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The Portland media has done good things for Tara Kramer and Ri-Ky Roofing.

Her company caught the attention of the Oregon building industry in 2011 when the Daily Journal of Commerce handed it a first-place DMWESB TopProjects award for its work on Central High School in Independence. More recently, the Portland Business Journal named Kramer one of its 2014 Women of Influence.

That sort of media attention, Kramer says, has played a big part in her ability to grow Ri-Ky from what started out in 2007 as a second source of income for a single mom and her kids to a national company that now boasts six locations throughout the country. So when it came time for Kramer to pay that good fortune forward, she decided to also pay a little back to the news industry.

Kramer and her company are busy putting the finishing touches on Ri-Ky’s first Nine, Wine & Dine Charity Golf Tournament. In addition to a nine-hole golf tournament at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club’s Ghost Creek course, the Sept. 13 event will feature a dinner with silent and oral auctions. That is where Kramer will get a chance 鈥� in a roundabout way 鈥� to give back to the media that’s given her company an opportunity to grow.

Some of the proceeds from the auctions will benefit a Portland-based nonprofit called the Bald Faced Truth Foundation, which was started by John and Anna Canzano, two familiar faces in the Portland news scene. John Canzano is a sports columnist for The Oregonian, hosts an afternoon-drive radio talk show for 750-AM and serves as a sports commentator for KGW TV. Anna is a news anchor and reporter for KATU-TV.

Since 2009, the Bald Faced Truth Foundation has provided grants to help kids participate in activities related to arts, music, education and athletics. Grants from the foundation, for example, helped the Lents Little League repair its snack shack when it was damaged by vandals, allowed the nonprofit Victory Academy to replace $3,000 worth of stolen iPads, and covered a year’s worth of piano lessons for a 7-year-old budding musician.

The group also has emerged as one of Kramer’s favorite local nonprofits, especially after her children received grants from the foundation to participate in a kids’ summer sports camp that brought together both special needs and non-special needs athletes.

鈥淢y kids grew so much during that camp,鈥� Kramer said. 鈥淚t humbled them to learn that sports don’t come easily for everybody.鈥�

Kramer is learning that organizing a full-day golf and dinner event doesn’t come easily, either.

When a marketing manager originally hired to coordinate and promote the Nine, Wine & Dine tournament stepped away from the event, Kramer and her employees Lesleigh Suomi and Adrienne Fowler stepped in to keep everything on track.

Kramer said the Ri-Ky team also has received help from Kailee Kinney, who is involved in the foundation. As for John Canzano, Kramer said he’s been instrumental in drumming up donations for the auctions 鈥� goodies that include Mariners tickets, a signed Timbers jersey and gift certificates for facials.

Pumpkin Ridge also has stepped up to sweeten the pot for those who sign up for the golf tournament, providing a $125 golf card for each participant that can be used for future play at the North Plains golf club.

While some golf tournaments can take on a competitive edge, Kramer and her team have designed an event that they say will place an emphasis on a day of fun. More than 100 people plan to attend the event not for the golf, but just to enjoy the party atmosphere 鈥� including music by Wadhams & Huston 鈥� Kramer said. The Portland band is led by Bill Wadhams of the ’80s band Animotion.

There’s still room for individuals and teams interested in playing in the tournament and attending the dinner and action. Tickets for golf and dinner are $164 per person, or $656 for a foursome. Tickets for dinner and music only are $59. For more information about the event and registration, visit www.ri-ky.com. Information about the Bald Faced Truth Foundation is at www.baldfacedtruth.org.

Stephanie Basalyga is editor of the Daily Journal of Commerce. Contact her at 503-802-7222 or [email protected].