Portland, Ore. – Traci Reandeau, the Trail Blazers vice president of human resources, has been named the recipient of the 2007 Portland Women of Spirit award. Morton’s The Steakhouse is partnering with the American Red Cross and the nation’s leading women in wine to recognize America’s Women of Spirit at exclusive wine dinners to be held at Morton’s restaurants in 38 cities from coast to coast.

"I’m very honored and very surprised," said Reandeau. "Personally, it’s important to me to give back to the community because it brings me joy. I like doing what I’m doing and that’s why it’s sort of surprising to get awarded for something you love to do. Sort of like getting paid to play basketball."

Reandeau has overseen the Portland Trail Blazers Human Resources department since 1994 where she has been a champion in supporting efforts to engage employees in community service.

"I’m very proud of the Trail Blazers organization," said Reandeau. "Giving back to the community has always been at the core of the organization and one of the reasons I love working here."

Reandeau co-founded the team’s employee volunteer program, Blazers Community Builders, which was nationally recognized by winning a Points of Light Award for Excellence in Corporate Community Service. The program, created in 1998, is dedicated to providing Trail Blazers employees with opportunities to serve organizations and individuals in need throughout the community.

"Traci seems to do more in the community from an engaged space than anyone I know," said Sarah Mensah, the Trail Blazers senior vice president of marketing and sales, who nominated Reandeau for the award. "By engaged I mean that she is truly committed and connected to the projects she undertakes and seems to give her all to all of them. There are probably people who sit on more boards and might have a longer list of community projects to boast, but I sincerely doubt that there is anyone who has given more energy and heart to the causes for which she supports."

Reandeau’s personal community efforts began when she first joined the Trail Blazers when she mentored at-risk teens as a volunteer for Committed Partners for Youth. She has since continued her efforts as an advocate for underserved children and teenagers through years of service and administration as an active member of the Board of Directors for both Albina Head Start and Open Meadows Alternative Schools in Portland. Traci has also been a SMART (Start Making a Reader Today) mentor at Boise-Eliot school for the past nine years.

"I enjoy seeing young people discover who they really are and that there is possibility and opportunity out there for them," added Reandeau. "Sometimes kids don’t even realize that they have that in themselves."

The Portland Women of Spirit wine dinner will be held on Friday, August 3 and will be hosted by Susan Sokol Blosser, Founder and President of Sokol Blosser Winery. Sokol Blosser will speak about the wine selections featured that evening, give her personal philosophy on wine, and discuss her own achievements in the highly competitive wine industry. The wine dinners will be priced at $150 per person and Mortons will donate $15 from each ticket sold and 100 percent of the silent auction proceeds to the American Red Cross.

For additional details regarding the Women of Spirit wine dinners CLICK HERE