Tag Archives: Thanksgiving

AmCham Thanksgiving Charity Dinner 2023

November 28, 2023AmCham NewsThanksgivingJanice Gundersen

AmCham Thanksgiving Charity Dinner 2023

An evening of giving back and giving thanks – hosted at Hotel Bristol’s Grand Hall – gathered sponsors 3M, KPMG, and Merck alongside members, partners and friends for the annual AmCham Thanksgiving Charity Dinner. In line with the Thanksgiving spirit and honoring our longstanding tradition, the evening included a raffle and auction, featuring generous prizes from member companies, with all proceeds benefiting charitable partner Make-A-Wish Norge.

Hotel Bristol’s Chef Jan Frode Berentsen crafted a traditional turkey dinner with all the fixings and trimmings, followed by pecan, pumpkin and apple pies and earning praise from both Thanksgiving aficionados and novices alike. Accompanying the dinner were Noble Vines 446 Chardonnay and 337 Cabernet Sauvignon.

Valued Partnerships

Presenting the evening’s charity partner was Kristin Anderssen, CEO of Make-A-Wish Norge. She remarked that “it’s heartwarming to see how businesses and organizations can come together to create a positive impact in our community. Let’s make this Thanksgiving season a time of giving and gratitude.” Anderssen expressed her appreciation for the support of the US-based organization’s mission of providing hope and fulfilling the dreams of as many children as possible.

Trade Minister Jan Christian Vestre followed, emphasizing his appreciation for the United States’ everything is possible approach. On US-Norway partnership, Minister Vestre stated that we have “just entered a new and very exciting stage. We are now committed together to strengthening our commercial dialogue and collaboration in sectors tied to the green and digital transition. I’m grateful and extremely proud of the great bond between our two countries. I’m grateful for the things we have achieved so far, and I really look forward to many great things in the time to come.”

US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Sharon Hudson-Dean thanked the AmCham community for its continued close working relationship – and for maintaining the highest standards of international business practice. Hudson-Dean also emphasized the key role of businesses in the green transition.

A Cheerful Showcase of Auction Prizes

Following dinner, a lively charity raffle and auction ensued. AmCham’s Madeleine Brekke, along with auctioneer extraordinaire Christopher Minora, encouragingly announced bids as winners won a broad selection of enticing prizes – ranging from roundtrip flight tickets from Icelandair and Norse Atlantic Airways to a Coca-Cola cooler and Google’s newest Pixel Phone.

Following the prize frenzy, AmCham Managing Director Jason Turflinger proudly announced that this year’s charity auction and raffle had raised a record-breaking 125 000 NOK for Make-A-Wish Norge.

We are truly grateful for the generosity of our transatlantic community and sincerely thank everyone who contributed!

Please click on the left to read the letter from the CEO Make-A-Wish Norge Kristin Anderssen

Photo Gallery

Photos: Traci Milimo

AmCham Thanksgiving Charity Dinner 2022

November 30, 2022AmCham News2022, 2022 AmCham Thanksgiving Dinner, ThanksgivingMargrethe Harboe

AmCham Thanksgiving Charity Dinner 2022

This year’s AmCham Thanksgiving Charity Dinner brought more member and partner leaders together than ever before at Hotel Bristol for an evening of gratitude and fellowship – the most important Thanksgiving feast ingredients!

With 3M, KPMG and Merck ‘s steadfast Thanksgiving Charity Dinner support, Bristol Hall served as a splendid venue for AmCham business leaders and government representatives to gather and celebrate, what is for some, the favorite holiday of the year. The evening was made complete with a raffle and auction, where generous prize donations from member companies raised 120 000 NOK for this year’s charitable partner, The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).

Traditional Thanksgiving platters with turkey and trimmings were composed by Hotel Bristol’s Executive Chef and his team, sure to evoke a sense of home for the Americans in the room. The dinner was accompanied by California wines 1000 Stories Chardonnay and Bourbon Barrel Aged Zinfandel, followed by pecan, pumpkin and apple pies.

Valued Partnerships

Representing charity partner NRC, Laila Matar provided striking images and anecdotes from her own travels, including from Ukraine. She explained how the organization works to protect the rights of millions of people who are forced to flee.

To follow, State Secretary Erling Rimestad, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, affirmed the impact and importance of continued transatlantic collaboration, before honorably carving the first slice of turkey.

Sharon Hudson-Dean, US Embassy Oslo, addressed AmCham members, thanking them for the continued close working relationship. “You and your companies play a critical role in our relationship with Norway – something that we do not take for granted.”

On the green transition, and from a recent meeting with the US Assistant Secretary of Energy for Carbon Capture and Storage, Hudson-Dean noted that ”Norway has so much to teach us about these cutting-edge technologies, and we are now finally putting millions of US government dollars into the rapid adoption of every possible way to cap global temperature warming. Together, we can do this faster, more efficiently, and at scale. It’s a winning business partnership.”

"Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year, as it is for many Americans. Although this is a very commercial crowd, we all come together tonight for non-commercial reasons. Thanksgiving is about appreciation, gratitude, family, loved ones, and the joy of preparing and sharing a wonderful meal."

Sharon Hudson-Dean

A Lively Display of Auction Paddles

After dinner, a blend of luck and competitive bidding combined for the charity raffle drawing and auction. Auctioneer Bill Harris encouragingly announced bids as winners won a broad selection of coveted prizes – ranging from plane tickets from Icelandair and Norse Atlantic Airways to a stay and spa package from Støtvig Hotel.

With the raffle and auction complete, AmCham Managing Director Jason Turflinger announced that this year’s auction and raffle had raised a record-breaking 120 000 NOK for NRC and their work protecting displaced people and supporting them as they build a new future.

We are truly grateful for the collaborative spirit of our burgeoning bilateral community and thank everyone who joined us for the evening.

Please click on the left to read the letter from NRC Secretary General Jan Egeland.

Raffle & Auction Prize Sponsors

Photo Gallery

Photos: Traci Milimo

AmCham Thanksgiving Charity Dinner 2021

December 1, 2021AmCham News2021 AmCham Thanksgiving Charity Dinner, ThanksgivingMargrethe Harboe

AmCham Thanksgiving Charity Dinner 2021

Hosted at Hotel Bristol in their grand Bristol Hall, event sponsors 3M, KPMG and Merck, along with AmCham members, international leaders and government representatives gathered to celebrate Thanksgiving. In theme with the night, and in keeping with AmCham’s tradition, the evening concluded with a raffle and auction consisting of generous prizes from member companies, with all proceeds going to charitable partner CARE Norway.

Hotel Bristol’s Executive Chef, Johan Laursen, mastered the traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings, as both Norwegian and American guests agreed it tasted sublime. The dinner was accompanied by Washington’s Charles Smith Wines from Anora followed by pecan, pumpkin and apple pies.

Strong Ties and Principles for the Future

The dinner featured a keynote speech by newly appointed Minister of Trade and Industry Jan Christian Vestre. Minister Vestre highlighted the essential transatlantic cooperation between our nations to accelerate the green transition, stating that “Norwegian companies are well equipped to deliver on high ambitions and strict environmental demands in cooperation with American partners,” recognizing that companies – in both Norway and the US – are putting forth best efforts to develop new green technologies. He also announced proudly that his first trip overseas in capacity as Minister will be together with Crown Prince Haakon on his visit to New York and Washington D.C. Vestre cited the trip as being of special importance, not only due to his American heritage, but also because of the strong ties Norway shares with the US as its largest trading partner outside of Europe.

To follow, US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Sharon Hudson-Dean thanked AmCham members for their support of US and Norwegian joint prosperity and investment, and for maintaining the highest standards of international business practice. Hudson-Dean also directed attention to the role of businesses in the green transition, before expertly carving the ceremonial first slice of turkey.

Peter Skovholt Gitmark, Chair of CARE Norway, presented a charity that places special focus on empowering women and girls by promoting gender equality and women’s rights. Gitmark explained that equipped with the proper resources, such as VSLAs (Village Savings and Loan Associations), women have the capacity to lift families and communities out of poverty. Founded in the US in 1945, CARE assisted many families in post-WWII Norway.

Going Once…Going Twice!

A highlight of the evening, the lively charity raffle drawing and auction began after dinner. Attendees eagerly bid on and won a broad selection of coveted prizes – ranging from VR headsets from PortalOne to a 10kg Jarlsberg cheese wheel from Tine AS.

With the raffle and auction complete, AmCham Managing Director Jason Turflinger announced that this year’s auction and raffle had raised a record-breaking 100 000 NOK for CARE Norway. In response to the donation, Kaj-Martin Georgsen, National Director of CARE Norway, remarked “thank you so much for granting CARE Norway with your generous gift in relation to your annual Thanksgiving Celebration. CARE, together with our partners, will support women to access financial services, participate in dignified work, and thrive as entrepreneurs and small-scale producers, whilst also adapting our approach to fragile contexts. The generous support from AmCham will contribute to CARE’s work with women’s economic justice, and I want to thank you for your support.” To read the full letter, please click on the letter below.

Raffle & Auction Prize Sponsors

Photo Gallery

Thanksgiving Charity Dinner 2020

November 25, 2020AmCham News2020, 2020 Thanksgiving, Thanksgivingadmin

2020 AmCham Thanksgiving Charity Dinner: Upholding Traditions while Keeping Saftey on the Table

AmCham Norway is delighted to announce that we were once again able to make a Thanksgiving Charity donation on behalf of our members – this time to US-based StandUp for Kids, an organization working to end youth homelessness across the US.

Together with sponsors 3M Norge and Merck, supportive to-go guests and Hotel Bristol, we were able to raise NOK 54 300 for StandUp for Kids. StandUp for Kids’ National Executive Director, Greg Smith, sent us the following acknowledgment, along with the video that can be viewed below:

Thank you so much for your gift! Our kids tell us that when someone believes in them, they believe more in themselves. That they get a sense of belonging. Because of you, we will be able to continue to offer homeless and at-risk youth an array of services on the streets, in outreach centers, schools, and other community sites across our 18 program cities in the US.

Your generous gift allows us to continue to serve the youth who rely on us to show up for them every day, helping them develop plans to get out of their unjust situations and move toward greater stability. We have been working to end youth homelessness for three decades, and we are not finished. Thank you for entering our story.

Thanks to our sponsors, who stayed with us through the tumult of planning a Thanksgiving event in COVID times, and our prize sponsors’ thoughtful donations, we were able to offer 50 Thanksgiving meals and many lottery prizes. At assigned times, guests picked up their meals and winnings, stopping by Hotel Bristol to say hello, and Happy Thanksgiving, to the AmCham team.

Trade Minister Iselin Nybø, who was disappointed not to be able to join us as planned, sent her greetings in a video (see below) recorded for friends of AmCham.

We are grateful for the continued support of this wonderful tradition and look forward to celebrating with you in person at Hotel Bristol in November 2021!

About Our Charitable Partner

StandUp for Kids is a national non-profit organization dedicated to ending the cycle of youth homelessness in local communities. Since 1990, the organization has cared for homeless and at-risk youth by transitioning them from crisis to connection. StandUp for Kids gives its youth a sense of safety, hope, and belonging through housing support, mentoring, drop-in centers, and street outreach.

Each meal included a hearty serving of turkey, stuffing, gravy, cornbread, vegetables, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce, and a slice of both pecan and pumpkin pie.

2020 Prize Sponsors

About the AmCham Thanksgiving Tradition

AmCham’s annual Thanksgiving charity dinner brings member and partners together over great food, good times, and the spirit of good will to kick off the holiday season. Read more about our Thanksgiving tradtion here, and please contact us for interest in donating at amcham@amcham.no.

The Norwegian American: AmCham Thanksgiving Charity Dinner Highlighted in Article “Giving Thanks in Oslo”

January 6, 2020AmCham NewsThanksgivingadmin

AmCham Thanksgiving Charity Dinner underlines common values, looks to a sustainable future.

Hosted in Oslo’s Hotel Continental’s elegant Teatersalen, and along with Thanksgiving partners ExxonMobil and Biogen, this year’s fully booked AmCham Thanksgiving Charity Dinner raised NOK 92,900 to help build a home for the Guzman Family of El Salvador through charitable partner New Story.

Hotel Continental offered attendees a refined, yet inspired take on Thanksgiving fare, artfully blending traditional classics with new favorites to rave reviews, leading one American guest to remark, “I might get in trouble for saying this, but I have to admit this food is better than back home.” The buffet was accompanied by California wines from Fetzer and Bonterra Organic Vineyards.

Read the entire article HERE.

Event Summary: Thanksgiving Charity Dinner 2018

November 23, 2018AmCham News, AmCham Norway, Entertainment & LifestyleAmCham, Charity, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Charity Dinner 2018admin

It was an evening of thanks, turkey, high spirits and charity as AmCham hosted our traditional Thanksgiving Dinner at Grand Hotel, where guests helped raise a record NOK 91.000 for this year’s charity partner – The Ocean Cleanup.

Sponsored by ExxonMobil, Biogen and Hydro, the evening included an authentic American Thanksgiving meal, prepared by the renowned Grand kitchen in collaboration with Stavanger’s legendary Chef Craig Whitson. Whole stuffed turkeys, glazed ham, sweet potatoes, and assorted American pies were accompanied by Fetzer Flatbed Red Blend and Bonterra Chardonnay from California.

Working Together

In his Thanksgiving address, Minister of Trade & Industry, Torbjørn Røe Isaksen, touched upon some of the key reasons why both Norway and the US can be grateful for an excellent relationship.

Trade Minister, Torbjørn Røe Isaksen (Photo: Nancy Bundt)

“We are friends, trading partners and close allies – working together to create jobs and promote common values. We have just conducted Trident Juncture – the largest NATO exercise for many years – and proven our ability to operate together and stand up for each other.”

“According to a report presented last year, Norwegian companies and investments are supporting nearly half a million jobs in the US. Equally, from ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips to Accenture, Alcoa, Coca-Cola, Cargill, Bristow Norway, Mondelez, McDonald’s and 650 others, the US is a major contributor to jobs, welfare and happiness here,” the Minister said.

A Culture of Sharing

Fittingly headquartered in Massachusetts — where Thanksgiving is rooted — dinner partner Biogen is a neuroscience pioneer, with an ambition to cure Alzheimer’s disease. Speaking just after the Minister, Country Director Kristin Nyberg noted the importance of good health and collaboration during her dinner address.

“An interesting topic in that respect is looking into how the US and Norway can cooperate in the best way to find success in health and innovation. As an inspiration, we can look to the unique collaborative environment in Boston.”

Kristin Nyberg, Biogen (Photo: Nancy Bundt)

“There, our headquarters is on the same street as MIT, Harvard and several biotech companies. The researchers there have breakfast with students, lunch with CEOs and dinner with investors.”

“That is the key to success for all parties – and we should adapt that as quickly as we can here; a triangle of academia, healthcare professionals and investors.”

“Let’s work for such an environment to thrive within the new Life Science building at the University of Oslo, and we will make Norway an even better place to do business in the future,” Nyberg said.

Charity Raffle & Auction

Following dinner and Thanksgiving reflections by US Ambassador Kenneth J. Braithwaite, guests gathered for a lively charity raffle and auction, stocked with spectacular prizes donated by AmCham member companies.

Among the many winners, guests took home a large aluminum print by Pål Laukli courtesy of Featuring Spaces, an Icelandair gift certificate, an exclusive 1984 Prince photograph by Nancy Bundt, a Tesla-weekend and an all-inclusive VIP stay at Grand Hotel.

(Photo: Nancy Bundt)

With NOK 91.000 generated for further development of The Ocean Cleanup technologies, AmCham extends heartfelt thanks to all who so generously contributed!

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