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Mock pageant raises $48,000 for Doernbecher

By Paul Suarez
Published: April 28, 2010, 12:00am
2 Photos
The top 3: Mr. Hudson's Bay 2010 contestants Cameron Falkner, from left, third place; Gabe Foster, Mr.
The top 3: Mr. Hudson's Bay 2010 contestants Cameron Falkner, from left, third place; Gabe Foster, Mr. Hudson's Bay 2010; and Thomas Mikaele, second place. Photo Gallery

Donations collected by the Mr. Hudson’s Bay competition in the past seven years:

2010 — $47,860

2009 — $50,000*

2008 — $85,329

2007 — $138,444

2006 — $91,733

2005 — $62,948

2004 — $65,094

*Estimated

For the last 17 years, Hudson’s Bay seniors have shown there’s good money in satire.

On April 10, “Mr. Hudson’s Bay” — the annual Miss America spoof pageant — capped a four-month fundraising effort that netted around $48,000 for Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.

Each year, twelve senior boys are selected and work together in coordinating a dance, as well as talent, swimwear, casual wear and formal wear segments for the pageant.

Gabe Foster, an ASB officer and football and basketball player, was crowned this year’s Mr. Hudson’s Bay at the event, held in the Skyview High School Auditorium. He rose above the other 11 competitors by collecting more than $13,000 in donations for the Portland hospital.

Donations collected by the Mr. Hudson's Bay competition in the past seven years:

2010 -- $47,860

2009 -- $50,000*

2008 -- $85,329

2007 -- $138,444

2006 -- $91,733

2005 -- $62,948

2004 -- $65,094

*Estimated

Getting that kind of cash was no easy task. Foster said he was working constantly for four months.

“I wrote a lot of letters to previous donors, and went to a lot businesses,” Foster said.

His work paid off. Foster ended up raising more than twice as much as the second-place contestant, Thomas Mikaele ($6,256.93) and three times as much as third-place finisher Cameron Falkner ($4,039.76).

Foster said one of the most meaningful donations was $5 he received from a woman who was struggling financially. It meant a lot that she would give considering her circumstances and how big of a difference that small amount of money could be for her, he said.

Foster is headed to Clark College in the fall. He knows he’ll be playing basketball, but isn’t sure what field of study he’ll eventually choose.

He will look back fondly on his experience in the competition and said the group was “like a family” for the five months leading up to the competition.

According to Vancouver Public Schools, the competition has raised more than $700,000 for Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in its 17 year run.

Other contestants in the 2010 competition were Billy Nguyen, Drew Blaisdell, Colter Pattullo, Andre Washington, Aaron Steinauer, Cameron McCallum, Joey Castrey, Danny Christensen and Anthony Carlson.

Three senior girls, Lindsey Elhart, Catherine Duback and Jordan Olson, and two juniors, Jackie Gibbs and Lauren Hunsinger, served as coordinators for the event. The five helped plan the pageant, choreograph dance routines and raise funds.

Will Dow and Casey Dullum served as master of ceremonies for the pageant and auctioneers at a school assembly that raised more than $4,000.

Jeanne Shults, associate principal at Bay, said in an e-mail that the pageant was “a great success, not only in regards to the amount of money raised, but also the entertainment value of the show itself.”

The contestants used a combination of humor, unique skits, dances and videos to keep things interesting, she said.

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