I’m sorry it’s been so long since you’ve heard from me. I have been swallowed up by the depth of darkness that one can find in grief.

I lost my best friend, my lover of the body, mind, and spirit, my soul mate of 23 years! Severe depression complicated by post traumatic stress syndrome and the torment of the last few weeks of Les’ life have been all consuming! Countless should haves, and even more whys! I still have to struggle to face each day, but I now think I am strong enough to go forward working to keep Les’ legacy alive by paying it forward the way Les would want us to, the way he did every day of his life! I am here to ask if you can stand up with me and for Les. He would be so honored to have his memory work for the good of the people that meant the world to him.

Les gave of himself even in his final days undergoing additional treatment that would benefit those diagnosed with metastatic melanoma a chance to survive, his suffering was tremendous but his spirit and love were always amazing! In speaking at Senator Kennedy’s funeral, a man intimately familiar with dealing with the loss of his loved ones, President Obama quoted him in a letter he had written to a wife who lost her loved one after 911. It read “As you know the passage of time never really heals such a great loss. But we carry on because we have to, because our loved ones would want us to and because there is still light to guide us in the work from the love they gave us.”

Please join us Friday, September 16th for the 2nd Annual Silent Auction Dinner with Michael Alan Harrison and Julianne Johnson performing, with Brenda Braxton emceeing. Les loved these dear people! Their amazing talent and genuine giving hearts are so much like Les’ in many respects, and we are excited and honored to have them be a big part of our event! I am asking for your help in supporting Les’ legacy. If you are unable to attend please consider contributing what you can financially to the Les Sarnoff Memorial Foundation which is now an official 501c3 non-profit foundation.

There are twenty-six organizations and charities that Les participated in during his thirty years at KINK, and many of them even longer. They range from his beloved Oregon Humane Society and Children’s Cancer Association, the Oregon Symphony, the Portland Rescue Mission, OMSI, the Ronald McDonald’s House, the Oregon Food Bank, Make A Wish, Parkinson’s Center, the Children’s Museum, Portland Oprah, and Dornbecker Children’s Hospital. And the list goes on and on, from Montessori schools, to churches, to home owned businesses, to local artists. He served on the boards of the Perry Center, the Leukemia Society, the Oregon Humane Society, and the Montessori Institute. Whether it was taking pictures with animals for “Santa Paws”, or helping a youth group at Abundant Life to raise money for a mission trip, or going on his own mission trip with World Vision to the Dominican Republic, my man gave and gave tirelessly and endlessly in any way he could! Now it’s our turn to carry on his light and love!

Jasmine played Violin while at Ashland High School in Ashland, OR.

“I always loved the violin and started playing when I was seven years old. I have had the opportunity to study music with two amazing teachers here in Ashland, Faina Podolnaya, and Cynthia Hutton, both of whom I would like to thank for their support and inspiration. I am going to be attending Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine next year, and I know that the OMHOF scholarship will be a huge help to me and my family in paying for tuition. Thank you!”

Music Scholarship Award Winner

Please join the Les Sarnoff Memorial Foundation for our annual fundraising event. This event will help fund a music scholarship award to be awarded to an deserving Oregon High School Senior in the name of Les Sarnoff, and presented by the Oregon Music Hall of Fame.

Riverside Golf & Country Club

http://www.riversidegcc.com

Doors open: 6:00 p.m
Event: 7:00 p.m -10 p.m.
Cost: $50 per person $90 per couple
PURCHASE TICKETS

“I am so proud to have been invited here tonight to accept this award along side Rebecca, on behalf of my brother Les. He loved this community. He came here and in his heart, he never left. He had found his home.

Music was undeniably, his passion. I believe it was infused in his very soul. For as long as I can remember, the walls of our home chattered from either my Dad playing his jazz, my Mom listening to her big band music or my brothers blasting their rock and roll. We didn’t realize it then, but music was a catalyst. It was a commonality that we all shared and no matter what genre was playing…the point was…it was playing.

Les took it to heart. It was no coincidence that he left the theatre, as brilliant as he was onstage, and found his way on air. It was his destiny. My feeling is that it was his purpose to influence people. Radio gave him a much larger vehicle to drive that purpose. What I admired most was how he took his opportunities to educate us and make us aware of causes that needed our attention. He walked the walk and talked the talk.

My brother was a gentleman. He was indeed a gentle man. He would be blown away by the spirit in which you have honored him tonight.

Radio didn’t make Les. Les transformed radio…by being genuine and always available to lend his voice, his presence and his support, to any organization or event that would benefit. That is what being a part of a community is all about. He had more energy and fortitude than anyone I know.

Please continue to support the Sarnoff Channel. It was a dream and vision that he had, to create a place where we all could hear great music all of the time no matter where we were. Carl Widing promised it would come to fruition. Indeed it did through the Les Sarnoff Foundation. It needs your support so it can continue to give back to you.

We, as a family, were only separated by miles, not by love or spirit.
On behalf of my Mom, Gary, Jeff and Zach, I thank you for acknowledging his contributions and keeping his legacy alive. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

August 27 – 28, 2010
Timberline Lodge to Seaside, OR

www.hoodtocoast.com

Help support the American Cancer Society and Team KINK. This year they will be honoring Les Sarnoff and all of the money raised by TEAM KINK and friends will benefit Melanoma research.

“I would like your tips on how other busy mothers and wives find time to train for Hood to Coast-and sleep some too? In actuality, I’m using Les as my motivation, running in memory of the guy who seemed to be able to say YES to everything. My goal-just finishing.”

Jalene Brooks
KINK Account Executive
Legs 6, 18, 30

“5 YEARS on Kink HTC Team! This year, I run in memory of Les Sarnoff and for his wife Rita. I’ve recently experienced my own personal battles with cancer, so I’m especially passionate about running this year! I look forward to reconnecting with my teammates & spending the weekend laughing hysterically, sweating, getting no sleep, being ‘one’ with the baby wipes, feeling delirious & exhausted … and asking myself … “why do I do this”???? BECAUSE I LOVE IT! And I love you Les … this one’s for you!”

Les Sarnoff moved to Portland in the early 70’s to be an actor. However, his love of music led him to become a DJ for KGON in 1974. In 1977 he moved over to KINK. Minus a couple of years in the 80’s, Les continued to work at KINK until he passed away due to cancer in 2009. To many, Les was KINK Radio, with his friendly voice being the beginning and bright point of their day. In person, Les was the same friendly person you heard on the air. Les was involved with many musical events in the community and did whatever he could to promote the musical arts.

This year’s master of ceremonies will be the ever-colorful Tony Starlight. Two of this year’s event performers were also announced: Shock, who were inducted into OMHOF in 2008, and one of this year’s inductees, Black ‘N Blue. Black ‘N Blue will re-form the classic lineup of Tommy Thayer, Jamie St. James, Pete Holmes, Patrick Young and Jeff Warner.

Tickets for the Oct. 9 ceremony at the Roseland Theater are on sale through Tickets West outlets, including Fred Meyer and Music Millennium. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. VIP tickets, which include reserved seating, after-induction party and poster, are $90 in advance.

Date: Sunday, July 18th, 2010
Time: 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm

Venue: Henry’s 12 St. Tavern
10 Northwest 12th Avenue
Portland, OR 97209-4102
(503) 227-5320
Get directions
Tram: Galleria/SW 10th Ave MAX Station

>> GET TICKETS

Craig is an American singer-songwriter. He is originally from Portland, Oregon, but now lives in Nashville, Tennessee. Carothers’s “Little Hercules” was recorded for Trisha Yearwood’s 1996 album Everybody Knows.

Craig was one of the first musicians to call when he heard about the Les Sarnoff Memorial Foundation. He mentioned he would like to do a “Gig for Les”. So please join us for an intimate evening with Craig Carothers. All proceeds from this event support the Les Sarnoff Memorial Foundation.

We want to extend a special thank you to Henry’s for donating the Billiards Room for this event!

Our special guests for the evening from our “Causes that Matter” included:

Regina Ellis – (Children’s Cancer Association)
Terry Shanley – (SMART)
Rachel Bristol – (Oregon Food Bank)
Mary Henry – (Oregon Humane Society)
Mike Rich

Terry Shanley, CEO of SMART, stated that “We have a tremendous amount of community resources available to us, what we need is something to communicate and bring us together. The Sarnoff Channel may just be that vehicle”. We couldn’t agree with you more Terry!

“We are entering a new age. The first decade of this century was devoted to the Internet coming of age. The next ten years will see the maturation of the mobile Internet”. That means, content everywhere. Cell phones, cars, airports, laptops, IPODS, IPADS, and who knows what else will come to market in the years ahead. Peggy La Point, LSMF Secretary

“The Sarnoff Channel is a worldwide internet radio station. Our goal is to play uninterrupted music, with sponsor mentions every hour providing the funding for the Channel and our Charities”. Joe Palanuk, LSMF President

[View with PicLens]

Please join us for the official “Launching” of The Sarnoff Channel. The Les Sarnoff Memorial Foundation is pleased to invite you to a unique and entertaining evening!

We have a great committee working on auction items as well as a special guest – Patrick Lamb.

We have a fantastic dinner planned and encourage you to invite family and friends, and join us.

Tickets to the event are $50/each or $90/couple.

BUY TICKETS



*Sponsor A Table – $750 (seats 10)*
Email Joe Palanuk for reservations

The late Les Sarnoff was honored with the Ernest Swigert Lifetime Achievement Award. Sarnoff had a remarkable radio career spanning two decades. Thousands of Portlanders woke to his voice every day while he hosted KINK-fm’s morning broadcast. He talked about OHS frequently on his radio show, and he hosted the annual OHS Telethon nine years in a row. Les also served on the OHS Board of Trustees for five years and was a Community Ambassador for OHS until he passed away last spring after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Joseph Palanuk accepts the award on behalf of the Les Sarnoff Foundation.

Board Members Joseph Palanuk, Peggy La Point, Nancy Kelly and Barbara Baugnon.