In Tiburon, the Reed School Foundation presented a spring fashion show fundraiser, complete with local moms as runway models. Each year the foundation raises money to pay for the difference in funds of what the state of California pays and what it actually costs to educate a child.
San Francisco Opera Guild event cochairs Patricia Ferrin Loucks and Jennifer Smith, along with Nordstrom, teamed up for the Designer Fete 2008, which welcomed more than 500 guests and raised nearly $100,000 for children's music education.
Nonprofit Image for Success raised nearly $50,000 at its annual luncheon in San Rafael.
San Anselmo-based Sunny Hills Services held "The Power of Love: Opening Our Hearts to Children in Need" as a benefit to serve the agency's program that helps emotionally disturbed children.
Recently Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain celebrated the release of his first pinot noir, Chanconne, the result of a collaboration with his friend Dennis De La Montanya. In attendance was oenophile and radio host Ziggy "The Wine Gal" Eschliman, who said, "The wine tasted incredible!"
At the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in San Francisco, Dominican University of California hosted a festive black-tie dinner to honor President Joseph R. Fink and his 20 years of vision and service to the Marin institution.
The Godmothers of Timothy Murphy School held their ninth annual English Garden Party Bingo at St. Vincent's School for Boys. The Godmothers are a group who actively support the school's educational programs through fundraising and direct financial contributions, as well as donating time and talents to promote a nurturing environment for the boys.
At the Mill Valley Community Center the third annual Summer Search luncheon was a sold-out event with 400 attendees.
Mayacama, one of wine country's premier private golf, lodging and wine clubs, held its seventh annual celebrity golf tournament to raise money for Sonoma County Children's Charities. The 115-player tournament included John O'Hurley and Dwight Clark of the 49ers and, along with the auction, raised more than $225,000 for the local charity.
In celebration of the Bay Area Discovery Museum's 20th anniversary, the Playdate 2008 fundraiser was bigger than ever, with over 500 people in attendance. Guests enjoyed the setting overlooking Horseshoe Cove and exciting auction items like "The Ultimate Bubble Q" a champagne barbecue with celebrity chef Tyler Florence. The event raised $570,000 for the museum.
In Tiburon, art lovers and friends of the Richardson Bay Audubon Center gathered at the Lyford House to view rare, life-size, hand-colored etchings by 19th-century wildlife artist John James Audubon.
At Cavallo Point, Friends of the Earth's Green Ball was a success, with over 300 people turning out for the fundraiser.
Recently, Marin Horizon School celebrated 30 years of academic excellence with a Sunday picnic at the Mill Valley Community Center.
At the Harbor Point Racquet Club in Mill Valley, Peggy Knight, who owns her own hair replacement company, held an event to celebrate her appearance on the Tyra Banks Show and to raise money to send an alopecia sufferer and her mother to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation's annual meeting in Kentucky.
At Hotel Nikko in San Francisco, photographer Annie Leibovitz delivered the featured speech at the Commonwealth Club's presentation of the Rowell Award to author and photographer James Balog.
At Corte Madera's Il Fornaio, over 100 guests and Jan Wahl led the grand salute to Marin/Scapes art show founder Mary Welch. More than $1 million has been raised since the first show in 1988.
Also in the city, Friends of the San Francisco Public Library hosted its annual literary gala, the Library Laureates dinner, toasting the best and the brightest Bay Area authors.
Marin resident Kimberly Wright-Violich chaired the Planned Parenthood Golden Gate gala at the Ritz-Carlton, where Donna Brazile, chair of the Democratic National Committee Voting Rights Institute, was the keynote speaker.
In San Rafael, designers and homeowners mingled at Shamrock Materials, which held a "Design in Stone Open House" event showcasing the latest developments in natural stone.
In Corte Madera, Bay Club Marin celebrated its fifth anniversary with Bliss, a black-tie soiree complete with martini lounge, jazz music by Al Marshall Trio and dancing to the sounds of the band Notorious.
Local philanthropists headed to Ross for the Village by Village Garden Party for GAIA, the Global AIDS Interfaith Alliance. Attendees included Maria Shriver and GAIA founder and president William Rankin.
In Mill Valley, students, teachers and parents gathered at the all-organic Children's Garden at Edna Maguire School to release thousands of aphid-eating ladybugs. Spearheaded by Lee Budish, this garden is not just used to teach the kids; the goods are sold at the San Rafael farmers' market.
There was a full house as Marin Theatre Company held its annual fundraiser themed Casino Royale at Frantoio restaurant in Mill Valley. Attendees played blackjack and bid on wine and jewelry, which raised $68,000 for the company's artistic and educational programs.
At the San Francisco Film Festival, Marin natives and twins Logan and Noah Miller premiered their autobiographical and first film, Touching Home, which stars Ed Harris.
It was Lights, Camera, Action as Marin Symphony supporters descended on the Mill Valley Community Center for a film-themed evening to raise funds for symphony programs and honor Lou and Marge Bartolini. Marilyn Monroe and Groucho Marx impersonators mingled with red-carpet-ready guests who were treated to a martini bar, Grgich Hills wine and tantalizing auction items.
In late March, members of the Marin Symphony and the Marin Music Chest (a music scholarship organization celebrating its 75th anniversary this year) gathered for a preconcert reception to welcome guest artist Hai-Ye Ni, principal cellist of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Ni is a former Marin resident and a recipient of a Marin Music Chest scholarship.
In Larkspur, Lehrer Jewelry Design opened its doors to Marin Montessori School to show the kids the process of carving gemstones and making fine jewelry as part of their study of gems and minerals.
In San Francisco, Lycia Carmody Fried and Ann Ferrell Millham cochaired the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco's largest fundraising event, which brought out 340 locals and raised $520,000 to support the groups' programs and services.
The San Francisco Garden Club held its annual luncheon benefit at the San Francisco Four Seasons Hotel, auctioning off 21 "bouquets to go" by local floral designers.
At Macy's Annual Flower Show, a rare exhibit of work by late photographer David George, with son Donn Tice appearing on his behalf, brought crowds eager to see the images that were discovered in George's home.
