pambiche, Pix Patisserie, Por Que No?, Radish Underground, Rick Doughty, Rosanna, Inc., Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Seasons & Regions, Shelley Gunton & Brian Conolly, Sunriver Resort, Soul’d Out Music Festival, Surround Architecture, The Drift Inn Historic Pub & Cafe, The Nines Hotel, The Original, VanderVeer Center, Willamette Valley Vineyards, Work Balance Yoga

7. The Beverages: Tonight we are excited to have Full Sail Brewing Company, Youngberg Hill Vineyard, Agate Vineyard and Bendistillery serving up some amazing drinks for all of our 500 guests.

6. One of a kind silent auction items: Fly Fishing, Sunriver, Hood River, Big White, or Power Lunches – there are so many great auction items this year!

5. One of a kind handbags: 14 amazing one-of-a-kind purses designed by some of Portland’s most amazing designers will be auctioned off tonight!

4. Meet 15 influential Portlanders: What happens when a musician, a Secretary of State, a community leader, an actress, a bank president, a soccer player, a surgeon, a puppet designer, a master chef, a VP and 4 CEOs are the center of one event? We’ll find tonight!

3. The shopping!: Shop some of Portland’s trendiest boutiques all for a great cause! 20% of all proceeds from our vendors at Boutique Night will benefit Girls Inc.

2. The Live Auction: The Heads or Tails game is always so much fun!

1. Inspiring girls to be STRONG, SMART AND BOLD

The prize includes 7 day accommodations through Interval International Time share in which they have luxurious locations all over the world.

Interval International has vacation locations all over the world

Soak up the sun at your choice of tropical locations like Hawaii, Mexico, Aruba, Australia, South America or even Africa.

Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Explore ancient ruins in Greece, castles in Ireland, or new shops in Paris.

Firstlight the K Club in County Kildare, Ireland

Or maybe even visit family living in a different part of the USA. This raffle prize includes 2 unrestricted, round tip tickets anywhere Alaska Airlines flies.

The more raffle tickets you buy the more chances you have to win this amazing prize. Raffle tickets, or white beads rather, will be sold during Power of the Purse Friday night for $35 each or 2 for $50.

Special thanks to Alaska Airlines and Girls Inc. of NW Board of Directors Chair Laurie Ringlein for making this raffle prize possible

It will be a busy evening with lots to do, so plan to arrive early to take part in all of the fun.

James has been a photographer for over 12 years and is the owner of Dodge and Burn Studios.  He is also the man behind all of the photographs from last year’s Power of the Purse event at Purse Space, as well as all the photographs of this year’s purses and purse-o-nalities.

Purse-o-nality and designer Michael Curry with Luke Mathers from Truce and Girls Inc Council Girl Cadie at Michael Curry Designs.

His goal is to create an environment where EVERYONE can relax, laugh, and have fun in order to capture REAL photos.

New Seasons CEO and purse-o-nality Lisa Sedlar, with Rebecca Pearcy from Queen Bee Creations and Girls Inc Council Girl Kyla

As a result, this year we were able to capture some fantastic photos of each purse-o-nality ‘in their element’ giving them the home court advantage to look stellar as they posed with the Girls Inc Council girl and designer they collaborated with for their one-of-a-kind purse.

Portland Timbers midfielder Jack Jewsbury, Maria Lalli of Ziba Deigns and Girls Inc Council Girl Hazel at Jeld-Wen Field

We cannot thank James enough for all of his hard work and dedication to capture the true personality of each ‘Purse-o-nality’! You can meet him and see more of his amazing photography this Friday night. Power of the Purse is SOLD OUT, but tickets are still available for Boutique Night!

Maya Moon Designs for Kate Brown. Photograph by Dodge & Burn Studios

We are in love with this beautiful, versatile, elegant yet rugged purse, designed by Maya Moon Designs for purse-o-nality Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown, not just because it is a beautiful purse, but because it embodies the personality and needs of a STRONG, SMART, BOLD leader.

Girls Inc Council girl Annie with Kate Brown and designer Maya Bauer at the Oregon Historical Society. Photograph by Dodge and Burn Studios

The purse design evolved out of Kate Brown’s always-in-motion lifestyle as Oregon Secretary of State and her love of rural Oregon. Kate wanted a versatile purse, a purse she can take from the house to the airport to Washington DC. She also wanted bright color. Nowadays Kate loves bold colors. And Kate wanted the warmth and ruggedness of leather. Speaking of rugged, the hide for this purse had a bullet hole. Sorry, bullet hole not included in final product.

Kate riding in the Pendleton Round-Up

Every summer, Kate blocks out time to attend the Pendleton Round-Up where she rides in the parade and enjoys the festivities. By integrating Pendleton wool and a western theme, the design of this purse and accessories captures the feel of a treasured annual event for her.