A packed theater, flying dollar bills, and a livestream buzzing with donations helped Portland’s strippers and burlesque performers hit a new milestone for holiday giving—pushing the long-running Tatas for Toys fundraiser past a quarter-million dollars in total support for sick kids.
According to Oregon Live, the annual variety show, held this year at the Alberta Rose Theatre, combined pole performances, comedy bits, live music, and auctions into a four-hour, telethon-style event.
By the end of the night, organizers confirmed more than $60,000 had been raised, making it the most successful edition in the show’s 15-year history and lifting the cumulative total donated since 2011 to more than $250,000.
The beneficiary is Doernbecher Children's Hospital, where funds and toys support the hospital’s Child Life Therapy Program. The program uses play, education, and creative activities to help young patients cope with long hospital stays and serious medical procedures.
Roughly 30 performers rotated through two shifts onstage, encouraging the mixed-gender crowd to throw cash toward the stage while online viewers contributed through Twitch.
By mid-evening, donations climbed rapidly, boosted by auctions that included a coastal vacation package and a guided tour of several Portland strip clubs. One auction alone brought in thousands.
“What a night to be in Portland,” said host Aaron Ross as the tally kept rising. Ross founded Tatas for Toys in 2011, when the first event raised just $500—enough to fill a single wagon with gifts.
For some dancers, the cause is deeply personal. One first-time performer shared that she had spent years at Doernbecher while donating bone marrow to her younger brother. “Getting to be on that stage and give back to the place that helped my family—it’s emotional,” she said.
After the show, performers traditionally turn cash donations into toys, shopping directly from Doernbecher’s wish list at MudPuddles Toys & Books. Store owner Kate Noreen has partnered with the fundraiser for years, even offering discounts to stretch donations further. “They’ve always been respectful and focused on the kids,” she said.
